Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters, both natural and man-made. As you watch disaster relief efforts unfold, you may wonder how the Red Cross recruits and trains volunteers. Chapters all over the country offer Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) System training to equip volunteers with the proper training and knowledge to prepare them for deployment when disaster strikes. During times of large scale disasters and devastation there are also many individuals who step forward, eager to do whatever they can to help. When these spontaneous volunteers offer their assistance, we often put their talents to use on-site and behind the scenes after orienting them to Red Cross services and determining how they may best help those affected by the disaster. . If you are interested in volunteering with the Red Cross to help in disaster services, please review our new online Introduction to Disaster Services course to learn more about the lifesaving services we provide.