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How can you be a Health Department Volunteer?

Do you have experience working in the medical field? Have you served in the military or in law enforcement? Do you like helping other people? Have you always wanted to “make a difference” in your community? If live in Montgomery County and you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you’re a candidate to be a Montgomery County POD volunteer! POD volunteers set up and run Point of Dispensing sites, stations that hold packs of medicine for community members who have been affected by a bioterrorism attack or another similar event. Community members report to the PODs, and POD volunteers make sure all people are served quickly and fairly. POD workers benefit not only from the satisfaction of helping their community; workers and their families receive medication before other members of the public. Volunteers are trained in one or several areas of expertise, so when disaster strikes, they’re ready to strike back. Volunteers can work in one of four sections: Operations, Planning, Logistics or Administration. The Operations section focuses on keeping the POD running smoothly. Team members dispense medication to those entering the POD, and they make sure that parents know how much medicine to give their children. The Operations section team watches out for other volunteers, signing them in and out and making sure they are trained to carry out their work. The Planning section prepares Action Plans for how to run the POD and documents all aspects of POD function. Some team members prepare hourly reports, while others distribute information and forms to individuals coming to the POD. The Logistics section of POD operations takes care of services and support functions, including monitoring the medicine supply and communication systems. Some team members break down medicine palettes, while others deliver medicine packs to dispensing stations. Another Logistics team member ensures that all radios, computers, copiers and other machines are working properly. The Administration section of the POD monitors and records all of the expenses involved in POD operation. The team conducts a facility walk-through before and after the event and keeps receipts of all items borrowed or purchased. The Security team assists local law enforcement officers in maintaining order inside and outside of the POD. The security team directs vehicular and traffic around the POD site, and ensures that ambulances and medicine delivery trucks can approach the area. Security team members also keep lines orderly and protect the medicine storage and movement. Regardless of your professional or personal experience, we can use you in one of our PODs. Your community will benefit, and so will you. To find out more about becoming a POD volunteer, please send your name and contact information to info.mchd@utmb.edu or call 936.525.2800.

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