SMC MRC NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 12, 2009
MEMBERSHIP: (since our July meeting)
· Susan Vandiver– New member; Retired social worker; Lots of experience with charity and non-profit organizations
· Dianne Baker, RN- New member; Participated in the seasonal flu clinic
· During the past month, we have had 35 people (mostly nurses) requesting information or applications for the SMC MRC.
· The national MRC continues to grow with 856 units and 189,000 members. A California Veterinary and Contra Costa MRC were recently established.
CBA AWARD: Our only source of funding is through NACCHO (National Association of City & County Healthcare Officials) and another $5,000 award (grant) has become available. Kevin Rose and I have obtained the required letters of recommendation and submitted the grant application. If accepted, we would not receive the funds until next year.
DSW RENEWAL: The expiration date on our DSW ID cards is in 2010. Next year, we will have everyone fill out new DSW forms and get sworn in. We will then add a sticker to the ID card so that it will be valid for 3 years.
DHVC (Disaster Healthcare Volunteers of California) WEBSITE: This is the site that is used for alerts and daily verification of your credentials. We only have 2 people that have not yet registered. There have been 2 recent changes:
1. The site can now identify those that are approved to give inoculations. Please update your profile if you are a nurse or are qualified to give injections.
2. The site can now do background checks (Megan’s list, criminal records, etc.) so that fingerprinting will not be required for non-healthcare members.
SMCMRC.ORG WEBSITE: Check our website periodically for updates as well as photos; In the past 10 months, the site has had 8,400 hits.
CERT TRAINING: CERT training is now required for all MRC members. If you have not had the training, courses are offered by the many Fire Departments on the Peninsula. The Coastside has a new CERT coordinator, Mark Chidester, and efforts will be made to have more CERT classes on the Coast.
CPR TRAINING: We had 30 members go through CPR training that was provided my Mike Coffey of the San Bruno Fire Dept. Mike is willing to do another class in the Spring.
FIRST AID TRAINING: We are scheduling a 4-5 hour basic first aid training class in November. The date (14th or 21st?) is not firmly established but will be on a Saturday and will be at the Woodside Fire Station. It will be conducted by Gaylynne Mann who coordinates the
Woodside Fire District MRC. We may also consider a wilderness first aid class.
PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID TRAINING: Kevin Rose and the County provided an excellent course last year at several hospitals and will repeat it next spring. Joan Ross, RN and several other of our MRC members may also provide a training class.
CENTRAL TRAINING DATABASE: Sheila Martin, California MRC coordinator, is working on a monthly calendar that will list all courses, training sessions, and drills that will be conducted by MRC units in the state.
MERCHANDISE & SUPPLIES:
· Shirts, caps, and other apparel may be worn at any time.
· The red vests and DSW ID cards should not be worn except to official meetings or events.
· Those that are moving away or do not want to remain active in the MRC should return their vests and ID cards to Elizabeth at the HMB Police Dept.
· The Queensboro Shirt Company has weekly sales. Let me know if you are interested in any merchandise.
· An International medical supply company will provide free backpacks (with supplies?) to everyone that is currently registered on the DHVC website. The delivery date is not known.
· We are still working on a grant to obtain automatic defibrillators for public areas in Half Moon Bay.
· Cathy Eide (Oakland MRC) has just received a $150,000 UASI grant for supplies for all of the active MRC units in the SF Bay Area. The nature of the supplies and distribution has not yet been determined.
· Kevin Rose (SM County EMSA) obtained a Homeland Security grant to provide for 2 field treatment stations for San Mateo County. One will be provided for the Coastside and our MRC. The supplies include a 24x18 foot tent, 10,000 watt generator, halogen lights, beds, and medical supplies. The equipment is currently being stored at the County warehouse until we can obtain a local storage location.
SEASONAL FLU CLINIC: The first-responder clinic on September 25th was a great success. We had 14 participants including 7 RNs and PHNs and gave 135 innoculations. Thanks to Jane Kingston for doing such a great job organizing the clinic!! We also need to thank SM County public health nurse, Marian Bridges, for supervising the clinic, Robyn Ziegler for trainng the staff, and Carl Hess for overcoming the liability issues and allowing us to participate.
H1N1 CLINIC: The H1N1 vaccine will be administered by private physicians, pharmacies, clinics, etc. and it may not be necessary to have the MRC participate in a clinic. If it does become necessary, it would not be until November.
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL: We have just been asked to assist the HMB Fire Department with the first aid station at the Pumpkin Festival this weekend. Because of the short notice, we may not be able to get enough support or obtain the required liability coverage. We will make some contacts and send out an announcement later in the week.
WESTERN U.S. MRC SUMMIT: This was held in Cody, Wyoming from October 6-9. It was attended by Jane Kingston, Marilyn Dittes, and Michael Klass. Marilyn gave a summary of the lectures and exercise. It was a very good conference with about 80 in attendance. The primary topic and exercise concerned MRC involvement with fire fighter rehab and assistance in large urban and wild fires.
NATIONAL MRC DEPLOYMENT: Michael Klass discussed and showed photos of the recent U.S. Public Health Service Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) training at Fort AJ Hill Army Base in Virginia. The MRC is establishing a cadre of several hundred MRC members to participate in 1-2 week deployments with the US Public Health Service and other national organizations.
DISASTER MEETING SITE: REMINDER! 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.
HOLIDAY PARTY: We will have a holiday party for all MRC members and their spouses or significant others. It will be on Sunday, December 6th at the home of Michael Klass. It will be a potluck and more information will come out next month.
NEXT SMC MRC MEETING: The next meeting will be in January or February. The attendance for this weeknight meeting was about the same as the Saturday meetings. We may alternate, so the next meeting will be on a Saturday.
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