Korean visitor survives two-storey fall in Tonga quake
Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 19:15
Injured Korean businessman, Song Sanghoom 42, considered himself lucky to be still alive today, after jumping from the second floor of the Pacific Royale Hotel, in Nuku'alofa early this morning as a Magnitude 7.9 earthquake rocked the Pacific islands from an epicentre close to Tonga.
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The poor Korean - TamaFoa
The poor Korean - TamaFoa
The magnitude of the earthquake that jolted the Friendly Kingdom was dwarfed by the neglected foreigner's picture in his bare metal gurney at Vaiola hospital. I am not maliciously delightful in this poor man's fate, but I used Vaiola Hospital's poor customer service as an example last year and there were readers who called for my hide. Is this an isolated incident? I am not so sure but something is really wrong with the system.
In most professional organizations or health care establishments, there is something called an Emergency Preparedness Plan or EPP. For simple folks like me, it is a plan in the event of an emergency. Inside this EPP is a plan how to deal with mass casualties or casualties that overwhelmed the resources available. The EPP is practised, rehearsed and mock incidents are wargamed or played to get everyone involved and familiar with their role during real emergencies. Is it the EPP or lack thereof to be blamed or just plain customer service that does not exist?
One can only wonder, why this Korean man was neglected for hours in such a condition. A picture speaks louder than a thousand words. Abo! Abo! Panadol hana y ship sio! (I'm in pain. Can I get a panadol at least?)
Kamsa Hamnida - TamaFoa, USA