Medical Reserve Corps OF LICKING COUNTY

Joe Ebel LICKING COUNTY HEALTH COMMISSIONER

Opportunities to get involved your community’s health… HIV/AIDS and other STD’s awareness Tobacco prevention program Health Fairs Blood Pressure Screenings Cancer programs Physical fitness activities Pink Strides – October 2014 Emergency Preparedness Healthcare Disaster Planning Coalition Child’s Car Seat Safety Checks Health Education Immunization Clinics When activated outside of the Health Department

Medical Reserve Corps: (MRC) A specialized component of the Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to making sure their families, homes and communities are safe from terrorism, crime and disasters of all kind. The Citizen Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Peace Corps are all part of the President’s Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism and service throughout the U.S. and abroad. “The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. The MRC network comprises 993 community-based units and 207,783 volunteers located throughout the United States and its territories.” The MRC is sponsored by the Office of the U.S Surgeon General.

How the MRC came to be. Program formed in response to President Bush’s call to all Americans to offer volunteer service in their communities. Launched as a national, community-based movement in July “We want to be a nation that serves goals larger than self…,” said President George W. Bush, State of the Union, Jan. 29, “I have a mandate from our President to focus on medical preparedness, including homeland security, the war on terrorism, and improving public health. The Medical Reserve Corps is critical to our many national preparedness efforts,” said Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, Surgeon General, U. S. Public Health Service, in response.

A MRC History Lesson Sept. 11, 2001 Oct. – Nov Anthrax attacks Killing five people and infecting 17 others Jan Bush’s State of the Union Address President calls for all Americans to offer volunteer service in their communities Jan. 30, 2002 Freedom Corps and Citizen Corps was created July 2002 MRC launched as part of the Citizen Corps Oct MRC Demonstration Project 42 grants awarded Oct MRC Demonstration Project 42 year-one grants continued 124 new grants awarded

Who are the members of the MRC? Professionals working in the healthcare industry, or a health related field, within the Licking County, Ohio area: Retired Practicing All licenses and certifications (I.E. RNs, LPNs, APNs, DOs, MDs, Pharmacists, Dentist, Social Workers, Vets, Students, EMTs, etc.) Computer techs, clerks, receptionist, etc. Interpreters, chaplains, legal advisors, etc.

What is the purpose of the MRC? To strengthen communities by helping medical and public health volunteers offer their expertise throughout the emergency planning processes, as well as during times of community need and emergency. Having a network of community health professionals gives the LCHD a larger pool of subject matter experts to look to for input and feedback throughout the year. Having a ready-to-activate network of community health professionals allows Licking County communities to respond to emergencies and disasters quick and efficiently. Creates organized and trained volunteers before an emergency occurs. Helps minimize overuse, or exhausting, a resource during an emergency. Helps the community with preparedness and emergency training before an emergency. Enhances disaster response and year round betterment programs. Can help members with continuing education credits.

“To be a member, what do I need to do?” WHAT IS REQUIRED TO JOIN? Work in or around the healthcare industry within Licking County. Complete this training. Maintain an active medical license, if required for your profession. Be available to volunteer during times of emergency in the Licking County area. Participate in exercises. WHAT IS ENCOURAGED FOR OUR MEMBERS? Attend quarterly meetings. Volunteer for other events and programs offered in the Licking County area. Keep in touch with the MRC coordinator. Establish a Planning Committee Committee will further organize the MRC Committee can meet as determined by the members in addition to the quarterly meetings

Trainings AVAILABLE NOW ICS (Incident Command System) Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management NIMS (National Incident Management System) Emergency Management 101 CPR/First Aid/AED/Basic Triage **If you have any of these, please me your certificates or documentation. RECOMMENDED MRC 101 (this course) IS – 100 *** (I can send you a link) IS – 700 *** (I can send you a link) IS – 200 (Team Leaders) IS – 800 (Team Leaders)

Volunteers can be as involved as they would like to be.

The Planning Committee Responsible for steering the actions and policies of the group. What trainings to have? What topics to cover? What exercises to participate in? What are the membership requirements? Etc. Comprised of leaders from within the MRC Can be elected or nominated into position. Can be as large or small of a committee as you would like. Can develop organizational titles.

MRC Coordinator MRC Task Force Team of 5-8 MRC Task Force Team of 5-8 MRC Task Force Team of 5-8 MRC Planning Committee MRC Organization Chart

When does the MRC activate? DISASTERS THAT CAUSE PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN When natural disasters occur in the community. Tornadoes Snows Floods Ice storms When man-made disasters occur in the community. Hazardous materials spill (on our highways 79, 16 and 161, or our interstate 70) Newark is the industrial center for the aerospace, lighting and fiberglass insulation industries, meaning large factories with hazards. Mass Vaccination Clinics

NIMS Organizational Chart WHAT IS HAPPENING AT A COMMAND POST: Incident Commander OperationsLogisticsPlans Finance and Admin. PIOSafety Officer Liaison Officer WHERE THE MRC WOULD FIT IN: Logistics Staging Facility Officer MRC Leader Team #1 Team #2 Red Cross Team #1 Team #2 Salvation Army Team #1 Team #2

How does the MRC activate? THE PROCESS… 1.An agency or organization makes a request for the Licking County MRC to the Health Commissioner, or Deputy Health Commissioner 2.The Health Commissioner contacts the MRC Coordinator 3.The MRC Coordinator sends notice to all MRC members; the Planning Committee assists in organizing volunteers 4.Volunteers bring appropriate identification to disaster scene to be credentialed and check in with the MRC Leader on site 5.Volunteers receive incident briefing by the appointed person on scene WHERE MRC WILL ASSIST, GENERALLY… Red Cross Shelters Special Medical Needs Shelters Mass Evacuation Shelters Surge Capacity Counseling for First Responders and Residents Decontamination Cooling Shelters Mass Vaccination Clinics Community Containment

When does the MRC meet during non-emergency? Quarterly August, November, February and May By vote it will be the same day each month, quarterly Smaller, subgroup meetings can be arranged and are encouraged to coordinate volunteers for different volunteer opportunities.

Where does the MRC have an impact? Licking County and the surrounding communities. Members can volunteer to help other community MRC organizations as well. ◦National program = MRCs across the nation.

Survey Feedback If you have not had time, please take the MRC survey before Sept. 5 so I can gather your responses.

Websites

MRC Coordinator Contact Information Tabitha N. Haynes Public Information Officer and MRC Coordinator Licking County Health Department (740) Office (740) Cell 675 Price Rd. Newark, Ohio 43055