Severe Weather Awareness Week in Ohio begins next week, and Wood County Health Department is seeking volunteers who could be asked to help out during local emergencies.
The health department and Wood County Emergency Management Agency are teaming up to offer “You Are the Help Until Help Arrives” training, which teaches five steps that could help you save someone’s life. The program is meant to recruit volunteers for Wood County Medical Reserve Corps and also serves as a way for current MRC members to meet their periodic training requirement.
“You Are the Help Until Help Arrives” teaches people what to do in an emergency or injury scenario until trained professional responders arrive. National response times average between six to nine minutes and can grow longer in rural areas. This training, created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, teaches people to call 9-1-1, protect the injured from more harm and position them for breathing, provide comfort, and stop bleeding.
Situations where these skills could be applicable include vehicle crashes, home-repair accidents, severe weather and active shooter incidents.
In an emergency, local resources get called upon first. As part of an MRC unit, you can be part of an organized and trained team that will be ready and able to bolster local emergency planning and response capabilities. No special skills or medical experience are required as long as you’re 18 years old, and roles can be tailored to use your own background and experience.
To register for “You Are the Help Until Help Arrives” training, send your name and contact information by March 20 to Alex Aspacher, Wood County MRC coordinator, at aaspacher@co.wood.oh.us. To learn more about the Medical Reserve Corps, go to http://woodcountyhealth.org/ep/mrc.html
The mission of Wood County Health Department is to prevent disease, promote healthy lifestyles and protect the health of everyone in Wood County. Our Community Health Center provides comprehensive medical services for men, women and children. The center welcomes all patients, including uninsured or underinsured clients, regardless of their ability to pay, and the center accepts most third-party insurance. For more information, visit WoodCountyHealth.org
