First responders like fire, EMS personnel and police aren’t the only people who rush to emergencies. The all-volunteer Portage County Medical Reserve Corps stands ready, too, and is eager to recruit new members.
The Corps experienced a 400% growth level during the Covid-19 pandemic, but as it subsides, so has active membership, health district Public Information Officer Sarah Meduri said. Now, the MRC needs to renew its ranks, especially given the nation’s recent increase in natural disasters that could strike anytime, anywhere, she added.
MRC volunteers were on-scene at Windham’s tornado reception center this past spring, but more typically assist at health fairs, monthly pop-up pantries and vaccination clinics. They participate in county-wide multi-disciplinary training exercises and promote immunization campaigns. They may staff vaccination clinics, shelters, pharmaceutical distribution sites or volunteer reception centers.
Established in 2006, the MRC currently has 316 members, over half of whom are medical professionals such as doctors, dentists, nurses, paramedics and EMTs. Some 40% are community members who bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the organization.
Now, the MRC seeks licensed medical professionals and others with medical experience. Nurses, doctors, pharmacists, EMTs, veterinarians, dentists, physical therapists, nursing assistants, phlebotomists, lab techs and others associated with the medical field are all welcome.
Also needed are mental health professionals, including counselors, social workers, therapists, psychologists and clergy.
Clerical experts, computer specialists, translators, construction workers, transportation specialists, child care workers, communicators, heavy equipment operators, educators, epidemiologists, biologists, chemists and call takers are all needed to ensure the MRC effectively fulfills its role.
Volunteers are not obligated to respond during emergencies, but those who do will be trained, credentialed as needed and issued appropriate I.D.s allowing them to assist in given situations. They may find themselves helping disaster or epidemic victims, or assisting with debris removal, supply management, outbreak investigations, transportation and animal rescues.
Portage County Emergency Management Agency Director Ryan Shackelford said waiting for a disaster may not be the best time to step forward.
“The reality is, if we have you vetted, and you’re already a part of our systems before something happens, that makes it quicker for us to mobilize you and get you into the right arena that fits your background when something happens even faster,” he said.
He characterized what is essentially a health department-EMA collaboration as “a huge benefit to the Portage County community” that brings volunteers with varied backgrounds together to fill equally varied needs.
Once volunteers have completed an online registration process, Robert Walker, the county health department’s MRC pointman, will notify members via email about volunteer opportunities. Volunteers can see what is needed and where, and can respond via return email, streamlining a process that could easily become cumbersome, Shackelford said.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should email Walker at [email protected] or call the county health department at 330-296-9919, ext. 112.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.