WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY - Today's "Lisa Tolliver Show" guests came bearing gifts. Marianne Partridge and Bill Reilly from the Westchester Volunteer Reserves Corps-Medical Reserve Corps (WEVR-MRC) brought me a backpack containing many tools and gadgets that will not only assist in my role as a WEVR-MRC trainee; they're also handy around the house.
In my first training session as a WEVR-MRC volunteer, I joined 19 other volunteers and our seasoned instructors - a fire captain and policeman-cum-corporate disaster emergency executive - in Valhalla last Saturday. Through lectures and multimedia study aids, we learned about firefighting and light search and rescue operations. Then, after a sumptuous buffet lunch, we donned safety gear and practiced extinguishing gas fires. In upcoming sessions we'll learn from other professionals to perform CPR and other emergency preparedness and response skills. We already passed a background check to receive an invitation to the training program, and after a total of 20 hours of free training, we may be called into action to assist during a large-scale disaster or healthcare emergency in Westchester County.
Both medical professionals and non-medical volunteers are needed. The program is coordinated by Westchester County's Department of Emergency Services and The Volunteer Center of United Way. All classes are held in Valhalla. Click here for details.
To register or obtain more information, contact evr@volunteer-center.org, call 1-866-VOL-CALL, or non-medical professionals click here for WEVR or medical professionals click here for MRC.
Future "Lisa Tolliver Shows" will partner with WEVR-MRC to publicize safety tips. Tune in every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 1:30-2:00 pm, Eastern Time on WVOX AM 1460 and www.wvox.com.###
