Calling all changemakers and allies! 🌈 Join us in showing our support for the LGBTQ+ community by volunteering with San Diego PRIDE, a vibrant organization dedicated to equality, acceptance, and celebration. 🏳️‍🌈

By volunteering with San Diego PRIDE, you become an essential part of fostering inclusivity and empowerment. You'll have the opportunity to connect with diverse individuals, create lasting memories, and contribute to the vibrant PRIDE festivities. 🎉

Volunteering with San Diego PRIDE is more than just lending a hand. It's a chance to make a positive impact, to stand up for love, and to embrace the spirit of unity. Together, we can create a world where everyone is free to love and be their authentic selves. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Sign up today and join us in spreading love, joy, and equality at San Diego Pride.

FAQs

What will we be doing as medical volunteers?
At the San Diego PRIDE parade and festival, medical volunteers are responsible for providing basic medical care to festival-goers and coordinating with on site EMS to care for those potentially having a medical emergency.

One of the biggest jobs is prevention of any severe medical conditions, so volunteers hand out free sunscreen and aloe vera as well as water to any festival-goer who needs it. This helps to prevent severe conditions and keeps folx safe.

Volunteers who are working the parade/5k run only provide basic first aid, like handing out bandaids and wrapping ankles and blisters- think any non-emergent musculoskeletal injuries. These volunteers also serve as spotters and can help identify any potential emergencies and get help. We can only provide basic care at the parade due to the route and access limitations, and that the medical tent is only set up on festival grounds. EMS is on site and any medical needs outside of the basics needs to be directed to them.

Volunteers who are working the festival can provide a much broader range of care. San Diego PRIDE has a triage and treatment tent set up with a variety of medical supplies (like bandaids, instant cold packs, wound wash and gauze, vitals equipment, etc) and cots where we can treat patients. There are also teams who walk around different parts of the festival with treatment bags looking out for any potential medical emergencies. These volunteers are responsible for treating these patients on the spot and determining whether they are stable enough to return to the festival or require further workup and treatment at the tent. The medical department will have golf carts assigned so that if any emergencies arise, someone can come to the location to pick up a patient and bring them back to the medical tent or provide extra support. If there is any true emergency (such as any airway concerns, severe breaks or dislocations, heat stroke, severe AMS/LOC, or a cardiac/respiratory arrest), EMS is on site with three BLS ambulances and two ALS ambulances and should be notified immediately to assume care and transport as appropriate. All communication with EMS will go through one of the on site medical leads as we have a direct line to the on site incident commander.

Examples of some of the medical conditions seen in past years and treated are as follows:
- Cuts, scrapes, blisters
- Twisted/sprained knees and ankles
- Shoulder dislocations
- Dehydration
- Hypoglycemia
- Substance overdose (ETOH, opioids, cocaine, etc)
- Heat exhaustion/heat stroke

How do we sign up for shifts?
Create a volunteer profile at Volunteer portal then email us here so we can get your BLS certificate loaded and open the shifts for you.

What requirements are needed to participate as a medical volunteer?
- BLS or equivalent
- Completion of volunteer orientation via Zoom (multiple sessions offered)

I have a friend/coworker/partner who would like to volunteer with me but they are not medical. Can they volunteer with me?
Yes…there are plenty of other volunteer opportunities available to help support San Diego PRIDE. Just let us know in the email so that we can make assignments to keep you in the same vicinity.

I need volunteer hours for school/work/recertification. Can I get proof of participation as a volunteer?
Yes. San Diego PRIDE can provide a letter stating the contribution of your volunteering efforts.

What should I wear on the day I volunteer?
Closed toed shoes and shorts or pants. A San Diego Pride Medical Volunteer t-shirt will be given to you on the day you volunteer.