What Is A Medical Reserve Corps And How Can You Help?
A Medical Reserve Corps brings together volunteers who want to help out their local community during a natural disaster, infectious disease emergency or other catastrophic event which threatens to overwhelm the public health system. Medical and non-medical jobs are included in a Medical Reserve Corps. The Carlisle Board of Health is holding two introductory sessions to explain how a Medical Reserve Corps works, what types of jobs are involved, and how volunteers will be trained and credentialed. The availability of well trained, pre-credentialed volunteers is critical in an emergency and an excellent resource in non-emergency situations.
Examples in which a Medical Reserve Corps can help in a public health emergency:
· Administer immune globulin at a Hepatitis A outbreak.
· Administer town wide vaccine during a Flu Pandemic.
· Help screen school children during an infectious disease outbreak.
· Help during non-emergency events such as the senior flu clinic.
Examples in which a Medical Reserve Corp can help in a mass casualty incident:
· Help victims in a large scale disaster such as a flood, fire, hurricane or tornado.
· Help victims at a large scale accident site such as a plane crash.
· Set up emergency shelters.
· Provide administrative support.
· Provide food, transportation and childcare for volunteers.
The willingness of volunteers to be trained and pre-credentialed prior to an emergency will mean a greater pool of qualified volunteers to draw on during an event. Non-medical volunteers are also essential during an emergency. Training in food service, child care, finance, computers and transportation, are some of the non-medical services that are needed. Volunteers will receive continuing education credits for the trainings. Trainings will be offered locally or with nearby communities. Volunteers and their families will receive priority medical treatment in accordance with federal and state guidelines.
The Board of Health encourages residents to consider this volunteer opportunity. By joining the Carlisle Medical Reserve Corps you will be helping your family, friends, neighbors and community when they need it the most. Volunteers can choose to serve only in placeCarlisle or throughout the region, state or nation. The Board of Health is also looking into ways of organizing neighborhood response groups and would like to hear from interested residents.
If you would like more information, contact the Board of Health office at 978- 369-0283.
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