Singles CPR: Where Are The Girls At?

Just a note to say that the metrics are WAY off on our Singles CPR class.

Right now, we've got a whopping 84% attendance from GUYS. This surprises me; perhaps they are more romantic than previously thought?

Point being, if you're a GIRL and interested in signing up for Singles CPR, you've got a really incredible chance of meeting someone special.

Note: I probably shouldn't be posting this and urging more women to attend, as I don't really need the competition. So, scrach that...GUYS -- KEEP SIGNING UP!

Image courtesy of Gabriela Camerotti

That Big Sports Thing This Weekend...

This morning, someone asked me if I liked the Steelers on my way into work. My response? "That's a football team, right?"

Clearly (and I've mentioned this on the blog before), I'm not a big sports fan. In fact, I was just looking up the Super Bowl and had to look at this page for about five minutes before I even figured out what TEAMS are playing. Ack.

So now I know that it's the Arizona Cardinals vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers and that we're at number XLIII (43, for non-math people). I also know the names of a few players; guys like Matt Lineart, Ike Taylor and Kurt Warner.

Why these guys? Well, because they've got some personal history with the American Red Cross.

Just last year, Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback and Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet Member, held a press conference stressing the importance of knowing how to perform CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Leinart’s teammate, Kurt Warner, is also helping spread the mission of the Red Cross. Warner and his wife, Brenda, both Iowa natives, responded to the flooding in Cedar Rapids last year. They helped the Red Cross hand out meals, bottled water, smiles and hugs.

And Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor got involved with the Red Cross by promoting preparedness for disasters. Taylor grew up in New Orleans, so when Hurricane Katrina came barreling through in 2005, it really hit home. The disaster made Taylor appreciate the work of the Red Cross and opened his eyes to the importance of preparedness.

We're not picking sides with all these nice guys; good luck to both teams when they play on Sunday!

Did you know?

While reading this article about an Oregonian nominated to be the White House gardener, I learned this bit of historical trivia:

President Woodrow Wilson brought in sheep to graze on the White House lawn during World War I as part of the war effort. They kept the grass trimmed and their wool was auctioned to raise money for the Red Cross.

For more fascinating facts about the history of the White House garden, see this NYTimes article and watch this cute video. 

By the way, growing and canning your own food is an excellent way to be prepared for disasters!

Hands of Peace

Okay, yes, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was 9 days ago... but I just now found the video that the Daily Astorian did for the super sweet Hands Of Peace event the AmeriCorps volunteers put together. (Remember how I told you that you could have an AmeriCorps of your very own?)

Watch below or click here.

Video: Emergency Warming Centers

Check it out. Portland Foursquare Church made a video about their involvement in the emergency warming center efforts this winter. They have lent their building as a warming center location for the past two years, and this year our CEO, Thomas, presented the entire congregation with a thank you plaque in honor of their efforts. 

The video shows not only the plaque presentation, but also a great inside view of warming center operations.  Watch here:

Portland Foursquare Church is one of several faith-based and non-faith-based organizations with whome we partner for facilities in times of emergency.

Reaching Oregon's Growing Latino Community

I had a great lunch today with one of Oregon's most prominent Latino leaders: Gale Castillo. Gale is the President of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber and a member of OTC's new Board of Advisors.

Gale and I brainstormed ways that we at Red Cross can increase our partnership with the Hispanic Chamber to reach more of Oregon's Latino community. Representing 10% of the population, Latinos are the largest minority group - and the fastest-growing - in Oregon.

Stay tuned for news about our health and safety, emergency preparedness and response, and blood services efforts in the Latino community.

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the major (and sometimes small, but interesting) international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of nice little bite-sized links for you...

PHILIPPINES: Local Red Cross chairperson was able to meet face-to-face with the three kidnapped ICRC workers.

SRI LANKA: Approximately a quarter million people in northern Sri Lanka are caught in the midst of intensified fighting. The ICRC is urgently appealing to both sides of the conflict to allow and facilitate the safe and voluntary movement of civilians out of the combat zone.

Elsewhere in Sri Lanka, thousands of people are still rebuilding their lives after the devastating 2004 tsunami. 

GAZA: Hospitals are still treating victims of the recent conflict. The ICRC is assisting with medical supplies, building materials and finding missing persons. 

COLUMBIA: The ICRC confirms that Brazil is ready to provide logistics support to facilitate the release of Sigifredo López, Alan Jara and four members of the Colombian police currently being held by the FARC.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: The ICRC is calling on all parties of the conflict in North Kivu to respect civilians and people wounded or captured during the fighting.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Talk about cold! This month temperatures reached 25 degrees below zero in some parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. With nearly half the population unemployed or impoverished, many people lack the resources to heat their homes. The IFRC is distributing firewood, stoves, blankets and food parcels.

Extreme Makeover: Life-Saving Edition

American Red Cross Arizona Blood Region welcomes “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team. This week, the cast and crew of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” traveled to Tucson, AZ to tell 14-year-old Lizzie Bell and her parents that their home would be rebuilt. Lizzie, who was born with a rare condition that requires her to receive blood transfusions every few weeks, has made it her mission to raise awareness about the ongoing need for blood.

To recognize the young girl and her courageous battle, the American Red Cross is dedicating many blood drives across the country (including our Portland and Vancouver centers) on Saturday, January 31 in Lizzie’s honor. While the blood collected on this day will not go directly to Lizzie, it may help save the lives of thousands of patients.

The “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” episode featuring Lizzie with footage at various Red Cross blood drives from the Arizona Region and other areas is scheduled to air Sunday, March 22, 2009 on the ABC television network.

Okay, now I know that if I don't include a picture of Ty Pennington, I'll never hear the end of it.

Impending Eruption In Alaska

Researchers at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say that Mount Redoubt may erupt within days. 

The mountain, which lies about 100 miles to the southwest across the Cook Inlet from Anchorage last erupted in 1989. That event, according to the Anchorage Daily News, "disrupted international air traffic and coated Anchorage in a thin layer of volcanic dust."

It is quite unlikely that this eruption will really affect us here in Portland, but if you - like many Oregonians - have friends or family in Alaska, please pass on these volcano safety tips.  

And it's never a bad time for us Oregonians to brush up on our safety knowledge since we have dozens of volcanoes along our beautiful Cascade Range.

Flickr Finds: December Snow

Okay, so it's not really a Flickr Find.

This photo of our region during the peak of the December snowstorms came to us via PGE. Given this morning's flurries, it seemed appropriate to show you what a REAL blanket of snow looks like for our area!

Does your organization need an AmeriCorps member?

You could have a full-time volunteer of your very own! 

Our Oregon State Service Corps and Clara Barton VISTA Corps programs are now accepting applications for the 2009-2010 year. 

Every year we place dozens of full-time and part-time volunteers at non-profits, community organizations and agencies around the state (as you can see from the map).  Here's a brief run down of both programs: 

Oregon State Service Corps members address significant issues in the areas of education, community disaster preparedness, public safety and health and other human needs through direct service and volunteer mobilization.

The Clara Barton VISTA Corps program is designed to fight poverty in Oregon communities and its members spend their time serving as grant writers, volunteer coordinators, event planners, fundraisers, program developers, marketing and public relations gurus and more.

If your organization needs someone to help with these issues, I encourage you to apply: Oregon State Service Corps Application, Clara Barton VISTA Corps Application. 

DISASTER ACTION TEAMS RESPOND

Monday, 26 Jan 09, saw three new 901 Cases:

Two families (4 adults and 2 children) renting one house were displaced by a major house fire in SE Portland. Clients were assisted with food, clothes and lodging. Some cuts and smoke injuries were sustained. Red Cross will assist families to relocate.

A single family of 2 adults and 2 children (renters) in North Portland are having to move due to a fuse box fire and electrical problems. Red Cross will assist the family to relocate.

Disaster Housing: A New Strategy

A while back, I did a post for Apartment Therapy about FEMA trailers and how people managed to pack their entire lives into pretty tiny spaces after Hurricane Katrina. The trailers may have been better than nothing, but they also weren't places that people anticipated living in for such long lengths of time.

In short, this disaster housing was far from ideal.

Now FEMA has just released the National Disaster Housing Strategy, which "summarizes the many sheltering and housing capabilities, principles, and policies that guide and inform the disaster housing process."

The Strategy also calls for a National Disaster Housing Task Force, chaired by FEMA and jointly led with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the American Red Cross. The Task Force will include experts from all levels of government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations, and will focus full time attention on disaster housing, developing operational plans, building disaster housing capabilities, and "achieving the vision and goals of the Strategy."

All this work wasn't done without input; they took into account nearly 500 comments from individuals, industry representatives, associations, and State and local government representatives.

Were any of the disaster trailer residents among them? I'm pretty sure they would have plenty of thoughts to contribute...

Boosting Your Iron With Breakfast

Have you ever gone to give blood and been turned away because your iron's a little low? It happens to the best of us, including many right here in our office.

Depending on whether you're male or female, you're looking for about 10 to 15 mgs per day. And it's worth putting in a little extra effort the day before you donate.

To get you started, here's an "iron rich" food list. There's a fair number of yummy options on here, but some of them -- liver, sardines and prunes, for example -- sound less than desirable. (Note: there's also a great list of iron sources for vegans right here.)

So, I'll offer one more tip, courtesy of a blood drive coordinator: Quaker Oatmeal Squares.

If you check out their nutritional data, you'll see that they have about 95% of your daily value for the mineral. And supposedly they taste really good...pretty cool.

One way or another, make sure you get plenty of iron prior to donating blood. Wanna know why it's so important? Check out this PDF...

Tonight: "Live To Tell: Who Survives?" On 20/20

You're walking along the Oregon Coast, enjoying a fine day at the beach.

But something strange catches your eye.

It's the water. It looks....well, frothy. And it keeps coming closer and closer and closer...

Would you stop and say something? Would you be worried? Or would you just blow it off and keep flying your kite or admiring Haystack Rock or letting your dog romp on the sand? Well, if you did the latter, you might not meet with such a happy ending.

I tell you this story because I'm inspired by Tilly Smith, a little girl who remembered what she learned in science class and was able to save her family and warn others about the impending Southeast Asia tsunami. It's an incredible story that you can read here.

Tonight on ABC's 20/20 (10 p.m. PST), they're talking with Tilly and exploring who survives emergencies. Does this sound familiar? Maybe it's because our friend Amanda Ripley (author of The Unthinkable) has taken on the topic before and is definitely involved with this episode.

Honestly, there are so many great links that this post could go on forever, but I'm just going to put 'em all here and let you read them yourself:

Inside a Hero's Head
Surviving an Emergency: "If you need to think, it's too late"
Book Excerpt: The Unthinkable
Book Excerpt: The Survivors' Club

I'm not going to be home to watch the show, but I'm going to DVR it, as there's nothing that gets my adrenaline pumping like survival stories.

The best way to be a survivor is to be prepared for disasters and other emergencies. Take the time to review the Be Red Cross Ready online training...just in case.

Celebrate The Year Of The Ox With Us!

Are you totally stoked about the Year of the Ox? 

Good! Come celebrate with us at the Chinese New Year Cultural Fair tomorrow. To quote our volunteer manager, "I understand the entertainment and food is outstanding to say nothing of the exciting Red Cross booth."

We'll be there from 10am to 6pm, and we will have our prize wheel. 

A big thanks to Tina Chee, Kristy Bishop, Susanna Pai, Suzie Nguyen, our AmeriCorps volunteers, the Red Cross Youth Council, and the Benson High School Red Cross members for helping to organize this.

Gong hei fat choi!

Inauguration Day: We Rock For Barack

Jan. 20, 2009 -- I mentioned in an earlier post that I'd probably be up the night before Inauguration Day, and was I ever right...

Up at midnight, shower, shave, into my uniform, downstairs to the hotel lobby to meet the rest of the band. We're on the bus and headed for D.C. at 2:00 a.m., to beat the traffic rush and any potential road closures. Coffee break at 3:00 a.m. at the Delaware House service area on the Delaware Turnpike. Pass Baltimore at about 4:15 a.m. Arrive, after dealing with one unexpected road closure, in the parade staging area at the Pentagon. It's 5:30 a.m. and we're seven hours away from our screening area time. Daylight is still two hours away. Sleep, anyone?

As the sun rises, we look out across the Pentagon south parking lot, and the memories flood back. I spent a week working in this very place on the disaster response to the Sep. 11 attacks, and here I am again. We're allowed to stretch our legs, and I walk down to the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, which had just been dedicated last Sep. 11. This is a place of solemnity and repose. There are 184 memorial benches, each with a tiny water pool that, surprisingly, has not frozen in the bitter cold. Each bench bears the name of a victim, and is oriented along the axis the plane followed as it crashed into the building. Each is also aligned with a plaque showing the birth year of the victim.

As the morning progresses,more buses pull in. They're screening each parade division in turn, and Division 6, ours, is the last one. We mingle with other groups: high school bands from Washington State, Illinois and Arkansas; the University of Utah marching band; and the ENTIRE Corps of Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute, all 1400 or so.

Screening time arrives, and we head over to the north parking lot, where the next two hours is a blur of emptying everything off the buses, carrying them through security, picking up lunch, and reuniting with our vehicles. Once the process is complete, our entire division gets a police escort across the Potomac River to the assembly area at the Ellipse south of the White House.

Our buses pull up on 17th Street, and what should greet my eyes as we disembark but the banner on the east portico of the American Red Cross headquarters building, right next to our lead bus: "Welcome To Our Honorary Chairman President Obama".

We're in the Ellipse until nearly 5:30 p.m., when we finally march off down Constitution Avenue toward the parade start point near the Capitol. We've photographed the band with the White House in the background , mingled some more, warmed up from the cold, and steeled our nerves for that final leg up Pennsylvania Avenue.

Six p.m., and it's finally our turn! We wheel onto the Avenue, music playing, flags flying, in the gathering dark. The parade is running late, and many of the spectators have left to escape the cold. But we sound off loud and proud for those who remain, and our energy carries us up toward the reviewing stand.

We make the turn off 15th Street, and there it is, that brightly-lit reviewing area where each parade unit gets to honor our new President. The horns come up, the flags sweep, and we're performing for Barack and Michelle Obama, who are positively grooving to our music. They smile, we wave, and all too soon we're done. As we cross the finish line, we take a collective breath and marvel at our experience. Then it's back to the buses for the trip back to Philadelphia and the plane ride home.

Surprise, surprise...our buses are still in the same spot along 17th Street where we left them earlier, right next to Red Cross headquarters and that imposing banner.

Congratulations, Mr. President. In ways large and small, the American Red Cross and its people welcome and salute you.

(Thomas McCann is a Public Affairs volunteer for the Oregon Trail Chapter and the color guard captain for the Get A Life Marching Band of Portland, Ore.)

See Us On Lovelab!

Check it out -- Singles CPR is on the front page of the Portland Mercury's Lovelab personals!


IMHO, Lovelab is THE site to find cute PDX singles. You know, the coffee drinking, indie music listening, vegan/vegetarian eating, bike riding hipsters that we see all over this fair city.

But if that's not your type, we'll do our best to get the word out in other ways as well. As I type, Robin's working on fliers and a button for our website that will let everyone know what we're doing this V-Day.

Also, I should mention that if you have a penchant for scruffily bearded men (or women...I'm not judging), Lovelab's giving all class participants a free two-week membership. What's stopping you from signing up?

High Schooler Helps Identify How Hurricanes Intensify

A hurricane is not one, big, homogenous blob of swirling weather. It's made of many individual bands of rain. 

So when they say the eye of the storm is growing, what's really happening is that smaller rain bands are being replaced by bigger rain bands in the middle of the storm. (Same thing happens in reverse if the eye is shrinking.)

The phenomenon is called eyewall replacement - and what Natalia Solorzano of Bard High School Early College in New York (along with a team of researchers) realized is that eyewall replacement is often accompanied by increased lightning.

This means that watching the lightning patterns around the eyewall can help meteorologists better predict whether a hurricane is about to intensify. That, of course, means that coastal residents - and the Red Cross - will have a better idea what to prepare for before the storm hits. 

Congrats to Natalia and her team on their findings. 

P.S. Speaking of lightening, you armchair meteorologists might like to check out the Worldwide Lightning Location Network. Watch it enough, and you might even make a discovery of your own!

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the major (and sometimes small, but interesting) international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of nice little bite-sized links for you...

GAZA: Unexploded munitions pose a threat to civilians and humanitarian workers as the ICRC helps to repair homes, businesses and vital water supply stations. The ICRC has also restored family links for over 150 families in Gaza who had not been in touch with family members detained in Israeli prisons for at least a month. The British Red Cross has launched an appeal for donations.

PHILIPPINES: Three ICRC staff members were abducted last week in the Philippines. 

GAMBIA: The IFRC is working with the Gambia Red Cross Society to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS through song, dance and theater. 

ZIMBABWE: As the cholera death toll rises, Red Cross and Red Crescent teams work hard to bring medical aid, clean water and prevention education to citizens.

PAKISTAN: Last October's earthquake left thousands of citizens without homes to protect them from the harsh winter winds. The IFRC and Pakistan Red Crescent Society are distributing  stand-alone shelters to families.

INDONESIA: With support from the British Red Cross, one 22-year-old helps rebuild a post-tsunami Indonesia by opening a computer rental shop. See Irvandi tell his story first-hand in this short video.

Flickr Finds: A Red Cross Welcome

See more Red Cross photos from the Inauguration right here.

What Is...The Red Cross?

Do you Jeopardy?

I used to...every night. It was always a competition around the house to see who could come up with the right answer first. Thank goodness it was a pretty even match or there could have been some ugly arguments.

I mention this because if you were watching Jeopardy last night -- like Tara, who sent in this tip -- you would have seen the following Final Jeopardy question:

This international organization that was founded in Europe lists "Neutrality" and "Voluntary Service" as two of their seven fundamental principles.

The answer?

Why us, of course!

If you want to be as smart as a Jeopardy champion (like our hero, Ken Jennings), you should probably read up on the fundamental principles yourself. You can thank me later with a portion of your winnings...

Obama Wants You...To Volunteer

The National Day of Service might be over, but that doesn't mean that your commitment to volunteerism has to end there.

A while back, I mentioned that Obama's acceptance speech stood out for me because of its call for a new "spirit of service" from Americans. With that said, I wanted to point you in the direction of a few fun tools and resources that our new President has offered to get you started on volunteerism.

First, watch the PSA:



Then, visit the website to sign up for service updates. I also love their blog, which has already posted a very cool Wordle, just like we did!

And, if you're already a volunteer -- with the Red Cross or with any organization -- send a text message and see your state pop up on the USA Service Mobile Map.

Honestly, you don't want to miss out on serving your country as a volunteer. And when you get involved with the Red Cross, you have the option to help locally OR nationally. Whether you're a flash designer or a truck driver, we've got a place for you.

Follow Obama's advice -- become a volunteer today!

Sign Up For Singles CPR Today!

Okay, it's official. Go ahead and sign up now:

www.oregonredcross.org/SinglesCPR

And spread the word! The more people who attend (and enjoy) our first installment, the more likely we'll get to do some variations on the theme in the future!

Image courtesy of Gabriela Camerotti

Imagine The Trauma Of Losing Everything...

This weekend, I received an update from our Disaster Action Teams that almost brought me to tears.

It didn't initially sound like an unusual situation -- a house fire, one of the most common disasters. But when our volunteers arrived, they found a home completely destroyed and residents standing outside who were caught so off guard that they left the house with nothing. Literally no clothes on their backs.

With frigid temperatures outside, our volunteers had to step in quickly to help the clients, which meant an emergency trip over to Wal-Mart to purchase clothing. After this, they went on to help with lodging, meals and other assistance.

Imagine for a moment the trauma of losing everything. The trauma of watching your home burn to the ground. The trauma of standing outside in freezing weather, naked. And then imagine the relief you'd feel if someone brought you warm clothes, a hot meal and arranged a safe place for you to spend the night.

That's what we do for our clients, free of charge, every day. Want to be a part of making this happen? Consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer...or make a donation to help clients just like these all across our area.

Photo (not of the house in question) courtesy of ncpttmedia

Top Chef. Hero.

I've shared my fandom of Bravo's Top Chef before, but even though I enjoy the show, I never really felt one way or another about the judges.

Well, that's all changed.

You see, yesterday Top Chef head honcho Tom Colicchio saved a life. And now this foodie's a fan.

According to this article, Colicchio saved the life of Joan Nathan, a James Beard-award winning cookbook author and host of the Art.Food.Hope inaugural events in D.C. Nathan choked on a piece of chicken and after shouts of, "Does anyone know the Heimlich maneuver?" Colicchio stepped up -- pardon the pun -- to the plate.

The author managed to chat with Colicchio and Nathan later in the evening and the hero had this to say: “I just happened to be nearby." Nathan was more effusive about the Top Chef; “He’s so strong!”

The point of this story is that you never know where you'll be -- including a fancy party with world-famous chefs -- when you'll need basic first aid skills, including how to administer abdominal thrusts. Take a class now and maybe you can be a hero, too!

Disaster Action Team Responses

The long weekend saw the following reponses:

Saturday, Jan. 17:

Two adults in Troutdale had their home destroyed by fire. Disaster Action Teams assisted with food, clothing, lodging, medications, and bedding.

There was also a mobile home fire in Sumpter, OR. Disaster Action Teams assisted one person with food and clothing. The client is staying temporarily with friends in La Grande.

Sunday, Jan. 18:

An apartment in SE Portland was destroyed by fire. Three adults were affected. Disaster Action Teams assisted with food, clothing, medications, and bedding. The clients were able to relocate to another vacant unit.

Evil Robots and Old-Fashioned Back-Ups

You never know when super-intelligent robots bent on galactic supremacy could hack all your digital records.

Oh, wait, I'm thinking of Battlestar Galactica (the final season of which premieres tonight with a big shindig at the Bagdad Theater, by the way). But in any case, you really never know what emergencies might leave you without your computer, cell phone or PDA.

You need a good old-fashioned back-up contact list.

That's why I just uploaded a PDF of our newly redesigned emergency contact card. It's wallet-sized so that you can print it out, fill it in and stick it in your wallet. Get it right here at http://www.oregonredcross.org/pdf/Emerg_contact.pdf

And don't say I didn't warn you when the cylons attack and you can't find my number.

Inauguration Day: Flashing Back

Inauguration Day is almost here, and my trip to Washington, D.C. to march in the Inauguration Parade is about to begin. As it unfolds, I'll return to a place that looms large in my experience and in American Red Cross history...

Sep. 21, 2001: I've arrived in Washington, D.C. in the aftermath of the Sep. 11 terrorist attacks, and have joined the Public Affairs team assigned to support the disaster relief operation at the Pentagon. I've just spent the last 10 days working Public Affairs back at the Oregon Trail Chapter in Portland, and have finally made it into the field.

The tip of the spear, as it were, of our disaster response at the Pentagon is Camp Unity, the large support base established in the south parking lot at the complex. In keeping with its name, this service delivery site has brought in much more than just the Red Cross. The Salvation Army is here. Southern Baptist Disaster Services is here. FEMA, the major military branches, the FBI and other Federal law enforcement agencies are here. Even McDonald's, Burger King and Outback Steakhouse are here to help out.

The center of this sprawling encampment is the "Big Top", which serves as both dining hall and lounge for the hundreds of responders working here. Its walls are covered with handmade posters and signs from throughout the U.S., thanking us for our work and wishing us well. Cards from schoolkids are found on every table.

Across the way, a large wall has risen -- America's Unity Wall. Here, the assembled responders have written their names, their affiliations and their sentiments for all to see. A large Camp Unity sign displays the Pentagon building enclosed in clasped hands. It is a telling symbol of the diverse elements that have joined here to render assistance in dark chapter of American history.

Fast forward to Jan. 20, 2009...

The parking areas at the Pentagon again resound to the sound of frenzied activity and teeming humanity. It is here that the thousands of participants in the 56th Presidential Inauguration Parade are going through security screening before moving into their assembly areas. Among them are the 102 members of the Get A Life Marching Band from Portland, and me...

Like those days after 9/11, it's hectic here. Unlike those days, it's considerably more enjoyable.

(Tom McCann is a volunteer with the Oregon Trail Chapter)

Quick! Google The Heimlich Maneuver!

Thanks to our friend Dede, we've got another comic to share with you:

This reminds me a little bit of the Stone Soup strips that I posted a while back. With those, knowlege of the Heimlich maneuver had a good outcome. With this one, judging from the apathy of the characters, I can't promise the same thing.

What do you think? Will whomever is choking be okay? If only these students had taken a Red Cross first aid class, they wouldn't have to be Googling instructions at the last minute...stay tuned!

How Are You Spending Your Day On?

We've all heard that MLK Day is should be a day on, not a day off. So how are you spending yours?

Granted, it's not actually ON MLK Day, but you could be participating in the upcoming blood drive on Saturday, Jan. 24. Or you could get a free cup of joe.

How, you might ask? Well, the coffee conglomerate that is Starbucks is having a promotion from Jan. 21 through 25. If you pledge five hours of volunteer time, you get a free tall coffee. Find out more details on their Facebook page.

I tell you this because there's a really easy way for you to get your hands on that java...just volunteer with us! There are so many things you can do, from driving a vehicle to working our Emergency Warming Centers to stuffing envelopes or helping with graphic design. If you have leadership or management skills, we need you even more.

And when you volunteer with your local chapter, you'll be helping your fellow Oregonians, which should definitely give you a warm fuzzy feeling.

We need your help to do our work of saving and rebuilding lives -- down the street, across the country and around the world. Pledge five hours and you'll even get a cup of coffee for your efforts!

Photo courtesy of Ladik

A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words

For the whole story of today's plane crash on the Hudson, see here.

Photo courtesy of Justin Lane/EPA

Martin Luther King, Jr. Blood and Organ Registry Drive

Reverend Dr. T. Allen Bethel is a grateful kidney transplant recipient who's happy to be free from the confinement that kidney disease and dialysis. Dr Bethel, Senior Pastor at Maranatha Church,

Hey, since we're talking about this, why don't you come to Red Cross Portland Donor Center on Saturday, January 24. We'll be celebrating the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and while you're here, you can learn more about blood and organ donation. Did you know that the number of men, women and children in the U.S. waiting for an organ transplant is quickly approaching 100,000 and 1,900 of these individuals live in the Pacific Northwest.

The event is co-sponsored by the American Red Cross, Donate Life Northwest, The Skanner newspaper, Safeway, and The Urban League. It will be worth your time to stop by, each presenting donor will receive a complimentary Martin Luther King, Jr. special-edition pin (while supplies last.) There will also be a drawing for a $100 Safeway gift card (I didn't know Safeway has a blog) free health screening by Roosevelt Power Academy students, and a 15% off coupon for a training class or one item in the Red Cross store.

Singles CPR: We LOVE Where This Is Going...

Just a few little updates on our Singles CPR class, scheduled for V-Day!

Yesterday I made contact with the very nice folks over at the Portland Mercury's Lovelab. If you're not familiar with the site, I urge you to check it out. If you have a weakness for Portland hipsters, you'll probably be very happy...

Lovelab is going to be our super sweet partner on the event -- putting the word out on their site, sending a note to subscribers and offering a two-week full membership to participants. Awesome, no?

ALSO, I spoke with one of the two instructors who's going to be teaching the class and, let me tell you, she's awesome. She totally gets what we're trying to do and is all about making Singles CPR fun and engaging and interactive. If you attend, they'll have you mixing and mingling all night!

FINALLY, if you love the photo that we've been using for these posts, you'll be glad to know that I spoke with the incredible photographer -- Gabriela Camerotti -- and she's going to let us use "Broken Heart" for all our marketing of the event. This is very cool news indeed!

Photo courtesy of Gabriela Camerotti

Breakfast Of Champions: Get Tickets Now

We're coming up on the annual Breakfast of Champions event, our yearly look at Oregonians who've committed heroic acts.

From what I can tell, we've got a really great bunch. Locals who have performed CPR, used AEDs, rescued family members and done all-around amazing things. While I can't share their names yet, I'd urge you to take a look at last year's press release to get an idea of the stories you'll hear at the event.

If heart-warming saves weren't enough, we'll also give you a hot breakfast and -- new this year -- re-create some pretty impressive Red Cross scenarios. I guarantee you'll feel like you're right in the middle of the action.

AND FINALLY, we've drastically lowered the ticket price for this year's event. It's now just $15 to attend, which is essentially the cost of the breakfast itself.

So mark Tuesday, March 17 on your calendar and buy your ticket now. It'll be well worth attending!

Singles CPR: Jumpstarting Your Heart

Remember ages ago when I mentioned the -- dare I say, BRILLIANT -- idea of CPR class for singles? Well, thanks to the help of our wonderful Health & Safety staff, the idea is finally becoming a reality.

Yes, on February 14 (Valentine's Day, of course!), we're going to offer our first-ever Singles CPR class. It'll be right here at the Chapter, 3131 N. Vancouver, and it'll run from 1-5 pm, giving you time to take your new beau down the street to Pix right after.

The class registration isn't up on our website quite yet, but I'll let you know when you can sign up. I can tell you that we will be serving beer, wine and heart-shaped cookies, and that the instructors we're lining up are both super smart, entertaining and H-O-T.

If you're someone who has to take CPR to meet OSHA requirements, wouldn't it be fun to meet new people, too? And jumpstart your heart, both literally and figuratively?

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• If you know a bakery, winery, brewery, dating site, etc. that would want to partner with us on this very special event, have them get in touch with me.


• This class is a trial run. If it's a success, we'll absolutely be considering Singles CPR for men only, women only, divorcees, seniors, pet owners -- who knows!


• And, yes, I'll likely be attending myself. To, uh, take pictures. Yeah, that's it...

Photo courtesy of Face it.

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

This is the second  post in our new weekly series called the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the major (and sometimes small, but interesting) international Red Cross news into one list of nice little bite-sized links for you.

GAZA: ICRC President, Jakob Kellenberger, is in the middle of his three-day tour of Israel and the occupied territories. Today's press conference highlighted the humanitarian needs. (See a brief video from the press conference.)

Horn of Africa: (Djibouti, Ehtiopia, Kenya and Somalia) 17 million people are in very real danger of acute food shortage. The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal for support. Here's one Red Crosser's field diary of his experience in Ethiopia. 

Costa Rica: The Costa Rica Red Cross is providing psychosocial support for survivors of last week's 6.2 earthquake. The IFRC and American Red Cross stand ready to help if assistance is requested.

Turkmenistan: Red Crescent volunteers act as human traffic lights in an innovative public safety campaign. 

For live feeds of international Red Cross news, keep an eye on our main website: www.oregonredcross.org. We just added an international tab to the news section.

We're A World Watchdog!

For the second year in a row, Cross Blog has made the list of the Top 50 Human Rights blogs.

Now I'm not 100% sure that we deserve this honor, but we do our best to take on topics like International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions. We even try to make these things a little more fun and relevant.

Look for us at #20 on the list (under the International Outreach section), and thanks to the e-Justice blog for thinking of us!

The Red Cross Role In Inauguration Events

Did you know that the American Red Cross has been supporting presidential inaugurations since 1909?

This year is no exception; the District of Columbia has again requested the help of the Red Cross as the inauguration approaches.

As you know, the Red Cross has a long history of accepting requests from public safety officials to assist at large gatherings of people. The first responsibility is to support the local, state and federal authorities that are planning and coordinating the inaugural events. The National Capital Area Chapter (and many surrounding chapters) will be leading the efforts by providing meals, snacks, and drinks to law enforcement and first responders during the inauguration. More than 300 Red Cross workers will be on hand to help with these efforts.

The Chapter is also deploying multiple "Go Teams" to provide assistance to the hundreds of thousand of visitors expected on the National Mall. These teams, trained in CPR and first aid, will be the "eyes and ears" of first responders. They will move through the crowd, ready to identify those who are sick, injured or beginning to suffer from the cold. They can also direct people to aid stations and help with lost children.

Finally, we've been in close coordination with local, state and federal authorities as the response community plans for the inauguration. Red Cross national headquarters (also located in D.C.) has a Level V disaster operations team prepared to respond to any man-made emergencies or natural disasters that may occur during the inauguration.

If you're one of the lucky ones who gets to attend on January 20, try to snap a pic for us if you spot a Red Crosser!

Disaster Alert: Northwest Floods

I just got the following note in my e-mail and thought it was worth sharing:

Lise --Right now is the worst part for the flood victims in Washington and Oregon -- the days just after the disaster.

Flooding forced people from their homes, destroyed buildings, ruined personal belongings and upended families’ lives. As the flood waters recede, hope and dreams feel like they’ve drifted away.

Your American Red Cross is on the scene providing relief to the victims. Volunteers and employees have opened shelters, are providing food and disaster relief kits, and, most importantly, are serving as a shoulder to lean on.

We’re not going to leave the Northwest flood victims behind. But we need your help to do the job. Help disaster victims with a gift to the Disaster Relief Fund today.

american.redcross.org/floodrelief

Your gift to the Disaster Relief Fund provides vital supplies and services like food, warm shelter and mental health counseling that Northwest flood victims need.

Lives can change forever from a disaster like the Northwest floods but with your help, they won’t have to. Whatever amount you can afford to give today will help change lives.

Best,

Joe Becker
Senior Vice President, Disaster Services
American Red Cross

Photo courtesy of KGW.com

Disaster Action Team Responses

A family of 4 had a fire in their apartment in Tualatin, on Jan. 12. When the American Red Cross volunteers arrived, the family did have a new apartment to move into, but did need Red Cross assistance. The volunteers assisted the family with:

--A client assistance card to shop for food, bedding, clothing, and a storage container.

--Child comfort kits containing shampoo, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, soap,
Kleenex, coloring book and crayons.

--Adult comfort kits containing shampoo, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, soap,
Kleenex and a razor.

Headed To The Inauguration?

Word on the street is that something big is happening in D.C. on January 20. An inauguration, perhaps?

I actually have a personal connection to the event -- my mom and brother have tickets and have talked of nothing else for the past few weeks. Since I want them (and you!) to be safe and sound, I thought I'd share these great inauguration tips from the national Red Cross folks.

Here are just a few:

• Wear warm, comfortable shoes because you will probably be standing for a long time and walking long distances.
• Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. When possible, dress in layers.
• Have cash with you to purchase food and drink, and pay for mass transit tickets and parking.
• If you take any medications, bring it with you because there will be delays in getting to and from events.
• If you are driving, be sure to have a full tank of gas before you leave. Otherwise you may become stranded while waiting in traffic.
• Be aware that it may be difficult to talk or send pictures from your cell phone. Send text messages instead of making calls whenever possible.

For more helpful inauguration-related links, visit Red Cross Chat.

Prepare-aphernalia: A New Wind/Solar Charger

This new solar/wind charger is being marketed as a "green gadget," but of course when I see it I think disaster kit. 

If you - like me - have a potenially-life-saving iPhone, this could be the solution for keeping it charged during a power outage.  Unlike many other cell phone charger devices, the K2 Charger has the USB ports your iPhone needs (and mini-USB ports for you funny folks who still prefer your Blackberries). It appears that other adapters are available as well - potentially making this the emergency charger for all your devices.

The only thing it's missing is a crank. That would make it the ultimate.

The K2 Charger is still in production, which means you can't buy it quite yet. But keep an eye on the manufacturer's website. 

Hat-tip to Mental Floss

Jack Bauer: Violating Geneva Conventions

Totally forgot to add one more 24/Red Cross connection...

Remember the beginning of the episode when Jack Bauer is seated in front of a senate committee, talking about human rights violations committed by his former employer -- CTU?

Jack doesn't seem particularly remorseful about the whole thing. In fact, he claims he only did what was necessary to prevent terrorists from killing innocent people.

But is that an excuse for violating the Geneva Conventions that we at the Red Cross have a mandate to teach? I think not. As much as I'm a fan of Jack Bauer, I think he might need a refresher course on International Humanitarian Law. Good thing we'll be offering one in a few weeks...details coming soon!

I will say that there have been very real concerns about the impact that torture on the show has on real life. If you're interested in reading more about this topic -- including how Guantánamo lawyers charged with devising interrogation techniques were said to be inspired by the exploits of Jack Bauer -- check these articles out:

Whatever It Takes: The politics of the man behind “24.”, The New Yorker

Creator of ‘24′ Defends Portrayal of Torture, Wall Street Journal

US military tells Jack Bauer: Cut out the torture scenes ... or else!, The Independent

Top Bush aides pushed for Guantánamo torture, The Guardian

24: A "Made For TV" Disaster

I'll admit it -- I've been a loyal watcher of 24 since the very first season when Kim was kidnapped after partying with those boys. Yeah, that's right; the amnesia and mountain lion season. And even after all that, I still have watched it ever since.

Last year I was about to give up and I kind of thought that I might just let this year go entirely...but like millions of others, I tuned in last night, only to see what could be a real disaster unfold.

If I understood all the jargon correctly, the CIP module could bring down the government's firewalls...for everything. Air traffic control, the power grid, the water system, etc... As they explained, huge swathes of the country could be without power, leading to riots and civil unrest. Water wouldn't be drinkable (no "potable watable," as a couple of my Red Cross friends would say), leading to all sorts of disease. And, as we saw last night, there could be plane crashes all over the place.

So what would this mean for the Red Cross? Well, we'd be providing emotional support to families of plane crash victims, we'd be making sure people knew what to do when the power's out and reminding people that they should have bought a WaterBOB (or at least had 1 gallon of water each day per family member), just in case.

We'd also be sharing these tips about terrorism, which -- bottom line -- is exactly what 24 is about.

Maybe one day Exec. Producer Keifer Sutherland will see fit to include the Red Cross in 24's disaster response vs. just those consistently crooked government agencies. You listening, Keifer?

Jan. 9: What We've Been Up To

Since things are still busy around the Chapter, I thought I'd give a little rundown on what we've been up to today.

First, as I alluded to yesterday, we wound up bringing blankets over to about 120 stranded travelers at Portland's Greyhound station.

Around noon, we closed the shelter in Clatskanie. We hadn't had anyone overnight (and only two people the day before), so the timing was right. Of course, if anyone in the area still has needs as a result of the flooding, they can call the Chapter (503-284-1234) at any time for assistance.

Then, we got a call for help with the flood response in Washington. We've since deployed one of my very favorite volunteers up to Tacoma to help.

And finally, we're now sending out volunteer teams to do a little damage assessment. We want to make sure we've identified all the homes in places like Clackamas County that could use our help, so we're driving through the neighborhoods to check out the damage. If we find more people in need, we'll be able to get started on client casework.

P.S. Just because it's Friday, don't think our work is over. We keep an eye on the weather and help those who need assistance 24/7.

Excitement in the Air

Whirly Bird Action

Yesterday was an exciting day for Red Cross Blood Services. Leave it to Eileen Cahill and Neil Heiniman of Hospital Services to negotiate a Coast Guard Chopper for delivery of blood products to Grey's Harbour Medical Center and Willapa Medical Center in the flood affected zone of Washington state. As the chopper flew off the Legacy Emanual Helipad, there was a feeling of absoulte pride to work for an organization like the American Red Cross!

Steve Stegeman, CEO said, “The Coast Guard pilots and crew are true heroes. But there are also other heroes involved. They are the nearly 5,000 donors per week who roll up their sleeves to donate blood. Because of their generosity, there was blood available for transport in the first place, but we must stay vigilant and prepared for the next emergency. If it has been a while since your last donation, call 1-800-GIVE LIFE to schedule an appointment.”

Planting Trees For Disaster Prevention

Here in eco-conscious Portland I'm constantly talking to people about the link between sustainability and disaster preparedness. 

As the landscape changes, certain areas are becoming more vulnerable to disasters. We at the Red Cross are preparing for this. 

It's rarely an easy task. Here's one example of how the Red Cross is taking action in the crossroads between sustainability and disaster prevention:

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Red Cross is helping to replant trees in this once forest-rich country in a bid to curb floods and landslides worsened by decades of deforestation.

With food production remaining a crucial issue, however, the pressure from farmers to plant crops among the seedlings could threaten the success of the process. The project is supported by the Norwegian Red Cross through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as part of community-based disaster preparedness work in dozens of ri or grassroots communities. 

Read the whole article here.

Friday Photo Find! Check your "smoke alarm."

I saw this the other day on the "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks and had to share it with you. 

What could it mean???

Inauguration Day: This Time, It's FUN...

[Tom McCann is a volunteer for the Oregon Trail Chapter]

Jan. 9, 2005, Washington, D.C. George W. Bush will take the oath of office for his second term on Jan. 20. And I'm in town, although not necessarily for the festivities.

I'm a Public Affairs responder from the Oregon Trail Chapter, and I've just arrived in town for an assignment at the Disaster Operations Center at NHQ, helping out in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. I've come all the way from Portland for my first ever visit to the new Headquarters and, because I'm working the overnight shift, will be back at my hotel asleep while all of the Inauguration Day events are occurring. At least I won't have to fight the crowds on the Metro...

Fast forward four years...

Jan. 9, 2009. I'm going to the Inauguration!!!. This time I don't have to work at the DOC, although I will be up most of the night before. I'm going to D.C. to march in the Inauguration Parade with the Get A Life Marching Band from Portland. Together with about 100 other assorted Oregonians (plus a few others from Washington State, Arizona, South Dakota, Ohio and Florida), I'll march up Pennsylvania Avenue past President Barack Obama, the other assembled dignitaries, and the estimated four million visitors in town for this historic occasion.

We're an eclectic group, the Get A Life Marching Band. Our members range in age from their 20s to their 60s. We marched in high school, in college, in the military. We come from all walks of life (our ranks include a funeral home director who is also the Mayor of Sheridan, Ore.; an airline flight attendant; and even a travel agent, who is invaluable for planning this trip). Our music ranges from rock and funk to jazz and show tunes, with the occasional Sousa march thrown in.

We're the only group from Oregon selected from nearly 1,400 entries, and we almost didn't get invited at all. We missed the original cut, but made the alternates list. And when another group had to cancel, the Presidential Inauguration Committee called us.

We're staying in Philadelphia to avoid the crowds. We have to hit the road by motorcoach at 4:00 a.m. Jan. 20 for the three-hour-plus ride to D.C. We have to pass through massive security screening. We have to brave the winter cold. We have to walk about two miles just to reach the parade start line. THEN, we get to march 1.6 miles, performing all the way. BUT IT'S WORTH IT, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO THE INAUGURATION!!!

When you hear the strains of "We're An American Band" and "Louie Louie" swelling up above the crowd, you'll know we've reached the reviewing stand and are playing our hearts out to represent Oregon. And I STILL won't have to fight the crowds on the Metro...

Disaster Responses

Since De. 28, 2008 the American Red Cross volunteers have helped 17 households, 38 adults, and 23 children, with motel, food, clothing, medications, emotional needs who were affected by the floods and landslides in Clackamas, Clatsop, Multnomah, and Washington Counties.
Between Jan 1, 2009 and Jan. 9, 2009 the American Red Cross Volunteers in Columbia and Washington Counties have responded to four single family fires. The volunteers assisted 10 adults with food, clothing, motel and medications.

Jan. 8: What We've Been Up to

Did you hear the wind last night? It was CRAZY. I thought for sure my power was going to go out...at least I would have been prepared with these tips.

But even though the storm didn't hit Oregon has hard as expected (see here and here), it hit Washington with a vengeance. Not sure what the weather has against Washingtonians, but the Red Cross has opened a whopping 24 shelters in the state.

Here in Oregon, things are a little more low-key. We opened one shelter in Clatskanie and though there were two clients that stopped by in the morning, they were both gone by noon. There's a possibility that more people will stop by once they leave work and the shelter will definitely be open through the night. All told, there are around 80 people who could potentially be affected by flooding in the immediate area, so it could be a busy place.

Since New Year's, we've had several calls from one apartment complex in Clackamas County along Lake Road. And, to date, we've been able to help out 13 of 20 apartments, each of which has anywhere from 3-20" inches of water inside. We're giving the residents a week in a hotel, which should provide an opportunity for their apartments to dry out.

I can't talk about the last response just yet, but it has to do with stranded travelers. With I-5 into Washington closed, there are lots of people stuck in Portland for longer than anticipated and it's looking like we'll be tapped to help them out.

So, all in all, a busy day here at the Oregon Trail Chapter. But not nearly as busy as our friends up in Washington -- good luck to them in their flood recovery efforts.

Photo courtesy of Bruce Ely/The Oregonian

The Definitive History of the Red Cross

Interested in some compelling reading? I received "Dunant's Dream" from my brother over the holidays and just cracked open the covers. It promises to be an incredibly comprehensive account of the largest humanitarian organization in the world. While covering many major conflicts across the globe, Caroline Moorehead manages to find inspirational and personal ways of explaining the roots of the Red Cross. Also included: pretty picture insertions.

Photo courtesy of quakerbooks.org

Is Your House A Fire Hazard?

Was your house built before World War II? Does it have a "balloon frame" -- fashioned from two-by-fours that extend through the full two or three stories?

If so, watch out.

According to this article, in a balloon frame house there's space between the interior and exterior walls...a space in which flames can race from the basement to the attic in a matter of moments.

As one fire chief says, they've been "the nemesis of firefighters for many, many years."

I'm not 100% percent sure about the prevalence of balloon-frame houses here in Oregon, but there are supposedly tens of thousands of these homes in the United States. According to the article, today's homes are built with platform or western framing, where interior wall spaces are eliminated and each floor is sealed off from other floors.

It should be noted that older homes are not necessarily more dangerous than newer ones; the article mentions synthetic materials in newer homes and features such as high-ceilinged "great rooms" that can pose fire risks. New homes may also contain lots of plastics and smaller, lighter materials that run the risk of buring faster.

So what can you do to prevent a home fire? Add a smoke detector on every floor and consider a carbon monoxide detector. Also check out these tips for fire safety.

The Red Cross will be there to respond when home fires happens, but we'd much rather you be safe in the first place!

Thanks to our friend @carolARC for passing along this fascinating article!

DIY: Organize Your First Aid Supplies

All the gauze rolls in the world won't do you a bit of good if you've got them hidden in the back of your bathroom cabinet under three bottles of cough syrup. 

Er, I'm not saying that's what my bathroom cabinets looked like... Okay I am. But last night I came up with a handy DIY solution:

- Take a couple of those boxes that have been waiting to be recycled since the holidays, and fold down the flaps (or just cut them off).

- Wrap them in pretty colored paper.

- Label one "Cold & Flu" and the other "First Aid." (I also decorated mine with photos just for fun.)

Now you've got a couple of neatly organized "drawers" to put in your cabinet. Bonus: you can grab that whole First Aid box and carry it right to the scene of the injury.