As published in the Jefferson County Suburban Journals .

The American Red Cross Jefferson County Service Center offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for the community. Omar Ruiz, service center supervisor, and Mary Rosen, director of volunteer resources for the St. Louis Area Chapter focused on the importance of volunteers during a Sept. 14 interview on KJFF Radio.

Ruiz and Rosen encouraged the community to get personally involved in the Red Cross mission by helping the community to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.

The Red Cross touches the metropolitan area more than 410,000 times through a variety of programs and services. This outreach is made possible through the commitment of hundreds of local volunteers who receive comprehensive training. The Red Cross considers the personal interests and skill level of each volunteer and further equips each person to make a positive and direct impact on the lives of others.

Ruiz and Rosen provided an overview of Red Cross volunteer opportunities and began with the service center's support for blood services. Red Cross volunteers throughout the St. Louis area staffed more than 1,700 blood drives last year. Volunteers are needed at blood drives to make donors feel comfortable and appreciated as they give the gift of life.

Community Disaster Education presentations are an important way for Red Cross volunteers to reach their neighbors. The Red Cross is highly involved in disaster preparedness and continually focuses on increasing local readiness.

Each year, more than 82,000 people participate in Community Disaster Education presentations, learning how to protect themselves and their loved ones by preparing for disasters such as earthquakes, fires and tornadoes. Resources are designed for individuals, businesses and schools and are provided free to the public.

The Jefferson County Service Center initiates more than 65 disaster responses throughout the county each year. In the entire metropolitan area, the St. Louis Area Chapter assists more than 1,100 local families who lose their homes to fire each year. Many of these disasters go unnoticed by the larger community but are devastating to those affected.

Red Cross Disaster Action Teams provide the necessary support to get families on the road to recovery in the aftermath of an emergency, providing assistance that includes shelter, food, clothing and mental health counseling.

Casework for families begins on the scene of a disaster through the distribution of comfort/clean-up kits, blankets and other assistance. Canteen assistance that includes hot/cold beverages and other nutrients is provided to emergency responders who are on the scene for long hours. Teams are available 24 hours a day and volunteers are always needed.

In addition to local opportunities, there are many ways for Jefferson County volunteers to help on a national level. More than 300 highly trained volunteers from throughout the St. Louis area remain on standby for national deployment as needed. Red Cross volunteers in the Disaster Services Human Resources System (DSHR) help people in need in all 50 states, wherever disaster strikes.

Volunteers from the St. Louis Area Chapter respond to hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and other emergencies. Most recently, local volunteers provided assistance following severe regional flooding throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Minnesota and Illinois.

To become a DSHR volunteer, individuals complete an application and background check and then receive extensive training in emergency services provided free to the volunteer. Depending on the individual's interest, volunteers can choose an area of specialty such as sheltering, feeding, logistics or health services.

Health and safety volunteers lead training in CPR, first aid, Automated External Defibrillators and water safety. The American Red Cross is committed to training at least one person in every household to respond in an emergency by using lifesaving skills. Last year, the St. Louis Area Chapter trained more than 85,000 people in this curriculum.

Instructors are always needed to reinforce the prevention of HIV/AIDS throughout the community. The curriculum instills an awareness of the disease, dispels myths, and helps participants to learn from their own experiences and the experiences of others. More than 27,000 local people learned lifesaving lessons through this important training last year.

International Services volunteers make presentations throughout the community to highlight the importance of International Humanitarian Law as outlined in the Geneva Conventions, as well as lifesaving efforts in Africa made possible through the American Red Cross Measles Initiative.

Last year, more than 3,700 local people were educated regarding the worldwide Red Cross movement, and 32 local traces were initiated to reconnect families separated by war or armed conflict.

Red Cross Lifeline volunteers install these special units in subscribers' homes and provide instruction on proper usage. Nearly 1,400 local subscribers gain peace of mind and independence using this personal emergency notification system, summoning help with the touch of a button. Lifeline volunteers can also make weekly phone calls to subscribers as part of the In-Touch program to be certain that clients remain comfortable using the system.

Finally, Ruiz and Rosen emphasized volunteer opportunities in support of public awareness events at community fairs and other special engagements. In this capacity, volunteers oversee the distribution of educational materials and literature, answering questions from the public regarding the role of the Red Cross locally and nationally.

Administrative volunteers assist with bulk mailings, data entry, filing and clerical duties. Volunteers are also needed to work phone banks to receive incoming calls or follow-up to answer questions when public inquiries dramatically increase during times of disaster.

Ruiz and Rosen concluded the KJFF interview by encouraging listeners to contact the American Red Cross Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold for more details about volunteer opportunities. The public is encouraged to call 636.464.9150 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.

The next Red Cross interview will air live on KJFF at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 12 with an opportunity for listeners to call in with questions..