The state Department of Health is recruiting volunteers for the Kaua‘i Medical Reserve Corps, a group that will be trained to respond in disaster and emergency situations. The Kaua‘i District Health Office will offer an orientation for interested community members
The state Department of Health is recruiting volunteers for the Kaua‘i Medical Reserve Corps, a group that will be trained to respond in disaster and emergency situations.
The Kaua‘i District Health Office will offer an orientation for interested community members Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association office, 3213 Akahi St. in Lihu‘e.
According to Health Educator and Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator Moji Owolabi, attending does not require a commitment to join the corps.
“This is a time for people to find out more about it,” Owolabi said.
The health office hopes to sign up 100 members for the new program, which will “fill in the gaps” during situations that tax the county’s emergency response capacity, she added. While Kaua‘i County is already home to the American Red Cross and a Community Emergency Response Team, the corps will allow the health office to retain a list of trained medical professionals, whose licenses have been verified prior to an emergency situation.
The majority of the 40 people scheduled to attend the upcoming round of trainings and orientations are physicians and registered nurses, Owolabi said.
But the group is open to anyone who wants to volunteer.
“It’s not just medical backgrounds that we’re looking for,” she noted.
Non-trained participants are needed to provide essential support services such as coordination of transportation, health education, record-keeping, communications and child care, states the release, while those with active medical or nursing licenses are needed to assist with clinical responsibilities.
The corps will train to perform tasks such as setting up alternate sites for health care or for distributing medications or vaccines, states a press release.
Volunteers will also participate in non-emergency events such as flu vaccine clinics.
The local Medical Reserve Corps is part of national initiatives, Citizens’ Corps and AmeriCorps.
Advance registration is required. For more information, call 241-3555.
