BRMRC Volunteer Facts

How do I get started?

1. Complete a volunteer application and be sure to choose the Blue Ridge as your MRC unit:

• Profile will ask for personal contact, emergency contact, license(s) and/ or certification(s), driver’s license information, etc.
• Please ensure your date of birth, email address, gender, race, and contact numbers are filled in.

     2. Attend or complete an online Blue Ridge MRC Volunteer Orientation:

• Orientations are offered once a month.
• Or, volunteers can complete the orientation online via your computer. Please refer to the Volunteer Materials and Documents tab for this information.

     3. Make sure you update your contact and credentialing information:

• Go to Virginia Volunteer Health System (VVHS) and login with your username and password.
• Maintaining up-to-date information will ensure that you receive important communication from the Coordinator.

Who Can Volunteer for the Medical Reserve Corps?

• Anybody who wants to help support their community can volunteer, medical or non-medical!
• Practicing, retired, or employed medical and public health professionals.
• Community members without medical training can help with non-medical functions. Examples of non-medical volunteers needed are: Administrative assistants, IT, clerical personnel, attorneys, teachers/ educators, radio operators, mortuary professionals, social workers, and anyone wishing to volunteer their time.

No matter what your background entails, everyone brings value and importance to the team!

As a Volunteer, what will I be doing?

• Responsibilities of MRC volunteers vary, depending on the needs in the community. MRC volunteers can assist during health screenings, flu vaccinations, health and emergency preparedness education, and ongoing community health events and festivals.

• Major emergencies can overpower the capabilities of first responders, particularly during the beginning hours of the crisis. Communities find themselves in desperate need for medically trained individuals and additional support to fill in the “gaps” in their emergency response plans. Medical and other health volunteers can provide this service. Additionally, support volunteers can assist in other logistical and coordination tasks that are pertinent to the response as well.   

What kind of training will I go through?

You may already know how to perform some of the medical and health functions we are looking for! Your training as a MRC volunteer will consist on learning about local emergency response procedures, disaster mental health, emergency preparedness and other topics that will enhance your effectiveness as a volunteer and team player. Training is offered in a classroom setting and online. In many cases, courses may offer CEU/ CME credits.

Required Trainings

Once you complete an orientation either face-to-face or online, you will learn more on where and how to take MRC training courses. Again, please refer to Volunteer Materials and Documents tab to complete the orientation online.

Below is a sample of required training courses:

• Orientation:

Orientations are for new approved volunteers. Topics covered in the orientation include an overview of the Medical Reserve Corps program, volunteers’ roles and responsibilities, basic fundamentals of public health and emergency response, training opportunities, and liability and HIPAA.

• IS-22: Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness (Disaster Preparedness)

The "Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness" has been designed to help the citizens of this nation learn how to protect themselves and their families against all types of hazards. It can be used as a reference source or as a step-by-step manual. The focus of the content is on how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that reflect what must be done before, during, and after a disaster to protect people and their property. Also included is information on how to assemble a disaster supplies kit that contains the food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity for individuals and their families to survive.

• IS-100 b: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)

ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

• IS-700 a. NIMS: National Incident Command System (NIMS) An Introduction

This course introduces and overviews the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The National Incident Command System provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents.