Summer Deployment Training

The Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (OVCMRC) has announced another session of Federal Deployment Training for MRC volunteers. The 2010 Introduction to MRC Federal Deployment Training will be held August 23-27, 2010 in Washington DC. Any MRC member can apply to attend this competitive and all-expense paid training.

To apply, MRC volunteers must complete the online application. To be considered, applications need to be completed by July 13, 2010.

Volunteering in America

This information was shared with MRC Units today from the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (OCVMRC):

Corporation for National and Community Service’s Releases 2010 Annual Volunteering in America Report
Despite difficult economic times, the number of Americans volunteering in communities across the country has increased at the fastest rate in six years, according the Corporation for National and Community Service’s annual Volunteering in America report. The research, produced by the Corporation as part of its efforts to expand the reach and impact of America’s volunteers, is the most comprehensive data on volunteering ever assembled. The report found that 63.4 million Americans volunteered last year, giving more than 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service worth an estimated $169 billion. You can see the full report at www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.

NOAA Weather Radio

Everyone should have a battery operated radio as part of their emergency preparedness kit. Another good too is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio that will provide ongoing updates on weather conditions including severe storms and tornadoes.

To learn more about NOAA Weather Radio, the information they broadcast and different frequencies, visit their web site.

MRC Summit Presentations

The 2010 Integrated Medical, Public Health, Preparedness and Response Training Summit (also the National MRC Summit) took place in Las Vegas, NV June 1-3, 2010.

Presentations from the summit can now be viewed on the presentation page of the Summit Website. In a few weeks time photos taken at the summit will also be available on the National MRC Website.

For those interested in attending the 2011 Summit to be held in Texas, return to the Summit Website in a couple of months to view updated information as it is posted.

Sacramento H1N1 Clinics

This link is to a You Tube video summarizing the H1N1 vaccination campaign experience in Sacramento, California.

Much of the information outlined in the video was experienced by public health departments across the country. Good information for MRC members who have not participated in a POD drill.

Try An App

For those who have an iPod Touch or an iPhone there are a number of free, and not so free apps that could come in handy for an emergency. Below are the names of some apps you may want to take a look at and assess their usefulness in your emergency preparedness. By using the iTunes Store search option you can find many, many more. (The Davis County MRC does not officially endorse any of these apps, they are listed here as reference material only.)

Flashlight
Pocket First Aid & CPR from the American Heart Association
wikiHow: How to and DIY Survival Kit
5-o Radio Police Scanner Lite
The Merck Manual - Home Edition, Professional Edition
Emergency Response Guidebook

MRC Deployment Info

For MRC members interested in learning more about the Federal deployment process during a large scale emergency, the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (OCVMRC) has lots of information on their website. The site not only contains a list of frequently asked questions, but also includes photos and videos of the past two deployment trainings held for MRC volunteers.