Cruz Roja
*THIS PROGRAM IS NOT CURRENTLY RUNNING BUT WILL RESUME IN FALL SEMESTER*
What is Cruz Roja?
The American Red Cross Hispanic Outreach Program (Cruz Roja) aims to teach, prepare, and assist the Hispanic community in the face of emergencies and disasters. We teach all Red Cross-certified materials in Spanish and English to interested community members.
We also participate in Home Fire Campaigns where we go door to door offering free installation of smoke detectors and teaching fire safety.
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How do I get involved?
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Volunteer Description: Volunteers will be trained to help teach Hispanic participants how to prepare and assist in emergencies and disasters.
Volunteer Commitment: We meet for 1-3 hours every week. We aim to teach two classes a month in the community. The week before each class there will be a training to prep the volunteers on what to teach. Watch for emails and Facebook updates for information about training meetings. Community classes will be held on the off-weeks at churches or community centers in Utah County. Volunteers usually carpool to the site together.
Step 1:
Email cruzroja@byu.edu and express your interest in joining Cruz Roja.
Step 2:
Please complete this mandatory 25-minute Minor Protection Training before you begin working with this program.
Step 3:
Prepare to attend the trainings before each class.
My favorite activity last semester was when we taught a Spanish ward CPR. We had a lot of volunteers and ward members show up. We had good questions and discussions. Everyone was friendly and happy to be learning a life-saving skill. We also let each person practice CPR on dummies that we brought. After the class, a young man came up to me and another student and asked some health questions. We were able to answer his question and connect him with resources that could help. I love the Cruz Roja because it brings important information to people who may not receive it otherwise. I love serving the Latinx population and connecting with my community and my peers.
Serving with the Hispanic Outreach program with the Red Cross has been one of the highlights of my college career. Through volunteering with the program I learned first aid techniques and how to perform Hands Only CPR. I felt my abilities with the Spanish language improved dramatically while serving with this program. I really enjoyed working with the Latino Community of Utah County. It is really satisfying working with such a wonderful population, performing service that will make the community a safer place. Joining Cruz Roja was one of the best decisions I have made.
The first time I went into the community to teach CPR in Spanish, I was so nervous. I got up there and taught with my face flushed and I could barely breathe as I talked too fast. But the warm, friendly faces and attitudes of the people we were teaching was so encouraging, that I soon was laughing and smiling alongside them and we had such a good time.