FAQs

To join the ACMRC, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have valid identification
• Have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions
• Live in Arlington County or be a student who lives here

You do not need to be a medical professional. Both medical and non-medical volunteers are welcome, and no prior experience is required.

You can join by registering through the  Virginia Volunteer Health System (VVHS) or by contacting us for help.

After registering, you will:

Volunteers support public health by:

• Helping during public health emergencies, such as disease outbreaks, severe weather, or power outages
• Assisting with community health outreach and events
• Supporting Public Health staff with administrative or operational tasks

Volunteer roles depend on training, skills, and community needs.

Volunteers are expected to:

• Complete orientation and required training
• Participate in at least one activity each year
• Respond to quarterly call-down drill alerts in the Virginia Volunteer Health System (VVHS) and keep contact information up to date
• Commit to serving for at least one year
• Respond to emergencies only when officially activated by Arlington County Public Health.

Time commitments are flexible and based on your availability. 

Yes. Training is provided and may include:

• Mass medication dispensing
• Personal disaster preparedness
• Health communications
• Basic epidemiology and infection control
• Psychological first aid
• CPR, AED, and First Aid
• Biological agents
• Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS)

Some trainings are offered throughout the year, while others are provided before an event.

No. Volunteering is always optional, and you are not legally required to respond during an emergency.

However, volunteers are expected to:

Virginia law provides liability protection for registered volunteers. To be covered, volunteers must be registered in the Virginia Volunteer Health System (VVHS). Contact us with additional questions.