Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is repayment expected for Red Cross disaster services?
A: No, repayment is never expected in any form. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from our friends and neighbors in our local community.

How Do I Volunteer for Emergency Services?

Q: How do I get started on the Disaster Action Team? Which training classes should I take first?
A: "Introduction to Disaster Services" is the place to start! After completing this course, you should also take "Mass Care: An Overview", "Family Services: Providing Emergency Assistance", "Fulfilling Our Mission: Translating Your Compassion into Community Action", and "First Aid/CPR/AED Training". These courses will provide you with the basic training needed to respond to local incidents. When you have completed these classes, we can advise you on what additional courses you should take based on your personal skills and interests. You can "specialize" in one of more than 20 different areas of disaster relief!

Q: How much does it cost to take the training classes?
A: All training is provided to you free of charge!

Q: Will I be required to leave work to respond to a disaster?
A: No. Volunteering will not interfere with your employment. Volunteers are scheduled "on call" for daytime or evening shifts depending on their availability.

Q: This sounds like a lot of responsibility. Will I ever have to respond to a disaster call by myself, or will someone else go with me?
A: Since two heads are better than one, teams of two or more volunteers are sent to respond to disasters. One of these volunteers is an experienced DAT member who is comfortable with handling a variety of situations. Chapter staff members are also available for questions or backup when needed.

Q: Will I ever be asked to put myself in a dangerous situation?
A: Absolutely not! Safety is and always will be our first priority. Rescue personnel (firefighters, police, etc.) are on the scene to tend to the disaster. Our responsibility is to look after the needs of the affected family. You will never, under any circumstances, be asked to enter an unsafe building, nor will you be required to travel alone.

Q: I know a Red Cross disaster volunteer who spent 3 weeks in Louisiana helping run a shelter for people whose homes were destroyed by a hurricane. How can I get involved with national disaster relief assignments?
A: After you have completed the required Red Cross training courses and have adequate experience responding to local disasters, you will be eligible to enroll in the American Red Cross Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) system and go on national assignments. Lakeland Chapter volunteers are encouraged but in no way obligated to get involved in DSHR assignments. If you wish, we are willing to work with your employer to try to find a way to make you available for these assignments when the time comes. DSHR work is challenging, fun, and rewarding . . . an experience you will treasure for the rest of your life.