MILTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Long lines, screaming babies, anxious parents -- a swine flu vaccination clinic can be a crazy place.

That's why local health departments rely so heavily on the help of volunteers to ease the process.

Karen Pinkerman is training the latest group of volunteers. They're Marshall University senior nursing students.

“We were made aware by our nursing professor that they needed help," nursing student Gina Denjen said. "We're qualified to give these shots. We've been taught these skills in our labs and they needed all of the help they could get. So, we volunteered.”

Dr. Harry Tweel, director of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, said, “Thank god for volunteers. It could not happen with just our small staff. We have a total of six nurses and some of them have to man the store.”

With thousands of people lining up for swine flu vaccine in Cabell County, an army of volunteers is critical to a fast-moving line.

“People are anxious," said Karen Hall-Dundas with the Cabell- Huntington Health Department. "They want to get in and get out, so we want to be as efficient as possible and help them get right on through the line and help them go on with their day.”

That means about 75 volunteers per clinic to rotate in and out through the day.

“There's always a need," said Karen Pinkerman with the Cabell-Huntington Health Department. "There's never enough. People are employed and some people can't just do these things. The more volunteers make it easier so people don't get burnt out. People don't want to do it everyday.”

For the nursing students, it's more real life experience, and that's almost always exciting.

“I'm not looking forward to the screaming babies, that's for sure," Denjen said. "So, hopefully it goes well and I don't get kicked or bit.”

Volunteers are needed from everything to nurses who can administer the vaccine to folks who can help with registration and crowd control. If you'd like to help, call your local health department.