Four hundred medical outreach backpacks will soon be on the way to more than 160 clinics and health centers across the country treating the nation’s most vulnerable people.

The packs will assist health workers and responders in their emergency preparedness and response capabilities and will also be used for street outreach and health fairs.

Modeled after Direct Relief’s Medical Reserve Corps packs, these specially designed backpacks contain supplies and equipment to meet a variety of disaster-related health needs, including infection control, diagnostics, trauma care, and personal protection tools.

Some are designated as ongoing support for disaster-affected areas, including equipping every mobile medical unit operated by New York and New Jersey health centers as well as packs designated for clinics affected by the tornadoes in Moore, Okla. Other packs will go to Direct Relief partners across the nation who requested the packs for their outreach programs.

The ability to go to where the patient is located and provide care is a unique and essential service of health centers and clinics that is critical both in emergencies as well as routine health care.

The backpacks were organized with help from local volunteers, including students from Bishop Garcia Diego High School; a dozen nursing students from Santa Barbara City College; and employees from Vaseline and CVS Health stores, who supported the initiative.