RED CROSS SUCCESS STORY

Through Red Cross Health & Safety Classes – everyday people are trained, empowered and prepared – ready to save someone’s life if the need arises.  The Callaway Chapter partners with area Schools to offer Red Cross training to students at a minimal cost, when we have volunteer trainers.  More than 375 students were trained in CPR and/or First Aid during the 2005-2006 school year.  Students were trained at Fulton High School, McIntire Elementary School, Bush Elementary School, Bartley Elementary School, New Bloomfield High School, South Callaway High School, and Kingdom Christian Academy.  One of the Fulton high school students used the skills he learned to help save the life of a friend who was choking.   Because of the training he knew what to do, stayed calm and saved someone’s life.  

The Callaway Chapter responded to 11 different Single Family disasters during FY 2006, 14 different Single Family disasters during FY 2007 and we have already responded to 21 different Single Family disasters during FY2008.  Each families story is a little bit different, but every family is treated the same with assistance provided by Red Cross workers to help meet their immediate needs of food, shelter and clothing.  When we respond to a single family fire we usually provide food and drinks to the firemen that are responding to the fire.  We also help the family that has been affected by the fire by helping to meet their immediate needs of shelter, food and clothing.  Visiting with the families while the firemen are still there helps them to work through the tragedy that has happened and begin to make a plan of what they are going to do next.  The Red Cross will provide families with lodging at local hotels if they do not have someone they can stay with.  We also provide client assistance cards loaded with a set amount of money so families can pick out clothing and food at local businesses.  We also will refer families to additional community resources depending on the scope of their needs.  In helping families work through the initial recovery process we are able to help them make the necessary plans and decisions so they can get back on their feet.  It is amazing to see how different families cope with the tragedy that has occurred and the role that the Red Cross can play in helping this process occur.