AAP Headquarters

141 Northwest Point Blvd

Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1019

Phone: 847/434-4000

Fax: 847/434-8000

E-mail: kidsdocs@aap.org

www.aap.org

Reply to

Department of Federal Affairs

Homer Building, Suite 400 N

601 13th St NW

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 202/347-8600

Fax: 202/393-6137

E-mail: kids1st@aap.org

Executive Committee

President

Fernando Stein, MD, FAAP

President-Elect

Colleen A. Kraft, MD, FAAP

Immediate Past President

Benard P. Dreyer, MD, FAAP

CEO/Executive Vice President

Karen Remley, MD, FAAP

Board of Directors

District I

Wendy S. Davis, MD, FAAP

Burlington, VT

District II

Warren M. Seigel, MD, FAAP

Brooklyn, NY

District III

David I. Bromberg, MD, FAAP

Frederick, MD

District IV

Jane Meschan Foy, MD, FAAP

Winston-Salem, NC

District V

Richard H. Tuck, MD, FAAP

Zanesville, OH

District VI

Pam K. Shaw, MD, FAAP

Kansas City, KS

District VII

Anthony D. Johnson, MD, FAAP

Little Rock, AR

District VIII

Kyle Yasuda, MD, FAAP

Seattle, WA

District IX

Stuart A. Cohen, MD, FAAP

San Diego, CA

District X

Sara H. Goza, MD, FAAP

Fayetteville, GA

September 29, 2017

The Honorable William B. “Brock” Long

Administrator

Federal Emergency Management Agency

500 C Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20024

Dear Administrator Long:

On behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a non-profit professional

organization of 66,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and

pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of infants,

children, adolescents, and young adults, I write to urge you in the strongest possible

terms to provide all needed relief, supplies, medication, and other support to Puerto

Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and María. The

hurricanes have caused a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale, one that we fear

will disproportionately harm vulnerable infants, children and their families. The AAP

stands ready to partner with federal agencies such as FEMA to provide support to our

fellow citizens.

The situation for American citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is dire.

In Puerto Rico, 3.5 million American citizens are without power, water, or

communications technology. Roughly 100,000 American citizens of the U.S. Virgin

Islands are living under similar dire circumstances. Many have lost their homes and

businesses due to the storms. Even basic health care supplies are in short supply.

The AAP is in close contact with our Puerto Rico Chapter leaders who report the need

for first aid items to help children in shelters with non-urgent conditions. A list of the

most needed first aid items for children in shelters is attached. Providing these items in

sufficient quantities could help minimize hospital visits and avoid overcrowding in the

pediatric emergency rooms. Also attached to this letter is correspondence we have

been made aware of from the Hospital Pediátrico Universitario seeking medical

supplies for their hospital. Please let us know if we can provide you pediatric subject

matter experts including such contacts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The AAP joins with all Americans in expressing our sympathy for and commitment to

our fellow citizens. Our hearts are with the children and families of Puerto Rico and

the U.S. Virgin Islands. We urge you to act now to provide emergency supplies, relief,

and aid and stand ready to assist you in those efforts.

Sincerely,

Fernando Stein, MD, FAAP

President

First aid items for children in shelters Diapers  Wipes  Hand  sanitizers  Alcohol  pads  Gauzes  Band-­‐Aids  Betadine  swabs  Bacitracin  or  mupirocin  oitments  Topical  antifungals  Topical  antibacterials  Antibiotic  ophthalmic  drops  and/or  ointments  Tooth  paste  and  brush  Otic  drops  (antibiotics)  Zofran  PO  Zantac  PO  Infants  formulas  Specialized  Infants  formula  Baby  foods  Pedyalite  Diaper  rash  ointments  Milk  of  Magnesia  Miralax  Lice  Killers  Normal  saline  ampules  Aero  chambers  Decadron  Prelone  Amoxil/  Augmentin  Scalpel  #11  Clindamycin  liquid  Benadryl  elixir  and  ointment  Hydrocortisone  topic  2%  EMLA  cream  Nystatin  Suture  kids  or  removal  Tape    

It has been nearly a week since the destructive winds and rains of Hurricane María made landfall in Puerto Rico. There are 3.5 million American citizens in the island without power, water and limited communication. Many lost their homes and suffered crippling losses from the storm. Most of the businesses were forced to close their doors and many lost some or their entire inventory in the aftermath of the storm. The total cost to the local economy is still being calculated and many experts suspect that the total impact will run into the billions of dollars.

The University Pediatric Hospital suffered major losses. It is a tertiary facility with its own

emergency room, pediatric neonatal and intensive care units, general pediatric wards, oncology ward, bone marrow transplant unit, outpatient clinics and dialysis unit. It is the referral center for the whole island, the Caribbean and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The hospital is part of the Puerto Rico Medical Center (PRMC), which provides access to other facilities including the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, Cancer Center and the Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Center. Other clinical sites include: the University Hospital, the University of Puerto Rico Hospital at Carolina, the San Juan City Hospital, the Cardiovascular Center and multiple private offices in the community.

As of now, the University Pediatric Hospital in San Juan is in need of life-saving items and

medical supplies (see attachment). We are asking for your help. Currently they have power therefore, they are able to store medications. The contact person is the Director of Emergency Room Jahzel Gonzalez Pagan, M.D. They will appreciate anything we could provide them.

While we are waiting on government and federal government support we need your help to cover the present medical needs of the Island. We thank you in advanced for your support! Your donation is greatly appreciated and will be used at the University Pediatric Hospital. You can either donate online or sent the medical items directly to the hospital.

Hospital Address Hospital Pediatrico Universitario Centro Medico de Puerto Rico Salon A Primer Piso Barrio Monacillos San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00922 Donation link www.fundacionhospitalpediatric o.org Our patients and our Island thank you for your support.

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