Volunteer Christian Nunez treats a patient at the Rose Parade.
The American Red Cross has provided first aid services to the Rose Parade celebration for more than 30 years. This year’s record heat in Pasadena, with temperatures topping out in the 80′s, kept the 13 Red Cross first aid stations on their toes during the course of the day.
“We were very busy this year,” says Paul Emmons, a Red Cross volunteer who has worked 23 Rose Parades and just spent his sixth year as the event’s senior coordinator. “We handled it all.”
Brandon Anderson is one of 150 volunteers who assisted at the parade.
The staff and volunteers at the 13 aid stations dealt with approximately 82 people who needed help during the parade. Of those, Pasadena Fire Department paramedics evaluated 15 patients and 10 were transported to area hospitals for additional care. In the following two days, the four remaining first aid stations handled about 20 cases each day in the float viewing area.
Most of the high-level of activity was caused by the heat.
“We were hit hard at the end of the parade,” said Emmons. “Our first aid teams on Sierra Madre had five patients at the same time, four band members reacting to the heat and one asthmatic. Two of those were also treated by paramedics.”
Of the 150 Red Cross volunteers who joined the parade effort, 25 Red Cross coordinators and support personnel worked with the first aid teams and 25 Red Cross vehicles were used in the operation.
Red Cross volunteers (from left) Marla Keeth, Emily Thomas and Ray Avesian
In total, Emmons estimates that over 4,000 volunteer hours were involved in setting up and running the three-day operation.
“I want to express my deep respect to all the volunteers and staff who worked for more than three months preparing for this event,” concludes Emmons. “Our job at the parade is to support the Fire Department and paramedics. This year, among our volunteers were two doctors, EMT’s, nurses, and ER personnel. I want to give everyone who worked to make this event a success my personal thanks.”
Photos by Roxanne Schorbach
Story by Sue Reiner
