Description
The American Red Cross has a suite of voice skills to support its humanitarian mission across the business including in Biomedical, Training and Disaster Relief units. There are three voice skills dedicated to extending the reach of the American Red Cross:
- Blood Donation Voice Skill
- First Aid Voice Skill
- Hurricane Alerts Voice Skill
Context
Blood Donation Voice Skill
The American Red Cross blood supply accounts for 40% of our nation’s blood, a supply that is built by generous donations alone. Every year in US, we face a shortage of blood products which are needed for emergencies, surgeries, cancer patients, and other situations. To meet this high demand, the American Red Cross must allow donors to adequately find blood drives and schedule blood donation appointments in a quick and convenient manner.
First Aid Voice Skill
Accidents happen. In fact, accidents lead to more than 28 million US emergency room visits each year. Also known as unintentional injuries, accidents are the third leading cause of death in the US and are often the result of carelessness. Once an accident has occurred, effective first aid can be the difference between a rapid or prolonged recovery, a temporary or permanent disability, and even life or death. To prevent accidents, the American Red Cross must help individuals learn safe practices for the home and workplace.
Hurricane Alerts Voice Skill
Of all recorded weather disasters in US history, tropical cyclones, known as hurricanes when in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and Eastern North Pacific Oceans, have caused the most deaths and destruction. These strong storms can be life-threatening, as well as cause serious hazards such as flooding, storm surge, and high winds. To protect communities from a hurricane’s destructive path, the American Red Cross must keep people informed of their area’s risk so they can evacuate quickly and implement rapid response plans.
Technical details & Operations
Blood Donation Voice Skill
. Appointment management: To reduce friction, the Blood Voice Skill provides easy access to all key appointment management functions such as scheduling appointments and retrieving donation history details.
First Aid Voice Skill
. Knowledge sharing: The First Aid Voice Skill features simple, step-by-step instructions to guide learners through everyday first aid scenarios. Important tips are included for everything from what to do is someone is bleeding, choking, or having an allergic reaction to how to identify a stroke or heart attack.
. Practice quizzes: Learners can further engage with the First Aid Voice Skill through interactive quizzes to put their lifesaving knowledge to the test.
Hurricane Alerts Voice Skill
. Storm warnings: Hurricane Alerts allows individuals to monitor weather conditions in their area and be notified of severe storm warnings. Throughout the storm, individuals can track its progress, prepare their family and home, find help and let others know they are safe.
Deployment & Impact
Blood Donation Voice Skill
A key part of the American Red Cross’ vision is to ensure that everyone in the country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products. The Blood Donation Voice skill enables donors to sign up to provide these life-saving blood products, a step that has become essential during the COVID-19 pandemic as walk-in appointments are no longer offered for safety reasons. To encourage recurring donation appointments, the skill stores donors’ zip codes, making it easy to schedule in convenient locations. In addition to locating blood drives, the Blood Donation Voice Skill helps donors find pertinent information about their appointment including the date, time, and location. Utilizing the power of voice technology, the American Red Cross can better support blood donors schedule and manage their donation appointments hands free.
First Aid Voice Skill
In the event of an emergency, the American Red Cross aspires to always have trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives. First aid training helps individuals prepare for the unexpected, learning how to stay aware of their surroundings and take proper precautions to prevent accidents or injuries. The First Aid Voice Skill easily shares expert advice for everyday emergencies to over 10,000 individuals across Google and Alexa devices. With 23 different modules to choose from, these learners are taught how to respond to specific situations, which help them care for people in crisis while they wait for medical professionals to arrive. Thanks to the First Aid Voice Skill, the American Red Cross further empowers individuals to learn their first aid skills and practice for future emergencies.
Hurricane Alerts Voice Skill
The American Red Cross mission includes ensuring communities are ready and prepared for disasters. The Hurricane Alerts Voice Skill has nearly 3,000 users on Alexa alone, with 24/7 monitoring in user set US locations and territories. With the help of the Hurricane Alerts Voice Skill, communities across the country can receive up to date information on the latest hurricane alerts and learn essential steps should a hurricane watch or warning affect their area.
