Hundreds of volunteer teens assist local American Red Cross

Through the Youth Services Program, the American Red Cross of Ventura County leads a team of more than 300 young volunteers who do good works in their local communities.

High school students have several programs including Safe Kids Day, where students undergo basic aid training; learning to teach children, ages 7 to 12, and fundamental safety skills.

Youth teams conduct demonstrations in emergency action plans, water safety, fire safety, vehicle safety, rescue measures and first aid prevention and procedures.

Other activities include Helping Hands Day, a youth-led project day that address a variety of needs, including washing cots used for disaster response, data entry and general office help, creating flyers and signs, and putting together disaster preparedness and first aid/CPR material.

Teens wrap presents for the Holiday Gift Drive, which provides a gift to children of families who were affected by disaster, and may attend Red Cross babysitting courses. They also staff Red Cross informational booths at health fairs and community events.

The young volunteers have worked in collaboration with the fire department to distribute smoke detectors to families who do not have the means to purchase them. High school clubs are also active in the Measles & Malaria Initiatives to help obtain vaccinations against measles for children in Africa and to obtain bed nets to help prevent malaria passed on by mosquitoes.

Mateen Saffarian, president of the American Red Cross Club at Oak Park High School and Youth Services chair on the chapter's board of directors, found the program beneficial in many ways. "I wanted to get involved in the community and this program particularly attracted me because I could see the people I am helping. It's a great way to connect with the community while working within a large organization," he said.

The American Red Cross of Ventura County is working with a number of high schools who have formed clubs, including Camarillo, Newbury Park, Moorpark, Oak Park, Oxnard, Rio Mesa, Thousand Oaks and Westlake.

For more information on the clubs or volunteering, call Danit Kaya at (805) 339-2234, ext. 280.