From the EMS Committee: 

ARE YOU REGISTERED?

The California State Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) is always making strides to better prepare our State for disasters.  While California does well in disaster situations because of its preparedness and mitigation activities, new resources are frequently added to enhance our response including a statewide volunteer registry for healthcare professionals called Disaster Healthcare Volunteers (DHV).

The Disaster Healthcare Volunteers (DHV) program is California’s solution to the nationwide Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Healthcare Professionals (ESAR-VHP).  It’s a system specifically designed for California and its 58 counties to identify, recruit and mobilize healthcare professionals that are willing to volunteer their services and skill sets to assist locally and regionally in times of need.  The registry is strictly voluntary.  You can opt to help when you can and decline if you are unable to assist.  And whether you’re already committed to a response team (D-MAT, MRC), DHV provides you with another opportunity to help out in case your response team is not deployed.

By registering with Disaster Healthcare Volunteers at www.healthcarevolunteers.ca.gov, you will be joining many of your professional colleagues who have already committed themselves to volunteering when they can to mitigate the negative impact disasters have on a community, including saving the lives of others.

Dear LA County Unit (ESAR-VHP) Volunteer,

Many of you have contacted us to inquire if Los Angeles County will be asked to deploy LA County ESAR-VHP/DHV volunteers to respond to the recent earthquake in Haiti.  I am writing to you to give you the latest information on this.  LA County has been in regular communication with both our state and federal partners.  Please note that there are NO REQUESTS for ESAR-VHP volunteers at this time.  Nevertheless, our partners are continuing to monitor the situation.  If Los Angeles County does get a request for volunteers, it will for specific types of licensed healthcare professionals depending on the need.  Should this occur, the request would be forwarded to you through our the usual DHV System and/or voice notification system. 

Please keep in mind that the disaster recovery efforts in Haiti are likely to go on for many months and there may  be a need for healthcare volunteers at a later time.  As with all disasters, the situation is "in flux".  The  assessment of needs as well as support systems for health care delivery and volunteers is in the initial stages.  Also be aware that the majority of disaster and recovery services are likely to be provided by both the federal government and non-profit, non-government organizations. 

Finally, you should know that the main focus of our program is to provide healthcare volunteers for local, state, and national disasters in the USA.  Due to the continuing risk of disasters (including earthquakes) in our area, we urge all of our volunteers to maintain a pro-active level of personal preparedness for disasters.

The National Center for Disease Control (CDC) has posted some useful information about Haiti and typical earthquake injuries.  I have included these links as an attachment in your internal DHV email.

If you have questions, contact Slava at our Volunteer Center at (818) 908-5128.

Sincerely,

Sandra Stark Shields

LA County EMS Agency ESAR-VHP Program