What are the Rescue Riders?
The Rescue Riders is a volunteer group of bikers who are trained in emergency response. Rescue Riders receive training in Firs Aid, CPR, Basic Medical Triage and other related areas. Rescue Riders are then aligned with local and/or regional professional emergency response agencies and become volunteers of those organizations.
How do I join the Rescue Riders?
You can join the Rescue Riders by submitting the join Rescue Riders section on this website.
So I can start my own Rescue Riders Group?
You can join the Rescue Riders and be a individual Rescue Rider but to be an organized Rescue Rider group you need to be affiliated with a professional emergency response organization. In this website is content which describes how approach your local emergency response organizations to see if they are interested in starting an organized Rescue Rider group within their organization.
Why should I become a Rescue Rider?
Wearing the Rescue Riders "Colors" shows your commitment to other bikers and the community. Lets face it, we all engage in a lifestyle as bikers that is inherently more dangerous than those who travel via four wheels. If you ride much, it is inevitable that you will see fellow bikers go down. Having the skills and tools to provide assistance until professional emergency response organizations arrive can literally mean the difference between life and death. A few years ago, I was hit on a Sunday morning by a mini van while participating on a poker run. The accident broke all of my ribs on my right side, broke my collar bone in two places and put 60 staples in my head. Unfortunately, all of the bikers who stopped to try to help did not know first aid or what to do. Luck for me I did and did not loose consciousness. I was able to treat my own wounds until an ambulance arrived. Rescue Riders know how to provide assistance which unfortunately is in greater demand now than ever. Rescue Riders can save lives. Rescue Riders carry medical kits which allow them to immediately provide care.
Are Rescue Riders replacing paramedics etc?
Absolutely not. We are not pretending to be professional emergency response professionals. We provide basic assistance until the professionals arrive. If you are a Rescue Rider and you are on a poker run, you will ultimately be "on scene" long before professional emergency response folks arrive. What you do to make the scene safe and help stabilize the injured folks makes a big difference in the chances the fallen biker or bikers have.
Do I have to volunteer for a professional emergency response organization?
The best answer to that question is "it depends". In order to be called upon in times of local, regional or national emergencies, you will need to be a volunteer with a professional emergency response organization. You can be Rescue Rider and help folks as a Good Samaritan but without affiliation with a professional emergency response organization you are will not be called upon for emergency response.
What if my local emergency response organization doesn't want Rescue Riders?
It happens more than you may think. Not every professional emergency response organization is crazy about adding bikers to their ranks of volunteers, as they may not see the value. In this case I would encourage you to still join us, get your training and be available to help folks on an individual basis as a Good Samaritan. Unfortunately, far too few bikers have the skills needed to help others in need. As a individual Rescue Rider, you have the skills and tools to help individuals in need.
Do the Rescue Riders pay for my training and provide me the tools I need?
Nope. The affiliated professional emergency response organization is responsible for your training and/or any supplies you may need. In the event you are an individual Rescue Rider and not affiliated with any professional emergency response agency we will show you what training you need to become a Rescue Rider, where to find it and can help you get your first aid supplies at a great price via a group discount we negotiated with our supplier.
What is the Medical Reserve Corps?
Why was the MRC created?
The MRC program was created after President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country. The MRC is comprised of organized medical and public health professionals who serve as volunteers to respond to natural disasters and emergencies. These volunteers assist communities nationwide during emergencies and for ongoing efforts in public health.
The need for trained supplemental medical and public health personnel to assist with emergency operations was highlighted after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Many medical and public health professionals sought to support emergency relief efforts, but there was no organized approach to channel their efforts. The MRC program provides the structure necessary to deploy medical and public health personnel in response to an emergency, as it identifies specific, trained, credentialed personnel available and ready to respond to emergencies.
What does the name Medical Reserve Corps mean to our community?
Each community is different, and these differences may require alternative approaches to natural disasters and emergencies. The terms “medical” and “reserve” indicate that trained personnel are available to respond to emergencies requiring support to the community’s health and medical resources. “Corps” refers to an organized body of individuals with a similar function, in keeping with the example of Citizen Corps and the USA Freedom Corps. Despite differences among communities, all communities can benefit from the MRC and can understand the MRC similarly. The “medical” in Medical Reserve Corps does not limit MRC units to medical professionals. Individuals without medical training can fill essential supporting roles.
What is the difference between the MRC regions, states, and units?
The United States is divided into 10 MRC regions, which contain any number of local MRC units. Personnel at the state level coordinate with the 10 MRC Regional Coordinators and those at the local level. MRC units represent those at the local level, as they are responsible for implementing volunteer capabilities for emergency medical response and public health initiatives to match specific community needs.
How is the direction of the MRC established?
The direction of the MRC program exists at the national, state, and local levels. Each level has key personnel responsible for overseeing activities at their respective level.
At the local level, each MRC unit is led by an MRC Unit Coordinator, who matches community needs—for emergency medical response and public health initiatives—with volunteer capabilities. Local coordinators are also responsible for building partnerships, ensuring the sustainability of the local unit, and managing the volunteer resources.
The Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (OCVMRC) oversees activities of the 10 MRC Regional Coordinators (see What is the role of the MRC Regional Coordinators?), who collaborate with national-, state-, and local-level emergency preparedness and response and medical and healthcare personnel.
At the national level, the MRC program is run by the OCVMRC, which is headquartered in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. It functions as a clearinghouse for information and best practices to help communities establish, implement, and maintain MRC units nationwide. The OCVMRC sponsors an annual leadership conference; hosts a Web site; and coordinates with local, state, regional, and national organizations and agencies to help communities achieve their local visions for public health and emergency preparedness.
Who is the MRC affiliated with?
Sponsored by the Office of the Surgeon General, the MRC coordinates its efforts with several groups and has multiple affiliates. The MRC is a specialized component of Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security. Citizen Corps, along with AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Peace Corps are part of the President's USA Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism and service throughout the nation.
When possible, MRC units collaborate with their local Citizen Corps Council to better protect, prepare, and serve their communities. Other components of Citizen Corps include the programs Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, and Community Emergency Response Team.
At the national level, the OCVMRC functions as a clearinghouse for community information and "best practices." The OCVMRC offers technical assistance and educational resources, as well as partners with the National Program Office of Citizen Corps and the USA Freedom Corps to build relationships and gain resources for the MRC program as a whole.
Why the Medical Reserve Corps instead or some other group?
In those areas were there is not a MRC unit we will see if other professional emergency response agencies may be a good fit. We work hand in hand with the MRC as their goals and program is very closely aligned with those of the Rescue Riders.
How do I join the Medical Reserve Corps?
First check the Medical Reserve Corps website to see where the closest unit is. Each unit has information on how to join.
Can I get sued as a volunteer for the MRC or Rescue Riders?
As a volunteer you have protection from liability. If you are participating in an event or as a part of a orchestrated emergency response effort that is coordinated by your local Medical Reserve Corps you are provided protection from liability under their liability policies. As a volunteer Rescue Rider who is providing aid as a Good samaritan you are protected from liability
MRC are covered under the MRC and sponsoring agency liability policies if:
The volunteer is donating time to the MRC at the request of the MRC or sponsoring agency to perform duties during a deployment or organized event.
The volunteer has received required minimum training to perform in the capacity in which he or she is serving.
The volunteer is acting within the course and scope of assigned duties and engaged in an authorized activity.
The MRC volunteer will not be covered under the MRC or sponsoring organization's liability policies if volunteering time as an individual for events which are not organized or authorized by the MRC or sponsoring agency. In this instance Rescue Riders will be acting as individual Volunteers and be provided liability protection under the Illinois Good Samaritan Act as referenced below.
Illinois Good Samaritan Act
210 ILCS 50/3.150
Immunity from civil liability
(a) Any person, agency or governmental body certified, licensed or authorized pursuant to this Act or rules thereunder, who in good faith provides emergency or non-emergency medical services during a Department approved training course, in the normal course of conducting their duties, or in an emergency, shall not be civilly liable as a result of their acts or omissions in providing such services unless such acts or omissions, including the bypassing of nearby hospitals or medical facilities in accordance with the protocols developed pursuant to this Act, constitute willful and wanton misconduct.
(b) No person, including any private or governmental organization or institution that administers, sponsors, authorizes, supports, finances, educates or supervises the functions of emergency medical services personnel certified, licensed or authorized pursuant to this Act, including persons participating in a Department approved training program, shall be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission in connection with administration, sponsorship, authorization, support, finance, education or supervision of such emergency medical services personnel, where the act or omission occurs in connection with activities within the scope of this Act, unless the act or omission was the result of willful and wanton misconduct.
(c) Exemption from civil liability for emergency care is as provided in the Good Samaritan Act. [see 745 ILCS 49/10, quoted below]
(d) No local agency, entity of State or local government, or other public or private organization, nor any officer, director, trustee, employee, consultant or agent of any such entity, which sponsors, authorizes, supports, finances, or supervises the training of persons in a basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation course which complies with generally recognized standards, shall be liable for damages in any civil action based on the training of such persons unless an act or omission during the course of instruction constitutes willful and wanton misconduct.
(e) No person who is certified to teach basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and who teaches a course of instruction which complies with generally recognized standards for basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, shall be liable for damages in any civil action based on the acts or omissions of a person who received such instruction, unless an act or omission during the course of such instruction constitutes willful and wanton misconduct.
(f) No member or alternate of the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board or a local System review board who in good faith exercises his responsibilities under this Act shall be liable for damages in any civil action based on such activities unless an act or omission during the course of such activities constitutes willful and wanton misconduct.
(g) No EMS Medical Director who in good faith exercises his responsibilities under this Act shall be liable for damages in any civil action based on such activities unless an act or omission during the course of such activities constitutes willful and wanton misconduct.
(h) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to create a cause of action or any civil liabilities.
745 ILCS 49/10
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; exemption from civil liability for emergency care.
Any person currently certified in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation who complies with generally recognized standards, and who in good faith, not for compensation, provides emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a person who is an apparent victim of acute cardiopulmonary insufficiency shall not, as the result of his acts or omissions in providing resuscitation, be liable for civil damages, unless the acts or omissions constitute willful and wanton misconduct.
