805 N. Broad St.
Carlinville, IL 62626
ph: (217) 854-3223
fax: (217) 854-4736

 

The next MRC meeting will be August 16, 2008 at the Carlinville Macoupin County Public Health Department office at 9:00AM.  For more information, please contact David Hopper: (217) 854-3223 x 237

 

 

 

Upcoming MRC Events

 

Spanish for First Responders Training

August 13th, August 27th, and September 10th

from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Lewis and Clark Community College Office -

next to Carlinville Wal-Mart on Shipman Blacktop

Call David Hopper (217-854-3223 ext.237) to register

 

Psychological First Aid Training

August 16th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm -

Carlinville MCPHD Office (805 N. Broad St.)

Call David Hopper (217-854-3223 ext.237) to register

 

 


RECENT MRC EVENTS 

 

June 19 - The inaugural MRC CERT class

completed their training following the June

MRC meeting in Carlinville.

 

MRC Volunteers demonstrate skills learned during the mock-disaster final exam on June 19th. This is known as cribbing, a method of extricating victims who have been trapped under heavy debris.

From left to right: Annie Dobson, Elizabeth Groves, and Ruth Ann Coatney hold up their Certificates of Achievement following their successful completion of the CERT program.

 

 

 

 



Matt Roberts, IDPH, discusses volunteer opportunities in Illinois, including the Medical Reserve Corps at the 2008 Central Illinois Regional Medical Reserve Corps Conference. 

 

 

Jim Pitchford, Macoupin County EMA, describes the emergency communication procedures taken by first responders during an emergency and what volunteers can do to prepare themselves pre-event at the 2008 Central Illinois Regional Medical Reserve Corps Conference.

 

 

Another event that the Macoupin County Medical Reserve Corps sponsored recently was the Road to Reality, at Blackburn College.  The Road to Reality program demonstrated the effects of drinking and driving to underage youth.  The MRC assisted at the program by taking picture but also by donating a Sony MP3 Player to be raffeled off to one lucky participant. 

Below is a picture of an MRC volunteer playing the role of a doctor attempting to revive a victim of the car accident. 

 

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was founded after President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country. MRC is a specialized component of Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security. Citizen Corps, along with the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Peace Corps are all part of the President's USA Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism and service throughout the nation.

 

Our world has many potential dangers!  Natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, or man-made emergencies, such as 9/11 or a chemical spill, can happen at any time without warning.  Due to the need for emergency management planning, the Department of Homeland Security began and coordinates the Citizen Corps.  One of the programs developed by the Citizen Corps is the Medical Reserve Corps.  The Medical Reserve Corps is designed to recruit, train, and mobilize available community members who have the background to be helpful in the event of a disaster.  An MRC can be used to supplement traditional community emergency services when a disaster is of a magnitude that overwhelms such resources. 

 

The Macoupin County Medical Reserve Corps has been implemented to serve the needs of Macoupin County communities in the event of an emergency.  Even in smaller communities, natural or man-made disasters can occur at any moment.  The need to be prepared is a growing necessity.  Medical and non-medical professionals are encouraged to join.  

 

 Macoupin County Medical Reserve Corps Mission Statement

Emergency response begins at the local level.  The Macoupin County Medical Reserve Corps has been established to supplement the emergency response functions of Macoupin County, including response to Public Health disasters (pandemic influenza/ bio-terrorism), tornadoes, floods, chemical spills, earthquakes, etc.  The MRC provides opportunities for citizens to train in response activities to better assist their communities and their families.

Macoupin County Medical Reserve Corps Goals and Objectives

 

  • Goal 1 – Increase the number of trained Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.          
  • Goal 2 – Train current Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.
  • Goal 3 – Increase the exposure of the Medical Reserve Corps in communities.
  • Goal 4 – Increase knowledge of public regarding basic home preparedness.

                 

 Why join the Medical Reserve Corps?

1. Disasters will affect all of us.

2. You will be trained to better assist your family, friends, and community.

3. You DO NOT have to be a medical professional to join.  All volunteers are needed.

4. If a disaster strikes, we cannot depend on federal resources.  We will be tasked as communities to respond with local resources.  You can be a local resource.

What Can MRC Volunteers Do?

Support local public health initiatives and the goals of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010, while advancing the priorities of the Surgeon General:

* Promoting disease prevention

* Improving health literacy

* Eliminating health disparities

* Enhancing public health preparedness

Assist local hospitals and health departments with surge personnel needs.

Participate in mass prophylaxis and vaccination exercises and community disaster drills.

Train with local emergency response partners.

And more...

How Can I Join?

To join Macoupin County MRC contact David Hopper at dhopper@mcphd.net or call at
 (217) 854- 3223 x. 237.  You may also print out an application and mail it in to the Macoupin County Public Health Department. 

Important Links and Information:

 

About the MRC

www.medicalreservecorps.gov- The national Medical Reserve Corps website.

www.mrcil.com-  The Illinois Medical Reserve Corps Website.

Macoupin County MRC Calendar of Events

Application for the Macoupin MRC

Printable Application


 

805 N. Broad St.
Carlinville, IL 62626
ph: (217) 854-3223
fax: (217) 854-4736