The Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps'
2009-2010 Strategic Plan and accompanying Strategy Map
is in the last phase of its two year cycle.

• What do you think has gone well?
• Are things on track?
• What do you think should be in the national plan for 2011?
• What would you like to see added or enhanced in Region 4A?

Send your feedback to

Hi Everyone~

Please find information in the following link from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on extreme heat. Please note to keep in touch with relatives and friends who may be more prone to the present heat we are experiencing.

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp

Stay cool,

Liisa Jackson, Coordinator
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

The CDC has published a instructional video for fit testing N95 respirators:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/podcasts/mp4/SwineFlu_Respirators.mp4

Hi Everyone~
I wanted to share this very nice letter that we received from the Red Cross.
Have a great day~

Liisa Jackson, Coordinator
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

click for full size

Dear Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers~

The MA Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps wants to thank all of our MRC volunteers who assisted in staffing shelters across the state set up to provide shelter to the people who had to evacuate their homes due to severe flooding in Massachusetts.

Our volunteers also assisted in Disaster Assessments for FEMA and distributing clean supplies with the Red Cross.

Many of you offered your time over and over again. Even if we didn’t use you during the deployment we appreciate your willingness to help others. We were heartened by your generosity and incredible commitment to aid your stricken fellow citizens.

It is such a pleasure to work with all of you.

Thank you so much!

Liisa Jackson, Coordinator
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

Hello Everyone~

The Red Cross is still seeking our assistance. If anyone is available on Tuesday to help pass out these clean up supplies (see request below) please contact me at

Liisa Jackson
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

Great news! The Freetown shelter will be closing Monday morning.

However, the Red Cross is still seeking our assistance.If anyone is available tomorrow to help pass out these clean up supplies (see request below) please contact me at

Again thank you all for your willingness to help.

Liisa Jackson
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

We have a request to have 2 volunteers per "8 to 8" (12 hour) shift from now until Monday; we can split the shifts up if needed. To volunteer, please contact me at

I know we are coming up on a Holiday weekend, if you are available I know your work would be appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help

Liisa Jackson
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

The Waltham shelter has been closed they don’t expect it to re-open.

The Lawrence shelter is open today but we expect it to be closed later this afternoon.

We would like the MRC volunteers to stay on stand-by in case there is still a need to staff shelters.

Liisa Jackson, Coordinator
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

The MA Region 4A MRC needs MRC volunteers to assist in staffing shelters that may be set up to give a shelter to the people who could have to evacuate their homes due to the flooding in Massachusetts.

Please let me know your availability over the next 7 days via

We are so grateful for your assistance, thank you in advance for your help.

Liisa Jackson, Coordinator
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

Thank you so much for your willingness to help with the Disaster Assessment partnership with the Red Cross. They have signed up all of the volunteers needed to do the assessments, so we can stand down.

Liisa Jackson, Coordinator
Massachusetts Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps

• Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris, including broken bottles, glass nails and other sharp objects.
• Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Do not smoke or use candles, lanterns or open flames unless you are sure that the gas has been turned off and the area has been aired out.
• Carbon Monoxide exhaust kills. Only use camping stoves, generators or other gasoline-powered machines outdoors. Fumes from charcoal are especially deadly, so only use outdoors
• Avoid floodwaters. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewerage (a source of bacteria and virus).
• Wash hands frequently with sanitizer or soap and clean water if you come in contact with floodwaters.
• Look for hazards such as broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, submerged furnaces or electrical appliances and damaged sewage systems.
• Dispose of all food that has come in contact with floodwaters. Canned food may appear fine, but is not worth the risk.

• Remove the accumulated flood water and disinfect the area within 24 to 48 hours.
• After the water is pumped out, all flooded floor and wall surfaces should be washed with a sanitizer solution.
  • Sanitizer solution can be simply mixed by using two (2) capfuls of household bleach for each one (1) gallon of water.
  • Remember to always wear water proof/ chemical resistant (latex or nitrile) gloves and safety glasses when using sanitizer.
  • Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with other cleaners will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
• Open windows or use fans if necessary to dry out the flooded area after it has been sanitized.
• When in doubt, throw it out:
  Porous non cleanable items include carpeting, carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood and food.
• Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold may cause an allergic reaction in some people.

• If your home, apartment or business has suffered damage, call your insurance company or agent who handles your flood insurance right away to file a claim. Take pictures/video of the damage, both to the house and its contents for insurance claims.
• Be prepared for a rough time. Recovering from a flood is a big job. It is rough on the body and the spirit. The aftereffects of this type of disaster on you and your family may last a long time. Consult a health professional on how to recognize and care for anxiety, stress and fatigue.

• Get Vaccinated!
  Sign up for a local H1N1 Vaccination Clinic
  
  
• CDC: Main H1N1 Flu Resource Page
• Massachusetts: Health Blog / Flu Statistics
• Massachusetts:
  H1N1 Flu Facts Presentation

The CDC is committed to providing information to its partners, so that you can stay informed and communicate accurate information to your constituents. Please remember to send any questions or comments to coca@cdc.gov. We want to ensure that these updates are timely and helpful. To assist in your efforts, please see the following materials and resources:

On behalf of the Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)
Joint Information Center (JIC) Clinician Communication Team
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Greetings all,

I hope you are doing well and having a good morning.

Last night, I attended the Haitian Family and Friend Community Event held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in South End in solidarity with Haitian friends and families from across our communities.

Attached—A list of resources from Thomas Menino's office they presented. They also provided a Creole version of the notice and I would be happy to share a paper version with anyone who is interested.

Also at this link are organizations that CNN has compiled for those who would like to contribute funds. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/

If you are interested in volunteering at the local level: Through the State of MA there is the "Hands On" organization who is taking volunteer requests/ inquires as we speak. You can email Tom Taylor at Volunteer Services at info@hodr.org to add your name to the volunteer list. For more information you can also visit their website at http://hodr.org/. You can also call them at 781 570 9412.

Lastly, for those still looking for family members in Haiti, there is a website through the Red Cross that helps in the process of identifying family members across the country : http://www.icrc.org/familylinks

Peace and Solidarity,

Kalina Crystal Black
ABCD Foster Grandparents Program
Program Manager
617 348 6783
black at bostonabcd.org

Hey All MRC Unit Leaders,

Happy New Year!!

The MRC is right about to reach 200, 000 volunteers! We are SO close - if you have new volunteers or have not updated your profiles TODAY!!!! to include all of your new folks that have joined your forces during this recent flu season, PLEASE do so NOW!!!!

A reminder that there are also a bunch of new items on the profiles to be answered to be complete. Another great reason to visit and update them.

AND I will be scheduling Technical Assessment(TA) calls with all of you starting immediately. If you are a new unit in 2009, and "older" than 6 months in business, you will go first, so stand by!! TA time is a terrific opportunity to share all your activities, plans for the new year, and ask questions or bring up new and exciting ideas that could improve the MRC program as a whole.

The Capacity Building Award, through the MRC Cooperative Agreement with NACCHO, announcements have all gone out. If you have not received notification, please be sure that you were the documented person to receive notification and that your email address was correct on your application. If you still are not sure, please contact me, and I will verify and be sure you recieve notification. If you were denied, do not hesitate to ask for clarification with NACCHO, and if you feel the issue is correct, work with me to resolve it.

Finally the US DHHS Sebelius, has taken on smoking cessation and obesity/physical inactiveness as her target improvement areas. I encourage everyone to stop smoking and move around! AND on that note, if your units are engaged in any activities that include these items, please document them on you profiles and make me aware. Also, you can always sign your unit up for the President's Fitness Challenge to document your member's physical activities, earn points and fun awards!

This is National Influenza Awareness Week! Please record all your activities on your MRC unit profiles! And for a bit more recognition, post this week's activities on: www.Flu.gov/getvaccinated

Jennifer Frenette

Regional Coordinator
Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Region I
76 Portland St.
Lancaster, NH 03584
603-788-2769
603-788-2032(fax)
jennifer.frenette@hhs.gov
www.medicalreservecorps.gov
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy, and Prepared Communities

Dear MRC Leaders:

In preparation for National Influenza Vaccination Week (January 10-16, 2010), the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the White House Office of Public Engagement will hold an informational conference call with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 11:00am EST. This call will offer organizations the latest updates on the H1N1 virus and a first-hand preview of plans for National Influenza Vaccination Week. Please find the call-in information below.

Title: H1N1 Call *provide in lieu of passcode*
Participant: (800) 230-1085

Attached are a letter from Secretary Sebelius and a one-pager about National Influenza Vaccination Week. We encourage organizations to plan outreach activities, vaccination clinics, or other events during this week to communicate that the H1N1 vaccine is safe, effective, and the best defense against the flu and we ask that you share your plans with us.

Please also consider forwarding the following message to your membership lists with tips on how to prevent loved ones from getting the flu. While flu illness has declined in many areas, we are only at the beginning of the traditional flu season, which lasts until May. The H1N1 virus is unpredictable and we may see additional waves of illness.

With your help, we now have an opportunity to get ahead of another potential surge in H1N1 and to protect millions of Americans. Participation in this outreach effort is voluntary. To learn more about National Influenza Vaccination Week and how you can get more involved, please visit www.FLU.gov/getvaccinated.

Thank you.

PDF version of the National Influenza Vaccination Week Schedule -- "Tell us what you have planned!"

Dear MRC Volunteers and Partners:

You may have noticed the spread of the H1N1 flu decreasing lately. What many don't know is that flu season typically lasts through May, and that past pandemics have occurred in waves. In other words, it's possible that we will see another increase in H1N1 and/or seasonal flu in the months ahead. That's why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has designated January 10-16 as National Influenza Vaccination Week. Below are some useful tips provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for you to share with your family and friends as you begin the New Year.

Add the Vaccine to Your New Year's Resolutions List – Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. To find the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine clinics nearest you, visit FLU.gov and type in your zip code. The Department of Health and Human Services recently teamed up with Google Maps to create this handy flu vaccine locator. Go ahead, try it out! NOTE: Please call ahead to the desired clinic location to confirm availability. Contact information is listed on the FLU.gov vaccine locator.

Be a Germ Stopper – Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Also, stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with people who are sick. For additional information, see how to prevent and treat the flu.

Check the Facts and Stay Informed – Visit FLU.gov regularly for the latest information. Heard a rumor? Visit Myths & Facts to run a fact check.

If you've been vaccinated already, please share this email with friends and family and let them know why the H1N1 vaccine is safe. The 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is made the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine. Millions of people have safely received the H1N1 vaccine, including the President, First Lady and their children.

Interested in doing more? Consider hosting an outreach activity or vaccination clinic during National Influenza Vaccination Week (January 10-16) and share your plans with us. Or post a flyer at your work, school and local community centers. To learn more about National Influenza Vaccination Week, please visit www.FLU.gov/getvaccinated.

Questions? Visit FLU.gov or call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hotline 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), offering services in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Wishing you a happy and healthy new year.

Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary of Health And Human Services
Washington, DC 20201

PDF version of the Letter from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health And Human Services (below)