LT Capri Woolridge, Training Specialist, Office of Training, Education and Development 

 

As a U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officer, it is my duty to be a first responder in public health emergencies. I helped serve over 300 evacuees returning to the United States, as well as first responders, ensuring the health and safety. of the evacuees and the first responders there. My team also found it imperative to focus on the mental health of the evacuees. Not only did we provide medical care, food, and other basic necessities, we also celebrated birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and made sure to have fun with the evacuees. On the surface, these celebrations did not seem that important, but at the end of the evacuees’ quarantine, we were thanked the most for the compassion we showed and our determination to maintain morale. Mental health truly is just as important as physical health.

My name is LT Capri R. Woolridge and #IAmORA on the frontlines.