In honor of National Volunteer Week, Joseph Bechtold III, Emergency Preparedness Planner at Peoria City/County Health Department, accepted recognition from the US Department of Health and Human Services for commitment to strengthen the public health and emergency response infrastructure in US Region V West.
James Galloway, Assistant US Surgeon General of US Public Health Service, acknowledged Bechtold on behalf of the Department,” You are being recognized for your ability to engage volunteers in trainings and for your efforts with the Peoria City/County Health Department MRC to build capacity, prepare for emergencies, and promote health in our communities.”
Bechtold’s expertise in the field of emergency management includes military training and work at the Illinois Air National Guard consisting of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapon planning and response. Bechtold focused this past year on working to build the MRC or Medical Reserve Corps in Peoria County. The MRC is a group of both medical and non-medical volunteers trained to assist during a disaster.
With the recognition Bechtold received an MRC bag and MRC emergency pack to assist with his capacity-building efforts in Peoria County.
For more information on important public health issues or the MRC, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department website at www.pcchd.org.
