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Strengthening
Ohio’s Communities through
Education & Volunteerism
| Issue
7 |
June
2005 |
| In
this Issue:
(click an article) |
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Ohio Medical Reserve Corps is Born! |
| Recently, Ohio was served by two medical volunteer operations, the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and the Ohio Volunteer Medical Response Corps (OVMRC). These two separate operations existed because of different funding sources and guidelines. With two organizations coexisting, disparities emerged in training protocols and operation procedures. The names also created confusion among the public looking to become involved in volunteer service. In an effort to remedy these problems, Commander Robert J. Tosatto, MRC Program Director, and Dr. Nick Baird, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, made an exciting announcement joining the MRC and OVMRC to form the Ohio Medical Reserve Corps (OMRC). Dr. Forrest Smith, State Epidemiologist and Ohio MRC coordinator explains the importance of the merger is streamlining, "Ohio is unique, in that we are working on a volunteer system that places medical and lay persons in the same database. The name change will facilitate coordination through a common structure." The change will not affect the volunteers already involved in MRC and the 14 MRC local units will remain the same. In fact, plans call for even more local units to be established. Dr. Smith says, "the change is in the organizational structure." Dr. Smith is personally excited about the change because it will allow Ohio Medical Reserve Corps to move forward in planning and expand the volunteer pool. He also expressed high expectations for the future of OMRC, " In the end we will have a coordinated response for any medical emergency in Ohio." |
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Making a Difference, Ohio's Medical Reserve Corps Units |
Although the program is still in its infancy, Ohio currently has 14 Medical Reserve Units with more than 1,000 volunteers. We continue to grow with our two newest units in Greene and Darke Counties. Our units are spread across the state working to make communities safer and stronger. Here is what is happening in Ohio!
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Ohio Citizens Corps. MRC members used vans and buses to transport people to fairgrounds. Clinic volunteers assisted the drive thru for patients unable to leave their vehicle. Radio stations broadcasted from the clinic and the event attracted media coverage from the local newspaper. The clinic was a huge undertaking, but a huge success. Congratulations to Clark County MRC members on a job well done! |
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- The Lucas County MRC has successfully recruited and verified credentials for more than 500 health care professionals. More than half of the volunteers are in nursing professions, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, RN's, and LPN's! Other professions include Physicians, Physician Assistants, Dentists, Pharmacists, Veterinarians, Psychologists, Social Workers, Paramedics, EMT's, Respiratory Therapists, Radiology Technicians, and Massage Therapists. The unit is now planning to train volunteers through an "Introduction to Medical Reserve Corps." This is a four hour training course tailored specifically for Lucas County Volunteers. It is slated for July 16th and September 27th in Toledo.
- The Northeast Ohio
MRC has been active in the community helping to provide first
aid for local community events. In the past two months the MRC provided
support for five walks for charity, three for the National MS Society
and two for the March of Dimes. The unit has regular meetings and trainings.
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The Miami County MRC is growing steadily with 22 volunteers including: Doctors, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Veterinarians, EMTs, Social Workers, Pharmacists and lay people. The unit publishes a quarterly newsletter and hosts trainings. Miami MRC members are active with recruitment, data entry and participated in the local flu clinic.
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The Licking County MRC already surpassed its goal of 75 members with 79 volunteers registered. The unit has established a planning committee, which is addressing the following issues: Recruitment, Marketing, Training , Resources, Action Plan, Marketing, Meetings and Job Descriptions.
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Shelby County's MRC was started in September of 2004, and an officially registered unit this past March. Currently, the Shelby County has 27 members. The unit partakes in quarterly meetings and plan to begin monthly meetings this year. A goal has been established to have a 100 member unit by March 2006. The unit is organizing trainings and will be offering some C.E.R.T. trainings by collaborating with the local EMA
 You
Can Make a Difference too! Join
the Ohio Medical Reserve Corps Check Out our web site at: http://www.serveohio.org/CitizenCorps/mrc/mrc.html |
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MRC's
in Ohio
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Launches New Web site |
| Do you need to find out the latest information about Ohio Citizen Corps. Now you can by logging onto to our redesigned web site at www.serveohio.org/CitizenCorps. The new web site includes pages of all six of our feature programs: Community Emergency Response Team, Medical Reserve Corps, FireCorps, Volunteers in Police Service, Neighborhood Watch and Terrorism Awareness and Prevention. The web site features a "interest card" form for prospective members to receive additional information or to join. Also, the calendar is updated weekly about Ohio Citizen Corps activities and events. Check it out and let us know what you think! Send comments to Paul Bender at paul.bender@ocsc.state.oh.us |  |
Ohio Citizen Corps also launched a new format for this addition of the E-Newsletter. Please send comments and suggestions to Paul Bender at paul.bender@ocsc.state.oh.us
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In Action |
| Stories
are still pouring in about the tremendous effort put forward by Ohio
Citizen Corps volunteers during the severe weather this past winter.
In Fairfield County, CERT members helped to clear
limbs and debris that were blocking roads. In Guernsey County
CERT members helped with disaster relief efforts when serious
flooding threatened the county. In Plymouth, CERT
members worked to clear fallen trees from yards and streets. In Richland County Citizen Corps Council volunteers were called into action by the Richland County EMA. During the severe ice storm in January, the county had over 10,000 initial damage assessments filed with FEMA. Several Township Trustees took their residents' copies so they could call them and remind them that they needed to call FEMA directly to officially file. The numbers were so great that the EMA needed assistance with the calls. Citizen Corps volunteers stepped up |
and made more than 7,000 calls in 4 days! Because of their efforts, FEMA applications doubled in Richland County in a matter of a few days. Once again, we would like to say thank you to all the volunteers that helped during the disaster. |
| Findlay City Health Department and the Hancock County Health Department collaborated with each other and the University of Findlay’s School of Emergency and Environmental Management to host a countywide mock disaster drill. These participants are represented on the Hancock County Citizen Corps Council. The Lead Volunteer Center staff also participated in this tabletop exercise, noting the significance of the VRC concept in emergency response. | This drill was interactive and realistic; facilitators required that individuals who had roles in the scenario actually carry through the actions identified in the disaster plans. This forced identification of weaknesses in plans that had been written but never truly tested. There were several surprises that need to be addressed and a very eye-opening experience for all who participated. |
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The
American Search & Rescue Center CERT team, located in Bexley,
collected "Socks for Seniors"
this past Winter. The CERT team collected more than 1,000 packages
of socks and distributed them to area nursing homes. Through this
annual event, 5,000 packages of socks have been collected. |
| We want to hear what is happening in your community! Send
stories and pictures to Paul
Bender at paul.bender@ocsc.state.oh.us |
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Churches Get Involved with Emergency Response |
When a major disaster strikes, the impact on the community is incredible. The impact on emergency response agencies can be overwhelming. Utilizing the resources of the local church can provide much needed help in the response to an incident. However, many churches do not have the training to assist when the need arises. Churches, though, have a reputation for strong volunteer and donations management.
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Bringing together the strengths of the church with an indoctrination of community emergency response creates an valuable resource for the community and emergency response agencies. The Joshua Tree Project, a part of Transformation Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky, was developed to provide training and networking for local churches wishing to help their communities in times of disaster. This statewide initiative, based on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) model, helps local churches prepare to be a part of the local emergency response effort. The Joshua Tree Project assists with training volunteers, developing resources, and networking area churches towards a concerted effort. By taking this approach, local churches can pull from the strengths of each body towards a unified effort, rather than a splintered service or duplicated response. As well, it helps develop a strong community based effort to assist, providing an area with a broader array of resources to help a community to rebuild after a disaster. Training is one of the key elements. At the center, and the baseline training, is the CERT program. Each member is taken through the Basic CERT class. This gives the volunteer some basic skills that can be utilized during the incident. Also, it indoctrinates the person in the basics of Incident Management System. (Volunteers are also required to take the National Incident Management System for National Disaster Workers.) Having an understanding of Incident Management provides an understanding of how an incident operates and how they fit into the response. Volunteers who wish to take leadership roles within their church receive training through the following courses:
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Training is intended, not only to maintain interest in the program, but to ensure that the volunteer and the church are an asset on the scene.
Information and volunteer management are also critical for a successful program. The Joshua Tree Project has partnered with Project Gilead to maintain ongoing volunteer and resource data. The benefit is to give us real time data for tracking volunteers and ensuring correct information is received in a timely fashion on the incident.
Finally, the Joshua Tree Project
is working with local churches to develop consistent and standardized
response equipment. To avoid timely response, when called, they are working
within the network to develop equipment and resources that can be sent
to the scene to assist the teams and to reduce delay. As well, they will
be working to develop the strengths of the local churches so that ongoing
efforts can be performed to assist communities in rebuilding after the
disaster, rather than simply meeting the immediate need. The ability to
truly minister to a community goes beyond the immediate need. Rebuilding
a community requires a long-term commitment.
The Joshua Tree Project of Transformation Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky
is working to build stronger communities in times of crisis. The local
church can and should be the leader in those times of need. If you or
your church would like to get involved contact Transformation Cincinnati-Northern
Kentucky at 513.665.9100 or by email at
info@transformationcincinnati.com
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Ohio Volunteer License Plate1,000 Signatures needed to help Volunteerism in Ohio |
You Can Help.....It's Easy....Sign the Petition!
The Ohio Community Service Council is coordinating an EXCITING effort to create an Ohio “VOLUNTEER” License Plate to help support volunteer activities throughout the state! As part of this effort, 1,000 signatures must be obtained from people who support the creation of this special license plate.
Proceeds generated from the sale of the license plates will be used for a variety of activities including:
- grants to local organizations for innovative volunteer programs;
- further development of Ohio’s Citizen Corps (citizen involvement in homeland security);
- support for Make A Difference Day Ohio (the largest national day of service);
- assistance with local matching funds for AmeriCorps programs - and more!
#1 Download the Signature Petition and agree to be a Petition Circulator. (click here) Help us obtain the 1,000 REQUIRED signatures by September 30, 2005! |
| #2 Circulate the Signature Petition among colleagues and friends - please make extra Copies of the Signature Petition to obtain additional signatures. |
| #3
Return all
petitions to the Ohio Community Service Council, 51 N. High
Street-Suite 800, Columbus, Ohio 43215 - no later than September
30, 2005. Faxed copies will not be accepted –original
signatures are required. |
Every
signature counts!
If you are unable to obtain multiple signatures, but are interested in
showing your support- please include your information on the Signature
Petition and mail it to the
Ohio Community Service Council.
Note: To be valid, all information must be complete. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires a current license plate number or a social security number be included for each signature to prove authenticity.
Mail completed Signature Petition
Page to: Ohio Community Service Council,
51 N. High Street-Suite 800, Columbus, OH 43215 (no later
than September 30, 2005)
Note: Target Date for License Plate Availability: Late 2005-Early 2006
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Citizen Corps Money Helps Fire DepartmentThe Jewell Volunteer Fire Department Cadet Program |
| The Jewell Volunteer Fire Department Fire Cadet Program was recognized as the outstanding Youth Organization in Defiance County. The cadet program was created as the local initiative in Defiance County's 2004 Ohio Emergency Management Agency-Citizen Corps Grant. Prior to that, the Defiance County Commissioners had asked the Volunteer Connection, a local volunteer agency, to investigate the need for volunteer fire fighters and EMT's as there appeared to be fewer and fewer of them around. As research began, the Jewell Fire Departments statistics stood out. The number of fire fighters and EMT's had decreased from 107 in 1974 to 37 in 2004. The average age of a firefighter/EMT was 45 and 16 of the members were over 50 years old. Four of those were over 60. The department had not had an 18 year old join the |
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| fire department in 13 years. In May 2004, The Volunteer Connection and members of the fire department went to Tinora High School and recruited 26 students for participation in the program. At the first meeting in June 2004, 14 members attended and these members have continued through training. They currently conduct their meetings on a monthly basis and are beginning to participate in trainings with the fire fighters, as permissible by state law. The cadets have assisted in a variety of ways: public outreach, education, and fund raising for the fire department and their own program. In addition to receiving funding through OEMA they also received funding through a grant from the Points of Light Foundation. The program goal was to have 12 members by May 2005 and to have one member participate in firefighter / EMT training in summer 2005. The participant goal has been reached and two graduating seniors have signed up for Fire/ EMT school this summer. | |
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Safety During a Thunderstorm |
| The National
Lightning Safety Institute highlights several safety tips for remaining
safe during thunderstorms. For complete information, please visit: www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov Ø Plan your outdoor activities to avoid thunderstorms. Weather radios are a good source of the latest forecast information Ø If you hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning. Move Indoors. Ø A safe shelter is inside a fully enclosed, substantial building or a vehicle with a solid metal roof Ø Indoors, stay away from 1) anything connected to power (telephone, cable lines), 2) water or plumbing Ø Outdoors, stay away from 1) high places, 2) open areas, 3) tall isolated objects and 4) open structures |
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For Kids - Watching the skies |
The National Weather Service's Kids Page is a great site for teaching your children about the weather. It is filled with activities, information and safety tips from tornadoes to winter storms. Log on at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/reachout/kidspage.shtml |