Training

Register

Complete your registration at the Disaster Healthcare Volunteers (DHV) website: https://healthcarevolunteers.ca.gov. DHV is a state database that MRC uses to verify licensure and communicate with volunteers. Please make sure that you mark Santa Cruz County MRC as your affiliation and keep your profile up-to-date. If you are licensed, please be sure your license status is current. In a disaster, the DHV registry is the quickest way for us to search for MRC volunteers with the licensure, training and competency that the particular disaster might require, so it is a good idea to periodically review your DHV profile and update as needed.

Plan

Attest that you have a Family and Personal Emergency Preparedness Plan so that you feel comfortable leaving your residence when activated.

Print and complete the Family and Personal Emergency Plan Form, then sign and mail it as instructed on the form. For more information, read the Red Cross Family Disaster Plan document or go to Ready.gov.

Train Online

Complete the “IS-100” online course here. This Incident Command System training is mandatory so that volunteers from different organizations can work together during a disaster. The course will take 2–3 hours. This is the third version of this course, IS 100b. Those who have taken earlier versions, IS 100 or IS 100a do not need to retake the latest version, but it is recommended that you go through this latest version to keep up to date.

When you complete the course final exam, you will receive an email of your Certificate of Completion. You must document your completion of IS 100 in the DHV registry. To do this, log in to DHV and go to your profile. Under the trainings tab, there is a drop down menu and you can choose IS 100. Information on how nurses can claim CEUs for this course is available below.

Orient

Attend a new member Orientation. Orientation is offered at least annually. Information about upcoming classes is communicated by email and posted on our website. After completion of the orientation, volunteers will be given their SCC MRC “uniform” (T-shirt, cap and logo decals as well as a “Go Kit” tote bag). Uniform accessories are available for purchase online and at some local retailers.

Take the Oath

In an emergency, we will be activated by the County Health Officer as Disaster Service Workers (DSW) volunteers. DSW designation, which provides liability coverage for MRC volunteers, requires activated volunteers to have taken the DSW oath before an authorized person and to have a photograph made for their DSW badge. The oath is administered and photos taken at our Annual Meeting and other opportunities during the year.

Strongly encouraged – Complete Psychological First Aid (PFA) training and CPR training. These courses are available through the American Red Cross. You can search for the Psychological First Aid course by entering “psychological first aid” in the search bar.