Medical disaster reservists sought

Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT) - September 17, 2007 Author: Sara Israelsen Deseret Morning News
PROVO -- Basements filled with dusty cans of pork and beans and bottled peaches from 1984 are only part of being prepared for an emergency. "We hear a lot about preparedness in the state," said Jan Rogers, Utah County MedicalReserveCorps coordinator. "By hearing about it, we think we've done it. Most of us could sit back and think a little more clearly about it."

She spoke recently to the Utah County Commission outlining the goals of the county's MedicalReserveCorps , a group of volunteers that are trained to respond during emergencies to provide medical help in and out of hospitals.

"I think as a nation we have a responsibility to those who sacrificed for the greater good," Rogers said, citing the brave men and women who died six years ago last Tuesday in the Sept. 11 attacks. "(We need to) shake ourselves out of complacency and take steps to magnify our level of preparedness as individuals and a community."

Rogers said she sees a problem in the change from an agrarian lifestyle to urban communities, with residents who are far more dependent on transportation and perpetually stocked store shelves.

"The way we live now, everything's available at all times," she said. "I think we get a false sense of security."

Combating that false sense of security would be to have supplies to sustain life for 72 hours following an emergency or disaster.

"We really depend on the public ... to take care of themselves in major disasters," said Dr. Joseph Miner, director of the Utah County Health Department. "We need leaders form neighborhoods (because) government is limited when you have widespread incidents. That's the purpose of planning ahead ... to have the public help themselves."

The MedicalReserveCorps has 40 people in training right now but is always looking for more volunteers -- with or without medical backgrounds.

Interested individuals can call Rogers at 801-404-7172. Those without medical backgrounds can receive county training but may need to augment their skills with a Red Cross or Community Emergency Response Team class.

During meetings and trainings, volunteers will be taught about the chain of command during an incident and how they can help provide and relay information effectively.

They also learn how to work in a team and how to keep themselves safe as they help others.

E-mail:sisraelsen@desnews.com