All nurses should be prepared to participate in a disaster response ("American Red Cross Nursing: Essential to Disaster Relief,"In Our Community, August). I'm a volunteer nurse with the disaster nurse team and the Disaster Services Human Resources System of the American Red Cross of the St. Paul Area. In our chapter all disaster services volunteers (other than those who volunteer spontaneously during a major disaster) are required to take the Introduction to Disaster Services course, of which I am an instructor. Call your local Red Cross chapter to find out about volunteer opportunities and to get class schedules.

Muriel S. Olson, BS, RN

St. Paul, MN