Orientation is the first step to becoming a member of the Boston MRC and will prepare you to volunteer in an emergency or at a special event such as the Boston Marathon. The course covers the important role of Boston MRC members, when and how members are activated, potential functions during an activation, and how to prepare yourself and your family for an emergency. Orientation is required to volunteer at emergencies or special events.
In addition, the session will review disaster behavioral health response: The provision of behavioral health, stress management, substance abuse services, and other interventions to disaster survivors as well as responders. The psychological footprint of a disaster typically exceeds its medical footprint. While medical issues such as bodily injury clearly require immediate treatment, the psychological impact of an event is sometimes less obvious. Most disaster responders and other professionals are unaware of how significant the psychological impact of a disaster can be, even among those who appear to be unaffected. Both disaster survivors and witnesses alike may display a range of strong traumatic reactions. Participants will learn to recognize typical traumatic reactions and how to play a supportive role to those experiencing them. The session will conclude with strategies for Boston MRC members to manage the psychological impact of emergencies on themselves and their team members.
