Sandra Hodge pauses during an interview to help pull a body from the rubble. Assessing the situation with her co-volunteers, she checks to see what assistance is needed before returning to the satellite phone.

This has been just one aspect of the Jasperite’s life, as she has been working in Haiti for a week-and-a-half along with Valemount doctor Ray Markham through the Canadian Medical Assistance Team (CMAT).

“I’m hot and tired, but better than lots of people here,” Hodge said.

Hodge works as a registered nurse in Valemount, and has been volunteering with CMAT for years. Only days after the initial earthquake leveled Haiti, she found herself on the ground, treating the wounded.

Today, she has treated 200 people in the past five hours with only minimal resources. Pelvic fractures and resetting bones are the most common procedures, but earlier on Jan. 20, she helped deliver a baby.

A veteran of international aid efforts, Hodge described the situation in Haiti as the worst she’s ever seen.

Hodge landed in Santo Domingo on January 18. She was then transported to Port au Prince, where she worked under the United Nations umbrella. She is now 40 kilometres from Port au Prince.

“The first few days in Port au Prince were a lot worse than this,” Hodge said.

Triaging patients properly is key to ensuring efficient medical attention, something the team must perform quickly. CMAT uses portable hospitals to treat the injured.

“We do the most important things first,” Hodge said.

Hodge said she must also take care of herself. Finding her own food and water has become a new task, as well as watching out for tarantulas and trying to squeeze in sleep next to a busy airport. She said she’s careful not to be a drain on the scarce resources in the country, as even water is in scarce supply.

“Even a little amount of rainwater can help. People are dehydrated,” Hodge said.

Dr. Markham only has minutes to talk. He made it through the most recent aftershock stuck in a bathroom. The aftershock measured 6.1 on the Richter scale.

“Nothing’s as bad as this,” Dr. Markham said.

Both plea to their home nations for donations and supplies. Hodge sternly and urgently pleads through the phone for Jasperites to lend a hand.

“It’s critical. We’re running low on everything,” Hodge said.

Hodge’s mother Karin hasn’t spoken with her daughter in two weeks. Before leaving from Miami for Santo Domingo, she said her daughter told her she may not hear from her for a few weeks when she left, and she’s relying on media reports for updates on her daughter. The team has a satellite phone which is difficult to use, and email service is painfully slow. Despite the situation, Karin Hodge remains brave.

“I’m not worried. When she left, she said she didn’t know if she’d be able to reach me.”

She’s accustomed to her daughter’s work. Sandra Hodge has also conducted relief work in Thailand following the tsunami and Nicaragua.

Sheri Bolga, spokesperson with CMAT, said that help has been sent to the volunteers in the form of another team to help with the relief effort. She doesn’t know when Hodge or Dr. Markham will return, but says usually teams are on a three-week rotation. She’s also been told the team is still helping those stuck in the rubble, and is busily treating major wounds that are often infected by debris.

Jasperites raised $3,700 for Haiti during a concert at the Jasper Legion on Jan. 23. The evening included emails received from Haiti, including stories where visitors became first responders, turning hotels into hospitals and using bed linens for slings and bandages.

Those looking to donate to the relief effort can visit www.canadianmedicalteams.org. The Canadian Red Cross is also accepting donations.

(With files from Andrew McCracken, VCTV)