Fort Riley receives new Red Cross station manager

By Katherine Rosario
1st Inf. Div. Post

Fort Riley’s new Red Cross station manager, Susan Westbrook, said she hopes to open up more community-based activities like volunteering and training to Soldiers and Families on post.
Westbrook, who is originally from Nebraska, transferred from the Red Cross station at Camp Red Cloud, Korea, to Fort Riley after the previous station manger retired.
The Red Cross is located in Grimes Hall, Building 510, on the second floor.
Westbrook is in charge of all Red Cross activities on Fort Riley and oversees the emergency messaging between deployed Soldiers and their Families.
“The main reason the Red Cross is on post is because of the emergency communications,” she said.
Before deployment, Soldiers are briefed on how to start an emergency message should something happen while they are gone.
If the Soldier suspects they need to take emergency leave during deployment, Westbrook suggested starting an emergency message before deployment.
“Starting the message involves a Soldier calling me to put basic information into our computer system so we are ready to go if something should happen,” she said.
A Soldier or a Family member can start the message with the Red Cross.
If a Family member calls, they must know the Soldier’s name, rank, branch of service, social security number, date of birth and unit, she said.
The summer youth program will begin when school ends for the year and will help students gain their volunteer hours needed to graduate, she said.
“We really need volunteers for the hospital, (veterinary) clinic and dental clinic,” she said. “Teens and adults can volunteer at these locations and it’s a great way for teens to spend the summer.”
Teens need to fill out an application and will be placed in an office based on their interests.
“I am hoping to be able to partner with the Red Cross chapters in the local community to host more health and safety classes on post,” she said.
The Red Cross on post does not offer those classes regularly because it functions strictly an emergency communications station.
The chapters located in Manhattan, Junction City and Topeka provides community health and safety courses such as lifeguard training, CPR classes and babysitting classes.
“If there’s a need for something on post that people don’t see I encourage them to contact me and we will make it happen,” she said.
Soldiers and Family members will soon be able to follow the Fort Riley Red Cross on Facebook to receive important messages and health and safety training updates.
For more information call, 785-239-1887.

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