|
|
|
      |
 Home > News and Events > News Archive - 2007 > The California Emergency Medical Services Authority and the SCCMRC Prepare for Major California DisasterNews ReleaseFor Immediate Release Contact: Rough & Ready 2007 Partners Play Vital Role in Emergency PreparednessLOS ALAMITOS, California – The Santa Cruz County Medical Reserve Corps (SCCMRC) participated in California Emergency Medical Services Authority’s Rough & Ready 2007, an annual training and demonstration designed to enhance California’s emergency response system. This year’s training proved to be particularly important because it included the unveiling of one of California’s three new 200-bed mobile hospitals, the largest civilian medical response facilities of their kind. As a partner in Rough & Ready 2007, the SCCMRC helped boost California’s disaster medical response capabilities and plays a vital role in the state’s emergency preparedness plan. The week-long intensive training, organized by the Emergency Medical Services Authority, at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base brought together more than 400 volunteer emergency responders from various organizations and parts of the state, including two experienced nurse representatives from the SCCMRC. Responders experienced a simulated major Southern California disaster, giving them the opportunity to bring to action the state’s emergency response plan and fine tune their crucial patient treatment skills. The SCCMRC participants in the exercise not only attended didactic lectures and demonstrations about disaster preparedness, but also learned how the state’s emergency response system may help Santa Cruz County in a major disaster. They will share their insights from this exercise later in the year with other volunteers in Santa Cruz County at an Orientation and Training program. “California’s response to a major medical emergency will rely heavily on a well-executed emergency preparedness plan, and Emergency Medical Services Authority’s coordination of an integrated response system ensures California’s readiness for any disaster,” said Dr. David McNutt, Coordinator of the SCCMRC. “The Santa Cruz County Medical Reserve Corps is proud to be a Rough & Ready 2007 partner.” Director Cesar Aristeiguieta, M.D., from the Emergency Medical Services Authority, commended partner organizations that helped make the training possible. “California’s emergency preparedness plan is based on an integrated response system,” said Dr. Aristeiguieta. “In a major disaster, it will take a coordinated effort from a variety of organizations such as the Santa Cruz County Medical Reserve Corps to keep Californians safe.” For more information on disaster preparedness, go to www.oes.ca.gov. The SCCMRC is one of 38 units recognized in California by the U.S. Surgeon General. The Santa Cruz County unit was established in 2005 by the Santa Cruz County Medical Society. It has not been active until the past 6 months, when it received a Capacity Building Grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials. A major recruitment effort was launched in May 2007, and more than 200 nurses, physicians, and others have volunteered. The SCCMRC is now in the process of defining its governing and organizational structure. An Orientation and Training program for the volunteers is planned for later this year. Its national Web site page is: http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/detail.asp?id=275&State=6. The SCCMRC is a new component of the County of Santa Cruz’s Citizen Corps Council and the Emergency Management Council. Its mission is to establish a volunteer network of local medical and public health professionals which is integrated into established community emergency systems for assistance during emergencies, to provide mutual aid to other communities in need when called on, and to offer consultation and education services to the local community. Last Updated on 8/28/2007 |
     |