Elsevier

Dental Abstracts

Volume 60, Issue 4, July–August 2015, Pages 190-192
Dental Abstracts

The Big Picture
Volunteering

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.denabs.2014.08.016Get rights and content

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Background

Disasters occur anytime and can quickly overwhelm the ability of a community to respond. Volunteers assist and can play a number of roles in various state and local organizations to help communities meet the challenge of a disaster. However, local public health departments and emergency response officials may not be able to use volunteers’ abilities effectively if they are unable to classify their skills. For example, thousands of people traveled to New York City after the September 11, 2001

MRC Definitions

An MRC is a national network of local groups of volunteers who are committed to providing improved public health, emergency response, and resiliency in their communities. All volunteers must go through a credentialing process before they qualify to belong to the MRC. In California, MRC units consist of teams of trained, experienced dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, medical personnel, mental health, and other skilled volunteers. They serve as rapid responders in public health

Roles and Requirements for Dentists to Serve as Volunteers

Dental professionals may be unaware of the opportunities for serving on an MRC or CERT team. During a public health emergency, volunteers may staff point of distribution (POD) clinics to dispense antibiotics or administer vaccines. Many patients must be seen, and volunteers may provide various services, including vaccinating or dispensing drugs, screening for medical and health histories, distributing patient education materials, and managing allergic reactions to vaccines. Dentists already

Legal Considerations

Volunteers often express concern about the potential liability they may face if someone is injured or dies while they are caring for him or her. California has provided specified immunity to a licensee who voluntarily and without compensation or the expectation of compensation provides emergency medical care consistent with his or her education and training during a state of emergency for personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage incurred by a good faith but negligent act or omission.

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Galligan JM: The role dental professionals may plan in a mass disaster. J Calif Dent Assoc 42:385-388, 2014

Reprints available from JM Galligan; e-mail: [email protected]

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