American Red Cross
The American Red Cross provides services to military personnel and their families. Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services personnel work in more than 800 chapters in the United States, on 61 military installations around the world and with our troops in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. Red Cross services include: emergency communications between active duty members and their families, access to emergency financial assistance, confidential referrals to social service agencies, CPR classes, blood services, disaster assistance and volunteer opportunities.
The American Red Cross Mayport Service Center, in conjunction with the Northeast Florida Chapter Red Cross, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, offers a variety of educational opportunities at a discounted rate for active duty members and their families. Adult, Infant and Child CPR classes are available as well as First Aid, Babysitting and Basic Aid Training for Children. Special programs for children include Whale Tales (classroom water safety) and Scrubby Bear (basic hygiene), complete with costumed characters.
The American Red Cross at NS Mayport is located in Building 1358 behind the bowling alley. The phone numbers are 904-246-1395 or 904-270-5241. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, assistance for emergency communications to military is available for military members and their spouses 24 hours a day by calling 1-877-272-7337. Military family members other than spouses can call 904-246-1395 for military emergency communications or can contact their local Red Cross office. For 24-hour disaster assistance, house fires or flooding, call our chapter’s main office at 904-358-8091.
The American Red Cross has provided blood derivatives to area residents since 1987. Experienced Red Cross staff provides donors with assurance and quality service as they give the gift of life. Donors learn valuable information about their blood and receive a mini-physical, which includes taking pulse, temperature, blood pressure and blood count, all to make sure it is safe for donors to donate.
Donating blood is a valuable service to our community. On average, the American Red Cross provides more than 12,500 blood derivatives to the Jacksonville community every year. A single blood donation can be separated into components and used to help save three lives. Every pint donated saves lives, yet only five percent of the American population donates blood. Every donation makes a difference. Almost everyone who lives to be 75 years or older will need blood at least once in their lifetime. Blood products can be used in many different ways. Red cells are used to help accident victims, surgery patients and anemic patients. Platelets are used for cancer and leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy. Plasma is used to treat patients suffering from burns or shock.
You can donate blood as often as every eight weeks or six times a year. For more information on donating blood or to schedule a blood drive, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
Volunteers lead your Red Cross organization. They teach classes, assist in disaster relief efforts, coordinate blood drives and provide administrative support. The Red Cross also maintains a speaker’s bureau that provides staff and volunteers to speak at pre-deployment briefs, indoctrination, disaster preparedness briefs, fire prevention classes, hurricane preparedness classes and special programs for children.