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We Appreciate our Volunteers!
A big thank you to all of our Red Cross volunteers who are there, everyday,
to provide vital services in our community. Whether you help during
a disaster, respond to a fire at 2 AM, teach Health & Safety classes
at the Chapter, work at a blood drive or help our service members communicate
with families back home during a family emergency, you, our volunteers
are the heart of the American Red Cross.
Thanks again for all you do!
The American Red Cross is always in need of volunteers...because someone
is always in need of the American Red Cross.
Every day, the American Red Cross responds to emergencies down the street...
across the country...around the globe. It may be half a million devastated
disaster victims or one child in need of lifesaving skills. Few Americans
are untouched by Red Cross services - all made possible by volunteers
who discover that helping others also makes them feel good about themselves.
Those who wear the Red Cross emblem - beloved symbol of hope and help
- come from all walks of life. They are all ages. Everyone has something
special to offer...including you! Make red your color. Wear it for the
Red Cross - VOLUNTEER TODAY! Read Why I Volunteer,
highlighting Ramona Johnstone.
Red Cross volunteer opportunities:
Emergency Services volunteers:
Services to Armed Forces (SAF) Caseworker
SAF Caseworkers handle the emergency communications between the serviceperson's
family and their military command during the times the Chapter is closed.
Caseworkers receive detailed training and on-going support from the Emergency
Services staff.
Community Disaster Education (CDE)
Community Disaster Education is a primary emphasis of our chapter's
Emergency Services activities. CDE volunteers staff displays, distribute
emergency preparedness literature throughout the community, develop and
implement disaster preparedness projects, speak to community and civic
organizations and participate in other ways to help our community learn
to prepare itself for disasters. This preparation is a very important
part of relieving the suffering that an unprepared community will experience
in a disaster.
Disaster Action Team Member
DAT (Disaster Action Team) members are specially trained to provide assistance
to individuals and families affected by disasters. Locally, they respond
to single and multi-family fires, floods, transportation accidents, chemical
spills, hurricanes, and other disasters.
DSHR (Disaster Services Human Resources) Member
Local volunteers that are part of the Disaster Action Team who gain experience
and specialized training, often register to become a DSHR member. This
is the National Red Cross database of volunteers that are trained in a
specialty area, and are asked to participate on National Disaster Assignments
such as large hurricanes or severe flooding in states all across the U.S.
and its territories. Local disaster experience and specialized training
are pre-requisites for DSHR membership.
Speakers
Bureau
Educating the public on disaster preparedness is a major concern for the
Red Cross. If people know how to prepare, prevent and respond to emergencies,
they can help make their recovery time less. The volunteers in our Speakers
Bureau present disaster preparedness information to the community through
local civic groups, organizations, businesses, neighborhood watch groups,
church groups, school classes, and many other outlets. Volunteers are
trained to speak to the public about what the Red Cross does for the community,
and what people in the community should know about their local Red Cross.
Trained Local Disaster Volunteers
Disaster volunteers may be out in the community dealing with disaster
victims directly, participating in a committee, helping educate schools,
churches, businesses and the general community on disaster preparedness,
or learning how to help if a major disaster affected the Frederick County
area.
We are always looking for people willing to dedicate their time and efforts
in learning skills such as how to help run a shelter; how to mass feed
large groups of people devastated by disaster; how to help people in a
one-on-one scenario in a service center, driving our Response Vehicle
into the affected areas, to help feed people; running the records and
reports function in shelters and at the temporary headquarters established
for the disaster; fundraising; public affairs; local disaster volunteer
recruitment; and so many more functions. When a large disaster occurs
in our community, Red Cross trained volunteers are always there to help
make a difference.
Blood Services
The Red Cross
is seeking volunteers to work at blood drives throughout Frederick County.
Help to save lives and meet friendly people in your community. Duties
include welcoming and registering blood donors, serving refreshments and
monitoring donors for possible adverse reactions. Training is provided.
Blood drive volunteers receive a schedule each month and can choose from
locations all over Frederick County.
Medical Transportation
Volunteers who like to drive and have good driving records can transport
clients to and from medical appointments. Appointments can be local
or within the greater Baltimore/Washington Metro area. A Red Cross
vehicle is available once certain training requirements are met.
Nursing
RNs, LPNs, and student nurses can volunteer to help with Safety/Information
fairs when blood pressure screening is requested. Nurses also do
administrative work in the office, train to teach classes and to become
Disaster responders.
Instructors for Health & Safety
Health & Safety instructors can teach courses in First Aid, CPR,
AED (Automated External Defibrillators), Lifeguarding, Water Safety, HIV/AIDS,
and Babysitter's Training after the appropriate instructor training.
Instructor training ranges from 10-30 hours depending on the instructor
course.
Special events volunteer
These volunteers help with publicity, set up for the Chapter yard sale,
volunteer picnic, volunteer recognition events, Health & Safety fairs
and 'N The Streets.
Volunteers and Veterans Oral History Project is another initiative that
is in the planning stages. Anyone who wants to get involved with
this project is invited to a meeting at the Chapter, Wed., April 30, 6:30
p.m. The scope of the project and information about training will
be discussed at this time.
Office volunteer Answering
the phones, filing, data entry, and stamping brochures are just a few
of the tasks we are always involved in at the office.
Youth Volunteers
Our Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is in its first year and has sponsored
a dance and read to youngsters at the C. Burr Artz library. Youth
involvement can be through groups collecting items for the annual School
Chest program or through the formation of Red Cross Clubs in the schools
or with the YAB. For more information, call the office.
For more information or to sign up for a Volunteer Orientation...
call
301-662-5131.
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