Today's American Red Cross is keeping pace with the changing military. Using the latest in computer and telecommunications technology, the Red Cross sends communications on behalf of family members who are facing emergencies or other important events to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving all over the world. These communications are delivered around-the-clock, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

While providing services to 1.4 million active duty personnel and their families, the Red Cross also reaches out to more than 800,000 members of the National Guard and the Reserves and their families who reside in nearly every community in America.

Red Cross workers in hundreds of chapters and on military installations brief departing service members and their families regarding available support services and explain how the Red Cross may assist them during the deployment.

Both active duty and community-based military can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications that link them with their families back home, access to financial assistance, counseling and assistance to veterans. Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services personnel work in nearly 700 chapters in the United States, on 62 military installations around the world and with our troops in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Disaster Services

Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 67,000 nationwide disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. Who is the Disaster Action Team?

Last year, disaster volunteers helped the victims of over 150 Mid-Michigan disasters. Events such as fires, explosions, wind storms, power outages and train derailments put nearly 1,000 community members in need of groceries, clothing, basic household items, medicines and temporary housing.

Eighty-five trained Mid-Michigan chapter volunteers spent at least three weeks responding to national disasters such as forest fires, floods and hurricanes. Generous support from the community helps the Red Cross provide assistance free of charge to all victims of disasters.

Staff and volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist families who have been affected by single family fires, floods, tornadoes, etc. Caseworkers help families with immediate needs and work to develop a permanent recovery plan utilizing Red Cross assistance and community resources. How can you join the Disaster Action Team?

The minimum requirements to join a local Disaster Action Team are:

Introduction to Disaster Services, First Aid and CPR Certification and Disaster Action Team Orientation- these courses are offered frequently at the American Red Cross.

To volunteer or find out more about disaster services, please contact a Disaster Management Team member or Rachelle Wood, the Emergency Response Coordinator at 517-484-7461 or 1-888-TAP HELP (1-888-827-4357).

Health and Safety Services

For nearly a century, the American Red Cross has prepared people to save lives through health and safety education and training. From first aid, CPR and bloodborne pathogens training to swimming and lifeguarding, HIV/AIDS education and Babysitter's Training, American Red Cross Preparedness programs help people lead safer and healthier lives. The Red Cross constantly strives to respond to the preparedness concerns of Americans at home, in school and in the workplace. Today's innovative programs also include teaching lay persons and professionals how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to save victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Last year, nearly 11 million people enrolled in American Red Cross health and safety courses.

You can help the Red Cross save lives. Become a health and safety instructor or authorized provider, or take a course from your local chapter.

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