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Medical Reserve Corps of Illinois to host open-to-all crisis training in Normal

Aerial view of a road flanked by extensive tornado damage. Debris and destruction are spread across the landscape, with remnants of buildings and vehicles visible. Three people are walking down the road, and a parked truck is on one side.
Charles Rex Arbogast
/
AP
This aerial file photo shows people walking down a street where homes once stood that were destroyed by a tornado that hit Washington in 2013. The Medical Corps of Illinois will offer crisis response training Feb. 8 in Normal, where citizens can learn skills for assisting in extreme weather events and other natural disasters.

The Medical Reserve Corps Program of Illinois, a national network of volunteers who respond to emergencies, will host a free crisis response training workshop on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

The training is meant to educate everyday people on how to respond to crisis situations such as tornadoes, fires, winter storms and active shooters, according to a press release from the Medical Reserve Corps.

“As we’ve watched California wildfires and now flooding force people from their homes, it reminds us of the rapid response needed for disasters right here, including mass shootings, floods and storms,” workshop consultant Bethanie Albrecht said in the press release. “The Medical Reserve Corps of Illinois wants to prepare residents to survive and thrive after a community crisis.”

Participants choose from a menu of sessions held throughout the day, including first aid certification, CPR/AED certification, stopping bleeding from traumatic injuries, autism awareness in emergency response, how to better manage the needs of children in disaster response, cultural competence and sensitivity, hope and help delivered through K-9 comfort dogs and mental health management during a crisis. All sessions are free and open to the public.

Sessions are designed to be inclusive to community members regardless of profession, though health care workers and social workers may earn continuing education credit. Mileage reimbursement is offered for commuters who live more than 25 miles from the Marriott.

Registration can be completed online through Eventbrite.

Paul J. Aguilar is a student reporter at WGLT who attends Illinois State University.