Local First Responder Lists

There are thousands (tens of thousands?) of out-of-work outdoor professionals (mountain guides, raft guides, fishing guides, ski patrol, outdoor educators, etc) around the country. Many have first responder medical training, time, and interest. How do we best harness that potential volunteer-force? 

Few (if any?) health care providers are currently digging that deep into the volunteer pool. Not yet, at least. Should that need arise it will likely arise quickly. Let’s be ready when it does. 

Volunteers aren’t automatically beneficial, especially in an emergency situation. Some structure is always helpful. Especially “in the heat of the moment” a little self-organization is crucial. 

Here in Teton Valley, Idaho, I’m collecting names, certification expiration date, and phone numbers of local residents with first-responder-level medical training (FR, WFR, OEC, what else?) that are willing to volunteer. I’ve got them in a basic spreadsheet. 

When (or if) the time comes, I’m also making it known that I’m happy to do rudimentary scheduling and coordination. Hospitals are the obvious place to serve. But we can also help in transport and with home care. And who knows how else. The list is the first step.

I don’t pretend to know how these first responder volunteers will adequately protect themselves or the public. I envision volunteers from this list of certified individuals merging into existing health care structures.

If you are here in the Teton Valley, send me an email to jediahmporter at gmail with the above information and “First Responder Volunteer” in the subject line. 

The idea is that, eventually, the desperate and stretched-thin volunteer coordinator can make one phone call to me (or someone like me) and have access to a confirmed, committed, pool of willing volunteers with a known level of training. This same thing can surely be replicated at other levels of training and in other parts of the country. 

This is a very, very new idea to me. I literally brainstormed it about 2 hours ago. If I can improve it (mainly in streamlining… there are surely dozens of ways of making it more complicated) in any way, please reach out to say so. 

An actionable step for folks in certain regions. Find your nearest Medical Reserve Corps. This link should get you there. https://mrc.hhs.gov/volunteerfldr/AboutVolunteering