SPRINGFIELD – On Nov. 8, representatives from the LaSalle County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Unit and participating agencies, including the Mendota Police Department, traveled to Springfield to accept the Governor’s Hometown Award.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
Governor Bruce Rauner, center, congratulates representatives of the LaSalle County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), left to right, Jeff Ellis and Christinia Goff, MRC volunteers; Bethanie Albrecht, MRC coordinator; and Jason Stewart of the Mendota Police Department. MRC, which was chosen to receive the Governor’s Hometown Award for its county-wide naxolone program, received a plaque and a road sign honoring this achievement. (Photo contributed)
SPRINGFIELD – On Nov. 8, representatives from the LaSalle County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Unit and participating agencies, including the Mendota Police Department, traveled to Springfield to accept the Governor’s Hometown Award.
LaSalle County was chosen to receive the award for the innovative work done by the county’s MRC in addressing the opioid crisis through implementation of a naloxone program. The awards reception was held at the Illinois Old State Capitol.
Selection of this years winning programs was done by the Serve Illinois Commission, a 40-member, bipartisan board appointed by the governor. They looked for projects that had strong volunteer support, met a need, and made a definitive impact on the community.
The LaSalle County Naloxone Program trains police officers in the administration of nasal naloxone for use in the event of an opioid overdose. Through grant funding, the program has been able to provide nasal naloxone to participating agencies in LaSalle County at no cost. Since its inception in 2016, the program has documented 35 uses with 34 lives saved. Bethanie Albrecht, MRC coordinator, said providing area police departments and their law enforcement officers with this training is a valuable extension of their ability to save lives as first responders. “The individuals saved through this program are able to spend another day with their families and have the opportunity to seek treatment,” she commented.
The LaSalle County MRC is a volunteer organization. MRC programs are community-based and operate as a way to organize and utilize volunteers, medical professionals and non-medical professionals, who want to donate their time and expertise to promote healthy living throughout the year and to prepare for and respond to emergencies. MRC volunteers supplement existing local emergency and public health resources.
For information on becoming a MRC volunteer, please contact Bethanie Albrecht, MRC Coordinator at (815) 433-3366, ext. 227 or at balbrecht@lasallecounty.org.
