‘Street medics’ head to Republican National Convention in case they’re needed

As protesters and politicians head to the Republican National Convention, Gary Morsch will be there to help anyone who needs first aid or medical care.

Morsch, founder of the local nonprofit Heart to Heart International, is organizing a group of volunteer “street medics” to go to Cleveland. They will be able to help with first aid and medical emergencies, whether dehydration or pepper spray.

He put a statement on his Facebook page Tuesday outlining his decision to go to the convention and place himself in what could be a volatile environment.

“What could I do to be a positive presence and a force for love and compassion in this explosive mix?” he wrote. “Since I practice emergency medicine, I can use my skills to care for people who may need first aid, triage or basic lifesaving measures.”

About a dozen medical professionals have told him they will come, Morsch said, and he’s had interest from hundreds more.

He’s had a few days to pull together medical supplies and logistics. He’s packed a backpack with first aid supplies. His red Heart to Heart shirt is clean. He’s rented an RV to sleep in during the convention. Now what’s left is to show up.

“I hope to be a walking incarnation of God’s mercy, grace and compassion for all,” he said.

In 2004, Morsch was in Texas, preparing to go to Iraq. Right before Easter, he stumbled into a rural Catholic chapel and heard a homily about servanthood.

Morsch said that moment made him decide to take care of everyone he encountered in Iraq, whether they were soldiers, detainees or civilians.

Similarly, he was in church when he decided to go to Cleveland and help anyone who needed it, no matter their race, politics or affiliation.

Morsch asked Heart to Heart International if it would be willing to send medical supplies and its mobile medical unit with him. Heart to Heart hasn’t ever coordinated street medics before, but Jim Mitchum, the nonprofit’s CEO, said going to the convention fits into the mission of giving health care during crises.

“It’s hard for people to separate political needs from health needs,” Mitchum said. “But we don’t want anyone to get caught in a political situation and need health care that we could have provided.”

Normally, Heart to Heart International swings into action after disasters.

“We normally wait for the earthquake or tornado or hurricane to happen before we go,” Mitchum said. “This is one of the only times where we anticipated a problem and said, ‘OK, let’s get ready.’”

The mobile medical unit should arrive on the scene Sunday. Morsch plans to park the mobile medical unit near the convention, provide first aid and send people to local hospitals if necessary.

Hopefully, the volunteers and supplies won’t be needed, but medics were present at the 2000 GOP convention in Philadelphia, where more than 400 protesters were arrested, and again in St. Paul in 2008.

Dozens of protest groups have signed up to march and speak in Cleveland, from Westboro Baptist Church to the Stand Together Against Trump movement, according to the city’s website. The city is bringing in about 2,500 law enforcement officers to help its own 1,500 officers.

Morsch hopes politicians and protesters are both civil, but he isn’t there to take sides or make a statement. If violence erupts, however, he’ll be ready to help.

And if needed, Morsch said he’ll go to the Democratic National Convention as well. It begins July 25 in Philadelphia.

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 8:56 PM with the headline "‘Street medics’ head to Republican National Convention in case they’re needed."