Questions about volunteering

1. What will I be doing as a volunteer?

Volunteer roles will vary, depending on the emergency or disaster and what staffing needs exist. Volunteers may also be assigned duties that are different from traditional every day work duties. For example, a licensed optometrist may be assigned to provide triage or give injections. An administrative assistant may assist with setting up hospital beds. However, PHRC volunteers will not be assigned roles that they do not feel comfortable with, where health and safety are jeopardized or are physically incapable of.

Examples of volunteer roles may include but not limited to:

Medical roles:

Medical operations
Dispensing antibiotics
Injecting vaccines
Reviewing health histories
Conducting medical screening
Performing patient exams
Patient care
Triage
Basic life support

Non-medical roles:

Inventory control
Medical and non-medical supply management
Pharmaceutical inventory management
Transporting patients
Setting up hospital equipment
Assisting people with paperwork
Greeting and directing people through a medication center
Providing information about a disease or condition to people
Managing the flow of people through a medication center
Providing interpretation services

PHRC volunteers serving in support roles

2. Who can become a support, non-medical volunteer?

Anyone who:

is 18 years old or older
successfully passes a criminal background check
is not employed by King County
works well in stressful situations
has good customer service skills
works well in a team
has a valid driver's license and auto insurance

3. What type of emergencies would I be responding to?

The Public Health Reserve Corps serves response activities by Public Health Seattle & King County in an emergency. Currently, volunteers in the program will be focused on specific Public Health response functions like mass vaccination clinics or setting up and operating alternate care facilities to support and relieve the hospital/health care system in time of disaster or emergency. For example:

During the 2007 flu season there were several pediatric deaths related to the flu complications. Over Presidents Day weekend Public Health opened up three mass vaccination clinics to provide immunizations to adults and children in the community rapidly.
During the 2006 December windstorm Public Health set up and managed an emergency care shelter to provide patient care to nursing home residents who had lost power and had to evacuate.
Public Health emergency response also made preparations for Hurricane Katrina evacuees in 2005. Anticipating the arrival of potentially thousands displaced from the storm, some in poor health, Public Health developed a model and protocol for screening people once their flights landed. Ultimately, no planes arrived, but volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses were recruited in anticipation of needing their screening assistance.
The Public Health Reserve Corps may also assist during a bioterrorist event, specifically an anthrax exposure. Public Health would be responsible for dispensing antibiotics within 72 hours of exposure and would need volunteers to help dispense antibiotics from designated medication centers to exposed residents.
In our newest affiliation we are partnering with veterinary groups to address the needs of animals residing in King County to help stave off massive animal loss suffered in recent times such as Hurricane Katrina.

4. What happens if I’m needed by my employer during an emergency?

First and foremost, Public Health understands that your first commitment is to your employer. In a large emergency in which the health care system is impacted, your responsibilities are with your employer.

However, many type of events in which the Public Health Reserve Corps would assist will be of a smaller scale and may not have a significant impact on the larger health care system. In many instances, early response to these types of emergencies by Public Health will help the larger health care system from being overwhelmed.

5. Can medical, nursing, or public health students volunteer?

Students are encouraged to apply as a support volunteer. If students have an active professional license, they can apply as a medical volunteer.

6. Can medical residents and interns be a medical volunteer?

Yes. Medical residents and interns will work under the supervision of Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Medical Director or Chief of Pharmacy.

7. Can retired medical professionals volunteer?

Yes. Retired medical professionals are valuable assets and are encouraged to apply. If they do not have an active professional license, they can apply as a support volunteer. If they have an active professional license, they can apply as a medical volunteer.

8. How do I become a Public Health Reserve Corps volunteer?

All interested individuals complete a volunteer application. Online applications are preferred.

For a paper application, contact: Amie Larsen at Amie.Larsen@kingcounty.gov
After receiving the application, Public Health – Seattle & King County will:
- Review the application materials
- Conduct a professional license check (for medical volunteer applicants)
- Conduct a criminal background check
The PH Reserve Corps program manager and/or designee will briefly meet with the volunteer applicant. This can be done in person or over the phone. The applicant will have the opportunity to ask questions about the volunteer position and to discuss whether the PH Reserve Corps is an appropriate fit.
Public Health – Seattle & King County will contact the references provided on the application to verify the applicant’s qualifications and suitability for volunteering with the PH Reserve Corps.

The goal of this process is to ensure that:

Volunteers have clear expectations of the volunteer positions, and thus a rewarding experience.
Volunteers and the public are protected through a quality assurance screening procedure.

9. How much time is required to volunteer?

Volunteers devote 8 hours per year in the Public Health Reserve Corps for orientation, drills and training. Professional continuing education credits will be offered whenever possible during these 8 hours. Time spent volunteering during an emergency will vary depending on the scenario and volunteer availability.

10. What type of training do volunteers receive?

Volunteers receive training appropriate to their roles in an emergency. Topics include Incident Command Structure, Medication/Vaccination Center system, alternate care facility set up and operations, as well as role specific trainings like, for example, dispensing antibiotics for anthrax or using communication radios. Additionally, volunteers participate in drills such as Public Health – Seattle & King County’s recent mass antibiotic dispensing drill and mass flu vaccination clinic drill and alternate care facility training exercise.

Professional continuing education credits are offered whenever possible.

11. What type of training and certification are required of PHRC volunteers?

Upon acceptance into the PHRC, volunteers are required to complete the following training within the first month of volunteering:

FEMA’s Incident Command System Online Training
FEMA’s National Incident Management System Online Training
CPR/First Aid
Updated immunization record. Volunteers can get free immunizations at any of Public Health's Immunization Clinics.
Sign up for the PHRC volunteer orientation

Once trainings and certifications are complete volunteers must provide copies of completion certificates and/or records to Public Health to include in volunteer personnel files.

12. What type of liability protection is provided to volunteers?

Volunteers receive liability protection and compensation for injury or death through the State of Washington's Emergency Worker Program during State approved training events and emergency missions.

For liability protection description, see RCW 38.52.180(2)
For compensation for injury or death description, see RCW 38.52.260, .290, .340, and .190.
Washington state rules governing the Emergency Worker Program are contained in Chapter 118-04 WAC

More information:

13. Are Public Health Reserve Corps volunteers paid?

Volunteer time is uncompensated from King County.

14. What other Medical Reserve Corps Units are in Washington State?

The Public Health Reserve Corps is just one of many Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) programs in the county and Washington State. To learn more about other MRC units, go to: www.medicalreservecorps.gov/state.asp?state=56