Every day, the American Red Cross helps people in emergencies... whether it's half a million disaster victims or one sick child who needs blood.  Our vital work is made possible by people like you, who learn how good it can feel to lend a helping hand. Red Cross "everyday heroes" come from all walks of life. They're all ages. Everyone has something special to offer... Including you.

As the largest humanitarian organization in the United States, the Red Cross depends on volunteers to accomplish the organization's mission: providing relief to victims of disasters and helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

To prepare volunteers to participate in this vital mission, the Red Cross provides training for most volunteer positions; the level of training varies according to the requirements of the position. For example, Red Cross disaster volunteers responding to disasters work in different volunteer jobs, with specific training courses for each job. Training for health and safety instructors starts with a four- to six-hour course, with as many as 38 additional hours of training for special skills.