The Northeast Kingdom region is establishing a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit and is looking for volunteer members. They are having a meet and greet at 6:00pm on June 29th at the Vermont Department of Health, 107 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury.
MRCs are community-based organizations that help support the health department, local hospitals, and their local communities. Members serve communities by assisting in times of need in various capacities, as well as promoting health education outreach, engaging in disease prevention activities, preparedness education, and taking part in local community events.
MRCs are made up of medical and non-medical volunteers, serving up to their licensed skill level based on incident need. Non-medical volunteers are just as vital to MRC units and encourage to join; assisting in coordination, administrative, and logistical support. Members can volunteer as much time as they like on health and wellness activities and/or just serve in times of need.
MRC volunteers can be a vital resource in times of need, being deployed for overwhelmed medical facilities or assisting the Department of Health (assisting at various locations to help organize and guide community members to and through a Point of Distribution set up). Becoming an affiliated registered volunteer before an incident allows one to be pre-credentialed and verified, so they can be utilized to help as soon as possible.
Recently, Vermont MRC volunteers have helped support the blood drawing clinics for Bennington PFOA water contamination this spring, supported last year’s tuberculosis (TB) testing clinics for students and staff at Charlotte Central School after a reported case, assisted with Vermont’s WIC program, and held first aid stations at this year’s St. Albans Maple Fest and Rutland’s Girls on the Run event. With limited resources in the Northeast Kingdom our volunteers would be able to help be the ‘feet on the ground’ at area events to ensure everyone’s safety.
Members receive various training and educational opportunities, such as assisting during the set up of the state’s portable hospital (massive tent structure), psychological first aid training, first aid and CPR, and attending special speaker presentations.
To learn more about Vermont MRCs and sign-up, visit at OnCallforVT.org. Watch a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDTbBBrcjG0&index=5&list=PLk9-Nj2hBiYoNhtsWzid3iL-lmI35dIl_ to learn about Vermont MRCs and one member's reasons for volunteering. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. To RSVP, for the meet and greet on June 29th at 6:00pm, please email debra.bach@vermont.gov.
Thank you,
Debra Bach, RN
District Director
Vermont Department of Health
(802)751-0179 (DESK)
(802)473-0259 (CELL)
Email: debra.bach@vermont.gov