Emergency Services Internship

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The Emergency Services Internship with the American Red Cross of Central Texas Joanna K. Suckling Anthropology 5395 Texas State University-San Marcos May 5th, 2011 INTRODUCTION In the spring semester of 2011, I fulfilled an emergency services internship with the American Red Cross of Central Texas chapter in Austin, Texas through the anthropology department of Texas State University-San Marcos. The emergency services intern works with American Red Cross staff and volunteers to prepare for and provide emergency relief to clients in the greater Central Texas area. This internship provided me with opportunities to experience how the American Red Cross operates and helps disaster victims. At my internship, I gained valuable skills in…show more content…
For example, if a client needs to find cheap furniture to re-furnish after an apartment fire the caseworker can provide contact information for local charities that provide those supplies. Client caseworkers also make sure to call clients and follow up on their situation after a disaster. I was often impressed with how personalized the caseworkers would try to be with clients. Staff and volunteers showed genuine concern and interest in cases. Caseworkers made sure to read the case file and ask clients if they needed further assistance when closing their CAC accounts. The first disaster that I helped respond to was a house fire. I was allowed to be in charge of interviewing the client and filling out the intake form. I found out quickly that when interviewing a client, the interviewer must be careful of his or her wording. It is important to show sensitivity and compassion to an individual that has experienced a traumatic event such as a disaster. Volunteers also need to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Disasters typically involve a lot of debris, and damaged buildings may have unsafe areas. The second disaster scene I went on did not occur until near the end of my internship. This disaster was a wildfire in Austin, Texas (Eversley and Rice 2011). The day before I went out with a response team, volunteers had already assessed the area for damage. The team I went with was "canteening," providing water and snacks to people in the area. I was asked to follow the team and take photographs to document the relief effort. Volunteers provided water mostly to workers that were cleaning the area and moving possessions. I was able to see firsthand the damage caused by the wildfire. When talking to the other volunteers, we were amazed how a whole forest and house could be burned down to the ground while their neighbor's home remained untouched. One volunteer related to me on how he has encountered

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