Upcoming Training & Events
Many
Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are already trained and licensed
by the State of Virginia, or another state to perform in certain
medical roles. In addition to this training and, in cases
where volunteers may not already have medical training, there
will be additional and on going training offered to meet the
needs of the roles volunteers may play in an emergency situation.
Although many volunteers will provide some type of medical
assistance, volunteers may help in an emergency in many ways.
There are over 800 different training modules available for
volunteers to gain the training they need to assist in an
infinite number of ways. Coupled with the individual’s
previous experience and skills, volunteers should be placed
in positions which utilize their abilities without compromising
their safety or that of the people they serve.
Local
Medical Reserve Corps will designate the times and format
for training to be offered to volunteers but similar standards
for content exist throughout the state. The following is a
list of suggested minimum competencies for ALL volunteers,
whether medically trained or not (length of sessions may vary).
The Training Priority Team, composed of MRC unit leaders,
other health volunteer coordinators, training staff and the
state volunteer coordinator developed this list, from examples
of current practice. The Level I competencies are those
the group feels ALL MRC and health volunteers should have,
the Level II are those that would serve volunteers well in
specific roles and situations.
| Medical
Reserve Corps and Health Volunteer Suggested Competencies
(VIRGINIA) |
Level
I
Certificate
in Emergency Preparedness & Response Awareness/Orientation
(Required
for all staff, volunteers & health care workers functioning
in a PH environment)
Certificate
Requirements:
•
Basic Orientation to work/MRC -
This should include an overview
of the local HD, national and local MRC and purpose
•
Basic personal preparedness
•
Basic disaster mental health overview
•
Basics on state and national deployment options and process
•
Public Health 101 (our course or equivalent)
•
BT Awareness (our course, Columbia 's Johns Hopkins', or equivalent
– must contain an
overview of SNS)
•
Terrorism/Security or CDLS Awareness
•
ICS NIMS (VDH course or IS 700 for those in mgt positions;
IS 100 for all others)
*Those holding mgt positions during disasters
must pass exam
Should be > 10 hrs
Level
II
Intermediate
Certificate in Emergency Preparedness & Response
(Requires
1 course in each of the five categories listed below (course
must be more advanced than an overview)
Three
electives from any of the five categories listed or topics
from the miscellaneous category** (must be pre-approved)
Categories
include:
1.
Exercise/Drill participation
2.
Epi & Disease Surveillance or Management
3.
Risk Communication/ State and National Deployment Guidelines
4. Weapons of Mass Destruction
5.
Emergency Operations
6. Medical Treatment/First Aid
7.
Red Cross First Aid and CPR for those wishing to work with
Red Cross
8. Shelter Operations and Management for those wishing to
work with Red Cross
Should be > 20 hrs not including the exercise/drill)
In
addition, volunteers may be encouraged to have basic CPR and
first aid (updated on a regular basis), Emergency Operations
Procedures (SOPs), Disaster Mental Health training, and other
program and event-related trainings. Other courses will be
developed and offered as “just in time” training on specific
health topics related to events or preparedness activities.
Many optional training opportunities
are available through the Virginia TRAIN website. For information
about the TRAIN site or to access courses, please go to the
Virginia Department of Health website and select “TRAIN
VIRGINIA” from menu in the the left margin.
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