By Michelle Sprehe

HINCKLEY TWP. — Gil Patterson joked with employees Tuesday as he strolled into local businesses, but after he had their attention, the conversation became serious.

Patterson, a township resident, is volunteering his time this week to inform and educate community members about the Medina County Medical Reserve Corps and programs the Medina County Health Department offers.

Gil Patterson, a volunteer with the Medina County Medical Reserve Corps, talks Tuesday to Brunswick resident Brandy Krankowski at Hinckley Coffee & Donuts about the group and programs the Medina County Health Department offers. (GAZETTE PHOTO BY MICHELLE SPREHE)

The MRC is a national organization that supports emergency preparedness, community health and medical programs and services.

This year’s exercise started Oct. 24, and MRC volunteers are visiting residences and businesses through Sunday to distribute information that can be read when electronic means, such as computer, TV or radio, are unavailable during power outages.

Information can include how to prepare pets for emergencies, making a plan in case of an emergency, a coloring and activities book for children about washing hands, and flu facts.

The local MRC consists of 385 volunteers who help with health department events during the year and are reserve volunteers who can help if there is an emergency in the county, MRC coordinator Jessica Miles said.

Volunteers can work in medical professions but don’t have to have any medical knowledge or background, Miles said.

“The name Medical Reserve Corps is deceiving — it turns off a lot of people,” she said.

Most county MRC volunteers are working, 66 percent of them in medical professions, but some volunteers, such as Patterson, are retired.

“When you’re retired and have nothing to do, sometimes you get a coffee and lunch out of it,” Patterson joked.

This is Patterson’s fourth year to volunteer, and he was named the county MRC volunteer of the year in 2009.

“It’s nice to go out and help older people who can’t get around,” Patterson said. “I’m a people person.”

In order to be a volunteer for the MRC, participants must complete an orientation and training session.

“Part of our job is to get volunteers trained so they can assist in any type of emergency,” Miles said.

Volunteers will be used in accordance with their skills, and the MRC checks the credentials of medical professionals.

“It doesn’t matter what they ask you to do; everyone will be able to do something,” Patterson said.

To become a volunteer, call Miles at (330) 662-0517 or email your name and phone number to jmiles@medinahealth.org.

Contact Michelle Sprehe at (330) 721-4048 or msprehe@medina-gazette.com.

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