BIDDEFORD — Individuals interested in public health and emergency preparedness and response are invited to join York County Medical Reserve Corps volunteers in training to assist at Alternate Care Sites and to deliver Psychological First Aid.

Alternative Care Site training will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 in Room 202 of the Decary Building on the University of New England’s Biddeford campus. 

Attendees will learn how to help establish and staff an off-site temporary hospital in the event a large community emergency overwhelms existing facilities and employees.

Psychological First Aid training will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17 in Room 202 of the Decary Building on the University of New England’s Biddeford campus. Attendees will learn how to assist victims, survivors, family members, and responders in dealing with the immediate psychological aftermath of a variety of community incidents.

These classes are examples of the preparedness training that will be regularly scheduled for York County’s Medical Reserve Corps, the local component of a national network of volunteers organized to improve community health and safety.  

MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as many non-medical community members who are invaluable in a variety of support roles. 

Units from MRC 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 to other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks.  

While no changes are anticipated for the April 19 or May 17 meetings, an RSVP to [email protected] by non-MRC members will ensure notification of any unforeseen circumstances that may affect the schedule.