By Paul Tuthill
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Amherst, MA – Although the region is not prone to large scale natural disasters, there are more than 600 volunteers in Western Massachusetts standing by to help in time of crisis. There was a conference for them,Tuesday, at U-Mass Amherst that featured hands-on training, demonstrations, and advice from experts WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports
These are members of the Western Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps receiving training in triage at the scene of a mock emergency .a fire at a concert..
Students, made up with fake blood , portrayed the victims of the disaster in a smoke filled room pulsating with sirens and screams There were also some computer controlled human body simulators, that could respond realistically to first aid ..
Emergency preparedness was the focus of Tuesday's conference attended by about 350 MRC members from throughout Western Massachusetts. There were demonstrations on fire safety and water purification. Information on local resources including the Red Cross and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. There were presentations on caring for pets, assisting the hearing impaired and for helping combat veterans who may experience post traumatic stress during an emergency.
The Medical Reserve Corps was born out of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, which saw volunteers flock to New York City eager to help , but lacking in training and coordination. Now there are MRC chapters across the county with tens of thousands of members.
Brenda Brennan, co-director of the MRC chapter in San Bernadino County California, a key note speaker at the Amherst conference, says the organization has made the United States better prepared to respond to emergencies
There are 17 MRC chapters in Western Massachusetts according to the regional coordinator, Kathleen Conley Norbut .
In addition to working at mass evacuation shelters, the volunteers also staff immunization clinics, first aid stations at events such as road races and they participate in public health initiatives.
Betty Anderson Fredrick, the deputy director of the city of Springfield's Department of Health and Human Services, says the region is fortunate to have an active Medical Reserve Corps..
Nurses make up the largest group of MRC volunteers nationwide. The nursing school at UMass Amherst is the first in the county to incorporate the Medical Reserve Corps into its curriculum.