Many weather experts predict a destructive wildfire season this year. The American Red Cross needs volunteers to help on the ground and blood and platelet donors to roll up a sleeve to maintain a stable blood supply in the face of emergencies.
“This year’s wildfire season is already very active and dangerous because of the severe drought and dry woodlands in our area,” said Debbie Leahy, Regional Disaster Officer, Red Cross Southern California Region. “After several years of record-breaking wildfires, the Red Cross is already responding in dozens of communities and asks you to train now to be a Red Cross volunteer and help if the need arises.”
SHELTER VOLUNTEERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEEDED
The Red Cross needs new volunteers to support disaster shelters. Volunteers will help with reception, registration, food distribution, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks inside disaster shelters. Both entry- and supervisory-level opportunities are available.
The Red Cross also needs volunteers who can work in disaster shelters to address people’s health needs and provide hands-on care in alignment with their professional licensure (registered nurse and licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse). Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available. If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with a current and unencumbered license, this position could be right for you.
After most disasters this year, the Red Cross plans to open group shelters. However, in some communities, hotels may be more appropriate if the risk of COVID-19, including the delta variant, is particularly high. The Red Cross will also continue many of the safety precautions implemented in 2020, including masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures and encouraging social distancing.
DISASTER ACTION TEAM MEMBER
Local Disaster Action Teams provide 24-hour emergency response to local disasters, particularly home fires, ensuring that those affected have access to resources for basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. If you are team-oriented and want to help your neighbor, the DAT responder may be just the thing for you.
Since January 1, the Red Cross Southern California Region provided immediate emergency assistance to 2,636 people after 891 home fires and other disasters. And, in the past year provided 13,208 overnight hotel stays and 60,795 meals and snacks to evacuees during 25 large disasters including wildfires and winter storms.
If you want to make a difference and are interested in helping your community should a disaster occur here at home or across the country, please contact Orange County Senior Recruitment Coordinator, Karla Legorreta at Karla.Legorreta@redcross.org or call 714-380-7263.
BLOOD AND PLATELET DONORS NEEDED
Wildfires, record-breaking heat and a busy hurricane season can also impact the nation’s blood supply. On top of the toll extreme weather events take on the lives of millions, disasters can cause blood drive closures or prevent donors from being able to give safely. Eligible donors can help overcome the critical need for blood and ensure blood is readily available by making an appointment to give by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
As a thank-you, those who come to donate throughout the month of August will get a free 4-month special offer to Apple Music by email (new subscribers only). Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/FeelTheBeat.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Orange County Aug. 16-31
Aliso Viejo
8/31/2021: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Pacifica Hotels, 39 Argonaut, Suite 100
Anaheim
8/17/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Brewery X, 3191 E La Palma Avenue
8/18/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Ganahl Lumber, 1220 E. Ball Road
8/20/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 W Crescent Ave
8/24/2021: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 440 N. Loara
8/30/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Anaheim Moose Lodge 1853, 721 S Anaheim Blvd
8/30/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Cove Church, 2780 E Wagner Ave
Brea
8/21/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Brea Masonic Center, 500 E Imperial Hwy
8/25/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., ISYS Solutions, Inc, 2601 Saturn St, Suite 300
8/28/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Brea Masonic Center, 500 E Imperial Hwy
Buena Park
8/16/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Moose Lodge 1945, 8651 Knott Ave
8/17/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Jain Center of Southern California, 8041 7th St.
Costa Mesa
8/26/2021: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Business Solutions LLC, 3187 Red Hill Ave
Coto de Caza
8/17/2021: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club, 25291 Vista Del Verde
Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St (See RedCrossBlood.org for hours)
Fullerton
Fullerton Blood Donation Center, 1144 Rosecrans Ave (See RedCrossBlood.org for hours)
Garden Grove
8/20/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Building G, 6202 Cerulean Ave
Huntington Beach
8/16/2021: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Crunch Fitness, 5894 Edinger Ave
8/25/2021: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Huntington Beach Police Dept, 2000 Main St
8/30/2021: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Huntington Beach Masonic Center, 601 Palm Avenue
8/31/2021: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., LUCE, 7290 Edinger Ave
Irvine
8/18/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Simpson Chevrolet, 21 Auto Center Drive
8/19/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mariners Church, 5001 Newport Coast Dr
8/19/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Intersect, 17885 Von Karman
8/20/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., KLOS Radio – Antis Roofing, 2649 Campus Dr
8/20/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Westpark 1 Brad Dhesi, 3754 Hamilton St.
8/21/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., KLOS Radio – Antis Roofing, 2649 Campus Dr
8/23/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Boys & Girls Club, 295 East Yale Loop
8/26/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mariners Church, 5001 Newport Coast Dr
8/27/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., St Elizabeth Ann Seton, 9 Hillgate
8/29/2021: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Cadence Park, 703 Benchmark
Ladera Ranch
8/24/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., AFC Urgent Care, 27522 Antonio Parkway, Suite P3
Laguna Beach
8/23/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Montage Resort, 30801 S. Coast Hwy
Laguna Hills
Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr (See RedCrossBlood.org for hours)
Laguna Woods
8/20/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., KLOS Radio – Laguna Country United Methodist Church, 24442 Moulton Pkwy
8/21/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., KLOS Radio – Laguna Country United Methodist Church, 24442 Moulton Pkwy
Lake Forest
8/17/2021: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Department Saddleback Station, 20202 Windrow
Los Alamitos
8/23/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 11600 Los Alamitos Blvd
8/29/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., St Isidore Historical Plaza, 10961 Reagan Street
Mission Viejo
8/19/2021: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church Mission Viejo Campus, 26001 Muirlands
Newport Beach
8/22/2021: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., St Mark Presbyterian Church, 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road
Orange
8/17/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sisters of St Joseph of Orange, 480 S Batavia St
8/19/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sanctify Church, 1090 N. Batavia
8/25/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sisters of St Joseph of Orange, 480 S Batavia St
8/26/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Refuge OC, 308 S Glassell St
8/31/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E. Chapman Ave
Rancho Santa Margarita
8/18/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Foothills Church, 23122 Arroyo Vista
8/29/2021: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Starbucks 5755 Lowes Plaza, 30465 Avenida De Las Flores
Rossmoor
8/18/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rossmoor Home Owners Association, 3031 Blume Dr
San Clemente
8/23/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Focus on Souvenirs, 930 Calle Negocio, Suite F
8/27/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Baha’is of San Clemente, 3316 Avenida Del Presidente
8/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sonance, 991 Calle Amanecer
San Juan Capistrano
8/25/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Capistrano Unified School District, 33122 Valle Road
Santa Ana
Santa Ana Blood Donation Center, 600 Parkcenter Drive (See RedCrossBlood.org for hours)
8/20/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., KLOS Radio – American Red Cross Santa Ana Chapter, 600 Parkcenter Dr.
8/21/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., KLOS Radio – American Red Cross Santa Ana Chapter, 600 Parkcenter Dr.
8/31/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bowers Museum, 2002 N Main St
Seal Beach
8/24/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Old Ranch Country Club, 3901 Lampson Ave
8/25/2021: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mary Wilson Library, 707 Electric Ave
Sunset Beach
8/17/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sunset Beach Community Center, 16861 12th Street
Trabuco Canyon
8/26/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Trabuco Presbyterian Church, 31802 Las Amigas
Westminster
8/26/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Westminster Mall, 100 Westminster Mall
Yorba Linda
8/16/2021: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Yorba Linda Masonic Center, 4847 Main St
8/20/2021: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, 5550 Ohio Street
8/23/2021: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Yorba Linda Masonic Center, 4847 Main St
8/26/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Team Real Estate, 18180 Yorba Linda Blvd, #501
8/30/2021: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Yorba Linda Masonic Center, 4847 Main St
About blood donation
To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.
Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.
Blood drive safety
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.