The Jackson County office of the Cincinnati Area Chapter of the Red Cross is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency response and assistance to victims of house fires and disasters.  Following a house fire or disaster, the Jackson office of the Red Cross assists disaster victims with food and clothing, shelter, and basic health needs. 

 

On June 30, 1964 the Jackson County Chapter of the American National Red Cross was chartered. Over the years the chapter has provided countless victims of disaster with the basic needs of food clothing and shelter. Recently, the chapter was de-chartered and has joined with the Cincinnati Area Chapter to increase the efficiency and scope of services provided.  

 

The local Red Cross was on the scene for the two ammonia leaks at the former Pillsbury plant when the entire city of Wellston was evacuated. The Red Cross rose to action again in the 1997 floods which affected the majority of the county.  Most recently, the Red Cross provided shelter to multiple families displaced during the ice storm of 2009 and during the gas leak on Christmas day in 2008. 

 

Even though the Red Cross responds to the large natural disasters that hit the community, the Red Cross is active year-round with local emergencies.  The greatest disaster activities that occur at the local chapter are single family fires.  Our job is to ensure victims of these emergencies have a place to live, have clothes and food, and that their emergency medical needs are taken care of. 

 

Blood drives are held on a regular basis at all county high schools, the First Church of the Nazarene in Jackson, Hope United Methodist in Wellston and Holzer Hospital on Burlington Road in Jackson. Additional drives are held at Bellisio Foods, General Mills, Daymar College and Wal-Mart. Last year, almost 1000 units of blood were collected.   

 

In addition to our emergency services, the local Red Cross also offers courses in CPR, First Aid, AED and disaster preparedness. The courses are very flexible; there are instructors that will work around the company schedule to teach courses to employees on-site.