Contributing to the Volunteer Solution for Preparedness

1
Texas Medical Rangers During Emergencies,
Were There.
Contributing to the Volunteer Solution for
Preparedness
2
A few critically important questions
If a terrorist attack, disaster or other large
scale public health emergency happens in Texas

• Who will be there to help?
• Who will treat those affected?
• Will there be enough people to respond adequately?

3
PREPARATION PROCESSPreparing for Disasters

• Plans planning for disaster response
• People detecting personnel gaps filling them
• Products obtaining equipment, supplies,
  facilities
• Practice for individuals and teams

4
Types of Agents/Casualties
Weapon Potential Casualties Duration
Chemical (Nerve) 100s hours/days
Biological 100s to 10,000s weeks/months
Radiation Dirty Bomb 100s Hours/delayed
Nuclear 100,000s Immediate/months
Explosive 10s to 100s Immediate/days
5
WHO ModelBiologic Attack City of 1,000,000
Agent Number of People at Risk Deaths Incapacitated
Anthrax 180,000 95,000 30,000
Plague 100,000 44,000 36,000
Tularemia 180,000 30,000 95,000
6
15 Kiloton Hiroshima Homemade Terrorist Bomb

• New York City
• Population 8 million (1.5 million Manhattan)
• Dead 1,000,000
• Injured 1,000,000

7
Pandemic Flu Outbreak

• If H5N1 Virus mutates and human to human
  contagion results, the health care system may be
  overwhelmed
• Alternate treatment sites and quarantine centers
  may be needed
• Texas Medical Rangers will likely help staff them

8
www.medicalreservecorps.gov
9
The Texas Medical Rangers

• Responded to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
• The Houston Medical Response Group was active at
  the Astrodome and at George R. Brown Convention
  Center

10
The Houston Medical Response Group Responded
through the UT School of Public Health
11
Along with other volunteers, we did cot to cot
health surveys
12
Helping Avoid a Diarrhea Epidemic
13
We made new friends while helping others
14
And worked beside noted scientists at the same
time.
15
The Texas Medical Rangers
Our Mission Is

• To Serve the people of Texas by
• providing volunteer medical expertise,
• health service support during public health
  emergencies or disasters
• Inside Texas
• at the call of the Governor.

16
The Texas Medical Rangers
The Medical Reserve Corps of the Texas State
Guard

• Teams of organized, specially-trained volunteers
  from all health-related fields, including support
  skills, with verified licensure

17
Including

• Physicians
• Nurses
• EMTs
• Mental Health Professionals
• Dentists
• Pharmacists
• Medical, Public Health, and Nursing Students
• Non-medical support personnel

18
One Training ProjectWas Operation Lone Starin
the Rio Grande Valley
19
Providing Care to the Uninsured While Building
Skills and Teamwork
20
Three or more days of optional, volunteer duty in
the summer as a Texas Medical Ranger
21
Health Professionals andHealth Careers Students
Helping Texans
22
The Texas Medical Rangers

• Part of U.S. Surgeon Generals network of Medical
  Reserve Corps volunteer organizations.

• We work only for the Governor of Texas
• N0T subject to authority of U.S. President.
• Available for missions only within Texas.
• Available for missions expected to last a few
  days to a few weeks.

23
The Texas Medical Rangers
(Characteristics Contd)

• No weapons or equipment.
• Just good people willing to be ready to give a
  little of their time.
• We provide Surge Responders in emergencies
• If a Texas Medical Ranger is called to duty, the
  Ranger can decline the mission.
• We drill one Saturday morning per month

24
The Texas Medical Rangers
(Characteristics Contd)

• We wear the State Guard uniform.
• When on a state active duty official mission.
• Texas HB 9 signed into law, effective 22 June
  2003, provides immunity from civil liability.
• State Guard workers compensation.
• Your day job is protected (with or without
  pay).
• At Health Science Centers (state employees on
  duty keep benefits and coverage).

25
The Texas Medical Rangers
26
A Recent MissionJanuary 2006
27
Rabies Suppression in the Rio Grande Valley
28
Veterinarians and Support Personnel Dropped Bait
with Vaccine
29
And made good memorieswhile helping Texans
30
The Texas Medical Rangers
Our Goals

• To grow to about 2,000 members now 350
• To be written into response plans by state and
  local authorities
• To participate in local training
• To provide active programs to train others
• To provide care at community events

31
The Texas Medical Rangers
We provide SURGE Responders

• Help Staff or Manage Acute Care Centers
• Augment TSDHS and Local Clinics
• Help Staff Emergency Operation Centers
• Help Staff Medical Question Call Centers
• Help Staff Mass Vaccination / Antibiotic Sites
• Assist with Strategic National Stockpile
• Assist with Mass Triage
• Provide Emergency Veterinary Response
• Provide Mental Health Counseling

32
Key Points

• We are second or third responders ----not
  first responders.
• We serve only INSIDE the State of Texas
• Individual Rangers decide which missions each
  will respond to.
• We drill one Saturday morning per month

33
Typical Missions

• Operation Lone Star in the Rio Grande Valley each
  year
• Medical support to the Multiple Sclerosis Society
  150 Mile Bike Ride - Houston to Austin
• Rabies Suppression
• Preparing to assist Texans in case of disaster or
  weapons of mass destruction attack

34
Helping fight Multiple Schlerosis
35
Medical Support to the MSHouston to Austin
Bicycle Ride
36
13,000 Riders Travel 150 Miles over Two Days
37
Some Riders are Injured and Texas Medical
Rangers Assist
38
Texas Medical RangersHelp Riders Finish the
Charity Ride
39

• Volunteer Locally via the Harris County Medical
  Reserve Corps
• Volunteer Statewide via the Texas Medical
  Rangers
• Or even Volunteer Nationwide or Internationally
  via the Texas National Guard Our sister
  service

40
The Texas Medical Rangers
Presentation of Texas Medical Rangers
Colors March 20, 2004
41
The Texas Medical Rangers

• During Emergencies,
• Were There

Phone [phone] Lt. Col. Robert
Morecook Email rmorecook_at_yahoo.com Webpage swc2
.hccs.edu/texasmedicalrangers Or
come to any meeting as a Visitor