Comments on: Humor in Disaster

By: Julianne Hasten

Julianne Hasten — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:15:26 +0000

As a former Americorps member with the Western Il chapter of ARC, and a current nurse in geriatrics I wish more people were able to embrace Derrick’s approach. Some of the tried and true axioms just don’t hold water in times of tragedy, ie: count your blessings, it could be worse, pull yourself up by your bootstraps…. However, humor can always be a place of solace. If you can make someone giggle through their tears you have accomplished something that is immeasurable in value. You can not fake a giggle or a good belly laugh. Try it. you can’t! The feeling is so good and contagious. It can immediately lift the weight, even if onle for a minute, and allow our bootstraps to come up a bit by themselves and let us take hold of a better perspective. On my way to work one morning a young girl rolled her car on the interstate. While the other onlookers (another nurse and a trucker) looked on comparing stories on what they saw, I went to the girl in the ditch and flicked the crickets from her face. While waiting for the ambulance I reassured her I was a nurse and asked her not to move or talk. She had a tear roll down her face, I told her that it would be okay, because any minute there was going to be some really good looking paramedics and firemen descending upon her all to help her. Her eyebrows went up, I said “Oh you didn’t know that? All the firemen are hot and muscular and the paramedics are cute and smart.” She started to laugh and I continued to chat about different paramedics and firemen I knew and girl stuff and she giggled her way through the time she spent on the side of the interstate in the ditch until the cute paramedics arrived. I like to think she could have been terrified but wasn’t because we laughed together and it distracted her from the situation at hand. It is not a bad thing to laugh at a funeral, either. Derrick is a stand-up guy, pardon the pun. The ARC is lucky to be able to send him where his approach is needed and able to be learned by others!!

By: gigi Acevedo

gigi Acevedo — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:27:18 +0000

Well..Kudos to you, Derrick…..I have to share …..I had the great fortune of working with you, during this (IKE-Texas)deployment…and you were a real pleasure to interface with. I appreciated your willingness to always be of service and during that committment to ensure that we all had a good “Team” laugh!……You and your entire MSS staffers, under the leadership of “Bev” were truly an asset and you made the long hours and my job….at LSAP a unique pleasure……..Thanks for sharing your
Red Cross humor and wisdom with us………
……gigi

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:08:50 +0000

My time at the mega shelter in Houston was the happiest time. I spent time making my co-volunteers laugh. They thought I was little nuts – but we all worked hard and had a good time. I will volunteer again in a moments notice.

By: HOWARD

HOWARD — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:55:55 +0000

ATTITUDE IS THE KEY .. TO EVERY PROBLEM. HUMOR/(& MUSIC) GIVES A POSITIVE LIFT TO ANY SITUATION. A GOOD LAUGH – SEE THE HUMOR IN EVEN THE MOST NEGATIVE – AND LIFE LOOKS A LITTLE BETTER – SO WE CAN TACKLE – AND OVERCOME -EVEN THE WORST!!!.

By: Teresa Gretton

Teresa Gretton — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:25:59 +0000

Hats off to Derrick Harvey from Canada. There is a national/international organization called Red Nose Response which spreads “smiles to the rescue.” They are clowns who use soft assistance in their comic techniques not only to those affected by the disasters but also the workers and many are Red Cross volunteers.

By: Martha in Manchester

Martha in Manchester — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:06:46 +0000

What a great approach Derrick Harvey has taken…I think it’s simply brilliant. He made some good points using humor and probably cheered up more people than he knows. Three cheers for the good work Derrick and all the other dedicated volunteers who use all their skills to do what it takes to get communities and individuals up on their feet.