Press Release
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Pioneer Valley Planning Commission • 60 Congress Street – Floor 1
Springfield, MA 01104-3419 wwww.pvpc.org |
June 2009
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers in Distant Storm training exercise
Chicopee - On a beautiful Saturday in June, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers from across Hampden County participated in the Distant Storm training exercise at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, MA. Many months of planning between the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), area hospitals, EMS, fire, public health and Westover Air Reserve Base personnel with volunteer partners including the Medical Reserve Corps and the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross culminated in a full-scale exercise at the base.
Westover Air Reserve Base is a patient receiving site should hospitals in other regions of the country be compromised by natural or man-made disasters. The teams of MRC volunteers who had participated in trainings to learn about personal and family preparedness, Incident Command System and Psychological First Aid performed diverse functions throughout the day. Town of Longmeadow MRC volunteer Sherry Mandell, RN reported that this was the first time she had experienced anything like a military exercise. Sherry stated, “It was a great learning experience (which I hope we will never have to use in a real life situation) and a lot of fun.” MRC volunteers transported and attended to over three dozen mannequin patients that arrived by airplane to a base hangar which was the site of the operations. American Red Cross volunteers fed and keep personnel hydrated. Chicopee MRC Coordinator, Tammy Szlachetka was thrilled to see the Chicopee volunteers participate in the exercise as members of the host community for Westover Air Reserve Base and stated, “It is a special feeling to have the City of Chicopee’s health department and MRC volunteers involved in these important planning exercises. Should the need arise, we will be prepared.” Volunteers from the Chicopee, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Monson, Springfield, West Springfield, and Greater Westfield and Western Hampden County MRC units participated in the exercise. City of Springfield Emergency Management Director and Incident Commander for the Distant Storm training exercise, Bob Hassett stated, “The MRC volunteers were terrific. We greatly appreciate all the time and effort that they contributed to the exercise.”
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was initiated shortly after the events of September 11, 2001. There are currently nine MRC units in Hampden County, fifteen in western Massachusetts and over forty MRC units in the state. The mission of the Medical Reserve Corps in our region is to build healthy and resilient communities. For more information about the Medical Reserve Corps or to become a volunteer visit www.wmmrc.org or call Kathleen Conley Norbut, M.Ed., LMHC, Coordinator, MRC Western MA at (413) 454-5163.
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers in Distant Storm training exercise
Chicopee - On a beautiful Saturday in June, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers from across Hampden County participated in the Distant Storm training exercise at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, MA. Many months of planning between the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), area hospitals, EMS, fire, public health and Westover Air Reserve Base personnel with volunteer partners including the Medical Reserve Corps and the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross culminated in a full-scale exercise at the base.
Westover Air Reserve Base is a patient receiving site should hospitals in other regions of the country be compromised by natural or man-made disasters. The teams of MRC volunteers who had participated in trainings to learn about personal and family preparedness, Incident Command System and Psychological First Aid performed diverse functions throughout the day. Town of Longmeadow MRC volunteer Sherry Mandell, RN reported that this was the first time she had experienced anything like a military exercise. Sherry stated, “It was a great learning experience (which I hope we will never have to use in a real life situation) and a lot of fun.” MRC volunteers transported and attended to over three dozen mannequin patients that arrived by airplane to a base hangar which was the site of the operations. American Red Cross volunteers fed and keep personnel hydrated. Chicopee MRC Coordinator, Tammy Szlachetka was thrilled to see the Chicopee volunteers participate in the exercise as members of the host community for Westover Air Reserve Base and stated, “It is a special feeling to have the City of Chicopee’s health department and MRC volunteers involved in these important planning exercises. Should the need arise, we will be prepared.” Volunteers from the Chicopee, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Monson, Springfield, West Springfield, and Greater Westfield and Western Hampden County MRC units participated in the exercise. City of Springfield Emergency Management Director and Incident Commander for the Distant Storm training exercise, Bob Hassett stated, “The MRC volunteers were terrific. We greatly appreciate all the time and effort that they contributed to the exercise.”
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was initiated shortly after the events of September 11, 2001. There are currently nine MRC units in Hampden County, fifteen in western Massachusetts and over forty MRC units in the state. The mission of the Medical Reserve Corps in our region is to build healthy and resilient communities. For more information about the Medical Reserve Corps or to become a volunteer visit www.wmmrc.org or call Kathleen Conley Norbut, M.Ed., LMHC, Coordinator, MRC Western MA at (413) 454-5163.
Bettye Anderson Frederic, Deputy Director, City of Springfield HHSMRC and James Jones, Town of Longmeadow MRC carrying stretcher.
Group of MRC and ARC volunteers.
L to R Melissa Sueiras, City of Springfield HHSMRC; Belle Perrone, Town of Longmeadow, Javeria Mir, West Springfield MRC