Mercy Teams Up with the Kern Medical Reserve Corps
When a major earthquake, fire, flood, viral outbreak or any other disaster strikes Kern County, local hospitals and clinics could become overwhelmed with the sick or injured. Shelters may have to be opened and mass casualty staging areas and alternate care sites may have to be set up in metropolitan as well as rural locations. In these cases, additional medically trained personnel will be needed. That's where the newly formed Kern Medical Reserve Corps (KMRC) comes in.
Mercy Hospitals is helping KMRC get the word out about the Medical Reserve Corp in an effort to obtain needed volunteers in the event of a disaster.
"Being able to provide medical aid to your community when a disaster or emergency occurs, gives one immeasurable satisfaction," said Dr. Claudia Jonah, MD., Interim Health Officer for the Kern County Department of Public Health. A rapid emergency response will provide a timely return to stability for Kern's communities.
KMRC volunteers can play a crucial role in making this happen by being part of a pre-identified, pre-credentialed and pre-trained team of potential responders. The KMRC is one of 721 Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) around the nation. Organized following President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, the MRC program is based in the Office of the United States Surgeon General.
Apply: www.co.kern.ca.us/health/emergency/volunteer.asp
KMRC : www.geocities.com/kmrc2007
MRC: www.medicalreservecorps.gov
Phone: 661-868-0914
