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ccpmrc.org                                                                                         November 2016
Training for the Real Thing: A Look into October’s Full-Scale Exercise
By: Ryan Frazier
Readiness is critical to the success of Capitol City Pharmacy Medical Reserve Corps (CCPMRC). To ensure our volunteers are prepared and confident when called upon to respond, we conduct regular trainings throughout the year. These trainings include our Annual Training Symposium where experts in preparedness and public health train our volunteers in a variety of areas such as patient triaging, patient tracking, family reunification, and community resilience. Our volunteers also undergo Basic Life Support, AED, and Immunization Training to ensure they’re prepared to support as first responders and meet public health needs.

Following these in-class trainings, we then require our volunteers to participate in at least two field trainings a year through various exercises. Exercises are simulated events aimed at preparing our volunteers for real-life scenarios such as rapidly implementing a point-of-dispensing, or acting as a first responder during a simulated chemical spill, or being a part of a carefully orchestrated full-scale exercise coordinated by several agencies.  This past month our volunteers had the unique opportunity to engage in the latter and participate in a Full-Scale Active Shooter Exercise coordinated by local, state, and federal agencies. We got to work directly alongside first responders during a simulated mass casualty event modeled after a presidential inauguration scenario.

Volunteers were divided into two groups as first responders and victims. First responders consisted of over 50 health officials composed of doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, EMTs, medical reserve corps volunteers and several other health disciplines. 
 
The second group was assigned roles as victims. This group was comprised of healthcare workers, students, and the general public recruited for the exercise. The victims were given scenarios to act out reflecting the injuries they sustained. Each team of first responders were assigned medical stations and each team of victims were assigned a location to congregate within the event.

Once all assets were in position, a loud horn sounded to signal the beginning of the exercise and 45 minutes of non-stop action ensued. Both fake explosions and fake gunfire led to a swarm of simulated victims hopping, crawling, and immobilized. My role was to assist medical personnel with triaging and tracking each patient. It was very surreal to see medical staff assisting and stabilizing patients with rapid efficiency. I had to maintain a high level of alertness to keep track of the status of over 35-40 patients in just my area of the event. Working alongside an array of clinicians, I had to constantly communicate with my team to ensure they understood the status and severity of each patient’s condition. A focus from stabilizing patients shifted to evacuating them as I observed a medical helicopter land 50 feet away to extract critically injured patients with a constant leap frog of medical transport personnel lifting and carting patients away. This was the first time I saw the full scope of what it meant to be a member of CCPMRC during a crisis and as a component of a much larger effort on this grand of a scale. We want to thank George Washington Hospital’s Medical Reserve Corps, each agency that helped coordinate the exercise, and everyone who volunteered to bring that amazing experience to life. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
Mosquito Season Isn't Over
Protection Tips:
  • Use EPA-registered insect repellents.
  • Remove items that hold water at least once a week.
  • EPA-registered repellants are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
For more information:        https://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/prevent-mosquito-bites.html 
Power Outage Safety
What Can You Do?
  • Replenish your emergency preparedness supply.
  • Candles are hazardous, so use flashlights for emergency lighting.
  • Know your alternative power methods and safety plan.
        https://www.ready.gov/power-outages
National MRC Updates
This past month, the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Communications, ASPR Fusion, and the Uncas Health District MRC hosted a webinar regarding social media’s role in disaster response.  MRC leaders from all over the nation joined in for an informative discussion on how social media is altering the methods of disaster response and what we, as both informers and informants, can do to utilize this tool.
 
Social media is a prominent figure in today’s culture.  With Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and so many other applications available at our fingertips, access to information has become much easier. In the case of an emergency responder, following organizations such as FEMA, CDC, or their local MRCs can help to quickly decipher locations that they can step in and help. 

Some social media applications have also developed their own process of emergency response.  Twitter, for example, launched an emergency alert system in 2013, where individuals who have a twitter account will automatically receive a tweet or a text message when an emergency occurs.  Facebook has an automatic Safety Check, where in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, individuals who are in the affected area can notify the public about their well-being through one click on their Facebook profile.  Google Public Alerts helps to show a visual of occurring disasters on a map. With the ease of access however, comes the ease of manipulation.  It’s important to keep in mind the sources of information when looking for data regarding disasters.  An inaccurate recall of events can create a chaotic environment in an already stressful situation. 

CCPMRC urges the community and our members to incorporate social media into your emergency response plan.  Utilizing these applications can help increase a community’s resilience while keeping you informed.   
Volunteer Spotlight
Morgan Floyd, 1st Year Pharmacy Student
at Howard University College of Pharmacy

Why did you choose Pharmacy as profession? 

I chose pharmacy because I wanted to have a  better understanding of medicine, how it worked, why it worked, and what ways I could make it better. 

Why do you volunteer for CCPMRC?

I joined the Capitol City Pharmacy Medical Reserve Corps at the beginning of this school year.  As an organization, CCPMRC stood out to me. When Ryan Frazier, Chief of Community Resilience,  talked about triaging, I realized it was a skill that I wanted to learn.  Wherever I end up in life, being able to quickly assess and reassess situations in order to complete large complicated task will be highly beneficial to me and I believe that being a member of CCPMRC will allow me to obtain this skill set. 

What activities have you participated in recently? 

Last month, I had to opportunity participate in an active shooter exercise hosted by George Washington University MRC, DC DOH, US Park Police, Children's National MRC, DC HEPRA, and many other health agencies.  It was fascinating to see how first responders and volunteers prepare for situations that could result in mass casualties. 

What do you like to do in your free-time? 

In my free time I enjoy reading, volunteering with children, and talking to my younger sister.
DID YOU KNOW?

No current vaccine for the Zika virus available.

Local mosquito-borne Zika virus reported in two areas of Miami.
Look out for the 4th Annual Wellness Fair next spring!
Are you interested in being featured in the Volunteer Spotlight? If you are a current member, be sure to check your email in the future for details! 
Upcoming Events

To Be Announced 

 

Thanksgiving Point of Dispensing Exercise
CCPMRC's Impact On the Nation's Capitol  -  October 2016
Initiatives
2
RESIDENTS REACHED

>2325
 
Training Symposium


Our training symposium was a huge success, thanks to the 37 new volunteers who attended. Just a reminder that volunteers who attended the symposium are required to complete their online modules, as well as, have a valid BLS CPR certificate. A recap of the instructions can be found below: 


Step 1: Visit the Capitol City MRC’s website ( www.ccpmrc.org )
Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of Capitol City MRC’s website (www.ccpmrc.org) and click “Join Our MRC”. Register an account and take the following courses:

  • IS-100.HCB: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS 100) for Healthcare/Hospitals 

  • IS-200.HCA: Applying ICS to Healthcare Organizations 

  • IS-700.A: National Incident Management System 

  • IS-800.A: National Response Framework
     

Step 3: Email all certificates of completion and a valid BLS CPR certification to capitolcityrxmrc@gmail.com by October 1st, 2017 

By: Detron Brown

1. Prepare: It is important that you properly sanitize your refrigerator and oven. You want to make sure both are free from germs and most of all you have space to cook, store, and prepare your food. Remember to keep hot foods above 140° F and cold foods 40° F and below.

2. Cook: Every meat has a specific temperature advisable by the FDA to be consider safe for consumption for example, most poultry must be cooked to at least 165 degrees. Use a thermometer to check.

3. Wash: Remember to wash all meats and fresh produce before preparation and consumption; but most of all remember to wash your hands. Hand hygiene is important not only for those who prepare the food but for your taste testers too! In fact, hand hygiene is the single most important infection control measure there is!

4. Eggs: Even though there are quite a few dishes that may require uncooked eggs, remember to purchase pasteurized eggs for minimized chances of infection.

As we get deep in the grove of the fall, we can get excited about many things. We can be excited about the changing landscape, the beautiful midday weather, but most of all the holidays! Holidays bring us all from near and far together to celebrate with family and FOOD! While preparing and consuming food are definitely holiday traditions, foodborne illness affects an estimated 70 million people at least once per year in the United States. This is why no matter who is cooking that tasty turkey its important to think food safety. Here are a few tips to keep your holiday filled with cheer and not with crowded restrooms and upset tummies!
 
While we hope that the above tips will keep you and your family safe during the holidays, remember there is always a neighborhood pharmacist to help you should someone become ill. Typically foodborne illnesses are virus and the best course of action is to allow them to run course. Be sure to go to your local pharmacy to get Gatorade or Pedialyte for kids for hydration. If there is a fever involved ask your pharmacist for the best recommendation of OTC medication to treat. This is typically Ibuprofen or Tylenol but the preference changes depending on the patient. Think about adding these staple items along with you and your immediate family’s basic health information such as current medication list, medication allergies, food allergies, and current health conditions to your emergency preparedness kits as you travel. This ensures no matter where the holiday season takes you are prepared to deal with any emergency including a food emergency. Happy Holidays!! 
How can I maintain my active member status? 
  1. Participate in AT LEAST 3 community outreach events per calendar year (starting from June)
  2. Participate in AT LEAST 1 POD exercise per calendar year (starting from June)
  3. Complete AT LEAST 1 MRC TRAIN module per calendar year (starting from June)   
By maintaining your Active Member Status, you will have first priority on volunteering on events such as the presidential inauguration, be able to attend the end of the year CCPMRC Volunteer Appreciation Banquet (which includes several free giveaways), as well as other benefits from future partnering companies.  
 
Again, THANK YOU for all your efforts in making CCPMRC great!
CCPMRC is also now a part of DC Responds, a section of the Department of Health's national initiative to coordinate and mobilize volunteers to respond to all types of emergencies. 
We recommend members to register at this website:
https://www.dcresponds.org/agreement.php
Please sign up for MRC TRAIN as soon as possible, using the following link: www.mrc.train.org
 A module will be chosen each calendar year to refresh your knowledge on an MRC initiative, or introduce you to a new one.  Feel free, however, to peruse through modules at your leisure. 
STAY CONNECTED WITH CCPMRC
Click on the icons to find out more!
Please be sure to like and/or follows us!
Mission State and Goals of CCPMRC
 
The mission of CCPMRC is to engage volunteers to strengthen public health, emergency response and community resilience.

The goal of CCPMRC is to increase the number of trained pharmacy students, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. This MRC has been uniquely established in October 2013 to recruit and train volunteers to provide pharmacy-related functions during an emergency situation. Pharmacy related functions include but are not limited to mass vaccinations, staffing medical point-of-dispensing stations and provision of emergency supply of chronic medications.This effort will be supported by the District of Columbia- Department of Health, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Administration
Copyright © 2016 Capitol City Pharmacy MRC, All rights reserved.


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Capitol City Pharmacy MRC · 2300 4th St NW · Washington, DC 20059 · USA

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