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Services:
FAST provides first response emergency medical care and first aid at festivals, sporting events, parades, fairs, and other large gatherings of people throughout the Southeastern Michigan Region. The Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross is the sole Red Cross first aid service provider in Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties and can coordinate services in other counties by request. The program is fully insured against any liability and maintains professional medical oversight by a physician and quality improvement board. All members obtain certification or licensure in the necessary skills and must attend trainings on a regular basis.
Volunteer medical staff including first aid volunteers, first responders, EMT's, paramedics, and nurses are trained in advanced first aid techniques and carry a full complement of basic life support equipment. Teams are fully equipped to deal with all types of medical emergencies until advanced life support can arrive. Skills include automatic external defibrillation (AED), airway placement, supplemental oxygen administration, glucose administration, backboarding and spinal immobilization, obstetrical emergencies and delivery, obtaining vital signs, and first aid skills (bandaging, splinting, etc.) The FAST program has multiple vehicles at its disposal, including a John Deere Gator off-road emergency response vehicle. 
Services are provided on a contractual basis with event hosts and facilities. While we need to cover the costs of operating the program, rates are very competitive and we strive to offer services that will help the community-at-large at the lowest possible cost to our customers. Discounts are available for non-profits, charity fundraising events, and governmental agencies. FAST has experienced special event EMS providers who are happy to review your event plans to determine an adequate medical response plan ensuring the safety of you and your guests. We can coordinate with local ambulance services to provide a total package solution that meets any special needs you may have.
To learn more, or to schedule a free consultation and review, please contact Kris Thompson, FAST Operations Manager, at kris.thompson@wc-redcross.org or at 734-260-7748.
Past Events:
FAST provides emergency medical care at all types of events, from spectator first aid at high school soccer games to VIP medical services on movie sets. Concerts to extreme sports, FAST can coordinate all of your medical needs. References are available upon request. We are an approved vendor for University of Michigan contracts. Some of our past events have included:
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University of Michigan Football, Basketball, Gymnastics, and Ice Hockey
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Ann Arbor Art Fairs
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Taste of Ann Arbor
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Rolling Sculpture Car Show
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Ann Arbor African-American Festival
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Depot Town Classic Car Nights
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AACIL Walk and Roll
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Martian Marathon
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Dances with Dirt Ultra and Marathon
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Washtenaw Science Olympiad
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Big House Big Heart Charity 5k
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Journey's Backyard BBQ
Disaster Response and Mutual Aid:
 FAST members stand ready to support the community during times of need. Special teams of members are trained in low-angle rope rescue, water rescue, and incident command systems. An expert team comprised of Wilderness Search-and-Rescue Technician/Managers are available to support local law enforcement agencies in responding to missing/lost persons cases and can coordinate with K9 teams, additional ground SAR units, and the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, which is responsible for managing all federal inland SAR activities. These teams are available for call-out by local public safety and emergency response agencies. For any emergency, please dial 911. If needed, the responding agency will contact the Red Cross call center.
FAST has a cache of personnel and supplies ready for disaster relief operations and works in junction with the local and national Red Cross Disaster Health Services divisions to provide health services during a disaster response. Services provided include medication and equipment replacement, medical evaluation and referral, and emergency first aid in disaster-strucken areas in the field and at shelters. Disaster Health Services also provides for disease, injury, and death surveillance and reporting to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in a federally declared disaster.
How to Volunteer:
 Red Cross volunteers that decide to work in the FAST program should expect to immediately become trained in professional level CPR (8 hours)and basic first aid skills (6 hours), as well as future training as a first responder (40 hours), EMT, paramedic, or nurse. Initial training costs are out-of-pocket with reimbursement after one year of service. Volunteers are also required to attend a mandatory operations training (4 hours) at the beginning of their commitment and are expected to attend inservice trainings throughout the year. Many advanced training classes, conferences, seminars, and other valuable education opportunities in EMS, medicine, disaster response, and other related fields are offered at no-charge or reduced rates to members. FAST members should expect to work shifts as their schedule permits, consisting of mostly nights and weekends. Volunteers working in the field may need to stand for long periods of time and should be in good general health, able to move quickly, roll and lift patients, etc.
Persons interested in becoming a FAST member should contact the Volunteer Resources Department at 734-971-5300 x.303 or email volservices@wc-redcross.org to schedule a General Volunteer Orientation. Further directions will be provided at the Orientation. If you have additional questions, or are already an American Red Cross volunteer and wish to join our department, please contact Kris Thompson at 734-260-7748 or at kris.thompson@wc-redcross.org.
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