The Red Cross Chapters in the middle section of the state launched a campaign today called “Change a Life.” Central Iowa Chapter executive director, Leslie Schaeffer, says they have a simple goal. Schaeffer says they just want people to be aware of the value of volunteering and what it means to be a volunteer. She says there are many ways for people to help.
Schaeffer says people can come in an volunteer in the office, and there are disaster action teams that go out after fires and sometimes for flooding and tornadoes. Schaeffer says the number of volunteers has gone up since the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
Gene Harding of Des Moines was on hand to talk about how the services offered by the Red Cross helped save his life. Harding was running in a Des Moines road race when he had a heart attack. Four people with C-P-R training stopped to help.
Harding says the people stopped and gave him C-P-R for around 10 minutes before the fire rescue squad got there. Harding says he still had no vital signs when paramedics got to him. Harding says the C-P-R kept the oxygen flowing to his brain, and allowed him to recover.
“I’m sure I wouldn’t be here, I know I wouldn’t be here today without C-P-R,” Harding says. You can find out more about training and volunteer opportunities at your local Red Cross chapter at: www.iowaredcross.org .