Red Cross Volunteers Assigned to Man 13 Emergency Aid Stations Along Parade Route

Since 1964, the American Red Cross has been partnering with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association and deploying volunteers to respond to emergency medical situations along the Rose Parade route.

Their services extend to the Rose Bowl game every New Year’s Day.  

On Monday, Jan. 2, Pasadenans and visitors will see Red Cross volunteers manning 13 emergency aid stations throughout the parade route, and many of them making the rounds or walking with the parade to make sure every type of emergency is monitored and taken care of, according to Red Cross. 

“Our role in it is to provide basic first aid services to members of the public during the parade,” said Erica Frausto-Aguado, Executive Director for the American Red Cross Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys Chapter.

“We also do some additional events including, one day at float decorating. And then on January 2nd we will also be providing first aid during the first day of the float viewing after the parade as well.”

This year, Frausto-Aguado said about 120 volunteers are participating in various roles helping in the aid stations or walking the route.

“We are really excited about this,” she said. “A lot of our youth come out and participate. So this is a good experience for them as well. And we appreciate the opportunity to be involved in such a big event.”

Frausto-Aguado said she’ll be at the Rose Parade herself on Jan. 2. 

Since September, the Red Cross has been recruiting and training Rose Parade First Aid Station Members, which are among the volunteer categories assigned to the Tournament of Roses each year. 

Training started early this month, and official assignment in Pasadena was to start on Monday, Dec. 26. Volunteers will be providing first aid response and relief – including pre-parade activities of float decorating and Bandfest, band formation, the main parade event, band disbanding, and post-parade float viewing – and supporting the Rose Parade team in any other function as needed.

Background

For over 50 years, Red Cross First-Aid Station volunteers trained as emergency medical responders (EMRs) have been the first line of response at the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, and throughout the year at many Rose Bowl Stadium events. 

Every New Year’s, Red Cross assembles and staffs over a dozen first aid stations across the five-mile parade route, along with teams of volunteers patrolling alongside the parade making their presence known.

If someone needs help, EMR volunteers can quickly and easily be flagged down and provide medical care – ranging from band-aids to life-sustaining support – until more advanced medical help arrives.

Last New Year’s Day, 135 Red Cross volunteers in Pasadena met at 4 a.m. at Caltech for a quick breakfast. At 5 a.m. the volunteers assembled in teams and were transported to their station to set up their equipment and check radios.

At 6 a.m., a formal radio check was made to each station by Pat Mulcahy, Communications Section Chief, and at that point, the stations were “open for business.”

About 40 percent of the volunteers are first-aid trained Red Cross Youth, familiar with Basic Life Support (BLS), first aid, CPR, AED (Automated External Defibrillator), BBP (bloodborne pathogens), and oxygen delivery, the Red Cross said. 

For more information on volunteering for the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html#step1.