By Mariana Martinez
The Tijuana Red Cross announced the closure of some hospital services and just the next day, an armed commando fired upon a group of local police, killing three and wounding another 5, who were taken to the Red Cross for treatment.
The event underlined the mission of the Red Cross, an institution providing 98% of all ambulance services and 60% of trauma victim care in the city.
“We are the ones treating most of the violent crime victims in the city” said doctor Eduardo Terreros, Red Cross Council president , “that includes most of the cops and innocent bystanders in high impact crime.”
According to Terreros, the Red Cross is the only level one trauma center in Baja California; the only one whose ambulances are maned with certified trauma medical technicians and the only one with a “red room” protocol including a surgeon, anesthesiologist, lab, x ray and blood bank, ready for the patient 24/7.
“This allows us to dramatically increase the chances of survival, because we can manage to get them into an operating table in 5 to 7 minutes” Dr. Terreros explains,” we handle most of the trauma patients in the city because even those with public insurance are taken here to be stabilized before entering a hospital.”
From January 2008 to July 2009, 24 thousand people recieved medical care at the Red Cross Emergency Room, and this institution makes around 120 ambulance services per day, with just a $40 donation.
But their monthly expenses go up to $321,000 a month.
In their last anual fundraising, Red Cross executives had a goal of $576,000 but managed to get only $400,00 from the public.
The eminent announcement of reduced services and care has other public hospitals in the area gearing up for a larger patient base, specially Tijuana’s General Hospital, already struggling with over-crowding and lack of supplies.
Becoming a target
Because of the recent rise in violence, cops from federal, state and municipal police forces are attacked or wounded in confrontations, and end up at the Red Cross hospital or emergency room.
Then police surround the perimeter because of fear of armed gunmen going into the hospital to “rescue” their partners or “finish off” their rivals and law enforcement officers.
On July 7th, the Red Cross was guarded by police because one cop had been wounded and was in critical state, when an armed commando fired at a police woman who was securing the premises.
Her name was Eva González Cruz, —it was her 38th birthday and she died immediately that same day.
“They opened fire from a moving vehicle, her partner was wounded” Terreros remembered, “but the woman was hit full force by the bullets and had extensive wounds that killed her soon after. This has become part of what we have to face and deal with as a health institution.”
In order to face their deary financial situation, the Tijuana Red Cross has designed a new fundraising campaign called “Trive in life” starting October 10 through December 13th, in hopes of getting enough money to keep their emergency room open.
They are in talks with the phone company so the donations can be added to local phone bills and a second campaign will start immediately with dollar bracelets and the request for medical supplies has been open to companies and border residents alike.
“We are talking to the border business community to ask their support and most business chambers have been supportive,” said Dr. Terreros, “they all understand the need to keep this vital part of services open to those who need it the most”.