Recently I have been encouraging people to consider becoming part of the Emergency Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps in the county where they live. Generally it is a low keyed learning experience with real and practice POD events. PODs, as you may be well aware, are Points of Distribution.  They can be put into place any place, any time, to respond to mass emergencies or broad community needs.

Now that flu season is approaching, one such need is for the mass distribution and administration of the 2010 Flu Vaccine. Generally this has been a task carried out by the County Health Department and private and community supported local clinics. 

In Dutchess County over the next two months, the Department of Health will sponsor six flu vaccine clinics, five of which will be day time clinics between the hours of 10:00 AM to 12 Noon. In those clinics, two or three MRC medical and non medical personnel will be involved. The clinic to be held on November 30 from 3:00 to 7:30 is a closed POD for use only by first responders which include the MRC members.

Of particular interest for this POD is that between the hours of 5:00-8:30 PM the Dutchess Medical Reserve Volunteer Corps (MRC) will staff the entire POD. So as you can see, the POD structure and the role of the MRC in delivery of emergency response is both important and practical.

Further, the Dutchess County MRC will provide vaccine administration skill verification or re-verification at all clinics to MRC medical personnel. According to the MRC guidelines, vaccine administration skill verification is required yearly to maintain competency and immediate availability of MRC medical personnel to staff a POD. But, according to the MRC newsletter, non medical personnel are also always needed to assist with 'movement, setup and breakdown of equipment' at all the clinics. That's where I and, quite possibly, you come in as important.

Regarding training, the MRC suggests that although there are many ways to receive MRC training, for required classes, a web based approach can be most efficient and works well. As such, as a first responder, you can take the Incident Command System (ICS) 100 & 700 link is http://training.fema.gov/is/. Both ICS 100 & 700 are free of charge and certificated. Also recommended for first responders is the Psychological First Aid course, available online at http://learn.nctsn.org/course/category.php?id=11.

Practicing POD response is a key to preparedness for mass emergencies. This would apply whether the emergency were chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive. It would also apply in the event of natural emergencies such as floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes.

PODS are central to effective community-based emergency response. Learning more about them and joining your local MRC volunteer team are key to being safe should any such event occur.

Be good to yourself. Be good to your family. Become an MRC volunteer today.

Please note: Although Medical Reserve Corps is how the Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps is named in Dutchess County, it is my understanding that EMR is also used in some places to stand for Emergency Medical Response or Responder. But given the many meanings for MRC and EMR, bottom line is that as long as it is understood these terms are at times use interchangeably, please use the one with which you are most comfortable wherever you are. 

Roberta in Po-Town, Takin' the long view

Saturday, October 9: Booksigning by Roberta M. Roy of Jolt: a rural noir at The Rug Garden - "around the corner from the Beekman Arms" - Columbus Day Weekend Event in Rhinebeck, New York, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Do stop by for some wine and cheese.

Roberta in Po-Town, Almost ready

P.S. Jolt: a rural noir is now available through Amazon.com. If you do purchase it there, it would really help if you were also to comment there. And thanks so much for thinking of me!