They Stand Ready to Serve

After the Sept. 11 attacks, droves of people began showing up at the scene eager to help.

The problem was, no one knew whether these well-intentioned people were trained or experienced enough to offer legitimate assistance. And the lack of a structured system was less than ideal.

Out of the ashes and the chaos of that horrific day and those that followed rose the medical reserve corps. The corps has teams throughout the country, including Grafton.

The Grafton Medical Reserve Corps supports the community in case of a disaster. The corps assists the Grafton Health Department in protecting the health and well-being of the community.

Their official role is to “enhance volunteer forces in an emergency, promote general health awareness and public education and support any and all public health functions as needed.’’

Should an anthrax attack occur in town, for example, they would likely open a site to dispense the medication to offset exposure to the deadly chemical.

Volunteers are trained in “core competencies’’ that allow them to assist in emergencies. Some members are medical personnel such as doctors and nurses.

But others never get near an injury. Instead, they help register people, direct them to the right location or work behind the scenes to set up tables and chairs, for example.

And the corps responds to more than emergencies. They also sponsor public health initiatives, including flu clinics and medical screenings. They worked at the 275^th anniversary parade, for example, offering medical assistance if needed.

The corps works closely with the Community Emergency Response Team, also known as CERT.

The CERT team answers to the town’s emergency management director Ray Mead and offers assistance in an emergency.

During the recent hurricane, for example, team members set up the town shelter, located at the gym of the Grafton Municipal Center.

But like their counterparts at the medical reserve corps, CERT members also work at a lot of community events, such as town road races. Together, they provide medical assistance and keep the lines of communication open among those involved.

“There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into planning a road race, let alone opening a shelter,’’ said Clare Garabedian, Grafton’s deputy director of emergency management.

Volunteers are always needed. The key to a good volunteer in emergency agencies, Garabedian said, is to have a “clear mind. You have to want to volunteer and help other people. You have to be willing to take instructions and follow through. And if you say you’re going to be there, you have to be there.’’

Lois Luniewicz, director of the Grafton Medical Reserve Corps, reassures volunteers that they will not be given more to do than they can handle. Volunteers receive training and are supported by the administrative team, she said.

The Medical Reserve Corps will have a booth at the Farmers’ Market this Thursday, Sept. 8 starting at 2 p.m. at the Common to dispense material and to talk about the corps and volunteer opportunities.

To learn more about the Grafton Medical Reserve Corps, visit www.graftonmrc.org. For more about the Community Emergency Response Team, visit Fema.gov/cert and follow the links.