My Volunteer Experience with the Red Cross

Abu Sufiyan interviews a woman living in a portion of Bangladesh often affected by floods and river erosion. The interview was part of a case study he completed while working for Concern Worldwide in 2009. The case study assessed the affect of interventions by non-profits and volunteers following a disaster and what additional assistance was required.

 The following was written by Red Cross volunteer Abu Sufiyan.

I began my volunteer service with American Red Cross in June of 2014. I recently graduated from University of Louisville with a specialization in Disaster Management. I joined the Red Cross volunteer service to use my newly open time to contribute to the lives of disaster affected people. I am excited to use my knowledge and experience in a new and practical environment.

First, I met with the communication team of the Louisville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. I was introduced to the blog and social media of the chapter and discussed the different volunteer opportunities with the American Red Cross. I expressed my interest in interviewing people and writing stories about the feelings, needs, and experiences of the community members in the aftermath of a disaster.

I have been volunteering ever since I was in college and one of the activities I have always enjoyed was helping others and service to the community. When I first learned about volunteer opportunities in American Red Cross, I was very much interested as the organization is bringing real change in the lives of disaster affected people every day. I believe that everyone should dedicate some time for service to humanity. As Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

I am originally from Bangladesh, a country that is not only poor but also affected by cyclones, floods, and other coastal hazards almost every year. After viewing the sufferings of people while I was working for an international humanitarian organization, I decided to take a career path that will alleviate the sufferings of people in a disaster situation. I have completed my doctoral dissertation on the differential of disasters on the poor in the Gulf Coast region. From my experience from two countries, I understand that the sufferings of the people are not much different in the aftermath of a disaster, and people need utmost help to return to the normal lifestyle.

Later I was introduced to the online learning opportunities at the Saba website of the Red Cross. I have already completed eight courses on disaster management. It is quite interesting that new volunteers can take courses in the comfort of their home. I feel that the courses on disaster services, diversity, sensitivity, and awareness, disaster assessment, disaster planning and public affairs were really informative and provide practical knowledge about disaster services. I am willing to continue my volunteer services with the American Red Cross.

We are excited to welcome Abu to the Red Cross team! For more information on becoming a Red Cross volunteer at the Louisville Area Chapter, visit redcross.org/Louisville.

National Volunteer Week - Michael Jones

Michael Jones, center right, with fellow Red Cross Club Council Members following a Pillowcase Project presentation.

Michael Jones has a heart for disaster services. He is frequently adding to a portfolio of disaster training and service leadership. Since the fall of 2012, Michael has given 540 hours of service to the Red Cross.

He often signs up for volunteer opportunities before being asked by going on to Volunteer Connection weeks before our youth meetings. His eagerness to advance the mission of the Red Cross is amazing. As the Chapter Club Council Secretary, Michael dedicates a great deal of time at home tracking service opportunities and reminding the youth of upcoming volunteer events. He also manages the youth Group Share page on Volunteer Connection.

In addition, he has been instrumental in leading the youth in League of Mascot events around our city. He supervises this aspect of the youth council by making sure the youth are trained and prepared to represent the Red Cross as Mack the Disaster Dog, our chapter’s mascot. Michael is an awesome young man who is passionate about service, professional in all he does, and is a reliable volunteer.

To register to become a Red Cross volunteer and to see Red Cross volunteer opportunities in your area, visit redcross.org/volunteer.

Weeks 6&7: Two kits in one

If you have ever attended the state fair, Pegasus Parade or other sizeable event in the Louisville Area, there is a good chance that you have seen and possibly even received help from a member of the Red Cross First Aid Services Team (FAST). The team of 50 members attends more than 100 events each year to provide First Aid to an average of 3,200 people.

While we love our FAST members, they will not always be around with their endless supply of band-aids, gauze and antiseptic wipes. This is why the Red Cross encourages everyone to keep a First Aid Kit in their home, car and even at work. A great place to keep said First Aid Kit is in your new Disaster Kit. During disasters, you or a loved one might suffer injuries that need tending to before help arrives.

Check out weeks 6&7 of our 21 Weeks to Prepare shopping list for items that could come in handy in case of an injury. Also keep in mind medications and special needs for yourself or others in your family.

Download 21 Weeks to Prepare Shopping List

21 Weeks to Prepare

When disaster strikes, there is rarely time to think about what you need to grab in order to survive. If you are lucky, your home and family will walk away unscathed. The next day you'll go back to work, chauffeuring to school and practices, thinking about what to cook for dinner. Others aren't so lucky. The disaster destroyed their home and memories. They don't have food, clothing or shelter let alone a car to get them around or a stove to cook meals.

At the Red Cross, we like to prepare for the worst. You might call us pessimists, but if our knack for getting the community ready for worst case scenarios helps one family recover following a disaster, or, more importantly, survive during a disaster, then we are happy to serve as your glass half-empty friend.

Starting next Thursday, September 1, we will kick off 21 Weeks to Prepare—a social media campaign to help families and individuals build their own emergency disaster kit. Originally created by a team of Red Cross workers in Bowling Green, KY, 21 Weeks to Prepare breaks up the task of building a disaster kit to help everyone prepare in a way that is economically friendly.

On Thursdays leading up to our 21st week (January 19, 2012) we will blog on a group of items you can buy to build your disaster kit. Our twitter page will also post items and tips. Please help us spread the word, and follow our blog and twitter page for weekly updates. Together, we can help prepare Kentuckiana!

AmeriCorps team ends Year-of-Service

AmeriCorps members Alissa Harbison and Meghan Powers spent the past year helping the Louisville Area Chapter educate the community on disaster preparedness.

The month of September is quickly approaching, and that means members of our AmeriCorps program are wrapping up another year of service. It seems fitting that the group's term begins and ends in September a.k.a. National Preparedness Month. Throughout the past year, our AmeriCorps have delivered more than 2,500 disaster education presentations at schools, businesses and health fairs, teaching people of all ages the importance of disaster preparedness. All told, the group helped educate 15,000 Kentuckiana residents.

While they are dedicated to preparing the community, our AmeriCorps also help respond to disasters like home fires and floods providing immediate assistance for those affected in the areas of client casework and disaster assessment. They travelled to the far ends of Kentucky, some even to Alabama where tornado struck communities are still recovering.

As a former AmeriCorps, I know serving might not be the easiest thing you ever do, but it can be the most rewarding. Daily tasks can go from tedious to exciting, leisurely to back-breaking, evoking a range of emotions in a matter of days, sometimes hours. That being said, I would like to congratulate the 2010-11 crew on completing all of the above and more. Their hard work has helped create a safer Kentucky and Southern Indiana and I wish them all the success in the world as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

On Friday, July 29, this year’s team celebrated with a Professional Development Seminar meant to help prepare the group for their next career steps. Speakers from Fifth Third Bank, Red Cross and the Peace Corps focused on financial empowerment, resume writing, preparing for interviews and Peace Corps career options. For pictures from the event, please visit our Flickr page.

Be Informed: Know your emergency numbers!

Normally the first step in our guide to preparedness is "Build a Kit," but I decided to change things up a bit after reading an interesting CNN article by Amy Gahran. Everyone knows (or should know) to call 911 in case of an emergency. Now that the majority of Americans carry a cell phone on their person at all times, it's hard to imagine not being able to get help. But have you ever wondered how your call gets to the nearest dispatcher?

Take my cell phone for example. Be it stubbornness or laziness, my area code remains Colorado based. To make things even more complicated, I live in Southern Indiana, but work in Louisville. So if for some reason I needed to call 911, who would be fielding my call? Would they even be in the same state?

Most 911 calls are directed to a number determined by the tower you are nearest when you make the call. To ensure you have all bases covered, Gahran's article recommends that when calling 911, you begin by giving the operator your location (street names, landmarks, or mile markers). Always be aware of your surroundings. Also give the 911 operator your number just in case the call drops.

She also recommends you have alternative emergency numbers (non-911) in your cell phone for all cities in which you spend a lot of time. Remember this suggestion is for emergency calls from a cell phone, not a land line. Each police department is different, so do your research. When in doubt, dial 911.

National Preparedness Month

With hurricanes and tropical storms looming off the East Coast, it’s time to get serious about disaster preparedness. And what better time to do so than Preparedness Month! That’s right people; it’s time to break out those old back-packs and fill them with your basic emergency needs; it’s time to sit down with your family/roommate to discuss your emergency evacuation plan; it’s time to do a little research on your local emergency resources.

This month the blog will focus on preparedness, highlighting three basic steps: build a kit, make a plan and be informed.

For daily preparedness tips throughout the month of September, become a fan of our Facebook page at facebook.com/louisvilleredcross.

And just in case you’re still unconvinced of the importance of preparedness, here’s a message from the White House, signed by one President Barack Obama. ;)

Disaster Tested, Mother Approved

Growing up my mother was a preparedness guru in her own right. She always had drinks and snacks prepared for long road trips, she kept a back pack of first aid materials in each vehicle along with three or four blankets, she carried a tube of Neosporin and Q-tips in her purse along with a bottle of Tylenol, and perhaps most importantly, she always stocked up on plenty of canned food.

Every time we made it to the grocery store (usually once a month) my mom would buy bulk canned corn, green beans, soups, chilies and fruits along with other packaged snacks. While it was just as much about price and convenience as preparedness, I know that had we become somehow trapped in our house by a snowstorm (happened once for a week) or the power went out along with our electric stove (happened too many times to count) we would have something to eat.

While I don't buy BULK canned goods, I still make sure I have a few around just in case, especially for that night when I just can't bring myself to fire up the stove.

With that said, I'd like to take this post to honor the canned good. Happy 200th Birthday, and here's to many more!

Denver Post: Canning food turns 200 years old

Eternal Optimism of the American Mind

A recent study reveals Americans are quite the optimists when it comes to disaster risk. Posted in Risk Analysis, results from the study showed that between 365 mental health workers from Japan, Argentina and the U.S., Americans had the lowest risk perceptions for terrorism.

"Although participants from the USA had a higher exposure to terrorist events than those from Japan and Argentina, they believed they were least vulnerable to them." - eht-forum.org

Authors of the study think the optimism can be attributed to the United States' position of power in the world.

For more on the study go to eht-forum.org.

And for more on the latest news in public preparedness, check out In Case of Emergency, Read Blog.