1 North Idaho Medical Reserve Corps Vision: We will have a robust corps of members trained to support response efforts in the event of a public health emergency or community public health need. Mission: We will RECRUIT and TRAIN community members from all walks of life, including healthcare professionals, in order to RESPOND efficiently and be prepared to function in a public health or other emergency, and SUSTAIN the interest and commitment of the membership. Volume 14 Issue 1 February 2018 Medical Reserve Corps of North Idaho Leadership Team Nanette Swendig, Unit Coordinator Benewah County Coordinator Susie Howard, 208-568-1801 Bonner County Coordinators Brenda Bramwell, 425-785-3275 Anna Reed, 208-255-6535 Boundary County Coordinator Thanks to Winona Anderson for her service as a Boundary County Coordinator. Winona left us effective December 1, 2017. We are in need of an MRC volunteer willing to step in as Boundary County Coordinator. We need Northern eyes and ears to keep us apprised of opportunities to serve our neighbors in the north. Kootenai County Coordinators Tami Martin, 208-773-0714 Tina Piaskowski, 208-819-5342 Shoshone County Coordinator Pat Sporleder, 208-755-1426 For more information about our Leadership Team, contact your local County Coordinator or the Unit Coordinator, 208-415-5185 From your Unit Coordinator ~ It has been a long time coming, but finally, the first MRC Newsletter from your new (and not so fearless) Unit Coordinator is here! I have heard from many that you really miss having regular updates on our activities and new opportunities to serve. I will make every effort to keep you better informed. My background includes 23 years as an EMS volunteer with Mica Kidd Island Fire and 15 years as a CPR Instructor. I hold current licenses as an EMT and AHA CPR/AED Instructor. In addition to my MRC duties, I ve also volunteered for the past 9 years with the AARP Tax-Aide Management Team working as an instructor, counselor, shift coordinator and reviewer offering free tax preparation for the underserved and low to mid income population. I have been an MRC volunteer since 2013 and attended multiple events and trainings. I ve participated in the Veterans Stand-down and spent some time at the airport with Judith and our team during Cascadia Rising in my EMT capacity. When the letter came out last summer announcing the vacancy for the MRC Coordinator position, I truly thought it was a perfect fit for this time in my life. I was very excited to be chosen and know that I have big shoes to fill. I am hoping to offer more opportunities for our group and do everything I can to keep you engaged in our worthy cause. Due to my limited schedule of 19 hours per week, I ve spent much of my first 5 months attending pre-planned events in order to get a better idea of who we are and how we can better serve our community. I ve had 2 meetings with my county coordinators and I feel that I ve finally found my feet and am ready to move forward in new and interesting ways. I am always open to member participation in planning future activities and trainings. If you are interested, please contact me by phone or e-mail. I won t be able to completely fill Judith s shoes, but will do my very best to re-energize the loyal volunteers who have been with us for so long as well as to engage and train our new volunteers. I offered an orientation session in early January and welcomed 6 new members. I have 15 more volunteers waiting in the wings. Please see the calendar on page 6 for upcoming events and trainings. Looking forward to meeting each and every one of you! Nan In this Newsletter Teen Heart Screenings..2 Update your Profile..3 MRC in Action...5 CALENDAR....6 TRAIN Resources...4
2 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TEEN HEART SCREENINGS ARE BACK! Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Youth Urgent Heart Screening Cyndie Lempesis is once again organizing a Teen and Young Adult heart screening in our area. The following volunteers are needed: 4-6 cardiologists for ECHO readings and consult station 6-8 physicians, nurse practioners or physician assistants for heartsounds station 6-10 ECG Techs/Medics/RNs to administer or assist medical providers ECHO Machines need sonographers 8-10 EMTs, Nurses, CMAs for blood pressure stations 8-10 people to staff CPR/AED training/learning station not to teach CPR, but to teach about it and how to use an AED You don t need to stay the whole day, you can choose the hours you would like to volunteer. Please respond as soon as you know your availability to volunteer for this important screening. For more information or to volunteer, email mrc@phd1.idaho.gov or call 208-415-5185
3 PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE?? Many of your profiles are outdated and have old information. Take a moment and log on to your Volunteer Idaho account (http://volunteeridaho.com/) and update your contact and licensing information. At a minimum, please check your profile information and make sure that your identity, deployment, contact and occupation fields are complete. I really do need your current e-mail and phone contact information.
4 TRAIN: YOUR ON-LINE TRAINING RESOURCE INSTRUCTIONS TO ACCESS AVAILABLE TRAININGS On-line training is available through TRAIN Idaho: https://id.train.org/desktopshell.aspx Choose Create Account, check box to agree to TRAIN policies, click next and complete required fields. Select Group from the MRC Portal: Medical Reserve Corp of North Idaho If you need help creating your account, do nowt hesitate to call. I will be happy to assist you.
5 MRC IN ACTION Shoshone Medical Center Kids Fair Spent a beautiful fall afternoon at the Shoshone Medical Center Kids Fair, playing the bug out game with the kids and visiting with Smokey. Participants who visited all booths were entered in a drawing for bicycles and other prizes. Approximately 200 kids were served. MRC volunteers included Jim Richardson, Pat Sporleder and Lisa Hardy. Kootenai Health Preparedness Fair Jim Kaarlstad, Tami Martin and Tina Piakowski were on hand to distribute Preparedness information and do some recruiting for the MRC. December County Coordinators Meeting L R Tami Martin, Pat Sporleder, Nan, Brenda Bramwell, Tina Piakowski. Anna Reed was stuck at work, and Susie Howard was stuck at an airport due to bad weather. More than 200 people participated in CDA 2030 Keep the Beat s a community wide Hands-Only CPR training at the Silverlake Mall and Cabelas and CPR Central. Post event surveys indicate that participants understand the importance of bystander CPR and are much more likely to assist if needed. CDA 2030 Keep the Beat Diane Smith, Bobbi Pataky and Nan
6 Upcoming Trainings and Events 2/8/2018 CDA 2030 KEEP THE BEAT COMMUNITY WIDE CPR TRAINING 2/26/2018 Meet and Greet, New Member Orientation 4 6 PM Panhandle Health District, 8500N Atlas Road, Hayden, ID 83835 3/8/2018 Medical Needs Shelter hands-on training, CDA Bible Church. Training with equipment and Procedures. 4/11/2018 Set-up for Medical Needs Shelter Full-Scale Exercise, Sandpoint, Details TBA 4/12/2018 Medical Needs Shelter Full Scale Exercise North Summit Church, Sandpoint. 8am-4pm 4/14/2018 Teen Heart Screening, Boys and Girls Club 9am- 3pm STAY TUNED FOR A SHORT MRC SURVEY AND AN UPCOMING SCHEDULE OF NEW TRAINING AND ORIENTATION OPPORTUNITIES!