Nurses Turn to the American Red Cross for Disaster Response Training

American Red Cross
Thursday, 2 May 2002

After 9/11 many combine professional and specialty skills to ensure communities are prepared

Since September 11, the American Red Cross has experienced an increase in the number of nurses requesting disaster response training. Like many, nurses contacted the Red Cross with offers to help those affected by the tragic events. Though armed with extensive professional and healthcare training, the unique circumstances behind large scale disaster relief showed additional, disaster-specific training was needed. In the wake of the terrorist attacks and the potential for future incidents, nurses are ensuring they and their communities are prepared by turning to the Red Cross for disaster response training and certification.

"Disasters often introduce some unique health and emergency needs so having trained personnel is key," says Nancy McKelvey, chief nurse, American Red Cross. "Combining the skills that nurses possess with those gained from disaster training expands the network of people who can provide appropriate care during a disaster-helping to save lives," she points out. "We are pleased to do whatever we can to help the nursing community get this lifesaving training."

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) will receive the disaster training just in time for National Nurses Week, May 6-May 12. All-day training will take place on Saturday, May 4, for 150 AACN members attending the National Teaching Institute™ and Critical Care Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. "The hope is not only will these nurses acquire valuable skills, but they will recruit their colleagues to get the training as well, says Marilyn Self, R.N., trainer and director of Disaster Health Services for the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross. "And we hope they will be still another voice in their community on the importance of disaster preparedness."

Having as many nurses as possible equipped with the skills and certification necessary to respond to disasters is a priority of the Red Cross. During a disaster, nurses often work in Disaster Health Services, one of 25 roles or "functions" in Red Cross disaster response, providing service in locations such as shelters, emergency aid stations, service centers and outreach teams. Utilizing their professional skills, nursing activities include assessing and meeting immediate health and emotional needs of disaster victims and Red Cross relief workers, as well as making referrals, and providing financial assistance for disaster-caused health needs.

More than 500 student nurses and nursing faculty were trained recently during the annual convention of the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Training for NSNA members included an overview of Red Cross disaster response and the roles of various local, state and federal agencies and organizations. Participants also received information on how disasters affect communities, common health and emergency needs, types of settings in which they would serve and how nurses support an overall disaster relief operation.

Nurses interested in taking American Red Cross disaster training should contact their local Red Cross chapter or visit www.redcross.org for more information.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering and restoring hope at home and around the world. Currently operating on a budget of $2.7 billion, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 67,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. In 2001, the Red Cross also trained almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provided direct health services to nearly 2.6 million people and delivered more than 21 million locally relevant community services. The organization also assisted international disaster and conflict victims in close to 40 locations around the globe, and its emergency communication centers processed 1.2 million calls in support of U.S. military families.

For more information, or to contact American Red Cross, see their website at: www.redcross.org