April 26, 2008

Central Ohio Medical Reserve Corps Course Announcement ~ Psychological First Aid: “Helping Others in Times of Stress”

About this event

Psychological First Aid: Helping Others in Times of Stress is designed around the basic principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA).  PFA triage care is the first line in helping during a disaster, and its understanding is a very important facet to public health preparedness.  This web-based V-Brick course provides the framework for recognizing and understanding factors that affect stress responses in disaster relief workers and those they help. Content for the course comes from the American Red Cross. Upon completion of this course participants will be able to: Recognize the signs of stress in disaster victims, co-workers, and themselves. Practice PFA principles to give immediate support if necessary. Locate additional help and mental health support for victims, co-workers, or themselves, if needed. This training will take place on April 26th, 2008, from 9am to 1pm.  Individuals wishing to view the web-based session must register via OhioTRAIN (instructions below). Upon registration, participants will be provided with a web link and handout access information.

Target Audience	The target audience for this event is geared toward all possible Medical Reserve Corps volunteers from throughout Central Ohio, with emphasis on nurses, health professionals, mental health professionals, and non-clinical volunteers.

Instructors	The instructor for this course is Marjory Kukor PhD. Psychologist.

Cost	There is no cost to participate in this training; however, registration must be completed on OhioTRAIN in advance.

Registration

Please register via OhioTRAIN at https://oh.train.org. Once on Ohio TRAIN, click ‘Course Search’, then ‘SEARCH’. Type ‘Psychological First Aid’ in rectangular box near bottom of screen; Hit <Enter>. Click on ‘Psychological First Aid: Helping Others in Times of Stress’; select ‘Registration’ tab. Type your name or e-mail address in the dialog box. Click ‘Register’. You are now registered for the course. You will be provided with access instructions several days prior to the event.

Sponsors	This event is sponsored by the Franklin County & Columbus Medical Reserve Corps in collaboration with the OSU Office of Workforce Development. Curriculum from The American Red Cross.

ONLINE ORIENTATION

This online MRC orientation fulfills the training requirement for MRC membership, and can be completed at your leisure. This online course is for those volunteers with computer access (with speakers) and a need for a more flexible orientation time. All volunteers taking the online course will need to come in to the FC&C MRC office to allow county officials to check wallet license cards, driver’s licenses and have a photo taken for an ID badge. If you are interested please send an email to mrc@franklincountyohio.gov with the words “online orientation” in the subject line.

Ongoing Team Sign Up

Animal Response Team **NEW**
Any volunteer having a background, interest, or licensure in animal care is welcome to join the Franklin County & Columbus MRC Animal Response Team (ART). This team seeks to protect the health and respond to the needs of animals involved in a disaster. This may involve pet rescues during flooding situations, containment of animal diseases, distribution of medicine to animals, and a number of other responses. An ART 101 course is currently in development.

Techie Team
Do you have audio visual or computer talents? Then the MRC needs your help with the MOBILE JOINT INFORMATION CENTER. This mobile unit enables the Franklin County Board of Health or other agency to set up a Joint Information Center anywhere within the Central Ohio Region. The trailer is full of TVs, satellite dishes, computers, generators, and other communications equipment and we are looking for a few good volunteers with the interest and skill to be a part of our Techie Team. Participation would require a 5-8 hour commitment, as well as the ability to serve on the team during at least one deployment per year. This team may also serve other technological needs at Points of Dispensing and other MRC volunteer locations.

Language Teams
Are you fluent in another language in addition to English? Are you willing to volunteer to help with language capabilities during a disaster, as well as throughout the year to support community preparedness? We would love to have you serve on a language team! Reply to this email with ‘Language Team’ in the subject line if you want to be involved. In the body of the email please include your contact information and the languages in which you are fluent (including whether or not you have knowledge of medical terminology in more than one language).

POD Team
Are you interested in helping us respond to large-scale events that require the distribution of medicines? We have great trainings and exercises available for those willing to take on a leadership role in these POD (Points of Distribution, as in the ’distribution’ of medications) settings during a disaster.

To Volunteer for the following teams,
please send an email to mrc@franklincountyohio.gov with
the name of the team in the subject line of the email.