Contrary to previously described training, the Red Cross Training of the past couple days has actually been somewhat educational and entirely more beneficial. Yesterday we focused on CPR, AED, and First Aid, and today we dealt with Disaster Services.

Although the International Red Cross is not affiliated with any one religion, in various countries the charters are referred to as Red Crescents instead.

Protected by “Good Samaritan” law(s), once you start helping someone, you are obligated to continue helping that person until emergency responders arrive. This means you may have to continue compressions until they arrive.

An AED device should be applied as soon as possible, and every minute of delay lowers the chance of survival by about ten percent. Also, the device needs to remain attached and on until a medical professional does or says otherwise. CPR can still be applied while it is on, and the consistently monitored heart rate and other information can be downloaded from the device.

When someone is in shock, they can often get very thirsty, but no matter what they should not be given any food or water until they are out of shock, or by a medical professional.

The Red Cross no longer attaches the term “victim” to those they help; instead they use the term “client.” “Client Services” are provided by volunteer and paid “Staff.”

Sacramento is in an area with high-risk of flooding. After Katrina, the Army Corps of Engineers surveyed other levy systems and Sacramento was the first to be checked. Being hundreds of years old, and basically not maintained, they could break at any moment – especially flooding a new development area that the city, until recently, told homebuyers to get flood insurance, or even that they were living in a floodplain.

When donating money to the Red Cross, you may consider writing a line-item check. For example, all proceeds from the “$10 text to Haiti” went to Haiti relief. That’s one-hundred percent. If there is money left over, it must be used for Haiti in some shape or form. When donating simply to the general fund, a chunk of change will be taken out for administration.

I also found it interesting that the media is the Red Cross’ “friend.” And when describing why media is important – it is because more media means more money. Taken directly out of the mouth of the instructor.

Know something about the Red Cross, or want to know more? Please leave your comments below.