What is the AMTA Massage Emergency Response Team (MERT)?
AMTA MERT prepares and manages volunteer massage therapists for professional deployment to disaster sites to perform massage on rescue and recovery workers. The concept for a MERT Program started in 1989 following the California Loma Prieta Earthquake. During that disaster, more than 8,000 massages were given to disaster workers, demolition workers, grief counselors, highway patrol officers, and many others. Since that time, volunteer massage therapists have participated in numerous disaster responses. AMTA MERT offers emergency management agencies and rescue workers the expertise of highly qualified, professionally trained massage therapists. How does AMTA MERT operate? AMTA MERT is a program committee of AMTA comprised of leadership at the national, regional and state levels. The AMTA MERT national committee reports to the AMTA Board of Directors, develops policies and procedures, and works with all levels of volunteers to ensure the success of the program. AMTA MERT provides a frame
