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 Young people are the future of the Red Cross humanitarian movement, and the organization’s youth services were featured during an April 8 live interview on KJFF Radio (1400 AM).
Deane Adam, director of AmeriCorps and Youth Services for the St. Louis Area Chapter, joined Omar Ruiz of the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold. They discussed opportunities for community education and preparedness training available through the AmeriCorps, YouthCorps, and Safe Schools programs.
Local Red Cross AmeriCorps members, aged 18 and older, trained more than 56,000 people in the metropolitan area last year through presentations featuring disaster preparedness, first aid, HIV/AIDS education and other program curriculum.
Age-specific programs for children address the importance of handwashing, nutrition, bike safety and other themes to emphasize the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross. Members remain active throughout the year in various community service projects.
YouthCorps provides an opportunity for students in grades eight through12 to participate in peer-to-peer educational presentations, community service projects and anti-bullying programs. Last year, YouthCorps members reached more than 3,600 peers with information related to disaster education, CPR, first aid and HIV/AIDS education.
Students interested in meeting other young people in a fun and safe learning environment, while focusing on creative outreach opportunities, can start a YouthCorps group in their school with the support of a school sponsor. Active YouthCorps members receive free training in lifesaving Red Cross curriculum, certification in first aid and CPR, and are eligible to attend an annual three-day, two-night Leadership Development Camp at Trout Lodge in Potosi.
The Safe Schools program is a national outreach effort designed to instill the importance of preparedness in young people. AmeriCorps members train teachers in first aid and CPR. In turn, teachers train their students and other faculty/staff so that the program is self-sustained at the end of two years.
Emergency response backpacks, including first aid kits and other disaster preparedness supplies, are strategically placed throughout the school to create a safer environment.
Current partnerships are thriving in the Hazelwood and Belleville school districts, and the Red Cross intends to expand the program to other area schools to increase the reach of the preparedness message.
For more information about AmeriCorps, YouthCorps, the Safe Schools program, or additional details about the American Red Cross, call the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold at 464.9150 or log on to the Web site at www.redcrossstl.org.
The next Red Cross interview will air live on KJFF at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 13, with an opportunity for listeners to call the studio with questions.
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