“You get to take this skillset that you’ve had, that you spent all these years honing, and you get to apply it in your community – not in a hospital,” Wells said.

As hurricane season ramps up, the Red Cross is calling on more licensed health professionals to join that mission. Nurses, physicians, EMTs, and mental health professionals are urgently needed to assist with disaster response efforts, from house fires and hurricanes to wildfires and large public events.

“We need more than we need, because not everybody can deploy, not everybody can go to a shelter in a hurricane region,” Wells said.

Wells has seen it all, from health screening stations at major running events to supporting families displaced by fires. His role is often about being alert, assessing people quickly, and stepping in before things escalate.

“Last year, I was near the finish line at the Marine Corps Marathon, just watching people and using those assessment skills as a health professional,” Wells said. “It’s just assessing people and saying, ‘I’m going to get you before you fall out.’”

During disasters, Red Cross health services volunteers play a vital role in helping people replace critical medical items lost during an evacuation, such as medications, eyeglasses, walkers, CPAP machines, and diabetic supplies. In large-scale events, they also help ensure people with medical needs can safely stay in shelters.

With natural disasters now occurring more often and with greater intensity, the Red Cross is adapting by expanding its disaster workforce and deepening the care it provides in shelters. According to Wells, the pace has dramatically changed.

“It used to be, we’d have a disaster and then you’d have a break. You’d have time to recharge and repack,” he said. “That’s gone.”

Red Cross volunteers now respond to a new major disaster about every two weeks – on top of daily emergencies like home fires. More than 90% of the Red Cross workforce is made up of volunteers, making them the backbone of the organization’s humanitarian mission.

Wells said the most effective health services volunteers share a few essential qualities.

“Perseverance,” he said. “You have to understand you’re going to be working in austere environments, and you have to persevere.”

All Red Cross health services volunteers must be licensed and in good standing. Clinical experience, adaptability, and time management are also critical.

“It’s worth noting that we want people from all backgrounds and all experience levels – you don’t have to be a nurse for 20 years to make a difference,” Wells said.

Ultimately, what keeps Wells going is the opportunity to serve his community when it needs him most.

“This is just a way to give back to your community, whether it’s a local, regional, national or international level – and you get to choose when and not,” he said. “It’s great camaraderie, you build new friendships, and you get professional experience.”

Put on a red vest and join Scott Wells and thousands of others answering the call. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to get started today.