American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania

06/10/2026

Hotter days are on the way across Pennsylvania later this week, so now is the time to prepare. ☀️

Eat light, hydrate often and avoid drinks that can dehydrate you. Extreme heat is too dangerous to be invisible, so remember to check on neighbors and loved ones at higher risk. A quick call, text or knock on the door could help save a life.

06/10/2026

On Wednesday, June 24, the American Red Cross celebrates local heroes at the 2026 Power of Red: A Celebration of Heroes.

Join us at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. Breakfast and networking start at 7:15 a.m. The awards program runs from 8 to 9 a.m. This year you will meet southwestern Pennsylvanians who acted when lives were on the line:

🔥 First responders who risked their own safety to save others
🩺 Medical professionals who moved fast in a crisis
🎓 Educators teaching life-saving skills
🏡 Community leaders building a stronger region

We will also present our Distinguished Leadership Award to a partner who has supported communities across Pennsylvania for more than two decades.

🎟️ Your ticket funds Red Cross programs close to home. Tickets are open now. Link in the comments.

06/09/2026

With summer activities & trips planned, we know less people may be able to book a blood donation appointment. But emergencies can strike at any moment, and donors of all blood types are urgently needed now to support patient care. Give ASAP: https://rcblood.org/appt

06/08/2026

You can help save lives in your community! 😀

Consider hosting a blood drive at your community center, business, place of worship, school or other gathering place. As a host, you'll provide a suitable location, help publicize the drive, recruit volunteers and schedule donors for appointments.

📸: We presented the Waynesboro American Legion with a premier partner certificate at their blood drive last week. In 2025, they helped us collect over 550 units of blood by hosting multiple drives throughout the year. Thank you, Waynesboro American Legion, for helping to save lives! ❤️

06/05/2026

Last week, our Central Pennsylvania Chapter had the honor of recognizing longtime volunteer leader Mike Murphy with the Disaster Action Team Challenge Coin.

For years, Mike has been a steady presence on the disaster team—mentoring new volunteers, leading with compassion, and ensuring those impacted by emergencies receive care and support when they need it most.

We are deeply grateful for Mike’s dedication and the lasting impact he continues to make in support of the Red Cross mission.

06/05/2026

⚾️ Step up to the plate and give blood! ⚾️

Every team needs a hero and your blood donation could be the game-changer someone’s counting on. Roll up your sleeve and join us at the WJAC-TV News Donor Day Blood Drive!

Pitch in and donate at any of these locations on Thursday, June 11:
- Bedford American Legion
- Comfort Suites/DuBois Country Club
- Masonic Temple (Meyersdale)
- Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department (Johnstown)
- Cameron County Vets Club. (Emporium)

All presenting donors will receive:
👕 A Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last
💲 $15 e-gift card to your choice of merchant
💰 Automatic entry for a chance to win one of two $7,500 gift cards

See you there! 💪

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

From disaster responders to blood drive supporters to community educators, our volunteers step into many roles to help people when they need it most. Their dedication and compassion are what make our mission possible. Thank you for all you do! ❤️

06/03/2026

Help your community when disaster strikes. Get trained now to be ready to help in an emergency.

Find out more and get started: redcross.org/volunteer

06/02/2026

“He was my heart when I needed him to be my heart.”

Just weeks after learning CPR in health class at Dauphin County Technical School, Jeremiah Stepp never expected to use it, let alone to save his father’s life.

What started as a quick chore, carrying a heater upstairs, turned into a life-or-death moment. As soon as they walked in, Jeremiah’s father, Michael, collapsed. Within seconds, Jeremiah realized something was very wrong: no breathing, no response.

He didn’t hesitate.

While his mother called 911, Jeremiah lowered his father to the floor and began chest compressions, relying on training he had learned just weeks earlier. He stayed focused, continuing CPR until first responders arrived, keeping blood flowing during cardiac arrest.

Michael Stepp would later learn he had been without a heartbeat for 25 minutes, and yet, he survived and recovered without lasting brain or organ damage. Because Jeremiah acted.

“I love my son with all my heart,” Michael said. “And he was my heart when I needed him to be.”

Stories like Jeremiah’s are a powerful reminder during National CPR and AED Awareness Week: cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere — and most often, it happens at home. In fact, about 70% of cardiac arrests occur in a home, meaning the person who needs help is likely someone you love.

In those critical moments, every second matters. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.

Jeremiah was later honored with an American Red Cross Lifesaving Award, a national program recognizing those who use their skills to help save or sustain a life. The presentation also became a moment to prepare others. During the event, about 200 students were trained in Hands-Only CPR, a skill anyone can learn that involves chest compressions without any mouth-to-mouth contact.

Because of Jeremiah, more people are now ready to act.

“I was fortunate where [my cardiac arrest] took place, as I was surrounded by other people,” Michael said. “I was with an individual who had been trained two to three weeks prior, so he knew what he was doing immediately upon the situation.”

This week is a reminder that anyone can be that person.
Learn CPR. Know how to use an AED. Because when the moment comes, you could be the heart someone needs. ❤️