Volunteers are the heart of the American Red Cross and we'd like you to join us.

Volunteers are the heart of the American Red Cross and we'd like you to join us!

The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters every year - the vast majority of which are home fires. That means that every day in this country, on average, seven people are killed in a home fire and another 36 people suffer injuries. To end these tragedies and save lives, the American Red Cross launched a nationwide Home Fire Campaign in 2014 with the goal of reducing the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent.

The campaign includes two youth education and preparedness initiatives, Disney's the Pillowcase Project. The Pillowcase Project is our signature youth preparedness program and is implemented in every Red Cross region. The Pillowcase Project is for children in grades 3-5 and teaches them about personal and family preparedness for local hazards and home fires. Another critical component is Sound the Alarm, a series of home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events, where Red Cross volunteers and partners canvass high-risk neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms and help families create escape plans.

We are looking for volunteers and lead volunteers to help with smoke detector installations. Our Home Visit Teams and Search and Serve Teams are comprised of an an alarm Installer, an auditor who ensures the team completes all required documentations and information, and a safety officer who talks to the client about disaster safety and preparedness as well as provide the client with a safety kit.

We also need instructors to present the Pillow Case Project to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and teach them about personal and family preparedness for local hazards and home fires. Instructors will interact with children from 8-10 years old in a traditional class room environment as well as non-traditional environments like Boys Scout and Girl Scout Troops, Boys & Girls Club programs, and church and youth camps.

Additionally, we are looking for individuals interested in learning Hands Only CPR and to be instructors in Hands Only CPR. As of 2017, Nevada is requiring all High School graduates to be CPR qualified. Hands Only CPR fulfills that requirement and it is a free course.

The Red Cross will provide all training, tools and materials as well as transportation to the work assignment sites.