Officials Organize Medical Corps For Potential Cri

Officials Organize Medical Corps For Potential Crises

POSTED: 4:22 pm EDT May 5, 2006
UPDATED: 6:22 pm EDT May 5, 2006

CINCINNATI -- Preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic, officials are asking Tri-State volunteers to step forward for disaster training.

A mobile hospital -- basically a modern-day MASH unit -- rolled into town Friday to show that everyday citizens could help during a crisis.

"It comes together in a field hospital or what we call an alternative care center," public health coordinator Mike Ottoway said. "What the alternate hospital can do is provide hospitals with additional space and beds and supplies."

He told News 5 that officials are working to create a medical reserve corps to help out in regional emergencies.

"We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow -- a hurricane, a tornado, some infectious disease," he said.

Bird flu is at the top of the list of concerns. Experts said 40 percent of the workforce, including police, firefighters and medical professionals, could be incapacitated.

"We don't need to be meeting each other and sharing credentials at the time of the disaster. We need to do that ahead of time," said Jerry Lautz, of the Cincinnati Health Collaborative.

For more information on the volunteer corps, click here.

http://www.channelcincinnati.com/health/9168441/detail.html    

There are lots of Medical Reserve Corps in every state now, see info at http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/HomePage
there is a link there to find them in your state.
I belong to the Boston MRC. What we plan to do during a pandemic include staff immunization clinics when vaccine is available, perhaps man shelters such as overflow shelters from hospitals. Not only do we need doctors and nurses, we need anyone to do things like register people and other things. There is no commitment to agree to any future call up, so just check it out, and there might be some situation in which you can help your community.

cathypeanut

I trust you rushed to volunteer Oknut!  Beth

Question: I am planning on taling the Red Cross First Aid and CPR courses. Do I put myself at risk of an INVOLUNTARY call-up????

  I have 2 nurses in my family, that live in Chicago.  So far the places they work at don't have a bird flu plan.  I asked would they go to work if the BF strikes.  They said if they could be certian they would be protected they would, other wise they will be staying at home, mainly because they don't trust there place of employment to be able to get ready at the last minute.

It seems fairly obvious that "Trust us, have we ever let you down?" is not going to produce the desired reaction. The government may therefore choose not to use this particular appeal. They may choose another route.

Mr. Clinton moved our National Guard Units from America to over sea’s service. Femvet, I agree with Dlugose, D R A F T, for emergencies any trained personnel, IMHO.