January 13, 2006

Medical Reserve Corps Orientation Training Set

Both New and Returning Members Urged to Attend

Orientation training sessions for Medical Reserve Corps volunteers will be held throughout North Idaho in the next two months. The training is open to anyone interested in the Medical Reserve Corps program and to those who are already members.

The Medical Reserve Corps is a volunteer organization comprised of more than 1,100 medical professionals and others from throughout North Idaho who support community emergency responders in the event of a public health emergency or other event when additional personnel is needed. The MRC is sponsored by Panhandle Health District and the district provides training and exercising opportunities for volunteers to ensure they will be ready to respond in an emergency situation.

MRC volunteers responded in 2005 to calls for assistance from the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Katrina, from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department for hotline help during a major criminal investigation, at the handwashing station at the North Idaho Fair's petting zoo, at the TB screening at Coeur d'Alene High School and during the statewide SNS exercise.

The orientation training will address where volunteers respond to if activated, what to take, how to prepare families for the volunteer's activation, and other issues.

Following is a schedule of upcoming trainings:

• Jan. 18 - Rathdrum, 6-8 p.m. at the Rathdrum Library, 1652 N. Highway 41
   
• Feb. 22 - Priest River, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at West Bonner Library, 205 High St. (in the trailer)
   
• Mar. 23 - Wallace, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office, 717 Bank St. (courtroom)

Training opportunities are scheduled through PHD. All classes require a minimum of five participants. Interested persons are urged to register as soon as possible to avoid the class being cancelled.

For more information, call (208) 415-5185