This newsletter will summarize some of the items that were discussed at the SMC MRC meeting on Thursday night, May 20th.
MEMBERSHIP:
·We have 3 applications that are currently being processed. We still have 4-5 available openings before we reach our 65-member limit.
·As a reminder, to remain “active” in the SMC MRC, each member must attend at least 1 meeting, training exercise, or drill per 12 months. Inactive members will be required to return their DSW ID cards, vests, and backpacks. Currently, we only have 4 members that have not met this requirement.
SMC MRC COORDINATORS: Laurie Agrillo, RN will be our Training Coordinator. If you would like to take a leadership role, we are also looking for a Membership Coordinator, Disaster Exercise Coordinator, and Merchandise & Supplies Coordinator.
RECOGNITION AWARDS:
·On April 6, 2010, the mayor and members of the Half Moon Bay City Council presented recognition and achievement awards to Dr. Kent Garman, Elizabeth Yano, and Dr. Michael Klass. The ceremony was attended by a dozen SMC MRC members and was followed by a champagne reception.
·The national MRC office sent recognition pins to be awarded to each SMC MRC member that participated in our H1N1 and seasonal flu clinics.
FINANCIAL UPDATES:
·We recently received our $5,000 award (grant) that was applied for last year.
·We have decided to defer applying for 501c3, non-profit, status for our MRC.
DHVC (Disaster Healthcare Volunteers of California) WEBSITE:
·Please update your profile if you are a nurse or are qualified to give injections. Also update your profile if your professional license has been recently renewed so that we do not receive alerts that your license is no longer valid.
·10,000 healthcare professionals are now registered on the system and 50% are MRC members.
DSW ID CARDS:We are still deciding on the best procedure for updating our DSW ID cards. We are also still looking at systems and personnel to make laminated, wallet-sized ID cards to identify SMC MRC members.
TRAINING:
·CERT TRAINING:CERT training is required for all MRC members. If you have not had the training, courses are offered by the many Fire Departments on the Peninsula. Mark Chidester (cscert@chidesters.com) is the new Coastside CERT coordinator and efforts will be made to have more CERT classes on the Coast. He will also initiate refresher CERT classes.
·CPR TRAINING: We will have a 4th CPR class this year with the popular Mike Coffey of the San Bruno Fire Dept. Notify Michael or Elizabeth if you want to be added to the sign-up list. This may also be for non-members. If you cannot wait, the Woodside Fire Protection District is offering their next CPR classes on July 17th and August 21st.
·FIRST AID TRAINING: On February 13th, we held a first aid training class at the Woodside Fire Protection District Station in Redwood City. We had 20 participants and have a sign-up list for a 2nd class later this year.
·PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID (PFA):Kevin Rose, San Mateo County EMSA, reserved slots for our MRC members at 3 county-sponsored PFA courses. We may consider an additional class later this year.
MERCHANDISE & SUPPLIES:
·Those that are moving away, do not want to remain in the MRC, or have not been to a meeting in 12 months (“inactive status”), should return their vests and ID cards to Elizabeth at the HMB Police Dept.
·We are still awaiting the arrival of the backpacks from Direct Relief International (DRI). DRI is still involved with the Haiti crisis so the delivery will be delayed. Some supplies will also be provided in the backpacks. Backpacks will only be distributed to active members.
·We are still awaiting a meeting with Cathy Eide (Oakland MRC) to discuss the medical supplies that will be available to Bay Area MRC units from the recent $150,000 UASI grant.
·Marilyn Dittes, RN will be making a list of supplies that should be included in our backpacks. For some items, we will order directly from a medical supply company.
·Our disaster tent, generator, lights, cots, etc. are still being stored in the San Mateo County warehouse. We have located 4-5 sites for a sea-container shed but prefer a trailer that could be easily moved. We are researching trailers as well as funding options through Homeland Security grants or our own funds.
·A new N-95 mask was introduced at the recent US PHS Preparedness summit and it was FDA approved last month. The mask (Acti Protect UF) contains Virucoat which is an ascorbic acid coating that kills 99.9% of all tested viruses on contact.
SAN MATEO COUNTY EMSA UPDATE:Kevin Rose announced that there will be a Disaster Day event at the USGS facility in Menlo Park on Saturday, September 18th. Although our MRC will not staff a booth, everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, you may contact Kevin at krose@co.sanmateo.ca.us.
FLU CLINICS:
·California MRC units provided 1,000 volunteers to staff 172 H1N1 clinics.
·The national MRC office sent a certificate of achievement to our MRC unit in recognition of our seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccination clinics.
·This fall, we will probably participate once again in a seasonal flu vaccination clinic for first responders and teachers.
ACTIVITIES:
·SILVER DRAGON IV BIOTERRORISM EXERCISE: March 11, 2010. This exercise was a great success. 30 SMC MRC and CERT team members went to 1,600 homes in 1 ½ hours. Nearly 14,000 homes were canvassed in San Mateo County.
·SAN MATEO COUNTY EARTHQUAKE EXERCISE:April 21, 2010. A dozen SMC MRC members participated in this exercise at Seton Coastside Hospital. We erected our large field treatment tent, did patient triage, and tested communications equipment. Thanks to all that participated on a cold and windy day!
·SAN MATEO COUNTY CRIME LAB TOUR: HMB Police Chief Don O’Keefe arranged for a recent police department tour of the SM County crime lab. Chief O’Keefe may be able to schedule a similar tour for our SMC MRC unit and we have started a preliminary sign-up list.
·POD DISASTER PLANNING: Together with the San Mateo County Health Department, we have established the Ted Adcock Community Center as our POD (Point of Distribution) location. We have developed maps with layout plans and established 3 teams (managers, assistant managers, & medication distribution leaders) to manage the facility in the event of an emergency or disaster.
PRESENTATIONS:
·Carol Masterson, RN gave an excellent presentation about her experience with the CA-6 DMAT team in Haiti.
·George Tucker is a member of the Coastside ARES amateur radio club and gave a very nice presentation on the HAM, FRS, and GMRS radio systems that are used in disasters. George made some great handouts and we will make some further recommendations in the future.
·Future presentations will include urban search and rescue, tsunamis, personal preparedness, etc.
DISASTER MEETING SITE: In the event of an emergency or disaster, we will alert all SMC MRC members by the Disaster Healthcare Volunteers of California website and information will be provided on your cell phone, land line, pager, or computer. In the event that a disaster occurs and all means of communications are disrupted, the SMC MRC WILL MEET IN FRONT OF THE HMB POLICE STATION. This location may change as the current Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at the HMB Fire Station.
NEXT SMC MRC MEETING: The next meeting will be in September or October. So that members can attend at least 1 meeting a year, we have been alternating meeting days between a weeknight and a Saturday morning. The next meeting will be on a Saturday morning.
