The Medical Response and Surge Exercise (MRSE) is an annual requirement of the Hospital Preparedness Program cooperative agreement. For this exercise we need your help to be a pretend patient. WE have created a SignUpGenius for your ease.
If you are interested, please sign up at: Volunteer Services: Region V Full Scale Exercise
The MRSE is designed to examine and evaluate the ability of Healthcare Coalitions and other stakeholders to support medical surge. Placing stress on the health system is important for testing current response systems, identifying gaps in preparedness, and informing improvement planning.
The MRSE is a functional exercise. Federal Emergency Management Agency Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program guidelines describe a functional exercise as “an operations-based exercise designed to test and evaluate capabilities and functions while in a realistic, real-time environment.”
Here are a few more specifics from the SignUpGenius:
We appreciate your interest in volunteering to participate in the Region V full scale exerice on Tuesday April 21, 2026 from 6am-2pm. Please review the available slots below and be sure to sign up for your desired/local hospital. Once registered, we will contact you with additional details as the event nears.
Please note that each facility may have paperwork (waiver, confidentiality agreement, etc.) to complete either before or on the day of the exercise. Some moulage/makeup at the beginning of the event is also likely. All training and information for your pretend patient profile will be shared with you on the day of the event, so get your acting skills ready!
You do not need to be a volunteer/intern at one of the hospitals to participate. As someone who has either applied, is being processed, or is already a volunteer at one of the health systems, participation in this event does not influence your current status at that facility. This is a really fun way to engage in your community and help our staff learn how to manage emergencies.
Scenario Overview: A mass casualty event surrounding the Preakness Stakes horse races happens within a large crowd, limited emergency access routes, and diverse population present immense challenges for first responders.
Pediatric volunteers requested under these general age rules:
- 10-15 closely accompanied by a guardian
- 15-18 written permission
- 18+ anyone can sign up
The following hospitals are looking for children to be actors:
- Adventist White Oak
- Holy Cross Health: Germantown and Silver Spring
- UM Laurel
The following hospitals are looking for patient actors who are Deaf or blind and will use appropriate services to support their volunteers:
- Holy Cross Health: Germantown and Silver Spring
- UM Laurel
Thank you,
Sarah Walker, MSHA, CDVS
Manager, Volunteer Services @ Holy Cross Health
Region V Emergency Preparedness Coalition member
301-754-7306
Not approved for MCPS SSL hours
