To start the process of becoming a volunteer please fill out and submit the online application. You will receive an email reply with information on next steps to becoming a Cincinnati Area Chapter volunteer.
The information will include links to an online orientation and a schedule of upcoming in-person information sessions here at our chapter. After completing these requirements, depending on what type of opportunity you are interested in, you will be asked to complete a background check and may be asked to participate in additional training, submit references, and/or other requirements.
We thank you for your interest in becoming an American Red Cross volunteer, and look forward to the opportunity to have you join us in serving the community!
Ready to get started? Please click on this link: online application.
Want to learn more about our volunteer opportunities? Please click on the following links:
Disaster Services
Health and Safety Education (First Aid/CPR, etc.)
Water Safety
Chapter Support
Special Events
International Services
Working with Youth
Health and Safety volunteers serve as instructors for health and safety classes offered throughout the community, assist with health screenings and make a variety of health presentations to groups of various ages.
Health Education Instructor
These volunteers carry out the Red Cross mission to help people in our community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available to RNs and LPNs for most Red Cross instructor courses. Health education courses include:
- American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED training
- Common Childhood Illnesses (for daycare workers)
- HIV/AIDS Prevention Education
- Babysitting Instructor
Health Screening Volunteer
Nursing volunteers are needed regularly to provide blood pressure screenings, Heimlich maneuver demonstrations and to deliver presentations on First Aid throughout the community.
Volunteer Presenter
We will train you to present fun, interactive safety presentations to various age groups throughout the community.
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Water Safety
People of all ages should recognize and follow water safety guidelines. Your Red Cross offers a variety of courses aimed at making water activities safe and fun for everyone. Water Safety volunteers train lifeguards in rescue procedures and teach safety and swim lessons to people of all ages.
Lifeguarding Today is a state-of-the-art Red Cross lifeguard training course. This course will prepare you to teach the following: Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid, Head Lifeguard and Community Water Safety. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, possess an American Red Cross Community first Aid and Safety Instructor Authorization and successful pass a written test and a skills test.
The Water Safety Instructor course prepares you to teach swim lessons for people of all ages, including infants, preschoolers and advanced swimmers. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, possess a current Community First Aid and Safety certification and successfully complete a written test and a skills test. Note: Water-Safety Instructors must have a Level V or intermediate swimming ability.
These volunteers present information about various aquatic environments and their potential hazards and inform the general public on how to safely participate in aquatic activities. For ages 12 to adult.
“Longfellow’s Whale Tales” teaches children in grades K-6 safe behavior in and around water. The program can be taught in any setting using an instructional packet provided by the Red Cross.
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Chapter Support
Chapter support volunteers are essential to the daily operations of the Red Cross. Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs that range from answering phones, preparing mailings and packing first aid kits to distributing smoke alarms and designing computer databases – just to name a few.
Receptionist
Front desk receptionists are the first to greet people as they come into the Red Cross building. They answer phones, direct calls and direct visitors. If you enjoy meeting people, have good phone skills and are able to make a long-term commitment to work a four-hour shift once a week during office hours, this may be a good position for you.
Office Support
Do you like working behind the scenes? Help the chapter deliver services by entering data into computers, preparing class materials, making phone calls or packaging items. Hours are flexible.
Butler County Transportation Program
The Butler County office needs volunteer drivers to assist with their transportation program. The transportation program provides free transportation to medical appointments to individuals living in the cities of Middletown, Monroe, Trenton and the townships of Madison and Lemon. Clients are people who lack reliable access to alternative sources of transportation. The program is designed to help individuals live independently for as long as possible.
Special Projects
Volunteers are needed to work on a variety of projects such as preparing bulk mailings, assembling first aid kits, labeling disaster education materials or packaging items. Hours are flexible.
Special Events
Volunteers who wish to devote time seasonally are a great help in working special events. Our events are always fun and encompass a wide range of skills and abilities. Special events volunteers teach children about helmet safety at the Kentucky Speedway, distribute smoke alarms, help people learn lifesaving skills at CPR Saturday and spread information about the Red Cross at community events. Most events are on weekends.
Administrative Planning
Are you a leader? Do you have professional skills to share? If so, the Red Cross needs you. Volunteers with management skills are needed to help plan and organize projects and events. Hours are flexible.
Group Volunteerism
We welcome all kinds of groups such as churches, companies, civic organizations, schools or even just groups of friends. Groups can help with either special projects or special events. It’s a fun way to help your community and the Red Cross.
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The Cincinnati Area Chapter has ties to Red Cross/Red Crescent efforts throughout the world through its International Services department. Volunteers are needed to inform the community of services available to it and to increase awareness of activities, programs, relief efforts and humanitarian law as it applies to the Red Cross/Red Crescent mission.
Naturalization Volunteer
Volunteers are needed to share information about the Red Cross to newly-naturalized American citizens. These volunteers set up a booth at naturalization ceremonies in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, distribute literature, answer questions regarding Red cross services and invite new citizens to participate in Red Cross programs.
Ethnic Liaison
These volunteers serve as a link from ethnic communities to the Red Cross. Ethnic Liaisons share information about the Red Cross with their communities and keep the Red Cross informed about community needs and key issues.
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We have fun and energetic Youth volunteering with almost every aspect of our Chapter as well as community programs designed specifically for youth. Adult volunteers are needed to instruct and plan these programs. Adults working with youth will have an interview and be asked to provide references and a background check.
Action Team Leader
Adults are needed to work with teens to plan community service projects. Be a role model and enjoy the opportunity to empower teens to make a positive impact on our community. Must be 18 years of age and enjoy working with youth. Should be available evenings and weekends.
Leadership Development Center (LDC) Adult Staff
Adults sit back and watch as teen counselors handle every aspect of this four-day/ three-night leadership camp held this year at Northern Kentucky University. Adults are needed to support the teens who have spent the entire year planning LDC.
Youth Health and Safety Instructor
Volunteers can be trained to instruct one or more of the courses designed specifically for young people:
- First Aid for Little People (ages 5-7)
- Basic Aid Training (ages 9-12)
- On Our Own the Latchkey Program (ages 8-12)
Instructors need to be at least 17 years old and take a Fundamentals of Instructor Training course.
Babysitting Instructor
The Babysitting class teaches young people the responsibilities of being a babysitter, from the expectations of parents, safety, to entertaining games that can be played with children. Babysitting instructors must complete the Babysitting Instructor class, Instructor Candidate Training, and be at least 17 years old.
“Longfellow’s Whale Tales”
Volunteers use their presentation skills to present a 45-minute water safety program to a small K-6 audience. Presenters lead a discussion about how to be safe in, on and around water. Training includes a one-hour class on how to lead the Longfellow’s Whale Tales program. It can be video driven with posters and activities that compliment the program content. Volunteers should have experience/skills in presenting material to a child audience. Swimming background not necessary.
Wind Around the Toy Box
Volunteers will use their puppeteering and presentation skills to present a 30-minute tornado safety program to K-2 audiences of 100 children or more.
- Presenters will memorize and rehearse the “Wind Around the Toy Box” puppet show script, and set up and tear down the set and sound system for each performance.
- Volunteers must be physically able to carry and set up the equipment and set pieces.
- Training includes memorizing and rehearsing the script, and learning how to manage and care for the equipment.
Volunteers should have experience/skills in presenting materials to a child audience; theatrical background is a plus.
Sesame Street Fire Safety
Volunteers will use their puppeteering and presentation skills to present a 45-minute fire safety program to a preschool and kindergarten audience.
- Presenters will memorize and rehearse the "Sesame Street" puppet show
- Set up and tear down the set for each performance
- Training includes rehearsing the performance and learning how to manage and care for the equipment.
Volunteers should have experience/skills in presenting materials to a child audience; theatrical background is a plus.
Disaster Youth Corp
Volunteers are needed to support the Disaster Youth Corp in a variety of Disaster Service functions. This group participates with drills, takes care of equipment, community education and more. Volunteers should be 18 years of age.
Measles Initiative
The measles initiative is a program the American Red Cross and four other wo
rld organizations are involved with saving millions of African children’s lives. It costs less then a dollar to immunize a child and a whole country is given the vaccine at a time. The youth of our Chapter have been especially involved with fundraising and awareness. They hold events throughout the year and need adult support. You can find out more about the Measles Initiative at the national web site.
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