Worldwide Wednesday Thursday Wrap-Up

Eek, sorry guys. I was at a conference for the first couple days of this week, so my internal calendar has been thrown off. I didn't realize yesterday was Wednesday until it was over.

So here it is, a day late - the Worldwide Wednesday Thursday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you...

[The place names link to maps so that you can get a quick idea of the region.]

SWINE FLU: Red Cross and Red Crescent societies throughout the world are stepping up activities to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu. Many - like the American Red Cross - are providing health information and working closely with government officials. 

The Italian Red Cross has activated two task forces specialized in the triage of passengers arriving at Italian airports. 

The Mexican Red Cross has trained volunteers to identify the symptoms, as they will be in the front line providing care. Mexican Red Crossers are also distributing 200,000 posters and 2 million leaflets to inform people about the flu.

ITALY: Some 750 Red Cross volunteers from all over Italy have been working in shifts since the earthquake occurred in L'Aquila, and an additional 2,500 are available to be deployed in the coming months.

IRAQ: The ICRC is still busy reintegrating disabled people into society, supporting physical rehabilitation centers, providing emergency assistance for explosion victims, improving water supplies and health care, clarifying what happened to missing people, visiting detainees, and spreading knowledge of international humanitarian law.

SRI LANKA: Thousands of civilians are still trapped and at risk.

HAITI: The Haitian Red Cross is fighting malaria in this cyclone-prone region with outreach, education and thousands of mosquito nets.

AFGHANISTAN: The Afghan Red Crescent Society is still helping people recover from flash flooding in Herat - providing medical assistance, tents, and other supplies to this area where 150 wells were destroyed and more than a thousand farm animals died.

PAKISTAN: The ICRC has opened a surgical hospital for weapon-wounded in North-West Pakistan.

GLOSSARY:
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

CPR4LGBTQ: Do You Know What It Means?

Before you Red Dress, Red Cross!

This Saturday, the Oregon Trail Chapter will offer the first in a new series of classes: CPR4LGBTQ. Held in the comfortable, casual “living room” at Q Center, these classes are aimed at – and taught by – members of the LGBTQ community. In fact, $5 of every registration goes back to supporting Q Center.

While HIV/AIDS and breast cancer continue to be hot topics within the LGBTQ community, heart health and safety affects all Oregonians. The more people trained in CPR – gay, straight, married or single – the more lives saved. Sign up now!

Image courtesy of Lorraine Cink

Earthquake Drill!

We practice the preparedness we preach here at the Red Cross. 

Today - the final day of Earthquake Preparedness Month - our AmeriCorps team surprised us with the annual office earthquake drill.

Most folks employed the Drop, Cover, Hold On method. A few used the alternative crouch-next-to-an-interior-wall technique. Nearly all survived.

Here's the 30-second video recap:

For more info on earthquake prep, go to www.oregonredcross.org/earthquakes.

Flickr Finds: The Flu Tap

No more fist bump, now it's the flu tap. Thanks @newmediajim!

We Love Taxes!

Honest, we really do. But not until 2009.

That's when your Oregon Red Cross will (finally!) appear in the tax booklet, allowing you to check off that you'd really like to donate a portion of your refund to us. And you would, wouldn't you? I mean, we're here saving and rebuilding lives every day...don't you want to help?

Geting on the tax forms wasn't an easy project. We enlisted the help of Red Cross chapters around the state, our friends in Blood Services, attendees at every one of our Health & Safety classes and many more. And, little by little, bit by bit, we were able to land an incredible 10,000 SIGNATURES.

So THANK YOU to everyone who worked hard to make this happen, particularly the indomitable Darcie Spar. We'll look forward to seeing you make that little check mark next spring!

Image courtesy of 427

Face Mask Fashion

Staying safe doesn't have to mean giving up your sense of humor.

In Mexico, people are embracing "face mask fashion," doodling and drawing on basic blue surgical masks. Really, when everyone around you is wearing a mask, how else can you differentiate yourself?

If you want to see how people have pimped their masks, check out this gallery. Want more? Happy to help.

For the latest info about H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu), click here. And if you're interested in getting a mask of your very own, we've got one.

Swine Flu And You: 3 Secret Ingredients For Preparedness

After posting today's official swine flu preparedness tips (please read the full list), I thought I should share with you my own three key ingredients for shooing away the flu: elbows, bendy straws, and the "Happy Birthday" song.

Elbows

Nowadays they teach elementary school kids to sneeze into their elbows, but many adults still use their hands. Think about it. You’re not going to pick up many things with your elbows, right?

Bendy Straws 

For me, an essential emergency kit item. If you do happen to get sick (whether with flu or even just Spring allergies), you will want bendy straws. Yes, they are the lazy man's straw. And when I'm under-the-weather, the less I have to move the better. 

The "Happy Birthday" song

Washing your hands doesn’t have to be a burden. In fact, it can be fun. Humming a complete renditon of “Happy Birthay” while washing will not only entertain your stall mates, but also ensure that you’ve lathered long enough to get rid of most germs.

And there you go - the three secrets to staying well and getting well. (Again, read the full official list here.)

From Halibut to Hazelnut

Housemade ravioli with roasted beets, local goat cheese and horseradish cream.

Halibut cheeks ‘picatta' with quanciale, lemon and capers, accompanied by salt cod mashed potatoes.

Hazelnut brown butter cake with bittersweet chocolate and apricot sauces.

Oh, and lots and lots of wine.

Sounds delicious, right? Well, on May 6, that's exactly the meal* you could be enjoying at the Daily Cafe in the Pearl. And not only will it taste good, it'll feel good because you're helping the Red Cross.

That's right, $10 of the Cooks, Corks & Co-Conspirators dinner price ($70) will be donated to us, along with 15% of all art sales during the month of May. The featured artist is Erika James, who does wonderfully simple and modern encaustic work.

Reservations need to be in by May 4, so contact Andrea Sherman at 503.706.8627 or dailycafeinthepearl@mac.com. For more information about this event and the fun "Partnership Project" with Neighborhood Notes, click here.

* A vegetarian/vegan option is available. Please request at time of reservation.

Swine Flu And You: More Ways To Prepare

Today the Red Cross released our official recommendations for swine flu preparedness. It's a good checklist for staying healthy and being ready should you need to take a few sick days. 

Stay Healthy

The Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are offering the following tips to ensure you stay healthy:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective when soap and water aren’t available.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Influenza (flu) is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Consult your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of the flu, such as:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Extreme tiredness
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea

For more information, see the Red Cross Flu Checklist.

Prepare for Potential Flu Outbreak
Stocking extra food, water and supplies at home will reduce the need to go out should swine flu become more widespread, thereby limiting potential for exposure to the virus. If a person does get sick and has extra supplies on hand, they will help reduce the spread of the flu by staying home.

• Store a two-week supply of food, water and household necessities (such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc.). Select foods that are easy to prepare and store. 
• Store one gallon of water per person per day in clean plastic containers. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
• Insure that formula for infants and any child’s or older person’s special nutritional needs are a part of your planning. Store an extra supply of food for your pets.
• Make sure you have an adequate supply of essential medications and medical items for all family members.

The Red Cross recommends you take this opportunity to prepare your family for any disaster by getting a preparedness kit, making a plan and being informed. More information is available on the Red Cross Web site.

Up-to-the-minute updates on the swine flu can be found at the CDC Web site. People seeking information on human swine flu should visit the CDC Web site or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

Fire Preparedness by the Numbers...

Following up to the post on the Oregon Trail Chapter's weekend mitigation project, here's a more numerical layout of what the Red Cross accomplished during the Hazelwood and Mill Park event:

• Total number of households visited: 1,136
• Total number of people talked to: 605
• Number of first aid kits distributed: 425
• Number of smoke alarms distributed: 120
• Number of batteries distributed: 46
• Total number of people volunteering: 79

This means that of the 1,136 households we approached, our awesome staff and volunteer workers talked to 53% of the residents!

For our chapter, it isn't enough to just send out preparedness literature...we decided to hit the streets and speak one-by-one to residents to ensure the message was given out...and clearly, the legwork paid off!

I heard stories of apartment managers updating smoke detectors, talking to renters and clearing pathways for fire exits as a response to our call for preparedness. One group even provided assistance to residents who had never once used a smoke alarm!

There are many fantastic photos from the weekend (available on our Flickr site), but here's just one example of dedicated individuals working to prevent disasters one household at a time:

Friends James and Jason stop for a quick photo (note the smoke alarm and first aid kit)

Cheap Ice Cream Alert!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream...especially when it's just 31 cents.

If you head over to participating Baskin Robbins' stores tonight from 5-10 p.m., you can get your own small scoop for a bargain basement price.

What's more, you can help our nation's firefighters -- the men and women who work side-by-side with the American Red Cross every day.

Besides making a $100,000 donation to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program, B-R also suggests 7 fire safety tips. How could we not want to celebrate!?!?

Personally, I never need an excuse to eat ice cream, but if YOU do...shouldn't this be it?

Disaster Action Team Responses

On April 24, a family had a fire in their mobile home in Boardman. The family lost everything they own in the fire. The American Red Cross volunteers from Morrow County arrived, and assisted the one adult and 2 children with the following:

--Lodging in a nearby motel.
--A client assistance card to shop for food, and clothing.
--An adult comfort kit containing razor, shampoo, washcloth, comb. toothbrush, toothpaste,
soap, and Kleenex.
--Child comfort kits containing shampoo, washcloth, comb, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste,
Kleenex, coloring book and crayons.

On April 24, a family had a fire in Oregon City. The family of 4 stayed with friends family after the fire. One adult on April 27, realized he need Red Cross assistance. When the American Red Cross volunteers arrived, they assisted the adult with:

--Lodging in a nearby motel.
--Client assistance card to shop for food and clothing.

On April 27, a family had a fire in their home in Astoria. When the Clatsop County Red Cross volunteers arrived they assisted the 2 adults and 3 teens with the following:

--Lodging in a nearby motel.
--A client assistance card to shop for food, clothing and coats.
--Comfort Kits for the five members of the family.

Swine Flu and You.

The recent news on Mexico's virulent flu strain is important to publicize. Public health depends not just on the preparedness of first responders and hospitals, but individuals taking initiative in their community as well. Our chapter has circulated this message on the situation:

On Sunday, President Obama declared a public health emergency because of the human cases of a new strain of swine influenza infection that has been identified in Mexico, the United States and several other countries with an apparent ability to spread from person to person like seasonal influenza. The emergency declaration sounds more severe than it really is. Much like the emergency declaration made before a hurricane may make landfall, the emergency declaration allows the government to free up federal, state and local agencies and their resources for preventions and mitigations.

The CDC recommends following protective measures:

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
4. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
5. If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

At this time there are no known cases in Oregon, hospitals haven’t reported an increase in serious respiratory illness, and seasonal influenza cases are declining. That being said, routine prevention efforts are extremely important in decreasing the likelihood of the spread of diseases, including swine influenza.

We are following the guidance from the CDC seriously and advocate others to stay home if you are feeling sick. If you come into the office and are sick, your supervisor should send you home.

Here is the official American Red Cross message on swine flu. “We are monitoring the situation with our partners at the federal, state, county and city levels and we are encouraging people to follow prevention message from the CDC.” Please visit http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ for the CDC’s information on swine flu.

Photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com

Meet Floyd Pitts, Chief Diversity Officer

This morning, we had a very special visit. Floyd Pitts, Chief Diversity Officer for the American Red Cross, stopped by our chapter and hosted a roundtable discussion about diversity and his plans for the future.

Oh, and with just five months on the job, we're the FIRST CHAPTER HE'S EVER VISITED. Awesome.

While there were many stories shared by Floyd and the bevy of well-connected community leaders in attendance, there was one in particular that stood out.

Floyd told of trying to get his peers -- African-American men in their 50's -- to give blood. But after a little thought, he realized that trying to get this group to change their habits was nearly impossible. Sure, he might convince a person or two, but that was about it.

Instead, he realized, he should focus on youth. Cultivating good habits like donating blood in high school paves the way for an entire generation of 50 year olds to be future blood donors. Much better than convincing a person or two, don't you think?

Diversity. Youth. Energy. Excitement. If you were there to hear Floyd speak, what impressed you?

See photos from the roundtable below or right here.

Helping Out In Hazelwood

Well, we did it.

Over the weekend, dozens of Red Crossers headed to outer SE Portland's Hazelwood and Mill Park neighborhoods with a message of preparedness. And residents heard it loud and clear.

We literally went door-to-door, knocking and talking with people to gauge the safety of their home. We asked whether they had smoke detectors (one for each bedroom and level of the home; don't forget about basements and garages!); if they knew how to use a fire extinguisher; whether they had a first aid kit and had been trained in CPR and much more.

Depending on their answers, we handed out free smoke detectors, batteries and first aid kits, along with basic emergency preparedness info and a coupon for 50% off a CPR class.

Personally, I found the experience to be incredibly rewarding. Many, if not most, people opened their doors to us and were excited to tell us how prepared they were. A few shared their own stories of house fires and damage they'd seen. All recognized and appreciated what we were there to do.

But perhaps most impressive is something that happened before we even arrived. After receiving letters saying that we were coming to the neighborhood, landlords stepped up to the plate, replacing smoke alarms and removing obstructions. By the time we knocked, many apartments no longer needed as much assistance from us.

We accomplished all of this -- not with threats and dire warnings -- but with communication and conversation on a one-to-one level.

THANK YOU, Hazelwood and Mill Park, for welcoming us into your homes!

See the photos from the experience below or right here.

Myth-Busting: Blood Donor Eligibility and Blood Pressure

Q: I have low/high blood pressure; am I eligible to donate blood?

A: Depending...read on!

According to the Red Cross Blood Eligibility Guidelines, people with high blood pressure still might be able to donate blood if their blood pressure is below 180 systolic (first number) and below 100 diastolic (second number) at the time of their blood donation appointment. Medications for high blood pressure do not necessarily disqualify someone from donating blood. Check out this website for tips on how to lower high blood pressure.

People with low blood pressure might also be eligible to donate blood as long as they are feeling well at the time of their donation. Drinking lots of water before and after donating will help their bodies adjust to the volume loss of blood (a good tip for anyone donating blood).

Photo courtesy of House of Sims on Flickr

Preparing Our Neighbors...

This weekend, Red Cross staff and volunteers will be delivering the message of preparedness and prevention through our "Together We Prepare Hazelwood and Mill Park" project. In order to best serve neighborhoods with the highest frequency of Red Cross disaster response, our CEO believed some disaster prevention strategies were necessary. The result? A coordinated effort to bring safety materials and information to these targeted areas with the hope of better preparing individuals.

Last year, the Portland Red Cross chose the Humboldt neighborhood for its project, this year, we picked SE Portland for a Hazelwood and Mill Park event. To get an idea of what the project looks like, check out the video from last year's event below and visit our Flickr page at this link.

Best Logo In The World?

There's a debate raging on the blog Overthinking It, and you won't want to miss out on what's sure to be an earth-shattering outcome -- the determination of the best logo in the world.

Among the competitors are Starbucks, Sun Microsystems and, of course, your very own Red Cross.

The reasons we get props? The red cross can't be mistaken for anything, it appears everywhere (including the health packs in video games) and, well, it's the RED CROSS and it's life-saving.

I've heard it described as the only logo that can protect your life on a battlefield, which makes it awe-inspiring, indeed. And, just because I adore this blog post, here's a little more info about our logo.

What do you think? Does the Red Cross have the best logo in the world? Go here and click through the other candidates to vote at the very end.

Flickr Find: Another (Cute) Blood Hero

It seems we've had a couple Flickr Finds this week of cute boys who donate blood. This guy's name is Kevin Farris, and guess what? He's from Portland, Oregon!

According to Kevin's photo caption on his Flickr page, he gave a Double Red Cell (DRC) donation for the first time yesterday. With type O- blood, he's also considered a "Universal Donor" because people of all blood types can receive transfusions of O- blood. This means that Kevin's blood type is particularly important in emergency situations when there is not enough time to figure out the recipient's blood type before a transfusion.

The photo posted here is pretty small. Check out a better version on Kevin's Flickr account here. Thanks to Kevin for saving up to 6 lives with his Double Red Cell donation AND for being a super cute advocate of blood donation!

Hey! Like free stuff that saves your life?

If you answered no to this...you may want to seek professional help.

The point of this post is, for qualifying individuals (senior citizens and those with disabilities or lower incomes), the Portland Fire Department will not only provide but also deliver and install smoke alarms free of charge! Contact the fire department at 503.288.0130 to find out if you qualify!

Even if you don't qualify, check to see that you have alarms with a hush feature and a ten-year battery in every bedroom and level of your residence. If not, your leaser must legally provide them to you, so guess what? You still score the free alarms!! Confronting this topic with your manager shouldn't be awkward either, since they tend to care whether or not their properties burn down!

If you are a home owner and don't qualify for free smoke detectors, please consider a visit to your local hardware store. The alarms are fairly inexpensive (many usnder $20) and provide your home with a simple but critical service.

Artwork courtesy of www.tendringdc.gov.uk

Fashion Finds: Spring REDecorating

Has spring fever got you itching to redecorate? Well,  here are some sanguine selections for updating your abode...

The Blood Bucket Lamp. Just the thing to add a splash of color to any room.

Too gory? Okay how about something a little more subdued. Ork Posters used to just do neighborhood art, but it seems they've now branched into bio-med with their new "Gotta Have Heart" print. 

Here's hoping they decide to do an artful diagram of an AED so I can hang the two posters next to one another in the office! 

P.S. Thanks to the eagle eyes of my friends and colleagues who send me links to this kind of weird stuff.

Flickr Find: Our Hero

Okay, so this flickr photo has embedding disabled so I can't post it here, but you should click this link to check it out. 

This photographer has decided to take a photo of himself every day for a year. A cool project in itself, but what's even cooler is that so far three of those days have featured him donating blood. And to top it off, he wears a super cool shirt on his donation days. It says:

Hero [hee-ro]

- noun, plural -roes; 

1. a person of distinguished courage or ability admired for doing brave deeds and having noble qualities.

Ex: I am a hero. I gave blood.

How The Red Cross Thinks Green

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd post a few ways the Red Cross is responding to global climate change:

The Climate Center (er, I mean Centre)

Yes, we have an international Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre.  Their mission is to support projects aimed at reducing the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on vulnerable people. (It's spelled "centre" because it's a global effort based in the Netherlands where they like to spell things all cool like that. For more from the American Red Cross on these efforts, read the position paper released last year.)

Multi-Tasking

Projects like planting trees to prevent landslides in Korea serve dual purposes -  improving the environment while helping to avert disasters. 

Thinking Local

We all know that saving the world starts at home. That's why our National Headquarters is hosting an Earth Day Fair. 

We may not be Captain Planet, but we're hoping that with all these efforts combined we can make a difference. 

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you...

[The place names link to maps so that you can get a quick idea of the region.]

SRI LANKA: The ICRC calls for exceptional precautionary measures to minimize further bloodshed in "no-fire zone," calling the situation catastrophic.

SUDAN: The ICRC is responding to a meningitis outbreak in Darfur. 

BURKINA FASO: The Burkinabe Red Cross Society has deployed 900 volunteers to inform communities about how to protect against the simultaneous meningitis and measles epidemics sweeping the country. 

COMOROS ISLANDS, PANAMA, MALTA, and KAZAKHSTAN: The Empress Shôken Fund is granting more than $130,000 for Red Cross/Red Crescent Society projects aimed at supporting blood donation in the Comoros Islands, helping migrants in Malta, preparing people for disasters in Panama, and strengthening finance management in Kazakhstan.

INDONESIA: Nearly 500 young people are learning to earn a living after losing nearly everything in the 2004 tsunami. They're enrolled in this vocational training program provided by the American Red Cross and the Indonesian Red Cross. 

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross

IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Drill-a In Umatilla

This month, we've been busy with lots of drills; testing our capacity to respond to disasters around the state. Yesterday there was one out in Umatilla...here's a recap:

(BTW, we have to start all drill-related messages like this -- EXERCISE * EXERCISE * EXERCISE)

The Oregon Trail Chapter opened two shelters, supported two assistance centers and three emergency operations centers as part of the annual CSEPP exercise. The chemical emergency resulted in a "shelter-in-place" order for residents around the Umatilla Chemical Depot, followed by a self-evacuation.

Shelters were opened in Pendleton with our partner, the Salvation Army, and in Heppner at the Heppner High School. Two assistance centers were established to receive evacuees, perform decontamination, process welfare inquiry information and direct evacuees to shelters in the area.

The Emergency Kitchen Response Vehicle (EKRV) was set up at the Umatilla County Justice Center and meals were provided to the Umatilla Tribal Emergency Operations Center, Tribal Assistance Center, Umatilla County Emergency Operations Center and the operations headquarters in the Pendleton office.

There were many players in this drill, including volunteers and staff from the Willamette Chapter, Columbia River District and the Red Cross of King and Kitsap Counties. But very extra special thanks goes to the Northeastern Oregon District, who covers this territory and did a ton of the work.

Thanks to all of the outstanding Red Crossers who helped make this drill a success!

Deferred!? Rejection!

Last week my mom and I made appointments to donate blood together. Give blood, then "re-hydrate date" at Trebol's happy hour. Fun!

Except for one little thing: I'm deferred from donating right now! Duh. I didn't even realize I might be deferred until yesterday when I was telling someone about my trip to South America last summer. When blood donors travel through malaria-risk areas, including parts of South America, they are automatically deferred from donating blood for up to 12 months after their trip. I guess I was thinking I've been back from S.A. for more than a year, but not quite.

To find out if I had traveled through malaria-risk areas, I referred to this interactive Malaria Risk Map on the CDC website. Sure enough, Iguazu Falls in northern Argentina (where I celebrated my 24th birthday) and parts of Peru (where I celebrated the 4th of July...sort of) are considered malaria-risk areas.

What a let down...

I'm a little sad about my deferral, although it's just temporary. But I won't let the disappointing news stop me from going to happy hour with my mom. After she gives blood, she'll still need to re-hydrate and eat some snacks to get her energy back. She'll definitely need water, but I'll have wine.

For facts about blood donor eligibility, including more information about malaria, click here.

Photo: Me having a great time at Iguazu Falls while maybe contracting malaria

Going Organic In Honor Of Earth Day

Today is Earth Day and I thought I'd do a little investigating and see what help the World Wide Web could give us when it comes to organic products for first aid and disaster kits.

First, I wanted to point you towards this article, written by a family who put together an all natural, organic first aid kit for their child. They included everything from aloe vera to vinegar and the article gives a little explanation of why each item is important and how it works.

Once the herbal part of the kit was complete, they took a look at the Red Cross recommendations and added things like bandages, hand sanitizer and gloves.

If you're part of a family that eats organic, steers away from medications and towards all things non-toxic, I highly recommend checking this out.

For those who aren't interested in putting a kit together themselves, I spotted two organic options that need supplementing, but could be a good place to start. From overseas, there's this one and from here in the states, here's another.

Looking for 100% organic items for your disaster kit? You might check this option out as well.

But no matter what you pursue, we strongly recommend starting with these instructions for putting together a disaster kit and a first aid kit. Just remember -- earth-friendly doesn't have to mean unprepared!

Meet Loki, The Camping Cat

Loki loved to go hiking and camping. By the time she was 6, she had been up and down the West Coast and seen everything from deserts to mountains.

This might not sound unusual...but, keep in mind, Loki is a Siamese cat.

Today's pet parents take their companions just about everywhere with them...from Crater Lake to the Oregon Sand Dunes. And one of the tips this article suggests is that -- aside from backpacks and tents and water bottles -- you should probably pack a copy of Pet First Aid.

You can buy the book from our store or you can also sign up for a class. Either way, if you're taking your pet into the wilderness, it pays to be prepared.

Image (but not of Loki) courtesy of Victor De Seekka.

Singles CPR: Calling All Men (Again)!

Real men know mouth-to-mouth.

That's why we need them to sign up for tomorrow night's Singles CPR class.

We ran the numbers and now more than half of the class attendees are women. So GUYS, this is a great opportunity for you to meet smart women who are (or will soon be) capable of saving your life.

Honestly, your odds are better to land a date at Singles CPR than to win the lottery. There's still time to sign up!

Image courtesy of Gabriela Camerotti

Sign (Language) Of The Times

The Oregon Red Cross likes to do things a little different. Whether it's Comedy or Singles CPR, we think outside the box...and it shows.

I got an e-mail this morning that pointed to yet another way that an Oregon chapter is "kicking it up a notch" when it comes to training. Check this out:

On April 11 & 13, the Willamette Chapter in Salem hosted our first ever all American Sign Language (ASL) Lay Responder Instructor Training. We had participants from the deaf community learning how to be CPR/First Aid instructors. Normally, we use interpreters for these classes.

The first day we went going over the book and the ins and outs of teaching. They all had current certifications in CPR/First Aid either through their workplace or by taking a class with an interpreter. We walked through the curriculum giving tips and pointers, had them do a bit of hands-on skills, answered questions, identified errors, etc.

Monday was set up to be a “mock” certification course. I invited students studying ASL at a local high school to be class participants for the instructor candidates. Since these students were hearing, they could voice questions and serve as interpreters. Everyone was informed that this was a practice day; the instructor candidates with their teaching and the students with their ASL language skills. The candidates had the opportunity to co-teach an entire Adult/Child/Infant CPR class and successfully certify the students in these skills.

The coolest thing about this partnership is that now these instructors can teach ASL CPR courses in their own community. And I speak from experience when I say that it's much easier to learn from a peer than someone who seems totally different. That's the same strategy behind CPR4LGBTQ -- we have an instructor whose actually a member of the LGBTQ community herself.

If you're ever interested in becoming a Red Cross instructor, you can! Find out more here.

Image courtesy of Stoichiometry.

"Big earthquake coming sooner than we thought..."

That's what the Oregonian headline says. And yes, they may be right. According to geologists it looks like the frequency of big (and I mean BIG) earthquakes in our neck of the woods is higher than previously thought. 

Intriguing news. And important for sure. But I have a question... Do predictions like this motivate you to get more prepared?

I'm just curious. I'm going to quote one of our favorite authors, Amanda Ripley, here: 

Yes, it is nice to know when the ground is about to shake and the sky is about to fall, but the hardest problem by far is what to do next—and how to motivate people to do it.

The final frontier is not picking a date for the apocalypse; it’s getting people to bolt their bookshelves to the walls and buy earthquake insurance in advance.

So what to you think? Do predictions motivate you? How about videos like this? If not, what do you think it would take?

Maybe we should do a poll...

Robots In Service To America

The year is 2165. Every AmeriCorps and VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) volunteer has been replaced by killer robots.

It's your job to save the world.

Long before President Obama proposed the Serve America Act (which he is scheduled to sign today!),  a humble VISTA volunteer right here in Portland envisioned a very different sort of restructuring for national service... RISTA: Robots In Service To America. 

This little computer game is more than just an excuse to destroy 8-bit robots, it may actually teach you a thing or two about how AmeriCorps and VISTA work. (Eek! I just used "game" and "teach" in the same sentence. I hope you're still reading after that! I promise it's not lame.) 

The actions are simple - use the arrow keys to move your adorable little volunteer around, and push the colored blocks to trap and crush robots. The concepts are more complex. My favorite? "Push green blocks in hole to accumulate grass roots donor funds." Yeah! You won't get that kind of action on your Xbox!

I See Dead People

It's hard to tell where this New Zealand Red Cross PSA is going at first, but it certainly catches your attention.

What kind of disaster do you think hit this community?

POP QUIZ!!

Do you need to take an International Humanitarian Law class? Take this quiz and find out...

1. The Red Lion and Sun:
A. Was a proposed symbol that was never adopted.
B. Was recognized by the Geneva Conventions but is no longer in use.
C. The what?!
D. Is used in Palestinian territory.

2. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies:
A. Only coordinates disaster assistance in developing countries.
B. Includes only those societies that need outside help.
C. Is funded by the United Nations.
D. Includes all National Societies.

3. The Fundamental Principle of Independence:
A. Means that no National Society may accept government funding.
B. Relieves National Societies of the need to follow local laws.
C. Means that National Societies must maintain their autonomy.
D. Means that chapters can act independently of their National Society.

4. The International Committee of the Red Cross:
A. Visits prisoners of war and other detainees.
B. Is a branch of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
C. Is the national Red Cross society of Switzerland.
D. Only hires Swiss citizens.

5. Restoring Family Links:
A. Is a corporate requirement for American Red Cross chapters.
B. Isn’t a program of the American Red Cross because Americans don’t need it.
C. Is operated exclusively by the ICRC.
D. Can only locate individuals for whom a current address is known.


Answers: 1-b, 2-d, 3-c, 4-a, 5-a

0-1 correct: You should definitely attend a class.
2-3 correct: Better, but you would still benefit from the class.
4-5 correct: Pretty good, but wouldn’t you like to learn even more?

ARC And NASCAR, Sitting In A Tree...

The American Red Cross and NASCAR are, like, thisclose.

We've talked about the relationship before and though I'm still not a fan of the sport, I acknowledge that more than a few Oregonians are.

With that, I feel it's my duty to remind you that NASCAR Day is coming up on May 15 and you'll want to get your celebratory pin now before they're all gone.

All you have to do is go here and buy a pin for $5...about half of which will be donated to the American Red Cross. You can also get 25 pins by becoming a "Crew Chief" and signing up your business.

If you're that winning combination of a fan of NASCAR AND the American Red Cross, you really can't miss out on this. Get your pin now!

A Lifetime of Volunteerism

We've got a celebrity in our midst.

Okay, not one of these guys, but a hero nonetheless. And we couldn't be happier to have her as part of our team.

Today, Ms. Antoinette Edwards, our chapter's absolutely phenomenal Diversity Director, was announced as the winner of Multnomah County's Gladys McCoy Award, honoring a lifetime of volunteer achievement. She's the 15th winner and she'll be honored next Monday in front of all the county commissioners.

The official press release describes her as such:

Antoinette is a tireless and passionate worker who has spent the past 20 years reaching out to the most vulnerable populations in our community. She typically has several projects going at any one time. Active is not a sufficient word to describe her commitment. Tenacious would be more appropriate.

For example, while stationed at Columbia Villa Resource Center she managed 21 on-site community groups aligning and coordinating services for low-income families. Antoinette also developed English as a second language classes to meet the needs of Russian, Asian, and Spanish speaking residents. Other projects include: the Jefferson Family Resource Center, Girls Empowerment Groups throughout NE Portland, the “Sister, I’m Sorry” discussion groups, and numerous Grandparent support groups to name a few.

Never shy or bashful, Ms. Edwards brings such enthusiasm and drive to succeed to each project she undertakes that one cannot help but admire her spirit to overcome any obstacle to succeed for low income and at risk families. This spirit was recognized in 2007 with her inclusion on the Women Making History in Portland Mural located on North Interstate.

If you aren't familiar, the Gladys McCoy Award was established in 1994 to honor those who have given outstanding service in the area of community service and citizen involvement. Antoinette’s name will appear on a plaque with past winners on permanent display in the Multnomah County Chair’s Office.

CONGRATULATIONS, ANTOINETTE!

Alex's Battle

The adorable, brave smile to the left belongs to Alex, a four-year-old from Portland who is currently undergoing cancer treatments. Alex's mom Sara was kind enough to share her son's story with me and has asked that I share it with you. As a mother of a child with cancer, Sara personally understands the importance of blood and platelet donations and she encourages those who can to give the gift of life.

My son Alexander, who will be 4 on Saturday (4/18), was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma (a blood cancer) back in November. Since that time, his Chemotherapy treatment has reduced his blood counts low enough that he has needed at least 3 whole blood transfusions, and 3 platelet transfusions in just the past 5 months. Since his treatment is 2 years, I know he will be receiving more. Without donors, Alex's Chemotherapy treatment could not be as rigorous, and successful as we hope it will be.

My husband and I were long time blood donors down in California - donating every 8 weeks. When we moved up here, and began our family, it too easily slipped from our routine. Last month, when we gave blood, we brought our son with us to show him all the good people who were helping him get better through their generous donations. He told me to be brave when I got my "poke", and even gave me a dollar when I finished!

Sara has also started a blog called Alex's Battle that documents her son's progress with cancer. I encourage you to check it out--the bravery and maturity that Alex consistently shows (keep in mind that he's only four!) is truly inspirational. His mother's optimism about Alex's future is also inspiring: "I think in the end, the experience of battling, and defeating cancer will help Alex develop great coping skills, and a sense of deep compassion for others."

Many thanks to Sara for sharing Alexander's story. Here at the American Red Cross, we wish you, Alex and all of your family the best as you continue this fight together.

Beef Bandage, Anyone?

First aid doesn't seem like fun. I mean, you're hurt and bleeding all over the place. Your bone has poked through your skin. You're getting hot flashes and cold sweats and something's all around wrong.

At that moment, you barely have the will to live, much less to have a sense of humor. That's why we strongly suggest adding fun to your first aid kit RIGHT NOW.

One way to do this is to make yourself a great storage box. Or purchase one that you love.

Another way? Picking up some really fantastic bandages.

From bacon strips and pickles to crime scene tape and Jesus, these options should bring a smile after even the deepest cut.

Of course, bandages aren't the only thing that should go in your kit. For a complete list of contents, go here. You can also buy a pre-made kit 24/7 from our store.

Prince Takes On TV

We've talked about Prince the poodle before, but now you can see his live television appearance on CBS' Early Show!



Remember, if you want to know how to save the life of your own pet -- or someone else's --sign up for dog (or cat) first aid.

Tweet For Us To Take Home $100K

This just in...

Hugh Jackman will donate $100,000 to one individual's favorite non-profit organization. All you have to do is convince him why in 140 characters or less.

I encourage you to send a tweet to @RealHughJackman telling him why you think the Red Cross (or more specifically, @RedCrossPDX) deserves his donation.

Let's prove just how beneficial using Twitter can be!

Dough-nate for the Doughnuts!

What would you do for a free doughnut? How about help save some lives?

Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, blood donors can satisfy their sugar sensations with fresh Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in the canteen reception area at the American Red Cross Portland Center (3131 N. Vancouver Ave.). While supplies last, of course (get here early!).

So come help save lives AND indulge in sugary goodness. What more could you want? If you donate on a non-doughnut day, don't worry! We still have plenty of sweet treats (cookies!) to help get your blood sugar levels back up.

Personally, I try to strategically plan my blood donation appointments on doughnut days. This is how it usually goes:

Donate Blood. Eat doughnut. Take nap. Help save lives...

It's really like the ideal day!

Photo from Flickr

Traces Of Hope: Helping Oregonians Find Their Loved Ones

Speaking of the many things that we do...

One that is often overlooked is our work with Holocaust tracing. As we approach Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 21, Adrian Chen at Willamette Week took the time to speak with some of the Oregonians we've served about their ongoing search for information about their loved ones.

The article is so good that I'd rather you read it yourself than recap it here.

Just one word of advice -- keep the Kleenex handy.

Image courtesy of Darryl James

Poll: What Are We Known For?

When you think of the Red Cross, what do you think of? Disaster response? Donating blood? CPR class?

These might be the biggies, but there's a lot more that we're doing to help save and rebuild the lives of people around our state, nation and world.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what springs to mind when you think of the Red Cross, and there's a poll to that effect posted on the right-hand side of the blog. You can also access it here.

This Is Honest To Goodness Trouble!

If you're moved by Shirley's message, maybe you should consider giving time, money or blood to help.

Going, Going, Gone

That's about what's happening to the spots at our first-ever Comedy CPR class, happening this Friday night.

As I type, there are three spots left and, with coverage coming up on KXL and KATU (not to mention the fact that KGW is attending on Friday night), those seats are going to be gone by the end of the day.

So if you want to be part of history in the making, I'd suggest signing up now. And if you don't see the April 17 class listed (i.e., it's too late), sign up for the one on May 17 at The Blue Monk. Now THAT will be cool...