26A-1-126

26A-1-126 is the portion of the Utah Code that outlines Medical Reserve Corps. It is important for all MRC members to be familiar with this portion of the code, especially as it pertains to deploying in an emergency.

To volunteer as a member of the MRC during an emergency the following conditions need to be met per 26A-1-126:

• A public health emergency has been declared
• MRC members are activated by and under the supervision of the local health department
• During the emergency the MRC member carries a certificate (or official ID) issued by local health department which designates they are an official member of the MRC

MRC members with professional licenses (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.), can only perform within the scope of their license. However, in some circumstances the local health department may authorize individual MRC members to operate in a modified scope of practice if necessary to respond to the declared emergency. Never operate outside your scope of practice unless this has been authorized by the local health department during the emergency response.

Potential MRC Scam

Volunteer organizations like MRC and CERT are not immune to Internet scams trying to get people to share their personal information.

Last week MRC units in Washington, Oregon and Idaho received a troubling email from a software engineer inviting MRC members to use the new "website for your MRC program." The email was disguised to look like it came from the specific MRC Unit of the member. Once a user followed the link to website, it asked the user to input various personal information.

Please remember Davis County MRC information only comes from the Unit Director or the Unit Coordinator. When the MRC plans to utilize a new web-based program, Utah Responds for example, the Unit Director and/or Unit Coordinator will notify all membership before hand.

If members are ever concerned regarding the validity of information sent via email, or on a unit web site, please contact the Unit Director or Unit Coordinator for clarification.

Thank you.

MRC Summit Keynote Speech

The Keynote speech at the 2010 Healthcare Preparedness and MRC Summit last week was delivered by Nate Leishman, Manager of LDS Humanitarian Emergency Response. Mr. Leishman provided a summary of the initial response efforts in Haiti after the earthquake. Take home “lessons learned” messages include the following:

• Communications are always key. Come prepared with your own communication equipment and work with locals to bolster communication abilities.
• Collaborate. This includes collaboration with partner agencies and even those who are victims of the disaster. Local knowledge of the area can be very helpful.
• Complete training beforehand. Prepared and trained volunteers save a lot of time during the response phase.

Other insights from Mr. Leishman’s presentation included home ownership and construction in Haiti. Only 5% of Haitians own land. The remaining residents rent or are squatters. The low number of land owners greatly contributes to the large ongoing number of displaced people. Additionally, the majority of structures in Haiti are made out of cinder block or cement, and the quality of these building materials is less than what you would see here in the United States.

Finally, Mr. Leishman reminded the audience that FEMA models have indicated a 7.2 earthquake along the Wasatch Front could still result in as many as 3,000-5,000 deaths, thus the importance for us to take emergency preparedness seriously.

The Davis County MRC thanks Mr. Leishman for taking time to share his story with MRC volunteers in Utah.

National MRC Awards

Congratulations to our partner MRC Units and their volunteers who received National MRC recognition awards in 2010.

Community Resiliency Award
Honors MRC units that have demonstrated resiliency at the community level over the past year.
- Harris County Gateway to Care MRC (TX)
- Snohomish County MRC (WA)

Ambassador Award
Honors MRC units that have successfully carried out activities and initiatives over the past year that meet the Surgeon General Priorities of improving health literacy, increasing disease prevention, eliminating health disparities and improving public health preparedness.
- Calcasieu MRC (LA)
- Eastern Nebraska/Western Iowa MRC (NE)

Outstanding MRC Responder
Honors MRC volunteers who have played an instrumental role in responding to a disaster or public health emergency on behalf of their MRC unit during the past year.
- Angie Serota, Kauai MRC (HI)
- Anne Barylick, Rhode Island MRC (RI)

Outstanding MRC Public Health Volunteer
Honors MRC volunteers who have been actively engaged in carrying out public health activities (or specific public health initiatives) during the past year.
- Ellen Strack, Monmouth County MRC (NJ)
- Christine Erlach, Marin MRC (CA)
- L. Clark Hamilton, Southwest Florida MRC (FL)

Outstanding MRC Housing Organization
Honors MRC Housing Organizations that have served as exemplary host agencies to the MRC and have successfully supported, advocated on behalf, and helped integrate the MRC into the local community’s public health and preparedness infrastructure.
- Loudoun County Health Department (VA)
- Berkeley County Health Department (WV)

Outstanding MRC Partner Organization (or Partnership)
Honors MRC Partner Organizations (or Partnerships) that supported MRC units in carrying out their local missions and have provided MRC units with more opportunities to participate in public health, preparedness, and response activities.
- KidneyWise

Innovator Award
Honors a MRC unit that has initiated and carried out a novel and innovative activity over the past year that has helped build on MRC unit and housing organization efforts, engaged unit volunteers in the process, and contributed to strengthening the community’s public health, preparedness, and response system.
- ColoradoSTAR MRC (CO)
- Eastern Shore MRC (VA)

Mentor Award
Honors a MRC unit that has successfully collaborated with other members of the MRC network over the past year to share practices, participate in activities, and carry out initiatives that have strengthened individual and collective groups of MRC units.
- Maine Township Regional MRC (IL)
- Lake County MRC (IL)

National CERT Newsletter

The CERT National Program Office publishes a national newsletter 3-4 times a year full of preparedness information and CERT activities across the country. Many of our MRC members are also CERT trained and will find information in these newsletters valuable.

Click here to view the most recent newsletter, and click here to access prior newsletters. The April edition also includes a story on how CERT volunteers have helped in the H1N1 response.

12 Points of Emergency Preparedness

Brigham City has posted on their web site A 12-Program for Individuals, Family & Community Preparedness.

This quick list by Al Cooper goes beyond the typical checklist for emergency kits & preparedness. It also encourages people to think about finances, keeping a complete inventory of items in their homes, and to plan for pets and those with special needs.

The Davis County MRC encourages members to read this short article for ideas to expand personal and family emergency preparedness.

H1N1 Impact in Utah

The following article is from KSL's web site (weblink included at bottom).

MURRAY -- Researchers say a new study suggests a change in vaccination priorities should be considered for H1N1 flu in Utah.
According to the study, led by Intermountain Medical Center researchers, Utah doctors began to see a pattern early on: the sickest patients being admitted to intensive care units were more likely to be young adults, obese, of Hispanic or Pacific Island descent, and less likely to be insured.
For the study, researchers examined the records of 47 of the first confirmed H1N1 patients admitted to adult intensive care units at Intermountain Medical Center, LDS Hospital, and the University of Utah Health Sciences Center between May 19 and June 30, 2009 -- the initial outbreak period of novel H1N1 influenza in Utah.
That information was then compared to influenza statistics for the general population of Salt Lake County.
In a news release, Dr. Russ Miller, MD, MPH, said, "This information exemplifies how H1N1 affects a different population than seasonal influenza."
Children, pregnant women and people with lung problems were among those in the priority group to receive vaccinations.
The study is published in this month's issue of Chest, the scientific medical journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. IMC says it is the first comprehensive demographic examination of the H1N1 outbreak that swept through Utah last spring.
Last month, the Utah Department of Health said women and minorities in Utah were hit the hardest by the swine flu. But state health officials said it doesn't mean gender and race are high risk factors for flu complications.
Article Link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=10442930