March is National Red Cross Month, and the Granite Chapter of the Red Cross will be celebrating with a month worth of blood drives, classes and events. The Granite Chapter covers the largest portion of the state, from the Concord area all the way up to the Canadian border. That's something Al Rozzi is familiar with – he's a trainer with the Red Cross and has traveled all over the state teaching everything from basic water safety to professional rescue.
Al got his start with the Red Cross in 1992. He had just returned home from the service, and was having trouble finding work due to the economic recession that occurred around that time. He always loved swimming, and decided to train with the Red Cross in water safety. The local chapter he was with at the time needed instructors who could travel, so he signed on and got hooked.
His most memorable class was the first one. He was teaching counselors at a Girl Scout camp up north, and showed up at his boss's home at 6 a.m. – well before the class started – to pick up the mannequins, which are used for the class to practice. He said he'll never forget the surprise on his boss's face when she opened the door and saw his early arrival. He also added that the mannequins used in those days were kept in bulky cases. Six mannequins could easily fill the back of a pickup truck. Thankfully, mannequin carrying cases have since improved.
A true jack of all trades as far as the Red Cross is concerned, Al has done it all. He's taught classes to swim coaches and lifeguards in addition to traditional swim instruction. He's also taught first aid and CPR, disaster training and emergency response. The only thing he doesn't do is deal with blood drives and service to military families, two of the Red Cross's other major initiatives.
Real-life experience helps to make Al a good teacher – he was called upon three times to perform CPR. Two out of the three survived, which is higher than the usual one-out-of-three survival odds. One instance occurred while Al was stationed in Hawaii with the Army, where he got involved with search-and-rescue. During a call, one of Al's friends – a Marine – got swept away from their boat. By the time he was pulled from the water, he was starting to go into cardiac arrest. Al performed CPR until the manual paddles were readied. Thanks to his training, his friend made it through.
His work with the Red Cross inspired Al to attend Plymouth State to get his physical education degree. He graduated in 2004, and is now a swim coach with the Lakes Region Wave Makers and helps with regional competitions.
Al's parting words were to encourage others to volunteer for the Red Cross. It's not just about instructing, though he says there is a need for people to teach the babysitting class and “Safe on My Own,” a safety course for children who are home alone before their parents return from work. There's also work to be done in blood services, disaster relief and other programs. It's a common misconception that the Red Cross receives support from the government, says Al, but that's not true. It is wholly funded by donations and is kept going by a workforce that's 96 percent volunteer. That's what keeps the Red Cross focused on their mission, he adds.
