DISASTER HEALTH SERVICES
RECRUITMENT INFORMATION
For
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Operations
November 1, 2012
What is the Red Cross doing and what does
it need?
The
Red Cross has been providing shelter, feeding, health and mental health support
to thousands of people affected by Hurricane Sandy. We are mobilizing our trained and experienced
volunteers and recruiting new Disaster Health Services (DHS) volunteers to
provide support to clients and Red Cross responders on relief operations in New Jersey and New
York. Disaster
relief operations are fluid and change daily.
Accordingly, the need for volunteers will flex in the days and weeks
ahead as relief operations progress.
Be
prepared for a waiting period before you will be able to provide DHS support.
Opportunities for Current Red Cross DHS Volunteers
If you are a Red Cross volunteer who
has already completed the Health Services Response Workshop (HSRW) training and
are registered with your chapter:
- Please
contact your chapter (volunteer coordinator) and let him/her know when you
are available.
- If
you have access to Crossnet (Red Cross’s internal website), update your
own availability through the Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR)
system.
If you live in state affected by
Hurricane Sandy
- You
will likely be able to help on relief operations as a local disaster
volunteer (LDV). This will afford
you slightly more flexibility about working your volunteer commitment
around other life activities.
- You
could also:
- Work
with your local chapter to provide support to disaster survivors in your
community
- Provide
support to Red Cross disaster relief workers and their families while
they’re gone and provide post-deployment support to workers returning
from assignments.
- Conduct
media interviews at the request of Red Cross Public Affairs to discuss
the common reactions individuals experience in the aftermath of
disaster.
- Teach
a local Disaster Health Services Response Workshop
- Assist
with other chapter support duties such as answering phones, preparing
meals, filing, etc. While not typically considered traditional disaster
health services, helping out with these activities can help preserve the
mental health of other Red Cross responders.
If you live in state not affected
by Hurricane Sandy
- You
may be eligible to deploy on national assignment if you are an RN,
LPN/LVN, EMT, or physician
- If
assigned, please make arrangements to be away from home for a minimum of 10
days from when you deploy.
- Please
note that it is possible that out-of-state deployment opportunities will
not be available at the time you approach your local chapter
- Be
prepared for there to be a waiting period before Red Cross training is
available and before you are contacted to deploy out of state.
- Please
see the second bullet above under Live in state affected by Hurricane Sandy for
other ways you can help (i.e. You could also . . . ).
Opportunities for Health Providers to Become Red Cross Disaster
Health Services Volunteers
Are you eligible? Red
Cross DHS Volunteers must be:
- State-licensed nurses (RNs or LPN/LVNs) ,physicians,
EMTs
- For national or local deployment. State-certified nursing
aides, and students may volunteer in
their state of residence only.
- Licensed in the state in which you live. A license in the state affected by the
disaster is not needed.
If you are not eligible, don’t worry. There
are many volunteer opportunities within Red Cross that are equally important
and rewarding. Please contact your
chapter to explore activities such as Client Casework or Mass Care. You chapter
can recommend a good volunteer fit for you.
Steps to Become a Red Cross Disaster
Health Services Volunteer:
- All
volunteers work with the American Red Cross begins at the local chapter
- Enter
your zip code under “Find your local Red Cross” at www.redcross.org to find the chapter
closest to you.
- Register
as a volunteer with the chapter.
They will help you to:
- Complete
a background check online at no cost to you
- Complete
the appropriate application
- Complete
a self-report health status record
- Complete
Health Services Response Workshop
(HSRW) and Disaster Services: An
Overview (DSO) trainings.
- During
times of large disaster, the HSRW is often offered via webinar.
- The
first module of the DSO class may be done online, with the remaining
hour done in the chapter.
- Fulfill
any other training or paperwork that your chapter may require
- There are additional courses that are very helpful for
health services volunteers. Check
to see if your chapter or one near you will be offering them. These include Psychological First Aid,
Client Casework, and Shelter Operations.
NOTE:
While you are waiting for a course or to be approved to deploy, any
support you can provide to your local community and Red Cross chapter will be
of great value.
Why does it take so long to get
deployed? Why is there so much
paperwork?
- Essential information and background checks ensure the
safety and welfare of Red Cross clients, volunteers and partners. Preparing disaster relief workers to
respond in the aftermath of disaster can be extremely challenging.
- The Red Cross places high value in getting the right
people, to the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time. Sometimes that means taking more time
before deployment in order to save time moving people later.
- Local Red Cross chapters manage large amounts of
requests from the community and from prospective volunteers.
What is different about volunteering
with the Red Cross?
- Be
patient and flexible. Situations in disaster change rapidly
and service delivery needs are fluid.
You may be asked to work at one site providing one type of service
and then be switched to another site within a short period of time.
- Our
co-workers may also be our clients.
90% of Red Cross staff are
volunteers just like you. They need
your support (and your kindness).
- Provide
community based health services in shelters, aid stations, or doing
community outreach.
- Address physical health needs (e.g., first aid, medications,
replacement of equipment)
- Assist those with chronic diseases and special
conditions as they manage their care after a disaster
- Coordinate community services and the public health
network
- Volunteering locally as well as regionally/nationally
inlarger disasters. The Red
Cross responds to local fire and other disasters on an almost daily basis.
Health services are needed in many of these cases, giving volunteers an
opportunity to work locally with a more flexible time commitment.
- The
work is very satisfying …. And very frustrating. You’re working
with people who have immediate needs for food, shelter, emotional support,
and other basics. The most crucial need
is information, which often you don’t have because the situation is
constantly changing. We do the best
we can with the limited resources we have.
