Required Training
The following three courses, based on core competency requirements from the national MRC office, are required for new volunteers:
1. Medical Reserve Corps 101
The content of this orientation includes:
• An overview of the national and state MRC programs
• An introduction to the local unit including:
Interaction with regional response units
Priorities and typical activities
• Review of basic concepts of disaster response
• Personal and family preparedness
• Life safety training (taking care of yourself and your peers)
• An introduction to the Incident Command System
2. Incident Command System (ICS) 100 and National Incident Management System
(NIMS) 700 – Classes on ICS and NIMS must be tailored for use by rank-and-file volunteers, with additional depth for team leaders.
To ensure that the concepts are as clear as possible, scenarios would be offered to show how ICS and NIMS can be applied successfully in a disaster. Training on these topics is available online at: Yale New Haven Health Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response website located at: http://ynhhs.emergencyeducation.org/; http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp and http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100.asp, as well as through a classroom format.
3. Psychological First Aid/Behavioral Health – Traumatic events impacts individuals differently. This course will provide basic information on providing safety and comfort for those impacted by an emergency or disaster. Additionally, staying safe and self-care for volunteers is emphasized.
Optional Trainings (Reminder Volunteers shall provide certification of the below trainings to Unit Coordinator).
PFA online is now approved for Nursing Contact Hours! After completing the course, registered nurses can receive 6 hours of credit as required by the Board of Registered Nursing. PFA online is an interactive course that puts the participant in the role of a provider in a post-disaster scene. This professionally-narrated course is for individuals new to disaster response who want to learn the core goals of PFA, as well as for seasoned practitioners who want a review. It features innovative activities, video demonstrations, and mentor tips from the nation’s trauma experts and survivors. PFA online also offers a Learning Community where participants can share experiences using PFA in the field, receive guidance during times of disaster, and obtain additional resources and training. This project was funded by Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services, the National Center for PTSD, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and the HHS Office of the Surgeon General, Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps. For more details about this course and additional continuing education credits available, check out the NCTSN Learning Center. To Sign Up: Visit the NCTSN Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma at http://learn.nctsn.org and create a free account. Check your email and confirm your account (click on link). Return to http://learn.nctsn.org and enroll in Psychological First Aid Online
Other courses are offered frequently and may include the following:
CPR/First Aid
Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS)
Bioterrorism, Decontamination, and Scene Safety – Volunteers will receive instruction in general bioterrorism concepts; agents (anthrax) and treatments (Cipro); contamination issues, decontamination techniques and whether a scene is safe to enter.
Personal Protective Equipment – This course is a key part of risk reduction and ensuring each member’s personal safety.
Disaster Triage and Treatment – This curriculum explains how volunteers should approach a staging area in which vast numbers of injured people need care. Course content would include standard forms for evaluating patients using the S.T.A.R.T. (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) system.
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) – Organizations including MEMA, FEMA, and the American Red Cross offer training on local implementations of these national concepts.
Targeted Sessions – In response to local volunteer interest, additional courses may be offered.
Online Courses – These classes are available as supplemental education tools and are continuously updated on our website: www.wmmrc.org.