American Red Cross

Ready for an emergency — no matter where, no matter when. Thanks to these two Red Cross Water Safety Instructors, a woman's life was saved. While Askia Bashir and Kamau Hogan were working at a recreation center in Atlanta, Georgia, someone ran into the pool area yelling for help. A woman was choking in the upstairs auditorium. Kamau was on duty as a lifeguard that day and knew he couldn't leave his post, so he immediately sent Askia to respond. Askia went upstairs to find the 93-year-old woman slumped over in her wheelchair. She was playing bingo when she choked on an unknown object and passed out. Everyone around Askia was panicked, but his training kept him calm and able to provide care. He cleared the woman's airway and she began breathing again and regained consciousness. Thanks to their quick thinking and actions, Askia and Kamau received a Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders from the American Red Cross of Georgia. 👏🏾 Askia's family is no stranger to this kind of recognition. His brother is an instructor and swim coach who received the same award last year for saving a life. He and his siblings all followed in the lifesaving footsteps of their father, who was the former director of aquatics for the city recreation department. Do you know an instructor or lifeguard hero like Askia and Kamau? Tell us about them in the comments!

It takes a village to do what we do! For almost two months, more than 1,650 Red Cross disaster responders and our partners have worked diligently to serve communities across several states plagued with severe weather. This work would not be possible without our donors, partners — and most importantly — our Red Cross disaster teams. Here are a few of the incredible humanitarians who deployed across the country to support these efforts: Randy from American Red Cross - Arizona and New Mexico is keeping children entertained in Red Cross shelters by introducing them to his Dalmatian puppet and letting them play with him. Elvia from the American Red Cross Central California Region is checking displaced families into shelters and ensuring they have all the resources that they need during this difficult time. Kim Falk from the American Red Cross Cascades Region is comforting people affected by widespread flooding at shelters in Texas. Garry Potts from the American Red Cross Central Florida Region is conducting damage assessments in impacted communities. John Brown from the American Red Cross of Mississippi is spending two weeks in Texas, working with partners and elected officials to meet the needs of the community affected by ongoing storms and flooding. Dennis Ballas from the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region is distributing emergency supplies to people in affected communities with local search and rescue teams.

This is your chance to hear from our Chief Sustainability Officer Noel Anderson on how we're reducing our environmental impact on the planet. Don't miss this virtual (and free) fireside chat.👇🏾

Volunteers like Helen Ostien are pretty amazing. She has provided mental health support to nearly 1,000 people throughout her Red Cross career. 🫂 “When you are in the right place at the right time to offer something to someone in need, it’s like a bright light that shines through a pinpoint," Helen said. Helen leads mental health services for the American Red Cross Michigan Region. Her background as a retired social worker and nurse helped her become the compassionate volunteer counselor she is today. The trauma of a disaster can linger for weeks, months and even longer — that's where Helen's expertise and kind heart comes in. She has helped people cope after hurricanes like Katrina, Sandy and Harvey, as well as other disasters across the country for the last 26 years. "We use strategies to help people who are experiencing trauma," Helen said. "We keep our focus on the here and now and what they need to do to begin moving forward in their recovery." There are so many ways you can help people after a disaster, from providing mental health care like Helen, to providing comfort to families in shelters. Learn about how you can get involved by attending our virtual volunteer fair on Wednesday, May 29, from 3-4:30 p.m. ET. Sign up: https://rdcrss.org/3UYmbIu

Dreams really do come true! Since he was a little boy, Brian Oftedal knew he wanted to be a firefighter. “I talked about how when I grow up, I wanted to be a firefighter paramedic, just like John Gage and Roy DeSoto in ‘Emergency,’” he said. “With my friends, our bikes would be our emergency vehicles and we would open and close the garage door and respond to calls.” As a teenager, Brian started fulfilling his dream by participating in a paramedic explorer program, where he received an EMT certificate and Red Cross Professional Rescuer CPR and first aid training. He was the youngest volunteer on the team seen supporting Red Cross first aid stations at local events and co-teaching CPR and first aid classes. When Brian finally reached his lifelong goal of becoming a firefighter paramedic in the 1990s, he continued to teach first aid and safety classes and advocated for making more AEDs available to the general public. But Brian’s story doesn’t stop there. He’s now a Fire Captain and committed American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region volunteer. He works alongside Disaster Action Team volunteers during fire calls as a Fire Captain and helps install free smoke alarms in high-risk communities through our Home Fire Campaign as a volunteer. Brian is also committed to educating youth on disaster preparedness and regularly arranges classes in local elementary schools. “I feel honored and humbled to have been welcomed into the American Red Cross family and to have had so many opportunities to support the mission while giving back to our communities.” Thank you, Brian, for committing your life to serving others. We hope his story inspires you to keep reaching for the stars and to never give up on your dreams. ❤️

Before you turn on your out of office message and hit the road this Memorial Day weekend, here are some unexpected items you can store in your car to survive the long ride and be prepared in case of an emergency.

This Memorial Day weekend, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and ensure their legacy continues. Here are some ways you can participate in your community to commemorate this day. Tell us what you'll do in the comments! - Visit a national cemetery to lay flags or flowers on graves. - Stop at a local war memorial to honor those lost. - Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time to reflect on the meaning of the day. - Sign up for volunteer opportunities in your community that benefit military members, veterans and their families.

Join us in congratulating Eden Tan, one of our youth volunteers who is graduating and starting at Brown University this fall! 👏🏼 She started a Red Cross Club at her high school four years ago and will take this leadership experience with her to campus. After hearing about a blood shortage during the pandemic, Eden knew she had to get involved. She was only 14 years old when she started her school's Red Cross Club and became its president. While she kept busy organizing events and recruiting new volunteers, Eden became a Field ambassador for the American Red Cross of Wisconsin — the first youth volunteer in the state to land the role. Field ambassadors serve as liaisons between their local region and the National Youth Council, promoting monthly initiatives and helping to develop youth programs tailored to their region’s needs. “Volunteering with the Red Cross has been an amazing experience,” Eden said. “My goal is to get more involved in the community and give back in tangible ways." Our lifesaving mission would not be complete without amazing youth leaders like Eden! ❤️

It can take as little as five minutes for someone to die of blood loss. ⏲️ Could you spot life-threatening bleeding to help save a life? Test your knowledge below and check back tomorrow to see if you got the right answer! #StopTheBleed

Aleah Arrellano discovered her passion for helping others as a Red Cross lifeguard. Having grown up around pools and loving the water, starting her career as a lifeguard was a natural fit. She eventually expanded her lifesaving skillset by taking an EMT course. Aleah continued to grow in her field, becoming the dedicated paramedic she is today. Aleah is still connected to our lifesaving mission and continues to use her lifeguarding knowledge to teach other Red Cross lifeguards in training. Aleah uses her experience as an emergency responder to inspire her students. “I teach my lifeguards that it’s more than just a summer job,” Aleah said. “I show them how their training can impact lives and take them down career paths in healthcare.” We’re grateful for emergency responders like Aleah who go above and beyond to care for their communities. ❤️