Knowing The "10 Essentials"

First pair of hikers, rescued near the Salmon River -- not prepared.

Second pair of hikers, rescued near the Salmon River -- not prepared.

Don't let this happen to you; know the "10 essentials" (click the image below to watch the video) and consider signing up for Wilderness First Aid. Local Search and Rescue teams will thank you for it.

Red Cross at the Starlight Parade

I have major Portland pride. I love this city and I try to get everyone I know and love to move here. It's a great place to grow up, too. As a child (well, and adult, too), I would get super excited for Rose Festival time and all the traditions that this time of year brings.

This year, the Red Cross will be participating in the Rose Festival Starlight Parade (tomorrow night--5/30). You're invited to join in on the fun and to cheer us on.

We hope to see you there! We appreciate your support.

Photo: Buddy Blood Drop, the star of the Red Cross float in the Starlight parade.

Are You Ready to Rock?

The Red Cross knows that blood donors totally rock. We also think that giving blood and helping to save lives doesn't always have to be as serious as it sounds. That's why this summer we are encouraging people to donate blood and have some fun by rocking out at the 2009 Vans Warped Tour music festival.

Anyone who presents to donate blood at an American Red Cross “Red Cross Rocks/Music Saves Lives” blood drive will receive a free VIP access voucher to a 2009 Vans Warped Tour concert (while supplies last). VIP access vouchers are not entry tickets to the Warped Tour; in order to use the VIP vouchers, blood donors must first purchase a Vans Warped Tour ticket. Vouchers can be exchanged at the concert for wristbands that let concert-goers enter the exclusive Warped Tour VIP lounge area inside the concert grounds. Sounds kind of exciting, doesn't it?

It's sad, but true, that the Red Cross usually sees a drop in blood donations during the summer months when most people are taking vacations. If you'd like to help maintain an adequate blood supply during the summer AND rock your socks off in the VIP lounge of the Vans Warped Tour, you can find participating Red Cross Rocks/Music Saves Lives blood drives by logging on to www.GiveLife.org and entering the sponsor code “warpedtour.”

Rock on, blood donors, ROCK ON! Can't you just hear the crowd cheering you on for all those lives you're helping to save? I demand an encore!

Disaster Prevention In The Animal Kingdom

That's what my friend Teresa called it when she sent me this story about a mama thrush who used her own body as a dam to stop her nest from being flooded as the drain pipe filled with water. There's Papa Bird in the background doing the "mass care" and "feeding" portions of disaster response (to put in emergency responder jargon).

Photo courtesy of Dennis Bright/Solent

Vroom vroom vroom...

Ladies and gentleman, start your engines...because Red Cross Racing time is here!

The NASCAR season is upon us and the Red Cross Racing blood donor competition is back for it's second season. Red Cross Racing is a collaboration between the American Red Cross and NASCAR. Blood donors can accumulate points by presenting to donate blood at an American Red Cross blood drive. Donors can then report their blood donations on the Red Cross Racing website (http://www.redcrossracing.com/) and exchange their points for NASCAR racing gear and collectibles (like binoculars, shirts, folding chairs, and more). Admittedly, I will never understand the sport of NASCAR, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy helping to save lives and cool prizes (I LOVE prizes!).

NASCAR driver and Red Cross blood donor Greg Biffle has signed on again this racing season as a Red Cross spokesperson. Biffle will help raise awareness to millions of NASCAR fans across the country about the ongoing need for blood donations. (Some of you may remember this highly entertaining series of blogs from last year's racing season about the relentless kidnappers who took our Greg Biffle ['s lifesize cardboard cutout].)

So whether you're a NASCAR fan, or you're like me and just like to donate blood (and get prizes!), join Red Cross Racing today by visiting redcrossracing.com.

Now that your engines are purring...READY! SET! GO donate blood! And start accumulating those points to exchange for awesome prizes.

The Ultimate Disaster Movie!

Hooray for Dinosaur Comics pulling through again with the Red Cross topics.

Cartoon courtesy of qwantz.com

Crisis Camp: Calling All Preparedness Super-Geeks!

FYI for any of you interested in the intersections between disaster response and technology...

June 13 & 14th will mark the first ever CrisisCamp. This conference (or rather, unconference) in Washington D.C. will - according to the official website -  bring together domain experts, developers, and first responders around improving technology and practice for humanitarian crisis management and disaster relief. 

Putting all those brains in one place should result in some pretty innovative ideas for using tech to improve disaster response. 

I'd definitely go if I was in D.C. [*sigh*]

(Thanks to my community-minded disaster-nerd tech-geek friend Audrey for the info.)

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.]

ZIMBABWE: The cholera count keeps ticking closer and closer to 100,000. The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society continues their treatment and prevention work - despite a serious lack of funding. 

PAKISTAN: 550 phone calls connect 550 families who have been separated as a result of ongoing fighting. The stats get bigger when you start counting things like meals, shelter, water and medical care for the thousands of displaced people in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province.

CHAD: "Late one afternoon two brothers came in. They had been injured by an anti-personnel mine. Their parents accompanied them on the eight-hour journey on a dirt track," says an ICRC working in Abéché. Read the whole interview here. 

SRI LANKA: 250,000 displaced people need food, water, shelter, medical care and to know if their families are alive and well.  One by one the ICRC is helping to restore these family links.

RWANDA: Just across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo looms an active volcano called Nyiragongo. Last time it erupted 400,000 people fled into Rwanda. Now the Rwanda Red Cross is working closely with scientists to get ready for Nyiragongo's next round.

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

Slideshow: Courting Donors Blood Drive

As Tara mentioned yesterday, today is the annual Courting Donors Blood Drive -- one of our favorite events. We get to meet princesses, get free massages, eat cake and check out some amazing vintage Red Cross uniforms. Fun!

Check out the slideshow for early photos from the event. In particular, look for Tara's entry in the flower show and Toby hitting on a Doughnut Dolly...

Water Safety: A Page From The Past

Imitating a motorboat. Floating like a mud-turtle. Kicking like a sternwheel. Yep, this is how you learned to swim with the Red Cross back in 1921.

The article below was written by Commodore Wilbert E. Longfellow -- developer of the Learn-to-Swim Program and creator of the National Red Cross Life Saving Corps -- and appeared in the Junior Red Cross News. Enjoy!

Hint: Click on the article image to view it in a readable size...

Roses are red, violets are blue...

...sign up to donate blood, and people who need it will love you!

This is me with my mom Rose (right). My mom is the prettiest Rose I know. That's why I'll be entering her photo in the Red Cross Rose Festival Flower Show tomorrow. Sure, most people submit flowers in the contest, but I don't have a garden. Plus, my mom is amazing and I think the whole world should know (She will be embarrassed reading this. And of course she reads the blog...she's my mom!).

In honor of the Portland Rose Festival, the Red Cross Portland Center (3131 N. Vancouver Ave.) will be hosting our annual Rose Festival "Courting Donors" blood drive tomorrow (5/27) from 11:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. In addition to the blood drive, we will have the following fun activities:

* Free 10 minute chair massages for presenting blood donors from 12:00-2:00 p.m.
* Free mini roses for presenting blood and platelet donors (while supplies last)
* Live piano entertainment by Sally Harman from 12:00-2:00 p.m. and by
Jim Fisher from 3:00 -5:45 p.m.
*Red Cross historical displays that include vintage Red Cross uniforms.
* 2009 Rose Festival Court appearance from 3:00 -5:00 p.m. The Rose Court Princesses will visit with blood donors, sing along with the piano players, and judge the Red Cross Rose Festival Flower Show (open to staff and volunteers).

You don't have to be a princess or a blood donor to join in on the festivities. We welcome everyone in the community to celebrate with us tomorrow!

Photo: Tara Rose (me) and Rose Trullinger (my mom) celebrating my birthday last week at The View Point Inn

Giant Fire-Fighting Robots!

I swear I'm not making this up. His name is Clear Cut. And he fights forest fires.

...Or at least that's the concept. Designer Jordan Guelde sees this giant robot marching straight into a forest fire to saw down the surrounding trees, thereby preventing the fire from spreading. Will anyone be willing to take this beyond concept stage? Who knows. All that's certain is that it would look AWESOME. (Or terrifying, depending on your comfortability with giant, saw-wielding robots.)

Lookee here for more amazing graphic renderings of Clear Cut. 

(And a hat tip to Discover Magazine blogs, Treehugger, and Tuvie for the info.)

Taking A Page From Knit Lit

There is not an ounce of craftiness in my body. I can't garden or cook or scrapbook or make a cute first aid kit. And I absolutely, definitely can't knit.

The whole "casting on" thing is just too complicated for me, but for those steeped in the creative juices I lack, I highly suggest checking out this blog post from Crafting A Green World, which showcases the history of knitting in wartime...in honor of Memorial Day, of course.

As you know, knitting literature (or "knit lit," as I like to call it) saves an important spot for the American Red Cross. We had a pretty famous poster on the topic and there are oodles of Red Cross knitting patterns still available.

Sure, the season isn't quite right for knitting, but if I get started on one of these today, I might just finish in time for winter.

P.S. If you really love that vintage poster design, you can get it on about a million products from CafePress. However, unlike our store, the money doesn't go to support our efforts. Ahem.

Prepare-aphernalia: Cordless Coffee Maker

Dealing with a disaster can be headache enough. You don't want a caffeine crash as well! 

So if you just can't go without your daily java fix, the Coleman Camping Coffee Maker might be for you.* It works with your Coleman camp stove (which I KNOW you already have) and looks just as convenient as the kind on your countertop. 

For non-coffee drinkers I'm sure it would also work for tea, cocoa, cider and other yummy drinks to keep you warm through the storm.

*We heard about the coffee maker through this blogger. And no, we're not paid to write the "prepare-aphernalia" posts. We don't even sell the majority of this weird stuff in our own store. We just geek out on it and want to share.

(Everything But) Raindrops Keep Falling On Our Heads

Lately we've been thinking about things falling on our heads.

Not nice things like raindrops and feathers and pancakes. But heavy, sharp and inherently dangerous things that could, quite frankly, kill us.

For example, Robin has a large, unattached bookshelf right near her desk that could totally smush her, and I have a giant glass-framed concert photo centered directly over my bed. Bad idea. Clearly we need safety straps and earthquake putty.

This is why I was intrigued by Vivienne of The V-Spot's blog post about what happened to stuff on her wall after a "little baby quake." See the before and after pics below.

BEFORE

AFTER

Yup, that could have hurt.

Vivienne goes on to share some really helpful suggestions for emergency preparedness with kids (store Gameboys and batteries, art supplies and coloring books to entertain in a disaster) and then continues with a "part-two" post that touches on keeping regular food in storage (vs. food like Pemmican bars that you'd never want to eat anyway), putting together a "Tote"/first aid kit and organizing an "ER bin."

Seriously, Vivienne has good, practical suggestions and her organizational skills blow my mind. You'll really want to check out her blog:

The sky is falling!!! (Well it could be...) Part 1

The sky is falling!!! (Well, it could be...) Part 2

The Lightning Always Strikes Twice

We've talked before about being fans of weird weather phenomena, but here's a good one. On Tuesday night in Seattle, lightning struck THRICE. Check out the video:



You can read all about what happened on KOMO TV's Weather Blog, which states that "the Needle is well prepared for [lightning], as it is equipped with 24 lighting rods around the top, not counting the tip of the Needle itself. Those rods safely channel the energy into the ground and there's really no danger to being on the Needle during a thunderstorm."

As a time-to-time Seattle tourist, all I can say is WHEW. And maybe a little WOW.

Happy Birthday to Us...and Mr. T.

It's so cool to share a birthday with Mr. T!

But you know who was even cooler than Mr. T? Clara Barton (or CBar, as I like to call her because she's THAT rad), the woman who founded the American Red Cross on May 21, 1881.

I'm not kidding. This woman rocked. And I've had a super hard time condensing her amazing life into a few short facts for you...

Full name: Clarissa Harlowe Barton

Born: 1821

Skills:

- Thanks to her older brothers, horseriding and math.
- No thanks to her dad, not skating or dancing. (He didn't think they were proper activities for girls.)

Nickname: Angel of the Battlefield. That's not to say she was dainty or fragile. This "angel" kicked booty and took names...literally.


First Battlfield: The Education System
Long before Barton went to war, she was battling to transform public education. She founded one of the first free public shools in New Jersey. It started with one room and six students. Soon it grew to 600. So the school committee agreed to expand the school to eight rooms, but shockingly they wouldn't let Barton be the principal (you guessed it - because she was a woman). So Barton went to look for a new career.


Workin' for the Feds
Though few women were allowed to work for the federal government at the time, Barton managed to not only land a job as a patent office clerk but also get the same pay as her male counterparts. She did this for a few years...until the Civil War beckoned her to duty.


Anywhere Between the Bullet and the Battlefield
That's where Barton once said her place was. And when the Civil War began, that's where she went. There was no organized aid for soldiers on the battlefield (the few private groups offering help for the wounded were located far from the fighting) so Barton organized it herself - setting up cental collection sites where supplies could be dropped and distributed.

Knowing that the war would result in thousands of missing persons and separated families, Clara began writing down the names of the soldiers she'd seen wounded or killed on the battlefield. Her plan was to open a government office where people could inquire about missing soldiers and she could publish her lists of names. At first the government didn't respond to her requests to set up a missing persons bureau... until President Lincoln himself got wind of the idea. He helped Barton convince the War Department to give her a small office with a few staff members.

From 1865 to 1869, Barton's missing persons bureau tracked down more than 22,000 missing soldiers, gave out almost 100,000 printed missing persons lists and anwered nearly 63,000 inquiries.


A Trip to Europe to "Relax"
After all that hard work, Barton went to Europe to rest. But one thing she seems to have not been good at is resting. While she was there, the Franco-Prussian War broke out and Barton joined a group of volunteers carrying supplies to the battlefield. There she witnessed the fairly new International Committee of the Red Cross at work, treating the wounded and gathering donated bandages, clothing, food and supplies.

She came home determined to start a Red Cross in America, not only for wartime relief, but natural disasters as well. But first, she had to convince the U.S. government to sign the Geneva Treaty - an international agreement that allowed doctors and nurses to safely treat the sick and injured in war zones. So she campaigned for five years - writing a booklet called "What the Red Cross Is," giving speeches and meeting with all the lawmakers she could.

And - of course - Barton won her battle. The U.S. government signed the treaty and Barton established the American Red Cross - becoming its president for the next 23 years.


I Want To Be This Awesome When I'm Old
In 1891, developers in Glen Echo, Maryland basically built a house as a gift for the 70-year-old Barton. But instead of living in it, she used it as a warehouse for disaster relief supplies! A few years later, she actually did move in and used it as the American Red Cross headquarters.

When she was 77, she took 300 tons of supplies to detainees in Cuba who were being held during fighting between Cuban rebels and the Spanish.

In 1900, when 6,000 people died in the Galveston hurricane, 78-year-old Barton led a team of Red Crossers down to Texas to distribute food, bury the dead and help reopen roads.

Clara Barton finally passed away in 1912 at age 90. And her life's work continues on...

Thanks to Kids Discover magazine, where I found a bunch of these awesome facts.

The Wii: A Great Jenny Craig Supplement!

One of the more famous services the Red Cross provides are CPR classes. Heart disease, as we all know, is the leading cause of death in the United States. One of the most critical ways to prevent heart disease is to participate in physical activity for at least 20 to 30 minutes three days a week.

Another fast fact: According to the Entertainment Software Association, "Gamers spend an average of 7.5 hours per week playing video games." Why bother with a video game statistic when discussing health? Because gamers may be healthier than the average American!

Specifically, it appears the Nintendo Wii has become a trendy way to get exercise. In a Time article studying the health effects of the Wii, Nintendo spokeswoman Perrin Kaplan originally discounted the idea, stating "It was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement."

The Mayo Clinic thinks otherwise. After conducting a report on childhood obesity, the clinic stated that the Wii may be a great tool for burning calories. Personally, I feel the "Wii health revolution" should be embraced. If Americans seem to be choosing video games over films, why not encourage healthier habits?

So next time you feel guilty spending hours on Wii Boxing, don't. Video games, when physically-engaging, can provide a fun substitute to the gym and an excellent preventative step from heart disease!

Photo courtesy of theage.com.au

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: Hostilities have now been declared over, but 250,000 people are still displaced. The ICRC continues to distribute water, food, hygiene kits and other supplies to people in staying camps.

PAKISTAN: In a hard hit district that remains off limits to most humanitarian organizations, the ICRC has been able to distribute food to over 8,000 displaced people.

Also, The ICRC 's field surgical hospital in Peshawar is adding more tents to care for weapon-wounded. One of those patients, a little girl named Alina, shares her story on camera... "I was leaving the house to play with my friends. One of them was injured and died..."

TANZANIA: After thousands of people lost their homes when a military depot exploded a few weeks ago, the Tanzania Red Cross society has been providing meals, water, mosquito nets, tents, hygiene supplies and other essentials. They've also reunited over 430 missing children with their families, but there are still hundreds missing and many months of work left ahead.

SUDAN: In nomadic communities where lost livestock means lost livelihoods, the ICRC is initiating a vaccination campaign for camels, cattle, sheep and goats.

CHINA: The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) is providing HIV education and support groups for HIV positive migrant workers. 

The RCSC is also disbursing nearly three million dollars to partner organizations for earthquake recovery projects. 

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

"A Freakish Example Of Non-Profit Tweeting Excellence"

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to Robert of the PDX Sucks blog (and @pdxsucks) and Sabrina from the iPhoneSlutz radio broadcast (@iPhoneslutz).

On their May 13 podcast, they gave the most awesome endorsement yet of our blog and Twitter. Here's the mini-transcript:

@pdxsucks: Who on Twitter makes you laugh?

@iPhoneSlutz: And I really like the @RedCrossPDX. That's an outstanding blog and they do really good with their Twitter as well.

@pdxsucks: A freakish example of non-profit tweeting excellence.

@iPhoneSlutz: Yes.

@pdxsucks: Definitely.

@iPhoneSlutz: Absolutely.

You can listen for yourself, but please note that the podcast is NSFW. We come up around the 15:35 mark.

Thanks for the love, guys!

Puppies: Real Or Fake, We Love 'Em

We're mid-week and you're probably needing a dose of adorable-ness, right? Well, here you go -- sweet and sugar-free, to boot.

Photos from Dog First Aid (courtesy of volunteer Jaden)

More photos from Dog First Aid (courtesy of Neighborhood Notes)

Now that you've been thoroughly entranced by the doggie-kins, you probably want to take a class. But is it worth your time? Well, check out this review from Morgan at OurPDX Network.

A prime example of the typical Portland pet owner, I reached out to Morgan after her original post about her Barkuums. My thought? If Morgan loves Jessie, she definitely wants to know how to save her life in an emergency (and, judging from the post, Jessie has a history of brushes with danger). And now I'm happy to report that she does.

The fine folks at Neighborhood Notes also posted their own write-up after stopping by the class. You can check that one out right here.

Wanna learn dog first aid (or cat first aid) yourself? Sign up now!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Chances are that before you knew how to Stop Drop & Roll or Drop Cover & Hold On, an old man in a cardigan had already taught you one of the best preparedness tips you'll ever learn: to be a good neighbor. 

It may sound campy, but it's true. Your neighbors are some of the best resources you have in a disaster. So get to know them! 

Don't believe me? Take it from this California blogger. It took a major earthquake to remind her of that important lesson Mr. Rogers taught us all so long ago.

And it took her blog post to remind me. I've lived in my apartment for nine months and only know the names of a few folks. Now that it's sunny out, I have no excuse not to organize a neighborhood barbecue! Mmmm.... hot grills and cold brews - who says preparedness can't be fun?

[Hat tip to my friend Audrey for sharing that post.]

Muy Caliente!

Check out these pics of our incredible employees and volunteers at the recent Familia, Salud, y Vida event.



For more photos from pdxlatino.com, click here.

You Are Not Alone, Starring Gary Cooper

"A man fights for what he believes in, Fernando."

Check out this vintage PSA of Gary Cooper fighting for the Red Cross.

P.S. We love how Gary notes our role in "rebuilding lives." We've been using that line around here for the past year or two...touché, Mr. Cooper.

Donate Blood: Do it for the Babies

Last week, Jeff (our Blood Donor Scheduling Supervisor) came to me with a powerful plea: "Donate blood today. Do it for the babies." That's really all he had to say. My heart melted.

As we continued talking, he mentioned that he could see in my donor records that my blood is CMV Negative, making me an even better baby-saving candidate. You're probably thinking "Tara, don't be a pretentious blood-knowledge snob...what in the world is CMV?" Well, I didn't really know either, so I had to ask Jeff.

CMV is short for Cytomegalovirus (cy·to·meg·a·lo·vi·rus). It's a viral infection with flu-like symptoms that about half of the population gets at some point in their life. While most people's bodies totally get rid of the infection, it sometimes sticks around in other people's white blood cells.

CMV is usually harmless (if you've had it, there's no need to worry!). It can, however, be harmful to people who have weak or under-developed immune systems (i.e., the itty bitty brand new babies); that's why it's important that these people receive blood transfusions of CMV Negative blood (blood from someone who has never been infected by the virus).

As I mentioned before, I'm deferred from donating blood until July, so I couldn't donate when Jeff asked me that day. But once July is here, you know I'll be giving blood like crazy for the little babes.

Whether your blood is CMV Positive or Negative, or you're O+ or AB-, help save the lives of people in need by making an appointment to donate blood. Call 1-800-GIVE LIFE today...do it for the babies!

Meet Abby and Audrey

We've been talking about swimming lessons and water safety this week, so I thought I'd throw this cute little PSA into the mix.



Did you catch that Abby saved Audrey when she was just FOUR YEARS OLD?!?! Just goes to show that people of all ages can save lives when they get proper training.

If you're interested in signing up for a Red Cross aquatics course, find out more right here.

What Would You Do With 250 Tons of Dates?

Find out how one Red Cross worker in Iraq cleverly used that gigantic date donation on the pilot edition of the new Red Cross podcast, Cross The Globe. 

But that's just one of the stories. You'll also get some cool info about how Red Cross societies in other countries respond to pandemic flu and how you can outfit your home for storms and hurricanes.

Hosted by Christy Feig of American Red Cross international services (who has a fantastic radio voice, in my opinion), the podcast covers humanitarian news and stories from around the world - including right here in the United States. 

I'm looking forward to more episodes! How about you?

Listen here.

photo via e-magic

You're Killing Me Smalls!

After the amazing weather this weekend, I dared to dream of potential summer activities: baseball, swimming, running from giant dogs named "The Beast." Okay, so another summer tradition of mine is to watch The Sandlot, a nostalgic childhood movie about little dudes and baseball. I realized not only is this the perfect summer flick, it's also a great reminder of why CPR and swimming lessons are so important!

Caution: There may be foul-mouthed children in this clip.



PS: In my classes, I always inform children that faking an emergency is never a good idea. Even if Wendy Peffercorn is involved. : D

Today In History: A Big Blast

Fun fact: Volcanoes are named for Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, said to be a master blacksmith who dwelled under Mt. Etna and made it erupt with his anger whenever his wife (the more famous Venus) was unfaithful.* 

Definitely not fun fact: Twenty-nine years ago today our own local volcano, Mt. St. Helens, blew its top (or more accurately, its top and part of its side).  

And while it's been fairly quiet in recent years (just slowly building a little dome...of molten hot rock), it's not guaranteed to stay that way. That's why we posted preparedness tips for you at OregonRedCross.org/volcanoes. 

Before a volcano you should:

Learn about your community warning systems and emergency plans.

Be prepared for the hazards that can accompany volcanoes:

* Mudflows and flash floods
* Landslides and rockfalls
* Earthquakes
* Ashfall and acid rain
* Tsunamis

Make evacuation plans. If you live in a known volcanic hazard area, plan a route out and have a backup route in mind.

Develop an emergency communication plan. In case family members are separated from one another during a volcanic eruption (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the “family contact,” because after a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.

Have disaster supplies on hand:

* Flashlight and extra batteries
* First aid kit and manual
* Emergency food and water
* Non-electric can opener
* Essential medicines
* Dust mask
* Sturdy shoes

For more on what to do during and after an eruption, see the handy OregonRedCross.org/volcanoes page. 

Also, for eyewitness stories from the Mt. St. Helens eruption, you can go to the Mt. St. Helens Institute's "Volcano Views and Brews" event tomorrow night at the Lucky Lab NW. This month's presentation is titled: “Dark at Noon: Eyewitness Chronicles of Mount St. Helens—18 May 1980” with Richard Waitt.

*Okay, so I guess this fact was fun for everybody but Vulcan and people in the general vicinity Mt. Etna.

Another Shirt Post...

If the blood cell shirt doesn't appeal to you, maybe this shirt will.

I mean seriously, who wouldn't instantly be attracted to the owner of this shirt?

Wear at your own risk (and currently bidding on ebay.com).


Photo courtesy of ebay.com

Lizzie Bell in the ICU

Remember Lizzie Bell? Her touching story about her constant need for blood transfusions caught America's attention last March when she was featured on the hit television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

I'm sad to report that Lizzie is in an Intensive Care Unit right now and that she has been receiving blood transfusions since last Friday. I don't have the details of her current condition, but according to Lizzie's mother Kathy, if Lizzie's health does not improve soon, she may need a bone marrow transplant. Here's a link to the news story.



I'd like to join Lizzie's mother in encouraging people to sign up to donate life-saving blood and to be part of the national bone marrow registry. Both take little time, but can make a huge difference in someone else's life.

Experienced A Near-Drowning? You're Not Alone...

Some scary facts for you to consider, following a recent Red Cross survey*:

• * Of those surveyed, 48 percent reported a near-drowning experience.
  
• * Nearly 1 in 3 said they had a near-drowning scare between the ages of 5 and 15.
  
• While more than 90 percent of people plan to participate in water-related activities this summer, nearly half of parents with children between the ages of 3 and 17 plan to engage in activities where no lifeguard would be on duty.


• According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on water-related injuries, the drowning rate in the United States averages nine people per day.


• Twenty-five percent of fatal drownings involving children 14 and younger.


• Nearly one in three parents (30 percent) believe that "floaties" are better than supervision, though we stress that floaties cannot be used as a substitute!

With Memorial Day coming up this weekend, now's the time to think about Learn To Swim, water safety and CPR/first aid classes. Give us a call at 503-284-1234 or just visit our website.

* The telephone survey of 1,002 U.S. adults 18 years and older on March 20-23, conducted by CARAVAN®, Opinion Research Corporation. Margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent at the 95% confidence level.

I'm Too Old For This...

This weekend, I rode a bicycle for the first time in about 20 years. And, let me tell you, the whole expression, "It's just like riding a bike!" is not based on any reality that I experienced.

No, my trip to the Bike Gallery was -- all in all -- rather humiliating. For my test drives, my dad and the saleslady actually had to hold on to the bike, making sure I didn't plow into any bushes or parked cars.

But as much as I'd like to reiterate Danny Glover's famous Lethal Weapon quote, I'm going in the other direction and simply stating:

No matter how old you are, you're never too old to learn a new skill...even one that most people learn as kids.

Yeah, forget those old dogs and their new tricks. If you're 20 or 30 or 40 and have never learned to swim, we can help. Just like this Oregonian reporter -- check out her story here. And with summer hot on our heels, you're going to want to feel safe and secure at pool parties or out on a sailboat or even under the sprinkler.

Sure, that last one was a stretch, but in all due seriousness, maybe you should check out our list of pools that participate in Red Cross training. If the weather stays warm, you'll be wanting those skills sooner than later!

P.S. If anyone out there wants to challenge me to see if they can learn to swim before I can re-learn to bike, I'm totally up for it.

Photo courtesy of grandjury

Blood Everywhere!

Robin, Lise, and I have more in common than our love for all things Red Cross; as true Portland girls, we also love to thrift shop!

Over the weekend Robin found this totally awesome blood cell shirt (scrubs maybe?) at a local thrift store. It's half hideous, half amazing, and I think I'd probably wear it to work. What could be more perfect for "casual Fridays"?


It goes to show that there's blood everywhere...even at our local thrift shops!

Check Out This Check!

It's giant in more ways than one, huh?

TV personality Drew Carney was nice enough to present this check for $10,000 to our own Maree Wacker at a celebration today in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Why the celebration? Because Intel's incredible employees spent hours and hours volunteering on behalf of wonderful organizations like ours...and Intel supports those efforts with a corresponding amount of cash.

If you want to volunteer, read on. And with any luck, your employer will follow Intel's lead and make a matching donation for your time!

Disaster Action Team Responses

A family in St. Helens had a fire in their apartment May 14. The family of 1 adult and 1 child did not have a place to go, food to eat, or clothing. When the Columbia County volunteers arrived they assisted the family with:

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

To Facebook Or Not To Facebook?

Yeah, that's the question. And we're putting the answer in your hands...just vote now in the poll to your right.

But first, take a moment to hear out my argument against a Facebook presence, which you might have already heard on the PR Works radio broadcast.

I love Facebook. I use it myself regularly. So do many of you. And we definitely believe in connecting with people using all forms of social media.

HOWEVER, the American Red Cross has a national presence on Facebook (see here, here and here for examples) and I'm a little concerned that by making our own page, we're siphoning off a bit of that audience and potentially watering down the brand. I mean, why not just direct our fans to those pages as we've done thus far?

I do think that, like Twitter, there's an opportunity to connect with Portlanders/Oregonians on Facebook without stepping on the toes of NHQ at all. But I'm not sure I'm so gung ho on it that I want to create a page. And honestly, it will just be a duplication of information that's already on this blog and Twitter.

So give me your two cents. Vote in the poll and leave comments on there (or on here) with your perspective. Seriously, if you guys want us to have a Facebook page, we will. Even if you have to drag me -- kicking and screaming -- the whole time.

Cross Blog: Behind The Scenes Commentary

Ever wanted a backstage "view" of our blog process? Then listen to the interview that Lise and I did on Small Plate Radio's "PR Works" show this morning. (Btw, these folks rock, and they've got a wealth of great internet radio shows you should check out.)

It's just like a DVD commentary! (Er...yeah, just like that...)

Hey, if Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog did it, we can too! Granted, our "commentary" is much less musical. BUT there are lots of laughs and lame jokes (mine) about capes: 

Photo via Duchamp.

Beat The Virus With Swinefighter

You knew it was just a matter of time before someone put together a swine flu game. And now that the threat is a little less dire, we can have some fun with it.

So click the photo below and check out Swinefighter: The Swine Flu game, which generously suggests that you donate money to the American Red Cross.

Pandemic or no, we definitely like that!

POP QUIZ!!

When did the Red Cross first receive the Nobel Peace Prize?

a) 1901
b) 1914
c) 1917
d) 1915

For more great questions that you probably don't know the answers to, you should totally check out this Red Cross quiz by Nelson D'Souza.

Actually, I DO know most of the answers, but I've been working here for a year and a half. I'd have no street cred if I didn't...

AmeriCorps Week!

It's AmeriCorps Week! What does this mean?

Well, AmeriCorps Week is a celebration and re-commitment to National Service. As such, Portland, OR AmeriCorps State Commission and Portland State University are hosting an annual event called the Northwest National Service Symposium. Here, service members are encouraged to artistically reflect on their year of service through literature, visual and/or performing arts.

In furthering the celebration of AmeriCorps Week, KATU News Channel 2, took part in the action of national service by interviewing two of our current Clara Barton Vista Corps (CBVC) members! Check out what Caroline Knueppul and Tina Trinh have to say about national service here!

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.]

CHINA: A year after the Sichuan earthquake, new school buildings - built with the support of Red Cross Society of China and the LG conglomerate of South Korea - are nearing completion. In the meantime, students are dealing with grief through painting and pandas. 

The American Red Cross is helping 34,000 families rebuild their homes, providing clean water and preparing communities to know what to do in future disasters. (Watch this video for more on the recovery efforts.)

SRI LANKA: Civilians are caught in the midst of the fighting - lacking food and water, and often hiding in shelters or trenches to protect themselves. So far the ICRC has evacuated 14,000 people, but there are still thousands more trapped. 

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Last week armed men raided the village of Butalongola, burning down 135 houses. The ICRC brought emergency aid to the 675 victims. 

PAKISTAN: At least 360,000 people have fled Swat, Dir and Buner in recent days. (Bringing the total number of internally displaced people to over 900,000.) The ICRC has set up a hospital for the weapon-wounded and is supporting the Pakistan Red Crescent efforts to provide shelter.

CHAD: Following violent clashes that have pitted government troops against fighters of the Union of Resistance Forces in eastern Chad, the ICRC is providing medical assistance and has begun to visit people captured in the fighting. 

AFGHANISTAN: Drought. Earthquake. Violence... It's easy to see why this is one of the ICRC's biggest operations worldwide. In April alone, workers provided emergency assistance, food aid, health services, prosthetic limb-fitting, water sanitation and detainee visits.

IRAQ: Among their many activities, ICRC workers are helping disabled people return to society and earn a living. 

GAZA: What was a border wall becomes part of a water treatment plant that will serve 175,000 inhabitants. Says an ICRC engineer, "Humanitarian organizations such as the ICRC are forced either to come up with alternative and creative ways of proceeding or to put essential projects on hold."

MALDIVES: A new National Red Crescent Society is soon to be established in the Republic of Maldives - a very helpful thing for an island nation vulnerable to tsunamis. 

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

Taking A Break For Safety

I know you're all busy with working, trying to get things done and be productive. But I'm here to say, "Heck with all that -- it's time for a break!"

No, I'm not encouraging you to go grab a donut from the breakroom or -- heaven forbid -- head out to the smoke shack, I'm just reminding you that today is Safety Break for Oregon Day and you should really be finding some way to celebrate.

First, you might want to learn a little of the history behind the "holiday." You might want to check to see if your employer is participating. And then you might take 10 minutes to refresh yourself on some aspect of safety, whether it's reading though our water safety tips or finding ways to get prepared.

Better yet, you might want to look into CPR and first aid training for your workplace. The timing is perfect; you'll remember to get re-certified when the holiday rolls around again!

So do us a favor and take a break today. Your boss -- and OSHA -- will thank you.

Last Night In Laurelhurst...

...there was an earthquake.

It's no lie; according to this article, about 2,000 Portlanders in Laurelhurst and Ladd's Addition felt the 2.6 tremor last night at around 9:34 p.m.

Given that this has happened twice before in the same area, if I was a homeowner in SE Portland (and, mind you, I am), I'd go ahead and read over these earthquake preparedness tips...just in case.

Wait. I take that back. Homeowner, renter, SE PDX, NW PDX -- as long as you're an Oregonian, take the time to get prepared.

Flickr Finds: Legos, Circa 1987

Ah Legos. Who doesn't love them? Especially when they can create a masterpiece like this:



Image courtesy of mallardine. There are more Lego images in our Red Cross Spotting Flickr Pool!

Catching Up In China

One year ago today, our eyes were tuned to the news as we watched a terrible earthquake strike the Sichuan region of China.

The earthquake — more powerful than any to hit China in three decades — left almost 87,000 dead or missing, 375,000 injured and 15 million homeless.

Today, recovery is still underway. Watch the video and see what the Red Cross is doing to help rebuild lives and prepare communities for future disasters.

Attention Pie Fans!

Oops -- pie CHART fans, that is...

Help fill out our wedge-like graph by taking our poll. It's a pretty basic question -- when's the last time YOU took a CPR class?

Answer for yourself right here.

Photo courtesy of the Russell Street Gallery and Pie Diner. It's right down the street from our building and their menu sounds completely awesome. Especially the pie part.

Manikin of the future?

Meet SimMan 3G, an artificial human that gives advanced CPR and first aid feedback. This robot can convulse, go into cardiac arrest, bleed and secrete from its eyes...just to name a few. Exciting technology? Yes. Incredibly creepy? Absolutely.

Photo courtesy of www.marquette.edu

Hit The Bullseye; Help The Red Cross

Whether I'm checking out the fashion-forward Go International collection or browsing the fun and funky Red Hot Shop, I'm a big fan of Target and their stylish, yet wallet-friendly, options.

And if that wasn't enough, I've now got one (or make that 3 million?) more reasons to heart that big red bullseye.

From now through through May 25, Target is hosting Bullseye Gives, a Facebook campaign that allows people to vote online and decide which of 10 national charities (including the American Red Cross) should receive a portion of its $3 million in charitable giving. The more votes a charity receives, the more money they get.

So get out and vote -- once a day, every day. Just think...this is one easy way that you can help fund our mission while still saving your hard-earned dough for those tempting dollar bins.

Doing Good While Looking Good

My birthday is next week. My boyfriend has serious "gift pressure anxiety" and always claims he doesn't know what to get me for my birthday, albeit my obvious attempts to help him. I'm constantly saying the phrase "I want this" while vociferously pointing to a dress, a pair of shoes, an art print on Etsy, a vintage teapot...you get the idea.

But this year (with the help of this blog post, which I will cleverly email to my boyfriend later today), my blatant attempts to help him with gift-giving (hopefully) won't be futile like in years past. KYLE-- HERE IT IS IN WRITING (do I really need to type-shout this?)...

I want this cute little do-gooder tee by TOMS Shoes. It's oh-so-adorable and oh-so-true! I vote, I give blood, AND I support TOMS Shoes. I don't typically like graphic tees, but how can I resist this one knowing that TOMS will donate a new pair of shoes to a child in need when someone purchases this shirt or any other item from TOMS?

TOMS satisfies and balances my shallow consumerist wants (fashionable footwear) with more laudable humanitarian desires (help alleviate the effects of global poverty). It's the kind of shopping that doesn't leave you feeling guilty (warning: this link may require Kleenex).

I hope this post will help spread the word about a cool cause, but, on a superficial level, I hope it will also help my boyfriend get an idea of what I want for my birthday. (I could say he doesn't have to get me anything, but honestly, would I really mean it?) By the way, Kyle, I also like TOMS University Navy Rope Sole shoes. Size 6.5 or 7. Just a hint...a seriously direct and straightforward hint.