
Monday, July 15, 2019 — By using Alexa-enabled devices, you can receive notifications about an approaching hurricane, schedule a blood donation and get valuable first aid information. You can also make financial donations to the Red Cross. The Red Cross skills are available to anyone with an Alexa-enabled device such as Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show or Echo Spot, providing a convenient, voice-enabled experience. The skills can be enabled in the Alexa Skills Store through the Alexa app or Amazon.com.
HOW THEY WORK
The Red Cross Hurricane Alerts skill helps those who live in hurricane prone areas, or who have loved ones who do, receive notifications when a hurricane watch or warning is issued for locations important to the user, along with vital steps on how to prepare. Hurricane alerts can be set up for U.S. locations and territories of interest via the Hurricane Alert skill by asking “Alexa, ask Hurricane Alerts what are my alerts”.
The Red Cross Blood scheduling skill helps you schedule a blood donation appointment, find blood drives nearby and get notification reminders. Blood donors can also link to their Red Cross account to manage their appointments. Donors can open the Red Cross Blood skill with a selection of prompts such as, "Alexa, open Red Cross Blood skill," and ask, for example, "Alexa, find a blood drive."
The Red Cross First Aid skill provides valuable advice and tips to prepare for many emergency situations. You can test your first aid knowledge and play the first aid quiz for many of the topics covered by this skill. First Aid learners can open the Red Cross First Aid skill and ask, for example, “Alexa, how do I treat a bee sting?”
For more on the American Red Cross skills for Alexa, please visit redcross.org/alexa-skills.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Take a class and be ready to respond if an emergency strikes.