Blind and low vision veterans from several areas of the eastern United States attended a disaster preparedness workshop this past week at the Washington, DC, VA Medical Center. The event, presented by the American Red Cross, was jointly sponsored and arranged by the Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation (VISOR) Team at the Medical Center and the BVA Mid-Atlantic Regional Group (MARG). Chad Main, Red Cross Virginia Regional Preparedness Program Lead, connected with BVA Happenings to provide the following report.
We had a great experience today with blind and low vision veterans. Both in-person and virtually we had, for two Red Cross presentations, 44 veterans and VISOR and VIST (Visual Impairment Services Team) staff from Washington, DC; Wilmington, Delaware; Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Elwood, Illinois; Richmond, Virginia; Memphis, Tennessee; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Hampton, Virginia.
The presentations, entitled Be Red Cross Ready and Hands-Only CPR, were given by Danielle Englund, Virginia Regional Disaster Program Manager for the Red Cross.
The event was a continuation of a partnership that was started in 2022 when Mid-Atlantic Regional Group President Michaun Harrison contacted the Red Cross to do a similar presentation for a group of Virginia veterans that had just lived through a terrible ice storm/cold spell in which electricity was lost for many days. Michaun has worked tirelessly to get the same message out to other VIST/VISOR teams and BVA groups in District 1, and she is now taking on the entire country.
A highlight of the event was the surprise visit of the coaching staff from the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team! The coaches and members of the Robert Irvine Foundation were at the Medical Center for a planned visit to meet with veterans throughout the hospital. They heard about our event and decided to make a special stop to meet the group. They handed out hats and autographed baseballs to all in-person veterans and families/caregivers present.
To top off the event, the MARG provided a free lunch to all the veterans in attendance at the DC meeting.
If you would like a virtual Red Cross presentation(s) for your VIST/VISOR or BVA group, please email prepareVAR@redcross.org. We can also get your group in touch with your local Red Cross chapter for in-person presentations.
