INVENT FAQs

Why join INVENT?

Joining INVENT gives you the opportunity to collaborate with other medical professionals to assist those in need in our own state and nation.

What are the requirements to become a INVENT team member?

You must maintain a current and unrestricted Illinois nursing license. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. You must be least 18 years of age.
Maintain a mode of communication for notification of mobilization.

What are the training requirements for team members?

Training and education requirements include completion of a INVENT orientation program, Weapons of Mass Destruction/Mass Casualty educational session, National Incident Management System training, and four Medfilms, Inc video on-line training courses.  Members must complete the required training courses and educational seminars within 2 year of becoming a team member.  Most training can be completed independently online.  New training requirements may be added as needed. 

What is the time commitment for team members?

You can give as little or as much time as you can spare.  There is no designated call time; in the event of team activation, an alert will be sent out and team members will respond if they can assist.  Team members can choose both the amount of time they can commit to, as well as the distance they can travel from home.

What if the disaster is in my area?

INVENT will not activate team members within the area of the disaster.  Team members from unaffected areas of the state will be called to assist.

How is a team member activated?

Each team member is required to maintain current contact information in the INVENT database system.  Information to include phone numbers (cell, work and home), text pager number and e-mail address in order to receive activation and other notices from INVENT. 

INVENT would activated under what circumstances?

INVENT would be activated to assist first responders with mass casualty incidents, mass immunizations and add support for local hospital surges.  INVENT team member would also be called to provide support at local phone banks providing public information regarding the disaster, assisting at pharmaceutical dispensing sites, working with hospitals affected by the disaster and working at field hospitals. INVENT would also be  activated as an enhancement to the IMERT team response.         

How does a team member get to the disaster site?

INVENT has established transportation assistance to get team members to the disaster site, including ground and, if necessary, air transportation. At the time of the incident INVENT will designate an assembly point for the team. It is the individual member’s responsibility to self transport to an assembly point. Secure parking for personal vehicles will be available at a team assembly point.  From the assembly point, INVENT will use the established transportation methods to get the team members to the disaster site.

What do I do if I can no longer be a INVENT team member?

You should notify the INVENT Office immediately, and then return all equipment and uniforms issued to you by the team.

If we have not answered your question here, please feel free to submit your question to suet@inventrn.org or call INVENT at (630)495-6403 X210.