About Connecticut's
REgion 1 Medical
REserve Corps Units
What is the Medical Reserve Corps?
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. The MRC network comprises approximately 190,000 volunteers in 900 community-based units located throughout the United States and its territories. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds. MRC units engage these volunteers to strengthen public health, improve emergency response capabilities and build community resiliency. They prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, and floods, as well as other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks. They frequently contribute to community health activities that promote healthy habits
How Can You Help?
In our area, CT's Region 1, there are 6 Medical Reserve Corps Units including Greenwich MRC, Stamford MRC, Westport/Weston/Wilton MRC, Fairfield/Easton MRC, Bridgeport MRC and Stratford/Trumbull/Monroe MRC. These MRC Units are coordinated through local Health Departments or Health Districts.
By signing up to be a Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer you become part of a pre-trained, pre-credentialled volunteer group that is fully recognized by federal, state and local emergency response agencies with liability protections provided by the state when deployed. MRC volunteers are often one of the first volunter groups contacted to respond when local volunteers are needed.
What does it involve?
While the training requirements for volunteers will vary from unit to unit, in most cases the process essentially entails signing up, receiving some initial training, being asked to participate in occasional training, drills and exercises and then from time to time be asked to respond to emergency events such as shelters, call centers, first aid stations, medication dispensing sites or other roles as needed. There is no obligation to respond, you only respond if you are available.
In most cases you will be asked to respond locally but from time to time there will also be requests to respond to other areas of the state or even other areas of the country. It is always your choice whether to respond or not.