American Red Cross: Verify emergencies, acts as rock in crisis situations Published Feb. 25, 2016 By Karen Abeyasekere 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- In the event of a major emergency, such as death or illness of an immediate family member, the American Red Cross can be counted on to provide emergency communications to link people with their families back home. Supporting U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases all around England, Scotland and Wales, the Services to the Armed Forces ARC offices here and at RAF Lakenheath serve approximately 45,000 people, including those in the U.S. Navy. Along with active duty members, the ARC provides vital support to retirees, Department of Defense civilians, DOD Dependent Schools teachers, those in the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. diplomats, and their families. "We're here to provide assistance to all these people in the event they need something from us," said Tiara Harms, RAF Mildenhall American Red Cross, SAF regional program specialist. "Mostly with SAF, we process and help to verify emergency communications messages. "We provide briefings within our local community to make sure they know about the emergency communication system," she added. "Also, we do community CPR courses and have instructors located in places such as the child development center, so they can teach employees internally as well." Taking care of volunteers is another big part of what the American Red Cross does for its military community. They will either contact units who they think can use a volunteer, or units are welcome to get in touch with the ARC. "We have volunteers in the post office, library and in the hospital at RAF Lakenheath," explained Harms, adding there are times when a military member gets stationed here with a spouse who is a licensed, registered nurse. "A lot of times the hospital is in need of nursing staff, so if there's a need and we have a qualified volunteer that can fit that role, we'll place one there. We currently have 44 volunteers within the hospital and dental squadron and they give a lot of hours every single month," she said. Volunteers can be placed anywhere they want to go, providing there is a legitimate need for them. The ARC's roles are emergency communication, health and safety, volunteerism and limited disaster response. "Being stationed overseas, our involvement with disaster response is very small, unlike the Red Cross in the continental United States," said Les Della Maestra, RAF Lakenheath ARC SAF regional program manager, "Most of the money we as the American Red Cross use is in support of disaster relief - that's our commitment." Being overseas means the UK has jurisdiction over any disaster situation that happens here, which limits what the ARC is able to do. "We've been able to help with things like kitchen fires and rooms flooding," added Della Maestra. "We can provide clothes for people who've lost all theirs, and assist with food. Primarily, medical is always taken care of by the military, as is housing, because they will rehouse people immediately. "In the USA, if somebody's house burns down they might be out in the middle of the street and would have nothing. That's when we'd go in and set up a home for them, on a much bigger scale," he said. The largest part of the work done here is emergency communication. "We deal with it daily," said Della Maestra. "Deaths or serious illnesses in the family, life-threatening illnesses; we stay fairly busy! For example, if a military member gets a phone call from his or her mom in the middle of the night, saying that their dad is in intensive care and might not make it. The first thing that military member is thinking is, 'I need to get home and be with my family' - so who do they call? The Red Cross." He explained that the military member or spouse would call the ARC with the basic information, and the Red Cross staff goes through a checklist to get more information that they need to help the person. A report is then sent back to the communications center in the states, and those staff immediately start calling people, such as the hospital, hospice, or wherever the immediate relative may be, to get some basic information such as a diagnosis or prognosis. The American Red Cross will also find out life expectancy, and whether or not the doctors recommend that the service member gets home immediately. "The Red Cross then sends that information either back to me or direct to the service member," said Della Maestra. "That part of the process usually takes 18 to 24 hours, but sometimes it's a lot quicker. Next, the information is passed to the squadron, and the military member's commander makes the decision as to whether that person gets emergency leave. "That's our part in it - we verify emergencies, sicknesses and deaths. We're like a trusted agent," he said. Typically, emergency leave can only be taken for situations involving immediate family of the military member or their spouse, although regular leave can be used for almost anything a commander will authorize. The ARC regional program manager explained that they will also do the research for other situations that may involve other family members, such as an aunt or uncle, but it would be the commander's decision as to whether or not emergency leave would be granted. One misconception, however, is that the in the event of an emergency when a military member or spouse needs to get back to the States quickly, for example to attend the funeral of an immediate-family relative, the American Red Cross will pay for flights and other costs, however this is not the case. "We don't pay for tickets," added Della Maestra. "That's done through the emergency leave fund if it is emergency leave. If it isn't, there's assistance available in the form of a no-interest loan through the Air Force Aid Society, or whichever military aid society is applicable." Harms explained that by contacting the American Red Cross initially for an emergency, a case number is assigned. "People aren't required to come to us when there's an emergency, but if they do go home on emergency leave, if they have a case number and need anything else then they can contact the local Red Cross at home, give them the case number, then the local chapter can help them while they need assistance there." Additionally, the ARC also hosts a variety of health and safety classes, including a babysitter's course, new volunteer orientation, first aid and CPR. There is a cost associated with classes and advance sign-up is required. Upcoming classes are as follows: March 5: Babysitter's course, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., RAF Mildenhall ARC March 8: New volunteer orientation, 10 to 11:30 a.m., RAF Lakenheath ARC March 12: First aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., RAF Lakenheath ARC March 19: First aid, CPR and AED for professional rescuers and health care providers, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., RAF Lakenheath ARC For more information, or to sign up for a class at RAF Mildenhall call DSN 238-3742 or commercial, 01638-543742, and for RAF Lakenheath call DSN 226-1855 or commercial 01638 521855.