Classic Prepare-aphernalia: The Swiss Army Knife

Standard issue for the crew of the space shuttle. Displayed at the Museum of Modern Art. You can't get any more classic than the Swiss Army knife, one of the most compact and useful pieces of prepare-aphernalia I can think of.

PRI's The World reviewed the history of the Victorinox staple and I have no doubt you'll find the story fascinating.

Take a listen

And while I can't send you to Switzerland for the Swiss Army knife exhibit -- sorry, I get to go first!! -- I can send you there virtually by way of this blog, which has a great collection of photos for your perusal.

Of course, you can also visit the 125th anniversary website where you'll sadly note that the traveling exhibit passed through Seattle in June. Like the Emerald City needs a little red knife...hmph.

Bee-ing Prepared For Anything

I love honey. In my tea, on my biscuits...just about anywhere. But while I like what they produce, I don't necessarily like bees. And I definitely don't have any love for yellowjackets and wasps.

A week or so ago, we told you what to do when you get stung. You can read the original article here or listen to the most recent Ready Radio broadcast.

But today a volunteer sent me this real-life story from right here in Oregon about how a bee sting can be deadly and how important it is to at least know the basics of first aid.

Here's a tidbit:

"Sarah had been out for her morning five-mile run and got bitten by a yellow jacket on her way up the walk. She didn’t think much of it and proceeded to the shower. Within a few minutes she started to feel dizzy. Thinking it was just the heat of the shower combined with a warm morning, she sat down to clear her head. Luckily she decided something was really wrong and shouted for me. " Continue reading.

For more info on stings, click here. And if you're interested in learning basic first aid, just in case your loved one gets injured, click here.

Photo courtesy of autan

Roselyn Apartment Fire In Photos

This afternoon, I had the privilege of meeting many residents of the Roselyn Apartments. Sadly, I didn't meet them in their homes -- I met them in a temporary shelter set up at the Trinity Episcopal Church.

The good news is that -- even though it's not home -- Red Cross volunteers were hard at work making the basement space as comfortable as possible. They brought in Subway sandwiches for lunch, chatted with residents and even purchased cupcakes and ice cream to celebrate two birthdays.

Hearing the residents and others offer their sincere thanks for our work made me proud to be a part of the Red Cross team. Here's to getting the Roselyn residents back into permanent housing and on their feet once again!

Francisco Teaches CPR On Univision

Univision rocks. Back when I had a tv I watched it all the time. And up until just a few minutes ago, my favorite thing on the station was the entertainingly chaotic, energy-packed variety show Sábado Gigante, hosted by "Don Francisco." (It's a stage name. That's why the quotes.)

BUT then I watched this video. Now I have a new favorite Francisco to watch... our very own CPR instructor, Francisco Ianni!

Check out the awesome job he did demonstrating the basics of Reanimación Cardiopulmonar (aka CPR) on Portland's Univision station, and forward it to your Spanish-speaking friends.

Disaster Response Update: Roselyn Apartments

Last night, the lives of many NW Portland residents changed dramatically. Here's what the Red Cross did to help:

At 6:30 p.m., the Oregon Trail Chapter was notified of an apartment fire at the Roselyn Apartments, 424 NW 21st Ave. While the fire was largely in the common areas of the apartment building on the third floor, many apartments have smoke and water damage and all utilities in the building have been disconnected. Reports from Portland Fire and building management indicate that the residents will not be able to return to the building for at least 4-5 days.

Red Cross disaster volunteers were on the scene, providing 26 meals as well as mental health and health assessments for the residents. The Red Cross also opened a shelter at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 147 NW 19th Ave., where 17 clients spent the night.

Today, client casework volunteers will work with residents and the property managment company to transition clients out of the shelter and into longer-term housing. The majority of clients are expected to be placed in other rental properties today and tomorrow. The Red Cross anticipates providing hotel stays for fewer than eight clients over the weekend, with the management company placing the remaining families in rentals on Monday.

As you can imagine, it was a busy night and the work will continue today and tomorrow and as long as we're needed. Of course, all the assistance we provide -- from food to clothing to shelter -- is free, thanks to the generous support of people like you.

If you're interested in becoming a disaster volunteer and helping people like the Roselyn Apartment residents in their time of need, click here.

If you're interested in making a gift in support of our efforts to get survivors like these back on their feet, click here.

Photo (note the Red Cross volunteer on the left!) courtesy of Olivia Bucks/The Oregonian

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.]


NEPAL: Diarrhoea outbreak kills hundreds. Yes, you read that right. More than 200 Red Crossers are traveling throughout the countryside bringing oral rehydration sachets, chlorine tablets for water sanitation, and hygeine education materials to help stop the spread of the infectious bacteria.

MONGOLIA: Speaking of diarrhoea, flooding the in the Ulaanbaatar area has led to latrine overflows, creating a high risk for outbreak of diarrheoa and other bacterial infections. Red Crossers are hitting the streets with hygeine education to stem off the spread.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: According to a study by the ICRC, the number of cases of sexual violence in eastern Congo has been increasing. The ICRC provides support for 37 counseling centers for survivors of sexual violence.

FIJI: Another study by a group of University of the South Pacific students - commissioned by the ICRC - dispels the perception that international humanitarian law "embodies a purely Western set of values." The study reveals centuries-old Pacific island rituals that "protected women and children, captive warriors or stocks of food during times of war." Read the full text of the study here.




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

Do You Operate Cooling Centers?

When the weather gets warm, one of the questions I'm most frequently asked is whether the Red Cross will be operating cooling centers.

This is a totally reasonable question as, in the winter, we have indeed operated overnight emergency warming centers for the homeless in order to save lives.

Nonetheless, the answer is that while we don't operate cooling centers ourselves, we ARE always ready to provide support to city and county facilities, should the weather get so hot that lives are at risk.

We also do our part to educate, making sure that people of all ages know what to do when extreme weather strikes. [And if you don't know, I'd urge you to check out www.oregonredcross.org/heatwaves.]

So as we hit 100+ again today, I thought I'd pass along this PDF that shows the locations of all the cooling centers in the metro area. Take a look, pass it on, share with friends, family...and especially elderly neighbors.

Image courtesy of flowers & machinery

Temperatures Rise, Red Cross Blood Donor Turnout Falls

Will somebody please turn down the heat? The recent heat wave has left Red Cross schedulers struggling to get blood donor appointments. Plus, nearly 20% of those who do schedule aren't following through. Despite the heat, the Red Cross is moving forward with normal blood drive operations. Most of the blood drives are air conditioned, so you can actually take a break from the heat and help save a life. We won't tell anyone if you hang out in the refreshment area and eat an extra cookie and have a couple cool drinks.

You can find a drive near you and make an appointment by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543)or click here

Photo chronicle.augusta.com

Disaster Response Update

July 27:

Red Cross disaster volunteers responded to a single family fire in NE Portland. We provided food, clothing, lodging and health services support for four adults.

July 28:

Red Cross disaster volunteers responded to a single family fire in Beaverton. We provided food and lodging for two adults and three children.

Flickr Finds: I'm An A+

The perfect combination of our "Are You My Type?" buttons (as seen at Singles CPR) and Tara's recent post about blood type personalities. We might just need to borrow this idea in the future!

Image courtesy of LukaIsntLuka

Feeling a Little Too Sanguine Today?

Are you feeling off today, like maybe your four humours are a bit out of wack?

Humourism, a theory originating in ancient Greece, believed that the body was composed of four major fluids -- blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm -- called humours. An imbalance of the humours would cause a person to be sick. A healthy person’s humours were in perfect balance.

Eventually, an imbalance of humours went beyond physical health to reflect psychological characteristics in people. The Four Temperaments Theory matches a person’s personality type with their body’s balance of humours (which relates nicely to this blog post about blood groups and personality). For example, someone who is sanguine—having too much blood—was described as so:

... light-hearted, funloving, a people person, loves to entertain, spontaneous, leader abilities, and confident . However they can be arrogant, cocky, and indulgent. He/She can be day-dreamy and off-task to the point of not accomplishing anything and can be impulsive, possibly acting on whims in an unpredictable fashion. (From wikipedia.org)

You know, I think the sun and heat are causing me to feel a little too sanguine lately, like maybe I have an unnecessary surplus of my blood humour. Hmmm... how could I possibly remedy this?

If you're feeling a little too sanguine, too, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit http://www.givelife.org/ to make a life-saving blood donation appointment. Don't forget to bring a friend (I'm donating with my mom later today). BONUS: Avoid the heat--donate blood at the Portland Center building (3131 N. Vancouver Ave.) where it's cooler than a polar bear's toenails.

Image: woodcut design of the four humours (1775-1778) by Johann Kaspar Lavater

The $10 Difference

Sometimes candy helps high school kids win class president...and sometimes $10 bills help volunteers exit a plane faster. After a plane crash in Manchester, UK, safety researchers attempted to recreate panic in a lab setting. They didn't get the results they wanted. Their volunteers had no incentive to get to the plane exit first...But, with the help of a $10 reward to the first people out of the plane, a near-fatal stampede occurred!

Whether at an IKEA opening in England or the annual pilgrimage (or hajj) to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, tragedies from crowd violence often are a preventable phenomenon.

"People will panic, the legend says, so we can't trust them with the information or the training --- the basic tools of their own survival." This quote from Amanda Ripley's book The Unthinkable illustrates the unfortunate mindset of too many emergency officials. Often the assumption is that when individuals know the realities of a disaster, panic will ensue and tragedy will become inevitable.

My favorite moment in Ripley's book was the explanation that "trust is the basic building block for any effective warning system." Instead of blaming the crowd or fate after panic strikes, officials must trust people with the realities of a potential disaster situation. For example, at a Starbucks near the Potomac River (where floodwater has risen in past years), the water level is illustrated on window paintings. That's a really creative way to familiarize individuals on the reality of their surroundings!

Visitors to Mecca should be wary that the stoning of the jamarat is a particularly dangerous part of the hajj (where sudden crowd movements can cause people to be crushed). That information should be topicalized, even if it is frightening to consider. People need to be trusted more, because ultimately, the aftermath of a disaster will be determined by the crowd, not the emergency planner.

"Stoning of the jamarat" image courtesy of Getty Images.

An Abundance of Audio

Reminder: New episodes were just posted for two podcasts that should be on your essential playlist...

1. Our very own Ready Radio, hosted by yours truly and Lise, is a fairly light-hearted podcast all about preparedness. (You know I'm shy about self-promotion, but since you're already reading this blog I figure you like to hear what we have to say.)

On Episode #4 - which we recorded live yesterday - we take on the task of myth-busting for everything from snakebite first aid to severe weather phenomena. We also interview Professor Cliff Mass, the atmospheric scientist who began his career working with Carl Sagan and literally wrote the book on The Weather of the Pacific Northwest.

2. Cross the Globe is created by our fabulous International Services colleagues at NHQ. Their worldwide partnerships give them the ability to literally interview people across the globe as well as here in the U.S.

On Episode #6 they talk to:

• Vasil Mavigadze age 20 - who found himself leading all of the volunteers in the Red Cross Society of Georgia during the conflict between Georgia and Russia.


• Lindsey Nies, age 18 - a CPR instructor in Pittsburg who had an opportunity to apply her lessons in real life.

Both of these are pretty short podcasts. You could fit them both in on your lunchbreak. So give 'em a listen!

You Are What You Bleed

Hey, baby, what's your blood type...?

Most people in the U.S. know their astrological star sign and the associated personality traits that you're supposed to possess for being born on a certain day. Much like star signs, in certain other countries, blood groups are considered to determine personality types and temperament.

In Japan, for example, people are thought to possess the below traits based on their blood group. (The following information was taken from this website. It also tells an interesting history about blood group personality traits in Japanese culture.)

Group O: trendsetter, loyal, passionate, self-confident, independent, ambitious, vain, jealous
Group A: calm, patient, sensitive, responsible, overcautious, stubborn, unable to relax
Group B: individualist, dislike custom, strong, optimistic, creative, flexible, wild, unpredictable
Group AB: cool, controlled, rational, sociable, popular, critical, sometimes standoffish, indecisive

So, what do you think? Does your blood group match your personality? Are you totally AB or totally O?

Like star signs and horoscopes, there's no scientific support for blood group personality traits, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to think about (that is "soooo O" of me to say).

Photo: Japanese blood group socks from Lisa Van Muyen's travel blog. I must get my hands (er, feet) on some of these!

Reward Yourself For Helping Save Lives!

Prizes are fun. Even the word 'prize' is fun. I'm not sure there's anyone who would disagree (they would be lame, and therefore unworthy of prizes).

Now blood and platelet donors can exchange reward points for items like Red Cross apparel, music download cards, and more. Help save lives and receive cool stuff?? Why, yes! You heard me correctly.

The Pacific Northwest Region of the American Red Cross is excited to announce the launch of a new online donor recognition store called "Red Cross Rewards." The Red Cross Rewards Store is our little way of saying "thanks" to frequent blood and platelet donors in the Pacific Northwest for being so absolutely fantastic.

To start accumulating points to exchange for Red Cross Rewards, make a life-saving blood or platelet donation. Schedule your appointment at a blood drive near you or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Click here to go directly to the Red Cross Rewards store.

Photos: Sample Prizes... stylish!

Let's Pump Some Iron

Excuse me, do you know where I can find the weight room?

It's iron-pumping time! No, not that kind of iron (I'm so NOT in the mood for the gym). I'm talking about the delicious kind--in food form!

As mentioned before, it's important to eat iron-rich foods before donating blood. Here's an Iron Soup recipe from Oxygen Magazine that will help you prep for your next blood donation. In addition to being tasty, one serving of the soup provides 45 percent of your iron RDA (recommended daily allowance).

Iron Soup

1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 lb chicken breast, cut into cubes (OR cubed, extra firm tofu)
2-14 oz cans low-sodium chicken broth (OR vegetable broth)
10 oz spinach
1-15 oz can light red kidney beans, drained*
1-15 oz can dark red kidney beans, drained*
1-15 oz can cannellini beans, drained*

1. Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot. Saute onion for 2 minutes.
2. Add chicken and cook for about 10 minutes. Stir in broth and bring to a boil.
3. Add spinach and let simmer for 2 minutes. Add all beans, cover and let cook for 2 minutes. Let cool and serve.

Makes 8 Servings. Nutrients per serving: Calories: 360, Total Fats: 3g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Trans Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 35 mg, Sodium: 440 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 50g, Dietary Fiber: 15 g, Sugars: 3 g, Protein: 33 g, Iron: 8 mg

* Rinse your beans to decrease sodium by 30 percent

Too hot outside for soup? Try this Iron Energy Smoothie recipe.

Photo courtesy of fitsugar.com

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.]

MONGOLIA: Red Crossers have been responding to heavy flooding in and around the city of Ulanbataar - providing food, clothing, bedding and other relief supplies.

SOMALIA: The ICRC provides medical supplies to Mogadishu hospitals, which recently saw an upsurge in patients due to renewed fighting in the region.

SRI LANKA: The dengue fever epidemic has already claimed hundreds of lives and affected nearly 17,000 people in Sri Lanka. Together with the Ministry of Health and the American Red Cross, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society is using educational programs to help stop the spread of the disease.

THAILAND: Clean water and malaria education are saving lives in Thailand. This video shows just a few of the people who have been helped by these programs provided in part by the American Red Cross.

WORLDWIDE: The Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, established by the Danish Red Cross and the IFRC, has published a new handbook on psychosocial intervention and a community-based psychosocial support trainer’s kit. Read about the research here. And download the handbooks at www.ifrc.org/psychosocial.



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

Preparing Portland For The Undead

On a recent trip to Powell's, I decided it was time to suck it up and read Pride and Prejudice. Much to my surprise however, I found that the living dead had infiltrated Jane Austen's literature classic!

Upon this discovery, I decided I needed to ask myself daily what I'm doing to prepare for the zombie apocalypse. This includes researching important films like Zombie Cheerleader Camp (the undead will take many forms). Once their common behaviors are thoroughly understood, I move onto protection and preparation. I check my three-day emergency kit and turn to the pages of zombie expert Max Brooks' survival guides.

In Portland, we are fortunate that a dedicated individual is acting on this impending emergency. Meet James Gunn, the owner of NW Tactical Adventures. His war-games company is housed on a 165-acre site that includes "shelters, food stocks, a first aid center, machine gun bunkers, fresh water and ample wild game."

As a former military man, Gunn knows to treat the zombie apocalypse not as a possibility, but as a certainty. He isn't alone. As I write, other zombie warriors are creating similar sites throughout the country, complete with a ham radio communication network. To take advantage of this "asylum from the apocalypse," you will need to register at zombieresearch.org.

Graphic courtesy of portlandmercury.com

Thanks to the Willamette Week for inspiration from their "best sites" article.

A Letter From Lekman

So you've already heard about our love of Jens Lekman here on Cross Blog and on the first episode of Ready Radio.

But now I can confirm that Lekman loves us just a little bit back.

Yesterday, blogger Tara pointed out the news that the devastatingly adorable Jens had contracted the miserable, horrible H1N1 virus. I was naturally concerned for his well-being, as the poor guy has already been through a sliced hand.

Given the circumstances, I thought it was important to write Jens and express our sincere concern and share proof of our fandom. So, without further ado, I give you my letter and Jens' response.

Swoon at your own risk.

-------------------------

Dear Jens,

I have no idea whether you're a fan of the Red Cross, but I can assure you that the Red Cross (or at least our little branch in Portland, Oregon) is a fan of you.

Since I don't want to waste your time with shameless flattery and fawning adoration, I'll simply point you to this post on our blog:
http://redcrosspdx.blogspot.com/2009/06/jens-lekman-and-case-for-basic-first.html

...and Episode 1 of our podcast, which you can listen to here:
http://readyradio.sprnetwork.com/

Hope all goes well with your H1N1 recovery -- we'll look forward to seeing you in Portland again!

Lise Harwin

-------------------------

21 jul 2009 kl. 01.07 skrev

how lovely.
i will make sure to get injured just in time for my next portland show.
warmly,
jens

-------------------------

Photo courtesy of jahansell

Pie Can Save Your Life

As seen on the Portland Pie-Off Blog:

When you’re about to drown in Monday paperwork, a sweet, summery cherry filling can save the day. And how many pumpkin pies have helped you survive the holidays?

The American Red Cross has long been the expert when it comes to saving lives – through CPR classes, swim lessons, disaster preparedness training and now…pie.

The cool kids down at the American Red Cross have created the CPR Pie; a concoction where the first letter of the three main ingredients must spell out C-P-R.

Need a hint? How about Cherry, Peach, Raspberry? Or Chocolate, Pear, Ricotta? Or Cranberry, Pecan, Rhubarb?

The American Red Cross is the official sponsor of the CPR Pie category and will be on-hand at the Pie-Off to judge. They’ll reward the best piemaker with a t-shirt that tells the universe you’re ready for anything and a free CPR class so you can literally save a life…with or without a slice on hand.

So what are you waiting for? Pull out your pie pans, read the rules, fill out a registration form and get ready for the big event on August 16.

We'll be there...what about you?

Swim Lessons: Safe For Infants?

I don't make a habit of reading the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) policy statements, but I did once work for a children's hospital, so it's not entirely unfamiliar territory.

This is the particular statement that caught my interest. It says that, "Generally, children are not developmentally ready for swimming lessons until after their fourth birthday. Aquatic programs for infants and toddlers have not been shown to decrease the risk of drowning, and parents should not feel secure that their child is safe in water or safe from drowning after participating in such programs."

But now, there's this video, which states that the AAP is changing its mind, thanks to this report from the National Institutes of Health.



Tell us -- as a parent, would you enroll your infant in swimming lessons?

Is your dog walker/pet sitter certified in Pet First Aid?

A few weeks ago I had a very sick cat - multiple meds, multiple times a day kind of sick. So when I had to leave town for a weekend, I couldn't just ask a friend to watch her. This was a job for a pro.

But I'd never hired a cat sitter before, and neither had anyone I knew. So I started a blind search for someone I could trust to handle my fiesty feline's medical needs. Luckily, my search led me to Amy Frankwick of Reigning Pets Northwest. The first thing Amy did when I met her was show me her American Red Cross Pet First Aid certification card (among a slew of other amazing accreditations).

I knew she was the one.

And I was right. I'll spare you the gross details about ear goo and cat puke and just say that I had a worry-free weekend away, and we all lived happily ever after.

The moral of the story: If you're hiring a pet sitter, ask to see their Pet First Aid certification. It's a good indicator that they'll be able to handle whatever emergencies happen while you're away.


More info on my pet sitter here. Photo of their dog, Haily, courtesy Sean Morrison Photography.

P.S. If you want to take Pet First Aid yourself, you can register at OregonRedCross.org/dogs or OregonRedCross.org/cats.

Meet Our Volunteers: Tony Valdez

Read about how Tony warms up our fire desk

Swine Flu: Preparing For A Comeback

Out of sight, out of mind.

The moment we stopped seeing photos like this:



...was the moment that most of us forgot about H1N1, better known as "swine flu."

But, fortunately for us, doctors and nurses around the globe haven't forgotten and are already gearing up for the virus to come back in full force this fall.

To that end, I thought I'd share a couple of articles that highlight what communities are doing to get the rest of us ready.

Lessons Learned, New York Braces for Swine Flu’s Return
Got Swine Flu? Tweet it.

Image courtesy of AFP/GETTY

Nominate Your "Everyday Hero"

We've all got heroes. And whether they are our parents or those in our community, they deserve some special recognition, don't you think?

Now KATU TV is recognizing "Everyday Heroes" -- ordinary people doing extraordinary things to make our neighborhoods a better place to live.

As I see it, all of our Red Cross volunteers deserve this honor. Our disaster volunteers, who help families through crisis. Our transportation volunteers, who get seniors and the disabled to their medical appointments. Or our instructors, who help Oregonians get trained in the skills needed to save a life.

If you know someone who deserves to be called an Everyday Hero, make sure to nominate them now. It only takes a minute, though the pride might last a lifetime.

Smoke Alarm FAIL

This photo -- from the There, I Fixed It blog -- kind of says it all:



Note that we do not recommend this solution to the problem. We do, however, recommend:

- Smoke alarm info and tips from the National Fire Protection Association
- The L.A. Fire Department's @SmokeAlarm Twitter reminder
- Fire safety tips on our website

Prepare-aphernalia: Would You Sleep In A Pod?

I figure Friday is the perfect day to drag out the weird and wacky stuff - like this "earthquake-resistant" bed.

I've gotta say I dig the concept, and it might be really handy. But the question is... would you want to sleep in a pod?

I like bed tents and canopy beds as much as the next person, but unless I'm gonna retrofit my apartment to look like a space ship (like this guy did), I just don't know about putting a pod in my bedroom. Thoughts?

P.S. I found this on a very cool WIRED list of weird survival gear. Check out the solar oven and inflatable sailboat as well!

Give Whole Blood, See Half-Blood

I have a secret: I love Harry Potter. I'm not obsessed by any means, like some people I know. I haven't read any of the books, but I absolutely adore the movies. For a long time I was in Harry Potter Denial (HPD); I refused to acknowledge the true awesomeness of wizards and magic, and dismissed the novels as a passing trend.

Now I just can't get enough of the fictional wizarding world. Like thousands of others, I'll soon be on my way to see the newest Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Before you head out to see the half-blood prince on the big screen (because I know you will), why not help save lives by donating whole blood? (Get it? Half-blood, whole blood?) I can't think of a better way to get my energy back after helping to save lives:

Harry Potter + buttery popcorn + candy + giant "small" diet coke + 2.5 hours of chilling out in a comfy seat... What's not to love about this scenario?

Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit givelife.org to make a muggle-saving blood donation appointment.

CPR For Cats, By Cats.

Soon I'm taking up cat-sitting duty, including daily walks with a leash. Therefore, I couldn't resist! .....the lolcat:

So....Have You Met Maree?

For those of you that work in our office, Maree's is surely a familiar face. And for those of you who read The Oregonian, well, you probably recognize her as well.

Why?

Because yesterday's paper featured a nice article about Ms. Wacker and the vision she has as the new CEO for our organization.

Want to know more? Read it right here.

Sharing is Caring

Every year, nearly 5 million people in the U.S. receive a blood transfusion...are you one of those people?

If you live in the Pacific Northwest area and you have a story that you'd like to share about being a recipient of blood or platelets, please email me at trullingert@usa.redcross.org.

Your story could inspire others to help save lives through blood donation.

Photo courtesy of emrank

Our Hillsboro Mitigation Project By The Numbers!

Together We Prepare Hillsboro was our weekend project that's received a few posts already. To truly see the accomplishments of this event, here are the numbers for supplies we distributed, people we connected with and information we gave out:

• 62 volunteer and employee staff took the weekend to prepare Hillsboro
• 81 households have working smoke detectors that didn't before
• 500 first aid kits were distributed to individuals in Hillsboro
• 1456 families received emergency preparedness information
• 686 people had direct contact with a Red Cross canvasser

We also heard conversations on how the Red Cross impacted lives throughout this Hillsboro neighborhood; whether through skills gained through classes, receiving blood donations or reaching out to family members in the military.

Our walkers were invited into homes to check on fire safety issues such as working smoke alarms or to change batteries. Back at the Cooler Club headquarters, several additional people noticed our Red Cross canopies and were reached as well through information, smoke detectors and first aid kits. Lastly, one family we met stressed the timeliness of this project, as they had just experienced a house fire themselves.

This event could not have happened without the coordinated efforts of many dedicated staff members and volunteers.

This little boy was excited to take on the role of preparedness coordinator for his entire household.

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.]


TAJIKISTAN: Red Crescent workers are helping construct a whole new village for 4,000 people who lost their homes to mudslides a few months ago.

Located at the foothilss of the Pamir mountains, Tajikistan is quite vulnerable to natural disasters - experiencing events such as earthquakes, mud and landslides, floods, droughts or cold waves up to 50 times per year.

THE MALDIVES: Speaking of building entire communities, check out this video from our colleague Eric Porterfield's visit to the island the Red Cross rebuilt for tsunami survivors.

BURKINA FASO: In an area where half of all doctor visits are due to Malaria, the IFRC has stepped up mosquito net distribution - handing out 60,000 nets in just the first week of July.

BENIN, GHANA, and the CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: An early warning system allowed IFRC workers to pre-position relief supplies in areas that would soon be flooded. That means more rapid distribution of aid for more than 13,000 people who have been affected.


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

20-Minute Neighborhoods and Emergency Response: A Potluck Presentation Tonight

A 20-minute neighborhood is one in which "you can walk to essential amenities and services in 20 minutes." These "essential amenities" typicall refer to restaurants, schools, parks and other daily life kind of places. By this definition, Portland has quite a few of these 20-minute neighborhoods.

But in a disaster "essential" takes on another meaning. Hospitals, fire stations, and supply staging areas become daily needs. Having these resources nearby is particularly important in Portland - a city divided into multiple sections by rivers and bridges.

That's why it's great that Jeremy O'Leary - local sustainability and GIS mapping buff - is giving a potluck presentation tonight on building resilient 20-minute neighborhoods that integrate emergency response.

Check out Jeremy's 20-minute neighborhood mapping slideshow before you go, and be sure to bring a snack for the potluck!

TONIGHT - Wednesday, July 15

7:00pm - 9:00pm
St. Francis Dining Hall, 1182 SE Pine St.

A Little Laugh To Start Your Day

Thanks to our friend Dede for yet another great CPR-themed comic our way...

Via DailyINK.com

If you want to brush up on your "dance moves," sign up for a short review class.

Together We Prepare Hillsboro

Just in case you weren't able to join us in Hillsboro, here are a few photos I snapped during the this weekend's festivities:

Red Cross Spotting: Loïe Fuller

We've noted before that the Red Cross pops up everywhere. That's why we created the "Red Cross Spotting" Flickr pool, so that when you spot a cross, you can snap a pic and post it yourself.

So I've ceased to be surprised when the Red Cross rears its head...even on my weekends, even out with friends and even in the middle of the Columbia River Gorge.

Those of you that know me know of my love for Chuck Palahniuk's Fugitives and Refugees, a rather unconventional guide to Portland and the surrounding area. In it, Chuck details places of interest that often go under the radar; and this weekend, we thought to check out a few while guests were in town.

One of the spots we hit was the Maryhill Museum, about two hours east of Portland (but actually up in Washington). You can read all about the museum right here.

One of the museum's founders was Loïe Fuller, and there's an extensive exhibit of memorabilia from her lifetime as an actress, dancer and choreographer. Let me tell you, this woman was absolutely fascinating...perhaps she even influenced the more recent projects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude?

In any case, Loïe -- in addition to all of her creative work -- also raised money for the Red Cross and was photographed several times in Red Cross nursing uniforms, as you'll see above.

I snapped the pic (no flash, I promise!) in the museum, but I'd urge you to check out all of Maryhill's exhibits in person yourself!

"Wii-PR?"

So...just like Lise is fairly certain the writers for The Office read our blog (see here, here and here) ...I'm pretty sure Nintendo's game developers are following us as well.

Earlier this year, I wrote about the health benefits the Wii can provide and now recent news has triggered a second post concerning the Wii's role in health. This time it's CPR-specific!

According to Newsweek, the American Heart Association has pledged $50,000 towards the creation of a Wii game that teaches CPR using only a Wii remote and a screen! The research team, four biomedical engineering students from the University of Alabama, have a difficult task ahead of them.

As an instructor, it's my opinion that learning CPR solely from a video game (with a pillow or basketball as alternates to a manikin) won't provide adequate training. I DO however, see this as an exciting opportunity to inspire Wii gamers to sign up for a class. It also would function great as a refresher for those already trained in CPR.

More First Aid Myths From The Oregonian

The Oregonian agrees: some of what you "know" about First Aid is probably wrong.

This weekend's article even puts some hard stats behind that hunch:

More than half of 654 parents in a recent survey answered incorrectly some basic questions about treating burns, insect stings and bites. Three-fourths held mistaken notions about treating cuts and scrapes.

Wow. That's a lot!

Thankfully the Oregonian also does a little myth-busting on the subjects of: bee stings, scrapes, splinters, sunburns, drowning and snakebites. Read up, then take a class.

A Thank You to Blood Donors

A few months ago, I told you about a brave little boy from Portland named Alex who was battling cancer. Alex's fight with T-Cell Lymphoma and his need for blood transfusions continues today. Below is a blog comment and a 'thank you' to blood donors that I received from Alex's mom.

Tara,

Alex is back in the hospital, and just received another transfusion of whole blood. Please pass on our sincere Thank You's to all the donors who help make our hope of Alex beating this cancer a reality. Please thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

Sincerely,

Sara, Alex's mom.

Remember, blood donors, that you really are helping to save lives like Alex's each time you give blood. Recipients, their friends and family, and the Red Cross are grateful for your selflessness and generosity.

To help save lives through blood donation, please make an appointment by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or by visiting http://www.givelife.org/.

To learn more about Alex and his battle with cancer, visit his mom's blog called Alex's Battle.

Photo taken of Alex in March of 2009

8 Common First Aid Mistakes And Myths That Make Things Worse

Have you ever put butter on a burn or heat on a sprained ankle? Well, chances are you were making the injury worse rather than better.

A friend sent me this list of eight basic First Aid myths that can actually cause more harm than good. It covers burns, seizures, sprains, snake bites, nose bleeds, vitamin overdoses, choking and fevers, and it's pretty much in line with what our First Aid instructors teach.

The only thing I think we'd add is to try a couple of solid back blows before attempting abdominal thrusts (aka "Heimlich Maneuver") on a choking person.

Of course, if you want more in depth training and practice, you can always take a class.


photo via flickr's eschipul

Live to Give This Summer

KGW news reporter Drew Carney donated blood live on the air on Friday, July 3, at the Red Cross Portland Donor Center. Guided by Daphne Mathew, our blood services Communications Director, Drew took viewers through the blood donation process, all the way up to his very own donation.

Drew’s blood donation helped jumpstart the "Live to Give Summer Blood Drive," a partnership with the Red Cross PNW Blood Services, KGW, and the Portland Marriott. Together our goal is to collect 30,000 units of blood between July 1 and August 18. To accomplish this, we really need your help.

Click here to see the full video of Drew at the Red Cross. Thanks to Drew for helping to save lives through blood donation and for kicking off the Live to Give Summer Blood Drive!

For more information about the Live to Give campaign, click here or here.

Weekend Plans...

What are you doing this weekend?

Whether you're in Hillsboro or North Portland, you're bound to see Red Crossers out in the community, doing good things.

For example, in Hillsboro, we're going door-to-door to educate residents about the importance of safety and preparedness. No, we're not asking for donations...we're actually GIVING AWAY FREE STUFF.

Yep, we'll be gifting residents free swag including smoke alarms, batteries and first aid kits. We'll also be talking to them about how to make sure their homes are safe and that they're prepared for anything.

We'll also be talking about preparedness (and the importance of donating blood and getting trained) at the Mississippi Avenue Street Fair on Saturday. This is a huge event and it's right down the street from our offices. If I wasn't already working Together We Prepare Hillsboro, you better believe that's where I'd be hanging out.

So look for us this weekend, no matter where you're located. We always like meeting our online peeps!

Attention Creative Types!

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wants you. Or at least she wants your educational video.



Start making your PSA today -- you've got until August 17 to submit. And the grand prize isn't too shabby; $2,500 for spreading the word instead of a virus.

Love Letter to a Blood Donor

Dearest Blood Donor:

I’m so confused… did we break up? It seems like every time I call, you’re never home. I haven’t seen you in so long and I miss you.

I know it’s summer and you’re probably busy with vacations and barbecues with friends, but do you think you could squeeze in a little bit of time for me… just an hour or so? We've had so many good times together. Remember how many lives we’ve helped to save?

Please come back to me this summer. I really truly can’t live without you.

Love Forever xoxo,
American Red Cross

P.S. Maybe you’ve lost my number? If so, it's 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. Call me anytime. I’ll be waiting by the phone.

Photo courtesy of erin MC hammer

Mmmm...Pie.

The Portland Pie-Off is coming on August 16 and I just spotted this crazy "CPR Pie" category.

Who could have done that and what does it mean? Well, you'll just have to stay tuned.

And, in the interim, eat pie.

Mmmm...pie.

"Still Doing The Right Thing, Even When Everyone Else Is Done Watching"

I received an e-mail last night.

Okay, I received lots of e-mails, but this one stood out. It's actually from one of my brand-new public affairs volunteers who, despite lots of training, finally GOT the Red Cross this weekend.

Read on:

"What I’ve learned since joining you is that my former perception of what the Red Cross does is pretty much what a lot of those around me believe as well.

I knew that Red Cross people went to local, national and international disasters and did the blood thing, of course…but when the news had a comment about the Red Cross providing clothes, I had no idea what they did.

I thought that perhaps the Red Cross got clothes from someplace like Goodwill…or had donations given to them that were of a similar nature…OR, perhaps they gave a family enough money to get each member jeans, a shirt and a pair of shoes to tide them over.

Even that seemed like a nice thing for them to do in my view, so my perception overall was a positive one, but didn’t necessarily tug my heartstrings because I haven’t known anyone who needed the Red Cross’ help as yet.

As far as providing shelter…I expected they bought the people a hotel for the night, thereby allowing them a night and day to figure out what they were going to do next and who they could go live with.

I didn’t know that you gave on-going grief counseling after disasters, or that you gave it to military families…for a death that might have occurred half the world away.

Carolyn [one of our long-time disaster volunteers] gave me HUGE insight! She told me about the more than $100 per person for clothes. She told me they would pay for rent for a month (and deposits), if deemed necessary. To find out that she was looking for an assisted care center for a gentleman this last weekend absolutely astounded me. I had NO idea! And that she and her husband help those grieving over the death of their pets nearly had ME in tears as she told of their pet burial ground.

I’ve worked in those large companies who hold those blood drives for their employees and others in those high rises. I’ve been the person that someone goes to in order to ask for money or other help during huge emergency situations, but nobody has ever given me details like that.

I believe the Red Cross needs to “toot” their own horn…and let people know exactly what they are doing; the details that are coordinated AFTER the firemen are gone, the hoopla and adrenaline have died down, and the cold, hard realities still have to be faced. Someone is still standing with the people in their corner: the staff of the Red Cross!

Someone once told me a quote that I absolutely love. It was something like, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” What I now know is, “Today’s Red Cross: Still doing the right thing, even when everyone else is done watching.”

Wow, right? Can you imagine how happy I am to have her on our public affairs team? But her point is well taken -- lots of people know the big picture of what we do, but not the little details of how we're truly rebuilding the lives of people who have absolutely nothing left.

What we do is important. I'm proud to work for the Red Cross and if you're a donor, you should feel good about what your gift helps us accomplish.

Did you know all of these things about the Red Cross? If you're an employee or volunteer, what work do you see us doing that goes under the radar?

Photo of an actual hand-written letter (who does that anymore?) courtesy of a.drian

Getting Lost In A "Driveway Moment"

When the OPB Radio pledge drive is in full effect, they talk a lot about "driveway moments," those times where you're so intrigued by a story that you'd rather stay in the car and listen than get out and on with your day.

This morning I heard such a story on Morning Edition -- psychology professor Colin Ellard talking about getting lost.

These days, people take along a compass when hiking or a GPS while driving, but there's still the potential for being completely confounded. Some tips that Ellard suggests? Make up a story about something nearby to remember a certain spot (like where you parked your car) and when you get really lost, you should just stop.

Ellard also mentioned that wilderness can be especially confusing, which is why people wind up THINKING they are walking in a straight line, but actually walk in circles. Again, just stay put.

But the most interesting tidbit? Generally speaking, women seem to navigate by using landmarks, while men tend to use cardinal directions (NE, SW, etc...). I find this to be true -- what do you think?

In any case, if this topic interests you, you might want to check out Ellard's new book, "You Are Here: Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon, but Get Lost in the Mall."

And if you're going hiking and are concerned about getting lost, make sure you're always prepared with the 10 Essentials, including that ever-important compass.

Waiting for Blood While Hoping to Live

Four-year-old Kate Thorton was diagnosed with leukemia in August of 2008. To help her stay alive through her chemotherapy treatments, Kate receives regular blood and platelet transfusions.

In this video, Kate's mom Susan tells the story of when she first found out her daughter had leukemia. To Susan's surprise, Kate had to wait for several hours in the hospital until enough blood was available for her daughter's first series of transfusions.



This video emphasizes the reality that the need for blood is constant. Cancer patients like Kate need regular blood and platelet transfusions in order to stay alive. Because the need is constant and because blood products have an expiration date, the blood supply must continually be replenished.

To help children like Kate and others in need of blood and platelet transfusions, please make an appointment to donate blood by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit http://www.givelife.org/.

"GR8" Promise At The G8 Summit This Week

The IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), just came out with a press release on the G8 Summit* to take place July 8-10th in L'Aquila, Italy. Does that name sound familiar? Perhaps you recall the news coverage of a massive quake that centered on this Italian city just three months ago.

Amongst other critical topics, the G8 Summit promises to address global "disaster risk reduction" using the influence of major world players. I think Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it best: "Investing in risk reduction is a triple win: against poverty, against disasters and against climate change."

Be sure to follow along at the IFRC's news page.

*To me, the G8 would sound way more epic if they went by the name "The Northern Alliance." It's more geographically and politically accurate too, since China and India aren't allowed in their club.

Graphic courtesy of un.org

Ready Radio Interview: We Grill The NFPA’s “Principal Gas Engineer” About Grill Safety

With summer in full swing, we’re betting that you’ve pulled out the grill at least once or twice. But firing it up doesn’t have to mean burning the house down.

From checking hoses for spiders to cleaning off any squirrel residue, Ted Lemoff - Principal Gas Engineer with the National Fire Protection Agency - gave us great tips for safe summer grilling. You’ll find out the different dangers of propane vs. charcoal; how to get your briquettes lit (hint: not with gasoline); and how to tell when your ashes are safe for disposal.

The grilling expert even revealed his favorite food to BBQ, which ISN’T a hamburger or hot dog. You’ll have to listen to an upcoming episode of Ready Radio to find out the answer!

Give A Day, Get A Night

Here at the Red Cross, we're all about rewarding volunteerism. As you might know, more than 90% of our workforce is volunteers and we couldn't accomplish just about anything that we do without their invaluable help.

We've got volunteer nurses and psychologists and graphic designers and photographers and accountants and instructors and data entry specialists and receptionists and folks willing to get up in the wee hours of the night to do help out at a housefire.

In short, our volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization.

And honestly, with all the work they do, they could probably use a break. A quick getaway to, say, play golf in Arizona. Or visit the zoo in San Diego. Or just head to a classy hotel in downtown Portland for the night.

I tell you this because the nice folks at Sage Hospitality are rewarding volunteers all over the country with a "Give A Day, Get A Night" offer. Just put in 8 hours of community service (and we know our volunteers do a LOT more than that) and get a free night's stay or a 50% discount.

Whether you're a current volunteer or interested in becoming one, I love the idea of room service for community service. Nice!

P.S. For those of you who are disaster responders, I've asked if Red Crossers are eligible for the "Half Price For Heroes" special. I'll let you know what I hear!

Ready Radio Interview: Atmospheric Scientist Cliff Mass On Unpredictable Northwest Storms and Modeling Weather on Mars with Carl Sagan

If you thought the weather in the Northwest was too mild or boring - think again! I just finished interviewing University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Cliff Mass for an upcoming episode of Ready Radio. (Remember me telling you about the book he wrote?)

He talked about some crazy storms in our neck of the woods - and I mean “wipe out a whole town” kind of crazy.

And this man knows weird weather. He once worked with Carl Sagan on weather modeling for Mars!

My interview with Professor Mass will air on an upcoming podcast, but in the meantime you can start your atmospheric education with his storm prediction slide show for The Seattle Times , his blog or his weather forecasts for Puget Sound Public Radio KUOW.