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Emergencies
and Volunteering
What type of emergencies would
I be responding to?
The Cowlitz County Public Health
Volunteers serves in response activities coordinated through the Cowlitz
County Health Department or as part of the Region IV MRC, which serves
Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark and Skamania counties, during an emergency.
One example of a local Public
Health emergency response in which the Medical Reserve Corps may assist is
when rapid immunizations are needed for a large number of people in the
community, such as for a widespread Hepatitis A exposure.
The Medical Reserve Corps may also
assist during a bioterrorist event, for example an anthrax exposure. A
goal of Public Health would be to dispense antibiotics within 72 hours to
populations that have been exposed. Public Health would need volunteers
to help dispense the antibiotics from designated medication distribution
sites.
What happens if I’m needed by
my employer during an emergency?
First and foremost, Public Health
understands that your first commitment is to your employer. In a large
emergency in which the health care system is impacted, your responsibilities
are with your employer.
However, many types of events in
which the Medical Reserve Corps would assist will be of a smaller scale and
may not have a significant impact on the larger health care system. In many
instances, early response to these types of emergencies by Public Health will
help the larger health care systems avoid being overwhelmed.
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