MARC News

Medical personnel deployed to help ice storm victims

Jan. 16, 2007

The region's MO-1 Disaster Medical Team has mobilized local medical resources to provide support to disaster operations in other parts of Missouri. Seven members of the team were deployed to Springfield, Mo., on Sunday to provide medical support at special needs sites and shelters. The team members are working 12-hour shifts, providing care at a facility with about 100 patients, some of whom are on ventilators. Local team leaders stand ready to respond to more requests for health and medical resources around the state.

A Disaster Medical Team (DMT) is a group of medical and support personnel who provide emergency medical care during a disaster or other unusual event. Team members are organized, trained, and prepared to activate as a unit. DMTs deploy to disaster sites with adequate supplies and equipment to support themselves for a period of 72 hours while providing medical care at a fixed or temporary medical site. DMTs are a rapid-response element designed to supplement local medical care until other federal or contract resources can be mobilized, or until the situation is resolved. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services provides financial support for the Disaster Medical Teams through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). For more information about the MO-1 Disaster Medical Team, visit http://www.marc.org/emergency/DMT.

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