You've worked hard in your career to master a variety of skills - in medicine, public health, safety,
logistics, communications or a number of other areas. Volunteering with the Medical Reserve Corps is a
simple and effective way to use and improve those skills, while helping to keep your family, friends and
neighbors safe and healthy. For example, you may put those skills to use during an emergency, or while
providing services for the most vulnerable members of your community. People volunteer for many reasons,
but some volunteer for the MRC because:
- It's a way to offer your skills to help your community and learn new skills as you help your
community become healthier.
- It helps your community. Skilled volunteers offer services during the year to augment existing
public health efforts or provide emergency backup that would not otherwise be available.
- It's a chance to belong to a group with a strong sense of mission and purpose. Volunteers are at the
very heart of the MRC. The existence of this nationwide, community-based network is due to the
willingness of volunteers to serve their communities in times of need.
MRC volunteers train - individually and with other members of the unit - in order to improve their
skills, knowledge and abilities. Sometimes the training is coursework, and other times it is part of a
drill or exercise conducted with partner organizations in the community. Continuing education units and
credits are even available for some programs.
Many MRC volunteers assist with activities to improve public health in their community - increasing
health literacy, supporting prevention efforts, and eliminating health disparities. In an emergency,
local resources get called upon first, sometimes with little or no warning. As a member of an MRC unit,
you can be part of an organized and trained team that responds during a disaster or public health
emergency. You will be ready and able to bolster local emergency planning and response capabilities.
The specific role that you will play, and the activities in which you will participate, will depend upon
your background, interests and skills, as well as the needs of the MRC unit and the community.
Every MRC unit is led by a local MRC unit coordinator, who matches volunteer capabilities and schedules
with local needs for both emergency responses and public health initiatives.
Many MRC members are just like you - nurses, doctors, pharmacists, therapists, public health officials
and other community members who believe in keeping your local area healthy, prepared, and resilient.
They share your commitment to helping others and making a difference. You may also work closely with
staff members from the local health department, emergency management agency, hospital or other
organizations that partner with the MRC. In fact, the services that you provide may help these other
organizations to meet their mission.
The MRC program has developed the MRC Core Competencies, which is a suggested guide for training MRC
volunteers at the local level. Core competencies represent the baseline level of knowledge and skills
that all MRC volunteers should have, regardless of their roles within the MRC unit. They also provide a
framework for unit training and assist in describing what communities can expect of their MRCs. Because
the core competencies establish only a minimum standard, units may choose to expand on the competencies
in order to train volunteers at a more advanced level. Units may also choose to link the MRC core
competencies to other existing sets of competencies for health professionals. For more information,
please view the MRC Core Competencies.
All MRC volunteers need to undergo some form of orientation to the MRC, which includes an overview of the
system in which the MRC's activities occur, whether in relation to emergency response or public health,
or both.
Support/administrative volunteers receive guidance on how to perform their particular functions, which
vary depending on the needs of particular communities. They may need to participate in practice drills
if their duties interface with those of the front-line/direct-service volunteers. Overall, the training
includes support skills training, communications, and Incident Command System, or other local command
systems.
Training requirements for front-line/direct-service volunteers is typically extensive and specialized.
Generally, these volunteers receive training in primary emergency response and public health procedures,
including basic life support and CPR; identifying the signs, symptoms, and treatment of hazardous
materials (including nuclear, biological, and chemical agents); and basic first aid skills to deal with
emergencies such as shock, allergic reactions, bleeding, broken bones, burns, choking, head trauma, heat
exhaustion, and more.
Different localities are subject to different legal liability laws and standards. Liability also is a
highly complex area of the law, compounded by innumerable differences at the local level. Understanding
and interpreting liability is based on individual cases and varied interpretations of the statutes in
specific states. Because the rules and laws vary, it is not possible for the MRC Program Office to
provide information applicable to all 50 states and to all jurisdictions within them. State offices may
provide information about its liability rules. Some states offer greater protection to medical
volunteers than others. Additionally, some response partners may be able to extend the liability and
workers compensation privileges that normally apply to regular workers.
No. The MRC program seeks medical and public health professionals to assist with emergency preparedness
and response efforts; however, other volunteers who have no medical or healthcare backgrounds also are
needed to properly conduct these efforts. Community members without medical training can assist with
administrative, logistics, and other essential support functions.
The MRC program seeks volunteers to assist with emergency preparedness and response efforts. Volunteers
in the MRC program include:
- Practicing, retired, or otherwise employed medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, emergency
medical technicians, pharmacists, nurses' assistants, and others
- Public health professionals
- Community members without medical training can assist with administrative and other essential
support functions
United States citizenship is not required to be part of the MRC. Non-citizen, legal U.S. residents also
are welcome to volunteer and contribute their time, knowledge, and skills to protecting and improving
their communities.
No. Although MRC volunteers are ready to respond to disasters or emergencies, part of the MRC program's
mission is to foster disaster preparedness. During non-emergent times, MRC volunteers strengthen the
overall health of Americans by participating in general public health initiatives such as flu
vaccination clinics. MRC volunteers also improve health literacy, support disease prevention efforts,
and supporting public health preparedness.
Volunteer availability is discussed during the MRC volunteer application process. MRC volunteers do not
have to be available all the time. Some volunteers may only be interested in making a minimal commitment
during times of crisis or for other specific community needs. These preferences are respected, given
that they can be accommodated by the MRC unit's mission and work plan.
Local MRC unit coordinators match community needs for emergency medical response and public health
initiatives with volunteer capabilities. They also determine prospective volunteers' availability and
whether they have other obligations, such as regular work responsibilities, that might conflict with
serving the MRC in times of limited advanced notice. Different people will have different amounts of
time to give. Some may not be available year-round, and others may need to be utilized throughout the
year to remain engaged with the MRC.
