Poughkeepsie…. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Dutchess County will present “You Are the Help until Help Arrives,” a training program that teaches basic, immediate life-saving skills, on Thursday, July 13th, at 7 p.m., at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response (DER), 392 Creek Road in Poughkeepsie. The training is free and open to the public, but registration prior to the event is required.
“When an accident or traumatic injury occurs, the people nearby are in the best position to provide immediate, often life-saving help before professional responders arrive,” said A. K. Vaidian, MD, MPH, Commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health. “Without warning, anyone can find themselves in the position of being ‘the help until help arrives’. By learning a few basic steps, we can all make the difference in someone’s life when needed.”
The program, which will be led by a trained registered nurse and MRC volunteer, is part of a nationwide effort to train the average citizen on the few simple steps they can take to give an injured person the best chance of survival until professional responders arrive.
The Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County is part of a national network of more than 200,000 volunteers dedicated to supporting public health infrastructure as well as disaster preparedness and response in the community. Both medical professionals and non-medical volunteers are needed.
For more information about the Medical Reserve Corps, or to register, please contact MRC Coordinator Joe Ryan at (845) 486-2493 or jryan@dutchessny.gov. For information on upcoming trainings, visit www.dutchessny.gov/mrc.
