LAS VEGAS, NV, OCTOBER 9, 2017 — Red Cross mental health professionals and spiritual care providers continue to meet with people affected by the October 1st shooting.  These emotional support personnel, who have met with more than 2,200 people locally, can be accessed at the Family Assistance Center in the Las Vegas Convention Center, in hospitals, in people’s homes and at vigils and community gatherings.  The goal is to move people from fear to hope.

In the Family Assistance Center, nearly two dozen agencies are offering services to help people move forward.  Red Cross caseworkers at the center are working with survivors, families of the deceased, and concertgoers.  The caseworkers, who have worked with 140 individuals and families so far, ensure that people access the resources they need, which could include financial assistance depending on the circumstances of individuals affected.  Caseworkers also help people plan for the future.

At a press conference this morning, Dr. Tom Hlenski, Red Cross Lead Disaster Mental Health Worker, remarked that, “amazing casework is going on.  We’re not dictating the path people should take, we’re only helping them find their own path to recovery.”

Summary of Red Cross Response to the October 1st Shooting

Immediately after the tragic shooting on October 1st, Southern Nevada Red Cross volunteers and staff sprang into action, working alongside government partners at the Emergency Operations Center, and quickly providing 450 units of blood to 13 local hospitals to save lives.  In the days that have followed, nearly 150 trained Red Cross responders have worked tirelessly to the Las Vegas community. Half of those responders are emotional and spiritual support volunteers who are providing critical support to a devastated but resilient community.

The Red Cross is working with government and non-profit agencies to ensure that long-term - not just immediate – needs are met for survivors, families of the deceased, and concertgoers.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.