Utah County forming own medical reserve

PROVO — Utah County commissioners signed a resolution Tuesday to establish a Citizen Corps and Medical Reserve Corps for the county.

The designation will allow the volunteer-based group to qualify for $250,000 in funding from Homeland Security coffers.

The Utah County Health Department has been working on forming the Medical Reserve Corps for several months, said Dr. Joseph Miner, director of the Utah County Health Department.

The Medical Reserve Corps is an organization that enlists volunteers to respond to emergency medical situations. Volunteers must be licensed in a medical field to participate. Volunteers typically will distribute immunizations and medication and respond to wide-scale medical emergencies that may happen in the community.

To volunteer, contact Karen Stuart, emergency response planner with the Utah County Health Department, at 851-7503.