Wanted: Volunteers for Medical Reserve Corps Units

September is National Preparedness Month and the Wyoming Department of Health is encouraging residents to  consider joining a local Medical Reserve Corps unit. Angelyn Mayes, state Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator, says Community-based Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units are a specialized, health-related component of Citizen Corps, a national network of hometown security volunteers. The efforts of MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources. MRC units help find local needs and support their communities throughout the year with various activities. Mayes says they are looking for individuals with medical training and experience as well as other interested people to serve as leaders and volunteers to either start or join local Medical Reserve Corps units. She says there are only three Medical Reserve corp units in Wyoming they include:

• In Natrona County, the local MRC provides basic EMT support for the Special Olympics, Casper College athletic events and other events.
• The Albany County MRC has a strong presence with the University of Wyoming, and provides mental health first aid and fire rehabilitation.
• The Northeast Wyoming MRC helps with medical surge capacity for smaller hospital clinics during events.

Mayes says funding is available to start new local MRC units in Wyoming.