Volunteerism
44% percent of American’s volunteer.
I feel like all the work I do for the water is a full time job. It was great this week that I got to take a day off and do some training with my fellow Medical Reserve Corp volunteers.
The Florida Medical Reserve Corps Network was established to effectively facilitate the use of private volunteers in emergency response.
What is the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)?
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of local groups of volunteers committed to improving the health, safety and resiliency of their communities. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as others interested in strengthening the public health infrastructure and improving the preparedness and response capabilities of their local jurisdiction. MRC units identify, screen, train and organize the volunteers, and utilize them to support routine public health activities and augment preparedness and response efforts.
Program Overview
The Florida Medical Reserve Corps Network comprises 33 Florida MRC units covering all 67 Florida counties.
Florida Medical Reserve Corps units are community-based and function to locally organize and utilize health professionals and other volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to promote community health and respond to emergencies.
The following occupations represent some of Florida’s MRC Volunteer specialties.
- Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Social Worker
- Counselor, Mental Health
- EMT-Basic
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Medical Records and Health Information Technologist
- Medical and Clinical Lab Technician
- Medical and Clinical Lab Technologist
- Paramedic
- Pharmacist
- Physician
- Physician Assistant
- Psychologist
- Radiologic Technologist / Technician
- Registered Nurse
- Respiratory Therapist
- Social Worker
- Veterinarians
Also, the MRC needs non medical people to assist. By joining I’ve been able to go to some really interesting educational opportunities and some I even get credit for. I’d much rather go to active learning then sit in a chair all day and it gives you a good opportunity to meet other medical people in your community besides the ones you work with.
The Florida MRC has saved the state over 1 billions dollars.
Here is a map of the different MRC’s.
Yesterday, I participated with my Martin County Medical Reserve Corp in a statewide Radiological Exercise.
Every time there is a disaster I ache to go there and help. The first time I did work like this was after Hurricane Andrew.
me in homestead after hurricane andrew
homestead after hurricane andrew
homestead after hurricane andrew
hurricane andrew medical team
The exercise was called the
Black Pearl Radiological Exercise.
cool swag t
Black Pearl is the name of the room at the really awesome Treasure Coast Public Safety Complex in PSL. The same training center the fireman complained about during the last election. Seriously great venue. I think if its good enough for the entire state to come to it should be good enough for the Martin County Firemen. Took me 35 minutes to get there from Jensen Beach
We hope it never happens but in reality we have to be ready if it does.
One of the best parts of the day is pets were included today and we had some awesome dogs.
I am pleased we are including pets and other animals. In case of an emergency we just can’t leave them and run. One of the issues we had after Hurricane Katrina is that a bunch of NGO’s went up there and created more havoc then good. One of goals of this team is to reunite pets with their families. That made me so happy.
A while back there was a huge fire in Boulder and people had relocate their horses to the fairgrounds. Once an area was evacuated there was no going back.
We have a lot different kinds of animals and they need to be dealt with. Cows, goats, chickens (I’m not sure if you can decontaminate a chicken.)
So I was really happy to see these guys there.
State Agricultural Response Team
And so happy to see this guy.
Andy Bass
(sorry for the crappy photo Andy)
He is the Operations Assistant, Field Team Leader and Trainer for Florida State Animal Response Coalition.
Florida State Animal Response Coalition was formed by many diverse groups of highly qualified animal responders dedicated to protecting the entire family during disasters. When a hurricane, fire, tornado or other disaster threatens the state of Florida, we will be there to assist with teams of professionally trained volunteers dedicated to care for the animals that rely on us.
I felt like I was with my people! Andy made this – He called it SART Identification! LOL So good to know there are compassionate experts on the ground in case of a disaster.
I love the paw marks.
You don’t have to be an expert to be part of the team. I’m certainly not. Experts are provided. We had plenty of acronyms there today.
So if you have some time contact your local Medical Reserve Corp. I promise they will only call you when they need you.
cyndi lenz 
[…] because I got to spend a wonderful day with them at our statewide Black Pearl Radiologic Exercise. https://cyndi-lenz.com/2015/05/07/volunteerism-medical-reserve-corp-here-when-you-need-us/ So when I saw all this I wanted to make sure I knew exactly what was going on. I was told this: […]
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