- This post is by Claire Sale, Red Cross social media guru. This post has been re-posted from the Online Newsroom.

On December 20, a passenger plane skidded off a runway in Denver Colorado. Charley Shimanski, CEO of the Mile High Chapter, describes the Red Cross response:

In all, 38 people were transported to five local hospitals, and the chapter responded to each of these hospitals. At [Denver International Airport], we assisted Continental [Airlines] in the establishment of a Friends and Family Reception Center (FFRC). This was staffed with Health Services, Mental Health, and Mass Care volunteers. The FFRC helped to link families back together from the incident.

 The families that were traveling to Houston and in need of lodging were bussed to a local hotel by Continental, and the two Red Cross Mental Health Care professionals that had been at [Denver International Airport] after the incident stayed the night at the hotel with those passengers. Our Mental Health Care professionals also accompanied those passengers back to Houston the following morning on the Charter aircraft that Continental provided.

It is widely known that the Red Cross offers basic health services, sheltering, and food in times of need. Many people, however, do not realize that the Red Cross responds to aviation incidents, provides services to family members, and offers mental health counseling immediately after traumatic events.

Disasters are traumatic. Red Cross workers are specially trained to identify and address need as well as trauma that disaster victims and their families experience.

You can become a Red Cross volunteer by contacting your local chapter.  

Filed under: Disaster Response