Community-wide emergencies arise without advance warning and in those cases medical support for residents is crucial. Grinnell Regional Public Health received a grant to develop a Medical Reserve Corps in Poweshiek County.
The Medical Reserve Corps is community-based volunteer group that can respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources. The mission is to engage community volunteers to strengthen public health, emergency response, and community resiliency in Poweshiek County. MRC volunteers can include medical and public health professionals. Many community members can fill key support roles.
The MRC was founded nationally in 2002 as a way for individuals and organizations to volunteer in support of their communities. It is a specialized component of Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security.
“We are looking for residents who are interested in volunteering to help prepare and protect our community,” explains Patty Hinrichs, Grinnell Regional Public Health director. “We welcome anyone, especially those with medical background or training, who would not be required to work in other areas during a community emergency.”
To form this very important organization we need medical and non-medical personnel. We will have an informational meeting on Wednesday, March 9, at 3 PM in the Light Center. At this meeting, interested individuals will learn about the MRC roles and responsibilities, training available, time commitment, and examples of how MRCs provide support in communities.
For more information or to sign up, call the Grinnell Regional Public Health office at 641-236-2385.
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