Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsTuesday, July 24, 2007 11:26 PM CDT
Comments Comments (0) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Tazwell Co. organizing medical emergency response team
By Paul Swiech
pswiech@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

TREMONT -- In a crisis, people want to know how they can help.

Several Central Illinois health departments, in cooperation with emergency management agencies and the federal government, are giving people an opportunity to be trained volunteers to assist in emergencies.

Medical reserve corps are developing throughout Central Illinois and nationwide.

The new Tazewell County Medical Reserve Corps — a cooperative venture of the county health department and emergency services disaster agency — is accepting registration from residents and will have informational sessions Thursday, Saturday and Monday, said Shanna Shipman, health department program specialist and Medical Reserve Corps coordinator.

The McLean County Health Department Medical Reserve Corps, which organized last year with the county emergency management agency, is actively recruiting again, now that last year’s recruits have been trained, said Cathy Coverston Anderson, health planner and bioterrorism preparedness coordinator.

Medical reserve corps have developed since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. There are 37 medical reserve corps in Illinois and 688 nationwide, Coverston Anderson said Tuesday.

Corps volunteers in McLean County would assist with dispensing medication and calling on patients in a pandemic influenza, bioterrorism attack or another health-related medical emergency, Coverston Anderson said. Of 62 medical reserve corps volunteers in McLean County, many are nurses and doctors because they are able to dispense medicine.

Other volunteers are pharmacists, counselors, emergency medical technicians, veterinarians and non-medical people who may assist in other ways, she said.

In Tazewell County, medical reserve corps volunteers also may be called on to assist after natural disasters, such as tornadoes, Shipman said.

“It just makes sense for people to be prepared to pitch in and help in an organized manner in their own community,” Shipman said. Medical reserve corps members also may be called on to provide public health information at community events, she said.

“We need all kinds of people, not just medical professionals,” Shipman said. Volunteers will be trained.

“Nobody should be intimidated,” Shipman said. “No one will be asked to do things they aren’t trained to do.”

Murder charges approved in Chicago closet body case



How to help

-- Tazewell County residents interested wanting to learn about the new Tazewell County Medical Reserve Corps may attend informational sessions from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday or 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the county health department building west of Tremont. For more information, call (309) 925-5511 ext. 350 or email sshipman@tchd.net.

-- McLean County residents interested in learning more about the McLean County Medical Reserve Corp may call (309) 888-5480 or go to www.mcleancountyil.gov.

-- For more information about the national Medical Reserve Corps program, visit www.medicalreservecorps.gov.

SOURCES: Shanna Shipman, Cathy Coverston Anderson

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 0 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy