She developed an online blood-borne pathogens training course, available now to our unit (see Training section below for the link!).  Sandy also helped plan the 2008 MRC annual training and presented one of the courses. She also went to New Orleans and assisted following Hurricane Katrina. Closer to home, she frequently represents the MRC at community health events and the College World Series.

Otho David Smith and Mary Grayson received Presidential Awards for providing over 100 hours of service during their MRC tenure.

The following volunteers received a certificate of appreciation for serving at a 2008 MRC health screening, first aid station, or other event: Paul Ajuoga, Phyllis Behrens, Judy Bencker, Barbara Bibins, Mary Elizabeth Blaney, Mary Bozak, Donas Charboneau, Mary Dineen, Bonnie Dollen, Alice Drake, Michael Eisenhauer, Deneen Glass, Dave Hanel, Louise Hanson, Jeffrey Hildenbrandt, Sherri Hinkel, Mary Hoffman, Bill Holtmeyer, Debra Jones, Cathy Laflan, Jim Lewandowski, Theresa Jacoby, Michelle LeDroit, Jaimee Mack, Judith Mathews, Deann McGeorge, Robyn McDonnell, Bill Miller, Terry Munsinger, John Norton, Jeff Peters, George Pratt, Tina Ridgeway, DeWolff Roberts, Steve Rowlee, Tammy Schaffart, Patty Scholting, Bob Thome, Greg Tvrdik, Sue Blintz, Linda Casey, Mary Virginia Corkle, Helen Fouraker , Mary Grayson , Steve Leighton, Kathy Mersch, Ron Myers, Sandi Nimmo, Leslie Omoto, Bonnie Riley, Susan Sandoval, Elaine Schurr, Otho David Smith, Michelle Tarantino, Alane Taylor, Geraldine Thomas, Milton Trabal, Sue Trigg, Sandy Vyhlidal, Edward Walter, Vaughn Wenzel, Rhonda Wojcik.

Thanks to all of you and our other MRC volunteers who stand ready to serve in times of disaster. You are an outstanding community resource!

•  Thirty MRC volunteers recently participated in Psychological First Aid training. Another 10 attended a Psychological First Aid for First Responders class.

•  MRC volunteers are invited to attend our first quarterly training - a triage exercise by HEROES, a disaster preparedness training program of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. You may either attend on Saturday, May 16 from 9-11 a.m. at the Sorrell Health Sciences Center at UNMC or on Wednesday, May 20 from 7-9 at the Loess Hills Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs.

The training will provide the opportunity to practice/learn skills and meet other volunteers with whom you will be working in a disaster situation.  Prior to each session, there will be a 20-minute orientation for new MRC members. That will take place at 8:15 on May 16 and 6:15 on May 20.

If you have not already registered and wish to attend the training and/or orientation, please call Tom at (402) 522-7970. CEUs will be offered.

•  If you have not already done so, please take the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) 100a and 700a training. This is required training you must take in order to be deployed. The courses cover the national incident command structure that is utilized during any disaster.

These basic classes are needed to interact with other agencies, to talk the same language and to be most useful during an event. Without these basic level courses, we will not be taken seriously by our partners. In a large scale disaster, some MRC members may be supervising 3-5 spontaneous unaffiliated medical volunteers. As supervisors, you will need these courses.

You can take both courses on line at www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/NIMSTrainingCourses.shtm. Scroll down to Emergency Management Institute. When you complete each course, you will receive a certificate. Send the MRC a copy for our records.

We will also be offering the classes "live" later this year if you prefer to attend one in person. If you have any questions or are not sure if you have taken these courses, contact us at (402) 522-7970.

• Thanks to MRC volunteer Sandy Vyhlidal, we now have an online blood-born pathogen training course. The course addresses how to protect oneself when exposed to potentially infectious body fluids. This is one of our required training programs, so the easy access will make it easier for many of you to complete this course. To take the online course, click here to visit the local MRC Training page; once there, click the link "Bloodborne Pathogen Training."    

For those of you who do not have easy Internet access, we will be offering a class on this topic later this year. We appreciate Sandy offering to do this for us!

During the last quarter, MRC volunteers supported public health and first aid efforts at the following events:

• Lea Kuper and Jeff Peters assisted the Pottawattamie County Health Department administering vaccinations after a Council Bluffs teen died from meningitis.

• Angela and Jeff Hildenbrandt, Chandra Peterson, Deann McGeorge, Karen Schliefert, Alane Jespersen and Otho David Smith provided first aid at the area’s Walk for Warmth fundraiser for heat aid.

• Linda Casey and Geraldine Thomas took blood pressure readings at the Bellevue Wal-Mart.

• Jeannie Bennett, Sue Trigg and Mary Couture did STD screenings for the Douglas County Health Department at the Black Family Health and Wellness Fair in Omaha.

• Alane Jespersen, Sandi Nimmo, Salli Roberts and Connie Wallace did STD screenings for the Douglas County Health Department at the Heart and Soul Red Dress Dinner at Mutual of Omaha.

• Mary Virginia Corkle, Jere Gravatt and Alane Jespersen took blood pressures at Sarpy County’s Spring Into Safety Expo.

• Barb Shapiro, Beth Fuhlrodt, Larry Arp and Josh Hemmelman took blood pressures and taught first aid to children at the Omaha Police and Fire Safety Expo.

• Alane Jespersen, Sue Trigg, Michelle Tarantino, Steve Rowlee, Linda Casey , Josh Hemmelman, Judy Bencker and Otho David Smith supplied first aid at the Cinco de Mayo parade and celebration.

• Upcoming events include the MS Bike Ride between Omaha and Lincoln on May 30 and 31; the Nebraksal Alliance on Mental Illness Walk on June 6 and the College World Series June 13- 23/24. We will also participate in the Offutt MARE disaster exercise on August 15. More details will follow.

Thanks to all of you! You provide a valuable community service and strengthen the MRC’s visibility and agency connections.

The MRC Decontamination had its initial training April 25 and 26 at the American Red Cross. Part of the training consisted of donning and doffing protective equipment and doing a mock drill. Team members include Linda Casey, Dennis Curtis, Erin Denker, Beth Fuhlrodt, Deneen Glass, Cynthia Gross, Dave Hanel, Josh Hemmelman, Ken Hermsen, Jeffrey Hildenbrandt, Dane Johnson, Kathy Kirke, Jennifer Messick, Deann McGeorge; Ron Myers, Chandra Petersen, Susan Sandoval, Jim Temme and Ruth Vacha.

The team will provide decontamination at Red Cross shelters and assist area hospitals in the event of an incident. We need more members, so if you are interested in joining call (402) 522-7970 or email tmcmahon@uwmidlands.org .

Thanks to this dedicated group for giving up a weekend and training to help with this very vital task!

Several of our MRC volunteers will be training as Red Cross disaster volunteers in June and July. Our two agencies will be on the front lines in disaster response and any way we can assist each other is to the good. Nationally, the American Red Cross and Medical Reserve Corps recently signed an agreement outlining ways the two agencies can work together. We appreciate our partnership.

• If you move or change jobs, please send us any new contact information (address, phone, email address). Also let us know if your email address changes so we can contact you. Thanks.

• If you know anyone who wishes to join the MRC or have any ideas on how to promote the program, please contact us at (402) 522-7970, or send an email to tmcmahon@uwmidlands.org.

• If you have any suggestions for quarterly training or training resources, please let us know. We want to provide training that is beneficial and interesting to you.