How to Volunteer in Disaster Services for American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is best known for its volunteer work during natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. The American Red Cross is always looking for skilled volunteers to join its Disaster Services team, such as nurses, paramedics and EMTs. Even if you have none of these skills and only wish to help, you can still volunteer for the Disaster Services team.
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Instructions
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Get Involved with the American Red Cross
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Contact a local chapter of the American Red Cross to inquire about volunteering your time as a member of the Disaster Services team. While there is a strong need for anyone who may be able to help in case of natural disaster, there is aways a dire need for trained medical personnel such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, EMTs and medical technicians.
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Volunteer for short-term or one-time assignments with the American Red Cross to determine whether the organization is a good fit for your skills and time. You will be asked to enter a list of your skills in the database to receive assignments related to your experience. Once you have completed several of these assignments successfully, you will be asked to make a firm commitment to Disaster Services.
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Receive additional training from the American Red Cross Disaster Services program to enhance your skills. These training courses may include CPR training, first aid or other types of emergency medical training. As you receive more training, you will be qualified to volunteer in more types of assignments.
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Consider some of the peripheral jobs in the Disaster Services program if you do not have any specialized medical or rescue training. These positions include the Disaster Action Team, which respond to single-family fires and offer assistance to the victims, or the Disaster Clerical Team, which helps to process paperwork during a disaster or hand out safety information.
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Log onto the official website for the American Red Cross to find out how to find local chapters, so you can volunteer for the Disaster Services Team (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you are in generally good health before you volunteer to work in the American Red Cross Disaster Services. This type of work can be physically grueling and can require long hours of dedication, especially in the face of a natural disaster.
