Medical Reserve Corps Wants You

By SHELLEY HANSON
WHEELING — Triage, Mass Casualty Awareness, Isolation and Quarantine — these are some of the training classes health officials want residents to attend in preparation for possible disasters.

The training is being conducted by Northern Panhandle Medical Reserve Corps officials. They are looking for more volunteers to receive free training in their respective counties of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler.

In the state of Ohio, Belmont County also is having MRC training. Its first class, which will focus on three topics — triage, mass casualty awareness, and isolation and quarantine — is scheduled from 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday at Belmont Technical College’s Red Room. For more information, call trainer Lynn Schrum at 740-695-1202.

The corps, which currently consists of 100 medical and non-medical volunteers, ‘‘supplements the existing emergency response systems in place during times of bioterrorism attacks, non-terror threats and natural disasters,’’ said Pat Vargo, MRC training coordinator for Ohio County.

The training curriculum used in all MRC classes has been nationally recognized by the National Organization of City and County Health Officials. Vargo recently represented the Northern Panhandle during a NACCHO Core Competency Pilot Project workshop in Providence, R.I.

‘‘It is an honor to represent the Northern Panhandle and the state of West Virginia at the national level. We really worked hard last year to provide our volunteers with the best training possible using the MRC national standards,’’ Vargo said. ‘‘I enjoy being a part of this work group and it is exciting to meet, network and collaborate with MRC leaders from all over the country because we all face the same challenges.’’

Volunteers can take as many classes as they choose. Upcoming training opportunities include:

? From 5:30-8 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency. Topics include Emergency Operations Center Orientation and Psychological Impacts of Disasters.

? Classes about challenges faced by HIV/AIDS clients during disasters by Jay Adams of the AIDS Task Force will be conducted: from 6:30-8 p.m. March 4 at the Marshall County Health Department; from 6:30-8 p.m. March 11 at Cabela’s in Ohio County; from 1-2:30 p.m. March 18 at the Wetzel-Tyler County Health Department; and from 6:30-8 p.m. March 10 at Weirton Medical Center for residents of Hancock and Brooke counties.

For more information about joining the MRC or to register for classes, one should call the trainer at their county health department: Hancock-Brooke, Cindy Webster at 304-564-3343; Ohio, Pat Vargo at 304-234-3652; Marshall, Patty Owens or Debbie Shipley at 304-845-7840; Wetzel-Tyler, Dorothy Lockett or Karen Cain at 304-337-2001; Belmont, Lynn Schrum at 740-695-1202.

‘‘It is important for neighboring counties to work and train together because disasters do not stop at geographic borders and volunteers will be needed everywhere,’’ Vargo said. ‘‘Classes will be offered online and in classroom format with continuing education credits offered for nurses in West Virginia.’’

She noted since the training is the same in each county, volunteers can help in any of those counties if a disaster strikes while they are there.