The American Red Cross (ARC), or known as the American National Red Cross, is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the designated US affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the United States movement to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Formed in 1881 by Clara Barton the Red Cross Headquarters are located in Washington D.C. In my almost Fifty Years studying, volunteering and working in various Human Services Positions I have found the services they provide very necessary. I'm not going to go into all the specifics but just want to say they expect their employees and volunteers to be ready to respond quickly when there's an emergency. If you want first hand experience in Human Services I suggest you volunteer! read more

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There are So many things we take for granted. Having the Red Cross hub in my city is awesome. Came to the Red Cross to learn some basic first aide training safety skills. Here you can learn life saving tips like the hiemlick maneuver, donate blood, and learn ways to help in the community and cross the globe. The staff was very pleasant and welcoming. Best options for travel would be the train. Street parking in the area is rare and the closest parking lot can be pricey. There are different displays here that show you past and present individuals that have made the sacrifice to help others. read more

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My experience at this location was truly frustrating and unacceptable. I scheduled an appt to donate blood over a month ago, planning ahead to take an early lunch break from work as I anticipated there being wait times and potentially needing up to an hour. When I arrived at 9:45am (15 minutes early) I was told by security that they're not starting until 12 noon, two hours later than my scheduled appointment. I explained to security that my appt was at 10am and asked him to find out from the Red Cross team (thinking there was some miscommunication). He reluctantly walked back (they were set up in a room directly behind the security desk where I could actually see them from security) and mumbled something to them, then returned to tell me "They don't know." This was followed by a ridiculous exchange with the security guy where i was simply asking for an estimate of time (from Red Cross) as I was on my lunch break from work and security refusing to ask on my behalf. After 5 minutes of explaining myself and essentially begging for an estimate I finally gave up and left. This is so poorly run and all concerned are so apathetic to the donor's time. I doubt anyone from Red Cross will read this and/or even care. This review if for anyone who wants to donate blood. Please choose another location. read more

Lol. Refused twice in a row for malfunctioning equipment, and being FIVE MINUTES LATE to my appointment. This place is an hour's commute from my office and has ridiculous hours. I'm not taking time off work to volunteer my blood, and having the door closed in my face after rushing here from work -- when I'm only 5 minutes late -- is a waste of everyone's time. I've been a donor for over ten years at other locations with much better service. No wonder this area has a severe shortage of O+ blood. They're definitely no longer getting mine. read more

I have been to this location to give blood for at least 5 times now. I am honored to save lives but the wait time is painful. I wish they'd honor their appointment time so more people would want to give blood. I always have to wait for at least 30 minutes until my turn even with an appointment and a rapid pass. Today is a holiday and there are so many people waiting to give blood which is great, but the wait time is insane and people are walking away, I feel bad. I've been here waiting for 2 hours... read more

If you need training for work, DO NOT TAKE IT HERE!!! It's one thing if you're taking an FYI training like Pet First Aid/CPR (and I have a dog, so I get it). However, it's quite another when you've paid hundreds of dollars for a course, need serious skills for work, etc. I volunteer for a crisis organization and they reimburse us for attending training here. I have had so many problems with this branch. The worst is when the trainers do not show up to teach the classes. I have had this happen twice. Once we were told to wait for nearly an hour (I would have split if I hadn't paid hundreds of dollars) before a supervisor came and told us that the trainer was never informed of the class and no one could be found to teach it in the near future. I would not want anyone working on me who was trained as a professional rescuer here. I have done the training twice. The first time, dude was a pretty good trainer but wanted to finish early so he really raced through everything. I did another C-Pro class with Niema. We went waaaaaaaaaay over time and the whole class failed her skills tests the first couple of times. She was on the verge of tears and started popping pills. It was odd. She's also confrontational when you tell her she's not being clear and she's not patient. Overall, the people who work here are creepsville. One of the training supervisors is a very large woman who was walking around with a shirt about a hundred sizes too small. While probably unintended, she was walking around for an entire day baring her midsection...on a 30 degree day. Some do not speak English well. The trainer Sam is probably the only normal person I've come across here in awhile. If you call the branch administration about a problem with billing, the classes, etc., they treat you like absolute sh*t. They have a lot of people by the balls because they need the training to work so they don't feel the need to practice good customer service. Criticizing a well-known nonprofit may seem almost sacrilegious but the ARC makes good money from these classes. It's $130/person for a 6 hr C-Pro class and I have seen 20+ people in a class. The CPR class needed for childcare workers is $160/person and seems to be very popular. On any given weekend, there are often multiple classes goin' on. I would suspect the ARC funds itself largely through these classes. Honestly, if you can substitute American Heart Association training (e.g., BLS) for ARC training, you want to do that IMO because the quality tends to be better and AHA training is often more respected anyway. read more

I'm a huge admirer of what the American Red Cross does so straight up, it gets 4 stars. I came here to take the 4hr Pet First Aid/CPR training and I found the facilities for it great. The rooms are big, the equipment modern and the instructor was a delight. There's an open 'kitchen' with a coffee machine and vending machine so you can grab a drink or snack before or after class, if you had no time to get one before coming in. Bathrooms are big and clean. The only downside is that it's not conveniently close to any subways. read more

So these days there is a lot of emphasis on BE PREPARED YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!! I have a job where I am coming into contact with people doing physical activity so although it is not required I thought getting a first aid class might be a good idea. (I am going to do CPR @ another point) The new offices are located on 49Th St and 10Th ave-a beautiful, new building that seems like it may belong to the Gattaca corporation. For $65 and 4 hours of my time I was instructed by the very knowledgeable Angela. She led us through the basics about injury prevention CCC, ABC, RICE, FAST. There was a test at the end (I missed 2 questions) and now I am certified for three years. First Aid is just one class. They have a store I did not have time to check out that sells first aid and emergency kits. I am going to re-read my manual but feel I have some skills to assist even if it is just calling 911 in a calm, responsible way. read more

I had to cancel my First Aid/CPR training because I was offered a more affordable option from my supervisor. I had cancelled it 11 days ago and still have not received my refund of over $100. I am very disappointed. read more

This review is for Patrick who had the pleasure of meeting under unfortunate circumstances after being displaced from our home from the Washington Heights fire on Monday. With our nerves shaken and not knowing what next steps involved, Patrick took excellent care of us giving us great guidance. American Red Cross is damn lucky to have Patrick at the forefronts and we sure are lucky to have met him. Thank you so much, Patrick!! read more

DO NOT donate to this charity. They have become a fund raising institution that doesn't help people. After Sandy, they raised MILLIONS which they never gave to those who were affected. I contacted them after my home was devastated by the storm. They sent me to catholic charities who sent a GHETTO con man to my home who required me to give him personal info not necessary for help. They claim he needed a personal id with ss#, utility bills & pay stubs "to prove that I can afford to stay in my property if they pay vendors directly to make repairs. WHY DO THEY NEED MY PERSONAL FINANCIAL RECORDS IF THEY ARE NOT PAYING ME DIRECTLY? They are paying the repair company THEY choose directly. Go to red cross site & you'll see it's become a donation site. It is difficult to find any info other than where to donate. HELP PEOPLE DIRECTLY. DON'T GIVE TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS! read more

If you are a blood donor go to NY Blood Center instead. They are more organized. This place is a mess. I only came because of the Game of Thrones contest and will never come back. People are very nice but not organized and you will wait longer than necessary. read more

I actually enjoyed myself when getting my cpr/aed/first aid certificiate. Given the mixed reviews i was skeptical but it was pretty much straight to the point. The proctors were pretty cool and made it a very relaxed setting despite us being there for 6 hrs. But I'm glad i did it. I just feel this is a course everyone should be required to take... not because you have to but for your own personal knowledge... read more

Your Telephone system is horrendous. I just spent almost 10 minutes trying to get anyone at ARC NY. After listening to all of your www.. . . addresses, I could look up or sign up there was absolutely no way to talk with someone. I thought (my mistake) that if I at least get your development office, someone there would answer the phone if someone wanted to make a donation. No, not even then did anyone answer. It was leave a message and we will get back to you. As a former Red Crosser, this makes me very sad to see Red Cross be so distant from those who want to help. Very sad Red Cross of New York City. I now understand why Red Cross if finding hard to raise money. It is now 3 days later and still no one in the development office has called me back when I left my name and number. read more

I came here and took some classes and received a certificate. Not really much to say except the people that I talked to were very respectable! read more

I took a CPR/AED class here two months ago. It was ok, but the instructor had forgotten the certificates we were supposed to receive upon successful completion. Mind you most folks who take these classes do so for work and need these to prove they're certified. Fine, she said she would email them to us the next day. She didn't. I have left three messages, no reply, no certificate. Same situation for the friend I attended the course with. I have all but given up ever hearing from them. This branch tarnishes an otherwise good brand. Go elsewhere for your training, I know I will in the future. read more

Last year I donated in the blood drive for my workplace and it was a good experience. I then went to this facility to donate about two months later after a phone call from the Red Cross. When I got there at about 5pm the staff seem concerned with how many more people were expected to come and what time they would be finished. It took 3 people to get the needle into a vein and then after donating I was ignored. No one asked how I was feeling and I just got up myself and left. I said that was the last time I would go there to donate. I get phone calls and emails from the red cross all the time telling me that my rare blood type is desperately needed. I decided that I would participate in my workplace drive again this year since it was in the building. I went up there, got my interview and hemoglobin test and was told to take a seat. I was there for 1 1/2 hours waiting to be called and noticed all the people who came in after me were being taken to the donation tables. Some of the red cross staff was made aware of this and they ignored it. I had to leave because I had a group luncheon to attend and I told my boss I would only be 1 hour. So I wasted this time trying to donate and once again the NY team did not care, I will not attempt to donate to the red cross again, even when they return to my building next year. People are not only donating blood, but their time as well and it seems unappreciated and a waste of time and effort. I'll block the red cross on my phone from now on. read more

I went to the Red Cross on 49th and 10th ave a couple of weeks ago to give blood. I walked in and there's this young guy sitting behind a table. I told him I was there to donate blood and he gives me this look from and he goes "Ooookaaaay..." as if the idea of giving blood was totally absurd. Then he said, also in a comedian kind of way, "I guess I could go and get a knife and cut you and drip your blood into a cup." I told him I didn't understand his humor exactly, isn't this the Red Cross? He then yes it was, and that if I wanted to give blood I was either a day late or a day early. I said I didn't understand what he was saying and he said that blood donations were yesterday and tomorrow, but not today. I said, okay, but I had called earlier and they said I could just walk in, I didn't need a schedule, and so I assumed that meant I could do so any day. Again he looked at me like I was some kind of idiot and said, "Like I said, I could get a knife and slice you and put your blood in a cup." I told him that it had taken me 45 minutes to get there and I didn't appreciate his attempt at humor. He then said something snide and I left. I really don't think I have ever been treated so rudely, especially at a place where I am going to make a donation, of my blood no less. It was absurd. The next day I went to the New York Blood Center and was treated nicely by very professional people. I have never had any dealings with the Red Cross before, but needless to say I never will again. read more