WORTHINGTON -- When an emergency happens, whether it's a natural disaster, a food-borne illness or an infectious disease outbreak, medical professionals rely on volunteers to help organize response efforts and makeshift clinics.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it was realized that a system of organized, certified volunteers with healthcare-related skills was needed to call upon in the event of a major disaster. Since then, these groups of volunteers have been established and received training in states across the country.
In Minnesota, the Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was established to pre-register, manage and mobilize volunteers for disaster response.
The group is hosting two upcoming trainings in southwest Minnesota for those who are already trained as MRC volunteers and those interested in being a part of the corps.
Registration is due Monday for the Sept. 29 training at Prairie's Edge Casino near Granite Falls. Registration is due Oct. 5 for the Oct. 13 training at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Worthington campus. Both will begin at 9 a.m. and continue to 2:30 p.m.
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To register for either training, contact Karen Ampe, southwest regional MRC administrator at (320) 231-7860 or email karen_a@co.kandiyohi.mn.us . Applications to be a MRC volunteer are online at mnresponds.org.
The training will cover everything from code of conduct as a volunteer, staying safe around blood-borne pathogens and infection control, accessing additional training, psychological first aid and pets in disasters.
Janet Howard, Nobles County Community Health Services administrator, said there are approximately 50 volunteers already registered with the Medical Reserve Corps from Nobles County, but more are welcome. Previously registered volunteers are encouraged to attend the training, which will be conducted in partnership with the Southwest Health and Human Services and Cottonwood-Jackson Public Health service territories.
"There's potential for working locally, statewide or even nationally when you're registered with the Medical Reserve Corps," Howard said.
Certain skill sets are sought from those who volunteer, and range from physicians and nurses to social workers, interpreters, clerical workers, greeters and traffic control people. Volunteers may be practicing in the health care field, retired, college students or those otherwise employed.
Since the MRC is relatively new, there haven't been any instances locally that have required a response from reserve corps volunteers. Howard said the H1N1 clinics in late 2009, the tuberculosis response in 2008 and the Hepatitis A incident in 2007 all preceded the local corps.
"Many times in an emergency, if there's a mass immunization clinic, the nurses give the vaccines but you need people to do organization, check people in and do clerical work," Howard said. "There are a variety of duties."
Nobles County Community Services has applied for a $5,000 grant from the National Association of City & County Health Officials (NACCHO) for supplies and oversight of the reserve corps volunteers.
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Daily Globe Reporter Julie Buntjer may be reached at 376-7330.
