Disaster? READYteens Got This

Red Cross program empowers youth to protect their communities

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As part of the training excercise, volunteers learn how to safely transport injured victims. (Photos by Mimi Teller/American Red Cross).

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Relocating injured victims to safety is among the top priorities during the training exercises.

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Training exercises introduce various disaster scenarios which include applying on-the-scene triage for injuries.

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The Field Day exercises conclude with a first aid relay, where teams compete against each other through an obstacle course of emergency response procedures. The first team to complete the course that includes patient transport, CPR, stopping the bleed, applying tourniquets and setting up a patient cot won the contest.

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Closing remarks and congratulation given before certificates of completion were distributed.

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After three intense weeks of disaster preparedness and response training, READYteens participants are set to meet emergencies head on.

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Meet our Los Angeles Region READYteens graduates of 2025.

By Mimi Teller/American Red Cross

As people scream for help, youth disaster trainees rush into action. This was the scene at the most recent American Red Cross Los Angeles Region READYteens final Field Day, where high school and college participants put weeks of training to the test in realistic disaster scenarios.

Launched in 2019 through the Long Beach and South Bay Chapter, READYteens began with 35 participants. During COVID-19, it went virtual, engaging hundreds nationwide, before returning to in-person sessions in 2022 across Los Angeles. Since its start, more than 5,000 youth have participated, contributing over 30,000 volunteer hours.

“This program has allowed thousands of youth volunteers to earn free certifications and participate in lifesaving trainings they share with their families, schools and communities,” said Matthew Martinez, American Red Cross Los Angeles Region Mass Care Manager. “It is so empowering to see the passion each READYteens participant has for our humanitarian mission and their dedication for helping others."

Participants earn certifications in Psychological First Aid, Stop the Bleed, FEMA ICS-100 and First Aid/CPR, along with training in search and rescue, disaster mental health, emergency communications and disaster cycle services.

The three-week program’s Field Day capstone immerses participants in full-scale disaster simulations. This year’s drill staged a two-van collision with multiple victims—some injured, others unresponsive. Trainees quickly established a triage zone, treated wounds, stopped severe bleeding, performed CPR and comforted those in shock. Even “fatalities” were treated with dignity, underscoring the emotional resilience required in real emergencies.

Graduates leave READYteens with more than certifications—they have the confidence to act when every second counts. Trained and prepared, they stand ready to protect lives, provide comfort and bring order to chaos when their communities need them most.

Interested in making a difference? Applications for the 2026 READYteens Training Program open soon. If you have general questions about the Youth Volunteer Program, email Youth Services at: YouthServices.LosAngeles.CA@redcross.org.

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.

December 01, 2025