When a Public Health Emergency Happens…

Your Help Can Make a Difference

The mission of the Medical Reserve Corps is to allow local volunteer medical and health professionals to contribute their skills and expertise throughout the year as well as during times of community need.

MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS OF SCOTT COUNTY

The Medical Reserve Corps of Scott County (MRC-SC) is a countywide resource of health professionals and other volunteers who strengthen our community by preparing for and responding to local public health emergencies and assisting in ongoing public health initiatives.

The MRC-SC allows for volunteers to donate their time and expertise right here in Scott County, making if easier for you to assist your own family, neighbors and community.

Our goal is to have pre-identified and trained, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers ready to assist medical response professionals during a large scale emergency that threatens local public health – be it an outbreak of meningitis, SARS, influenza or an event of bioterrorism.

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER

• Healthcare professionals, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, veterinarians, EMTs, paramedics, etc.

• Public Health professionals, such as epidemiologists, health educators, biostatisticians, public health nurses, environmental health professionals, etc.

• Those with essential emergency response skills, such as social workers, counselors, interpreters, chaplains, support staff, etc.

• Others who just want to help

Volunteers may be practicing, retired or otherwise employed.

WHEN MIGHT THE MRC/SC CALL ME TO HELP?

As a MRC-SC volunteer, your community might need your skills:

• When local public health resources are stretched by an epidemic or infectious disease that requires mass immunization or dispensing.

• If education and prevention services are needed to improve the public health infrastructure of your community

• When other public health emergencies occur, such as floods, tornados or other natural disasters.

Health Care Professional Volunteers are needed to serve in a variety of functions including:

• Medical Screener
• Injector
• Injector Aide
• Health Educators
• Interpreter
• Mental Health Counseling
• First Aid
• Triage
• Medication Dispenser

Non-Health Care Professional Volunteers are also needed to serve in a variety of functions including:

• Greeter/Ushers
• Technical Support
• Event Set-up and Take-down
• Heavy Labor
• Child care
• Food Canteen worker
• Parking and Transportation Workers
• Data Entry

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is Scott County looking for volunteers?

One role of Scott County Public Health is to respond to emergencies that can pose a significant threat to the public’s health. In some cases, volunteers may be needed to assist public health staff respond to these emergencies.

Does Scott County Public Health have a plan to respond to emergencies?

Yes, The Scott County Public Health Department has a public health emergency plan that enables communities to continue to operate; to carry out functions to protect the public’s health and the environment; and to prevent the occurrence and transmission of disease.

What is the difference between the Medical Reserve Corps of Scott County (MRC-SC) and the Minnesota Responds! Registry?

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has developed Minnesota Responds, a volunteer registry of people in a wide variety of health occupations who are willing to volunteer during a public health emergency. Names of the registrants will be made available to regional or local public health departments to access during an emergency. The Medical Reserve Corps of Scott County is working closely with MDH to ensure that both agencies’ development plans are compatible and connected. Enrollment in the MRC-SC ensures that you will be linked ahead of time to your local health department and that you will be credentialed and trained before being called upon to respond to an emergency. Unless otherwise directed, MRC-SC volunteers’ enrollment information will be forwarded for inclusion in the Minnesota Responds registry.

The Minnesota Responds registry is coordinated with the Medical Reserve Corps of Scott County. The information you enter about yourself on Minnesota Responds will be given directly to the Medical Reserve Corps of Scott County.

SIGN UP NOW!

To become a volunteer with the MRC of Scott County:

Sign up now by using the online registration form (please click on the link below).

http://www.mnresponds.org

or call 952-496-8555

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CONTACT US

For more information contact the Emergency Preparedness Specialist at:
bottinger@co.scott.mn.us, 952-496-8658
or you may call the main number at 952-496-8555

LINKS

The Medical Reserve Corps
http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov

Minnesota Responds!
http://www.mnresponds.org

Community Emergency Response Team(CERT)
www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/CERT/index.asp

Centers for Disease Control, Emergency Preparedness and Response
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/

Minnesota Department of Health
http://www.health.state.mn.us

Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
http://www.hsem.state.mn.us/

Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org

United States Department of Homeland Security
http://www.ready.gov