Texas County Medical Reserve Corps launches

By Shari Harris, Publisher

The official launch celebration of the Texas County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was held on Monday, October 20, at the Texas County Health Department in Houston. At the celebration, organizers demonstrated the capabilities of MRC and encouraged the participation of the community.

The MRC is managed by the Texas County Emergency Response Team (TCERT) and is sponsored by the Texas County Health Department. It is made up of volunteers who live in the county and who desire to help their community by responding in times of disasters or emergencies. Members are all first-aid trained, and consider themselves the Swiss Army knife of the Emergency Response Team, able to assist in a variety of circumstances.

MRC isn’t just found in Texas County. There is a national network of MRCs that prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other emergencies affecting public health.

Examples of activities in which MRC volunteers across the country participate and support include emergency preparedness training; emergency shelter operations; disaster medical and behavioral health support; medical facility surge support; mass dispensing of medications, water or other supplies; disease testing and surveillance; community vaccination clinics; patient movement support; emergency operations center; search and rescue operations; disaster clean-up and recovery support; first aid and medical support; community education and outreach and more. There are roughly 800 community-based MRCs throughout the U.S. and its territories.

A non-profit was formed to manage these programs, and it allows them to qualify for grants and to hold fundraising events. It reports to the County Commission annually. MRC works with the Health Administrator and County Emergency Director, and goes where directed.

Community education is another facet of their operation. They are licensed with the Department of Defense to teach the “Stop the Bleed” first aid program, and can provide CPR/AED training.

MRC also has enough cots and blankets to set up two emergency shelters in the county.

Anyone can volunteer to be a member of either the medical or non-medical components of MRC. It is similar to a volunteer fire department. Some members may be active, others on reserve, and another tier may be there to fall back on in a major crisis.

If you are interested in helping the Texas County MRC strengthen local communities, email Travis Maddox, countydirector@texascountycert.org.

We appreciate all your help and support during this time of need in our community.