Have you ever witnessed an accident or emergency and wished you knew how to help? If your family lost everything in a fire, do you know where you could turn for support? The short answer to these questions is the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross works in three main areas:

Health and Safety Training -- The local chapter provides quality first aid, CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) and aquatics and babysitter training programs for individuals and families. Each day, the Red Cross trains more than 60 people in these critical lifesaving skills.

Disaster Response -- In Southern Nevada, a family loses their home and belongings to fire almost every day. On average, the local Red Cross chapter responds to such a disaster every 34 hours, helping more than 1,000 people a year get back on their feet after a devastating loss. It also trains volunteers who stand ready to respond to natural disasters across the country and around the world.

Service to the Armed Forces -- The Red Cross provides a vital communication lifeline between military service members and their families by relaying urgent information in times of family emergency. It also offers financial assistance and counseling to military families.

Almost all this work is done by volunteers, and the need is great. The local Red Cross chapter offers volunteer opportunities to fit every schedule and area of interest. For details about how you can help, please visit www.redcrosslasvegas.org.

The Valley Health System c/o Valley Hospital Medical Center 620 Shadow Lane Las Vegas, NV 89106