March is the American Red Cross month and here in the Quad Cities the volunteers are dedicated to spread the work of this organization especially amongst the Hispanic community.
The American Red Cross is not a government organism, its mission is to offer help in case of a disaster. In 1905 the United States Congress authorized the American Red Cross to “establish a national and international help system in times of peace and apply it to alleviate suffering caused by epidemics, famine, fires, floods, and other great national calamities, as well as design and adapt preventive measures”.
The help the Red Cross offers in cases of disaster concentrates in assisting urgent needs caused by the catastrophe. When a catastrophe occurs or is about to occur, the Red Cross offers refuge, meal, and physical and mental health services to assist the Basic human needs.
More volunteers needed:
A Red Cross volunteer is a person who wakes up in the middle of a cold winter night to help a family obligated to abandon their home due to a fire. A volunteer is also one who teaches people to prevent accidents and saves lives. Red Cross volunteers in all of the World and here in the Quad Cities have the mission to help with blood drives to save lives, seek donations and maintain this institution running ever day of the year.
Volunteers of the Red Cross don’t receive money as salary. They work to avoid human suffering seeking the welfare of everyone.
Today more than ever, the American Red Cross and the Quad Cities’ Red Cross need volunteers, especially bilingual, to work with the Hispanic community.
To work as a volunteer is to discover an enriching experience helping others.
The Red Cross office in the Quad Cities is always willing to receive those seeking help and also those who want to help.
As Hispanics we can save many lives:
Every two seconds someone needs a blood transfusion, in the United States (cancer patients, accident victims, premature babies, amongst many others).
The majority of Latinos have the universal blood type, the one used during emergencies and the kind that most hospitals use because it’s compatible with everyone. But less than 1% of Hispanics donate blood.
Blood donation means a lot to those who need it and we can all save lives donating blood. In times of crisis and in everyday life, every unit of blood can save up to three lives. Nevertheless, it’s only possible to preserve most blood for 42 days. That’s why, it’s very important to donate blood habitually and frequently. It’s important that healthcare facilities depend on an adequate supply of blood at all times.
The American Red Cross is the principal blood supplier in more than 3,000 hospitals in the country.
Every year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 catastrophes, like fires in homes or apartments (the more common disasters), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, chemicals spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural disasters and ones caused by man.
Here in the Quad Cities area, the Red Cross responded to 111 local emergencies, assisted 1,248 military families and trained 16,446 people with lifesaving skills in CPR, First Aid and Automated External Defibrillator.
“Red Cross Month is a great time for people to become part of the Red Cross and there are many different ways to do it,” Pratt said. “They can develop a preparedness plan for their household, become a Red Cross volunteer, give blood, or take a Red Cross class, just to name a few.”
The Quad Cities’ Red Cross offers human services like classes in child care and youth, first aid classes, disaster assistance, aside from helping and visiting the sick at Genesis hospital in Davenport, there are also volunteers that make hats and mittens for low-income children at different schools. The Red Cross in our community offers nursing services, monitor blood pressure and classes related with health amongst many other services.
If you would like more information on how to receive help and how to help the Hispanic community through the Quad Cities’ Red Cross you can call (309) 743-2166 or you can go to: 1100 River Drive, Moline, Illinois.
The American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area has a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month, including:
March 15, 2013, 6:00-9:00 p.m. American Red Cross Youth Activities featured at the Putnam Museum Cub Scout event, “Health Matters”
March 16, 2013, 1:00-3:00 p.m. American Red Cross Youth Activities featured at the
Bettendorf Family Museum
March 23, 2013, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) rodeo; a region wide training followed by an obstacle course and demonstration at the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities chapter office.
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