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Industrial Hygiene Involvement in
Community Emergency Response
Presented by:
J. Paul Drury
Everyone wishes to help when a disaster strikes, but the optimal time to become integrated into the community disaster response system is not right after the disaster occurs. By becoming engaged in the system well prior to any event, responses will be streamlined, so mitigation and recovery accelerated.
Once such disaster assistance organization is the Texas Medical Rangers, which is the Medical Reserve Corps of the Texas State Guard. This completely volunteer organization is different from other organizations in that there is no contractual obligation for commitment or involvement, relying rather on the sheer goodwill and volunteering spirit of its members. The TMR takes a special interest in preparing for support activities in the event of the discharge of a weapon of mass destruction or natural disaster in our state. Industrial hygienists would play a crucial role in this response, exercising their abilities in the areas of training, monitoring and protective equipment selection and use.
J. Paul Drury will provide an overview of the current roles of the Texas Medical Rangers and discuss opportunities for interested industrial hygienists to possibly serve and participate in some capacity.
Those wishing advance information on the Texas Medical Rangers can access their website http://swc2.hccs.edu/texasmedicalrangers/
Speaker biography
J. Paul Drury is a registered nurse and human relations manager for a local Houston health care facility. He holds multiple bachelors degrees and a master's degree in human resource management, and is a retired a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Within the Texas Medical Rangers, he is a Lt. Colonel, holding the position of Chief Nurse for the Houston Response Group.
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