PRESS RELEASE
Date: May 22, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Heiden, 203-881-3255 or dheiden@nvhd.org
Website: www.nvmrc.com
Volunteers Needed to Join the Medical Reserve Corps
The Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD) is seeking people with medical and non-medical backgrounds who are interested in helping their community by volunteering for the health district’s volunteer unit, the Naugatuck Valley Medical Reserve Corps. Join us for an orientation and open house on Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 6-8pm the Naugatuck Valley Health District (98 Bank Street, Seymour, CT 06483).
If you are you interested in emergency preparedness or just want to give back to your community, you can volunteer with the Naugatuck Valley Medical Reserve Corps. Volunteers must be 18 years and older and no medical experience is necessary! All training is provided free of charge. Liability coverage is provided to volunteers at approved activities under Title 28 of the CT General Statues.
Upon recognizing that many community members offered their skills in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and other events that followed, the need for a more organized approach to using volunteers with both medical and non-medical training during an emergency became a priority. Officially launched in 2002, the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers that now has units in every state and U.S. territory.
MRC units are community-based and function to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies, promote safety among their communities, and promote public health education and programs.
In today’s environment, public health emergencies, whether natural or man-made, may threaten the health and safety of the citizens within the jurisdiction of the Naugatuck Valley Health District. The Naugatuck Valley Medical Reserve Corps (NVMRC), as part of the NVHD, serves the communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton, and their goal during a public health emergency is to minimize the impact of these adverse events on the population they serve.
Whether it’s supporting emergency response after a natural disaster, assisting at a seasonal flu clinic, or helping promote community preparedness, NVMRC volunteers are needed to help make the community safer. Specific roles are based on the volunteer’s background, interests and skills, as well as the needs of the NVMRC unit and the community.
NVHD continues to increase its capacity to respond to emergencies thanks to its dedicated staff, a committed volunteer force, and continuous review and exercising of emergency response plans. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness division works with police, fire, EMS, and other authorities to develop functional plans to use during emergency response. The division continues to recruit and train individuals to join the volunteer force and serves as an educational resource for personal and community preparedness.
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