One of the primary
benefits of membership in the Upper Merrimack Valley MRC is easy
access to training and skill development. Even without deployment,
members can be proud of keeping their medical abilities sharp,
current, and ready to use!
The first training
requirement is to complete a New Member Orientation. Usually
this training is provided in a group class, taught by UMV MRC
leaders. Another option is to stop in for about an hour during
a 'Drop-In Day,' designed to accommodate those with unpredictable
schedules.
The next request is for our volunteers to take courses on incident
command at their earliest convenience. Not only does this
training provide instruction on the fundamentals of disaster response,
it also ensures that our unit remains 'NIMS Compliant' as an organization.
The most convenient way for most members to complete this training
is through online courses:
1. |
IS-100 |
Overview
of the Incident Command System (ICS-100) |
2. |
IS-700 |
National
Incident Command System (NIMS-700) |
Hint:
We strongly encourage students to print the final exam
and fill out their answers on the hardcopy, BEFORE returning to
the system and completing the exam online. The demand for these
courses is such that users need to avoid long pauses in mulling
over answers, which can cause the system to 'time-out' and end
the exam prematurely.
When members complete
these classes, we ask them to e-mail the link to the Coordinator
so we can print and file their completion certificate, and update
their records with this valuable credential. A side benefit: While
these courses are appropriate for both medical and non-medical
volunteers, certification also results in up to three continuing-education
credits for nurses, EMTs, and other health professionals. Some
members also realize career benefits for attaining these certifications!
Knowing that not all
members are comfortable with the use of computers, we also try
to make ICS and NIMS training available in classroom format when
possible.
The unit has made both
self-paced and classroom training opportunities available every
year since its inception in 2004, and will continue to do so.
Members are notified whenever new classes are offered -- through
printed mailings and newsletters, and by web postings under 'Latest
News.'
MRC CLASSROOM COURSES
Training
provided by the UMV MRC over the years has included
these topics, many of which we expect to offer again, as warranted
by member needs and interest.
American
Heart Association courses:
Heartsaver CPR/AED
First Aid
CPR/AED for HealthCare Professionals
Topics
covered in Training Days to date:
Behavioral Health I and II (MDPH certified course)
Chemical and Biological Hazards
Culturally Appropriate Care in Disasters
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals
Disaster Mental Health
Hands-on Nursing Skills
Infectious Disease: What's it all about?
Intro to the Incident Command System (ICS-100)
Intro to the National Incident Management System (NIMS-700)
MA MRCs in Tornado Deployment
Mass-Casualty Incidents
Psychological First Aid
Sheltering Animals in a Disaster
The People You
Will Care For
Triage, SMART Tags, and MCIs
Toxic Chemical Emergencies
Vulnerable Populations in Shelters
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)
Courses offered separately:
72-hour kits/disaster
preparedness education
Bloodborne Pathogens
Critical Incident
Stress Management
Emergency Dispensing Sites
Red Cross Sheltering Series
Smallpox Inoculation (hands-on practice)
Shelter Workshops through MA Medical Society
START and JUMPSTART Triage
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