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.]


ASIA PACIFIC: The Red Cross Red Crescent is now responding to four near-simultaneous disasters in Asia Pacific: the Typhoon Ketsana and torrential rains in the Philippines and Viet Nam, a strong earthquake followed by a tsunami on the Samoan Islands and an earthquake off the West coast of Indonesia. For updates on these relief efforts, you can follow the IFRC, the Palang Merah Indonesia (Indonesia Red Cross), and the Philippines Red Cross on twitter.

And here's some more in-depth coverage of the disaster response in:

- Vietnam

- The Philippines

- Samoa

AMERICAN SAMOA: The American Red Cross is on the ground responding to the earthquake and tsunami with road clearing, support for search and rescue missions, sheltering, food and emergency supplies. Residents of American Samoa are encouraged to register themselves on the "safe and well" website.

SUDAN: The ICRC will start distributing food and essential household items to families affected by recent hostilities in and around Korma, in North Darfur.

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

We're #17!

Ah, 17.

You can drive, but you can't vote. It's a bit of a numeric nether-region, but in this case, it's still something to be really proud of...

That's because, out of 100 fantastic non-profits in Oregon, we popped up as #17 on the large organization (75+ employees) list. Nice!

According to the Oregon Business magazine article, more than 6,700 employees from more than 200 nonprofits around the state participated. The specially designed survey was comprised of an anonymous 50-question employee survey and an independent assessment of the nonprofit employers’ workplace practices.

Other noteworthy list mentions -- our friends over at SEI made #15; those cute Girl Scouts made #25; and our partners at Ride Connection made #14 on the "medium-sized" list. All in all, this is a fantastic list of Oregon's best...and we're proud to be a part of it.

And (hint, hint) if you ever want to come join us, check out the current job openings!

Our New Comcast PSA

Thanks to our wonderful partners at Comcast, we've developed a PSA that will be airing on the cable channels throughout the next month.

I'm not 100% sure that it's on air yet, so consider this your sneak peek!



Special thanks to Charisse Tooze of ToozeFilms for her editing work...and for being such a pleasure to work with.

Disaster Response Update

September 29:

Disaster volunteers responded to a single family house fire in Oregon City. A family of six adults and one child were displaced, with one adult hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The Red Cross assisted with food, clothes and lodging. Our partner organization, Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP), provided crisis counseling to the family.

The "Perfect" Reminder

Indonesia earthquake. Samoa tsunami. Philippines typhoon. Atlanta floods.

Disasters can happen any time, any where. Are you ready?

Last night, NOAA issued a tsunami advisory for the Oregon Coast. It turned out to be a non-event, but it was also a great reminder that it's important to be prepared for anything.

In fact, this was about as "perfect" of a reminder we could get. There was plenty of advance notice -- hours, in fact -- ample time for coastal residents to review their evacuation plans, pull out their disaster kit and tune in to the news for regular updates. They could also review all of our tsunami tips here.

I was invited for live interviews on KPTV and KOIN, where I talked about what people can do to be prepared and that the Red Cross, with trained volunteers along the coast and pre-positioned disaster supplies in the area, was ready no matter what might happen.

Take this recent spate of disasters around the globe as your reminder to get ready. If nothing else, last night proves that Oregon's not immune.

Cornerstones Conversations: Emergency Preparedness

Whatcha doing for breakfast tomorrow? Wanna meet up and grab a tip or two about preparedness?

The Portland Business Alliance is hosting "Cornerstones Conversations" and taking on the tough topic of emergency preparedness. Naturally, the presenters are our own Eric Corliss (Director of Emergency Services) and our board member/volunteer Tripp Robinson...who also just happens to be the Emergency Manager over at Intel.

Whether your company is worried about an outbreak of H1N1, winter storms or just needs hints on putting together an emergency plan, you won't want to miss this event.

Thursday, October 1
7:30 - 9 a.m.
200 SW Market St, Lobby Conference Room
Members: $20, Non-Members $30
Register Now >>

Ask The Question.

“America’s history is not written by the tragedies that have befallen us, but by how we responded to them."

That was Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in a speech today at the American Red Cross Hall of Service. (If you're following us or national headquarters on twitter you may have caught the live online stream of the speech.)

All this month we've been asking you to do Just One Thing to get prepared. But that one thing, Napolitano says, can be as simple as this:

Ask a question. Stand up at school, or at work, or at home, and ask, “What’s our plan?”

Photo via flickr's Marco Bellucci. Beautiful stuff.

Typhoon Ketsana Updates

A few important updates about the relief efforts for Typhoon Ketsana (aka Ondoy) in Southeast Asia...

- The Philippine National Red Cross has been sending out search and rescue teams, opening evacuation centers and providing aid to tens of thousands of people since the typhoon hit last weekend. They are accepting donations through their website.

- If you're trying to contact loved ones who are U.S. citizens living or traveling in the Philippines, call the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202 647-5225.

- Since Typhoon Ketsana has also hit Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia, the American Red Cross is now also accepting donations to the International Relief Fund for "Typhoons & Floods in SE Asia."

[Photo via IFRC: Search and rescue teams from the PNRC, joined here by Chairman Senator Richard Gordon, saved more than 400 people from rooftops and high walls.]

Free IHL Class Coming Soon

If a child is holding a hand grenade, is he protected by International Humanitarian Law (IHL)?

When I saw this question, it grabbed my attention immediately. And, honestly, I'm not entirely sure of the answer. Are you?

If, like me, you don't know the details of IHL, you might want to cruise over to our website and then sign up for our free class.

Saturday, October 3
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
American Red Cross, Oregon Trail Chapter
3131 N. Vancouver Ave.

To register, contact Carley Truyens at 503-528-5657 or truyensc@redcross-pdx.org.

SAF Scholarship for military families!

A little reminder about something awesome provided by the Red Cross' Service to the Armed Forces program: Red Cross shows some love for military families by offering a scholarship that provides FREE training classes! The classes teach important health and safety skills for both adults and children of military families.

For the kids:

• When I'm in Charge (ages 8-11)
• Babysitter's Training (ages 11-15)

For the big kids at heart:

• Adult/Child/Infant CPR
• Standard First Aid

Call the Oregon Trail Chapter at 503-280-1440 and ask about the "SAF Scholarship" to find out how and when to register!

Modern (Red) Cross Style

Those that know me, know that I adore interior design. I'm not a professional; in fact, I have no idea how to hang curtains and -- full disclosure -- I've never painted a wall in my life.

But, thanks to my artist parents and their decked out mid-century abode, I do have a good eye for shape and form, which is how I wound up being the Portland blogger for the wonderful, fantastic Apartment Therapy website.

But enough about me...

Now AT is looking for a new Portland blogger; a girl who's after my own heart by blogging the simplest, most balanced and proportionate design out there -- the modern (and quite often red) cross.

Placed on pillows and quilts, these crosses provide comfort and respite...kind of like the organization they represent. And while I'm not quite ready to "Red Cross-ify" my bedroom, don't be surprised if you come visit and spot a throw pillow or two!

Immortalized In Haiku

It's rare that anyone writes poetry for me (sniff), so you can imagine my utter excitement when I spotted this post on Twitter:

I can't even think of what inspired the poem -- perhaps the AED shoot with KPTV? I'm not sure, but suffice it to say...THANK YOU, @haikudiary, for setting our work to verse!

Facebook for Flood Survival?

So, if you haven't been following the news, flooding is prompting a Red Cross response on both national and international levels. Our chapter alone has already sent out one volunteer to assist with recovery plans in Atlanta, Georgia.

Internationally, a tragic flooding emergency has displaced more than 430,000 people in the Philippines and left over 100 dead. What is bringing hope to this situation is an innovative use of Twitter and Facebook to post escape routes and meeting spots, as well as putting fundraising efforts through the social media conduit.

Creative use of networking sites have been seen before, most recently in Iranian demonstrations and, for Portlanders, Dave Chappelle's surprise midnight show back in July. With viral media showing up to combat floods and create virtual protests, it's clearly more than a pastime for college kids and over-protective parents!

Photo courtesy of dawn.com

Thirsty for Blood

This whole vampire thing just won't die. And, honestly, it's boring me to death.

But the latest product inspired by our society's immortal love of vampires actually doesn't have my blood boiling. In fact, I think it's pretty hilarious (not to mention nutritious). In January of next year, Blood Energy Potion (pictured left)-- "the world's first synthetic blood beverage"-- will be jolting through the veins of Twilight-obsessed teens and goths alike. Here's a product description:

The fruit punch flavor packs 4 hours of energy along with iron, protein, and electrolytes. Not only does Blood Energy Potion have a similar nutritional makeup to real blood, but it has the same color, look, and consistency of blood. Get real blood nutrients without that real blood taste! The re-sealable transfusion bag style pouch provides the convenient delivery of fluids for vampires and humans alike! Contains no real blood, just synthetic!

I'm a little curious (and slightly disgusted) about what they mean by the drink being the same consistency as blood... could it be thicker than water? (YES! Another lame blood joke for the bloody pun-lovers out there).

So now that you're thirsty for (fake) blood, go donate some real blood. Call 1-800-GIVE LIFE or visit helpsavealife.org to make a donation appointment today.

Photo: urbancollector.com

New Zealand... Rocks!!!

What's not to love about New Zealand?

With beautiful beaches, rugged mountains, clever comedians, musical legends, adventurous citizens, talented filmmakers, and handsome men (that last one has nothing to do with the fact that I'm engaged to a Kiwi... ok, it has everything to do with the fact that I'm engaged to a Kiwi) New Zealand totally rocks!

And, as Lise has already shared with us, New Zealanders have a knack for creative advertising. This New Zealand Blood Service poster that I found today reaffirms that fact.

Enrich your life by donating blood. Call 1-800-GIVE LIFE or visit helpsavealife.org to make a donation appointment today.

Photo from deviantart.com

CONTEST: Five #Just1Things In 5 Minutes

We're nearing the end of National Preparedness Month, which means we're also nearing the end of our #just1thing contest.

As a reminder, all you have to do is tweet us (@RedCrossPDX) with #just1thing you're doing to get prepared and you could take home some great prizes, including:

A Safety Starter preparedness kit
A vintage first aid kit
A "Be Prepared For Anything" t-shirt

As I said before, doing #just1thing is "easy peasy." To that end, I'm going to give you 5 things that you could do in less than 5 minutes for your chance to enter.

1. Play the "Do More" preparedness game and make your custom shopping list.
2. Become a subscriber to our blog or newsletter.
3. Review one preparedness tip sheet (for earthquakes, fires, floods or tsunamis).
4. Fill out an Emergency Contact Card.
5. Watch the winning flu prevention PSA on YouTube.

Getting prepared doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. Sometimes your "action" is just increased knowledge and awareness. Don't forget to tell us your #just1thing on Twitter today!

Are You A Germ-A-Phobe?

If you avoid shaking hands or, worse yet, flushing a public toilet with your fingers, you might just be a germ-a-phobe.

[And if you watch Glee like I do, Emma -- with her adorably color-coordinated outfits! -- is a perfect example.]

Germ-a-phobes have always filled our workplaces, but their ranks are growing with concerns about H1N1. Gone are the communal candy dishes; here are the bottles of hand sanitizer.

Anyway, I highly recommend checking out today's article from the Portland Tribune for a deeper look at germs and the people who hate them. One interesting tidbit? Office desks are 400 times germier than toilet seats.

And now that you've read that, I recommend getting busy with some keyboard sanitizing wipes and flu safety tips. Ick.

Photo courtesy of the Portland Tribune's L.E. Baskow

Survivaballs!

Here at the Red Cross, we want to be prepared for anything! What could be more perfect than the all-in-one, self-sustaining SurvivaBall! You can watch a video to learn all about its features right here...

"For use in catastrophic or potentially catastrophic conditions," the SurvivaBall includes such useful features as Nutrition Utility Transfer, Communications and Infrastructure Modeling, and Medical Stability and Emergency Unit (READ: food, radio, and first aid kit). All great things to keep in an emergency kit!

Ok, so maybe the SurvivaBall isn't available just yet, but there are other ways to be prepared for emergency situations! Check out the Be Red Cross Ready website for more information!

Video and image courtesy of http://www.survivaball.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.]

VIETNAM: The Vietnam Red Cross Society becomes the most recent country to join the Humanitarian Pandemic Preparedness (H2P) program.

PAKISTAN: The ICRC continues to assist thousands of people who are still displaced or have recently returned home.

KENYA: Drought and violence have led to conditions that put millions of Kenyans at the brink of starvation. The IFRC plans to expand its school feeding program for kids as well as its efforts to rehabilitate water facilities and promote hygiene in pastoral areas.

CANARY ISLANDS: The IFRC and the Spanish Red Cross have opened a new humanitarian logistics center in the Canary Islands that will enable them to deliver aid faster to Africa in situations like conflicts and natural disasters.

UGANDA: The ICRC has completed the renovation of an operating theatre at Kitgum Government Hospital in northern Uganda.

SUDAN: The Sudanese Red Crescent has been delivering food and relief kits to thousands of flood victims.

TURKEY: The heaviest rains in 80 years have hit North-western Turkey and Istanbul. The Turkish Red Crescent has been delivering supplies to thousands of victims.

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

This Weekend: Damascus Shelter Exercise

A fast moving wildfire has broken out in heavily wooded areas just 10 miles east of Damascus. Fifty residents will be forced out of their homes – would you be able to help?

This Friday and Saturday, the Damascus Community Church will serve as a shelter in an overnight evacuation exercise designed to prepare the community for a disaster.

During the two-day event, Red Cross volunteers will demonstrate the opening, operation and closure of an evacuation shelter. Damascus residents are invited to observe and shadow the process of setting up a shelter; providing food; offering health and mental health services and much more.

When the demonstration is complete, residents will have the proper training and the confidence to set up a safe and comforting shelter. “Everyone always talks about preparation, or thinks about it,” said Red Cross exercise planner Michael Rudis. “With the possibility of future floods, storms and other disasters, now is the time to take action.”

Live in the Damascus area and want to attend? Call 503-658-1607 to sign up!

Tornado Hunter

Hahaha! I just had to share this XKCD comic with you guys.

I haven't seen a tornado since I migrated here from the Midwest, and to tell you the truth I sort of miss the excitement - though not the damage - they bring. I think almost every Kansan kid at some point dreams of being a storm chaser.

But although we don't see them too often around the Pacific Northwest, tornadoes can in fact occur here. Since y'all homegrown Oregonians (<-- see my Kansas drawl coming out there?) might not be up to speed on tornado procedures, we put together a special page dedicated to them at www.oregonredcross.org/tornadoes. Read up!

P.S. I'm told that Twister has been the most popular film so far at the Tin Shed's Disaster Movie Mondays. And speaking of... don't miss next Monday's showing of Dante's Peak. It's sure to be a blast. (Hehe.)

Free Tsunami Workshop Comes To Coast

If you live on Oregon's coast and are concerned about the threat of tsunamis, this free workshop might be for you:

The two-day workshop will begin at the Cannon Beach City Hall on September 28 from 8:30 a.m. - noon. At 2 p.m. the workshop will move to the Seaside Library and continue until 5 p.m. On September 29, the workshop will be located at the State Office Building in Portland on Oregon Street from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The workshop is geared to community officials, engineers and the general public and will discuss the necessity of such a building, engineering issues, building codes and other topics. There will be a specific portion of the workshop for the public on Monday at the Seaside session from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Residents are encouraged to attend.

Many communities in the Pacific Northwest in low-lying coastal areas are at risk for a tsunami generated by a Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) earthquake. Approximately 100,000 residents are in the tsunami inundation hazard zone each day in Oregon. In addition, many of these communities attract tourists.

Tsunami evacuation buildings can withstand earthquakes and tsunamis and have shown to be valuable in Japan during these events. Traditional evacuation methods of "move inland and uphill" are effective in communities with nearby high ground; however difficulties involved in evacuating residents, tourists and aging populations and very short evacuation times make an evacuation building a viable alternative for saving lives.

Photo courtesy of TooFarNorth

Enjoy Your Mocktail!

For months now, we've been toying with the idea of a signature Red Cross cocktail, whipped up by a terrific bartender (perhaps from here or here).

My idea? An "Oregon Flood," involving spirits from a local distiller (or this one or this one), mixed with some sort of marionberry puree.

One Red Cross chapter is a step closer to the dream, having crafted some special "mocktails" for an event. Check out their very clever list!

Captured Recaptcha

A friend posted this on his Facebook, calling it "unfortunate." I see his point, but I happen to think it's VERY fortunate...and really quite accurate for this blog. See for yourself:


P.S. Are you reading it as "9-1-1" or "9/11"? Either way, we admire the operators who take emergency calls every day and the heroes who responded on that particular day. Works for us!

Slideshow: Together We Prepare Carver

After reading a little bit about this weekend's Carver preparedness project, I thought you might want to see a few (okay, five) photos of the team* in action.

*Actually, it's mainly Nate in action. Geez, man, share the glory with the rest of the group!!

The Cutest Flu

nataliedee.com

Awww, twine flu is adorable! Other types of flu... are not.

Learn how to stop the spread of those cute, cuddly little germs at www.oregonredcross.org/flu.

(P.S. Natalie Dee's comics make great e-cards. Today I sent this one to a couple of friends who are suffering from the sniffles. Get well soon, guys!)

Carver Mitigation Project!

As a specialist of preparedness I feel wildly qualified to talk about the fire/flood preparedness project the AmeriCorps brigadiers engaged in this weekend. But really, I just want to share about our fantastic day in Carver, OR.

Our Saturday began with a short journey to the Clackamas County Fire Station where we met up with two awesome fire prevention specialists, Alice and Kevin. After they kindly fed us we all headed off to Carver Mobile Home Ranch to spread the word (and some free supplies) about preparedness.

Our group went door to door and gave out information, first aid kits, and smoke detectors to the residents as well as sharing in some really good conversation. We learned that our arrival was very timely for one household - they had had a small fire the week before and their smoke alarm never sounded. Many people had us come inside their homes to inspect their current smoke alarms and ask questions. The overall response was enthusiastic and there was a real eagerness amongst people to learn more about how to prepare themselves and their loved ones. It may have been a drizzly day, but this was one parade that did not get rained out. Go Team Prepare!

By the numbers, this is what we did:

• 40 households received preparedness information


• 35 households got vintage first aid kits


• 28 households took smoke detectors to replace or supplement their old ones


• 10 households expressed interest in taking a lifesaving skills class

And a big thanks to the effort and expertise of Kelly, Alice, and Kevin!

Staying Safe On The Farm

I grew up in Oregon, but as an urban Portlander, I don't know that I ever saw a tractor. Really, it wasn't until this year's Steam-Up that I saw farm machines in action. I guess I'm just a city girl.

But there are many parts of our state that are rural to the core and where green and yellow stand for John Deere rather than the Oregon Ducks. Kids in those communities need to know how to be safe around heavy equipment...and how to make a plan for a emergencies.

If you've got a little time on your hands to play tic-tac-toe or memory, check out John Deere's safety site for kids. From house fires to lawn and farm safety, it's another great way to be prepared for anything.

P.S. FYI that the Steam-Up is held at Antique Powerland. Coolest. Name. Ever.

A New Kind of (K)Night Rider

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a… Blood Runner!

Brawny, brainy, and with bleeding-hearts of gold, Blood Runners are the ultimate Life-Saving Crusaders.

The Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers (SERV) is a group of on-call volunteer motorcyclists who transport blood products during the night in emergency situations to hospitals outside of London, England. The public knows riders of SERV as (quite suitably) Blood Runners. Could you even think of a cooler super hero if you tried?

Photos: Volunteer Blood Runners, courtesy of http://www.motorcyclingmatters.org/

Making The Red Cross Look Good

I like to think that our Red Cross gals are incredibly stylish. Whether we thrift for vintage or just wear our Be Prepared For Anything tees, we're a darned good looking bunch.

Sure, we might make a misstep every once in a while -- I mean, I can't think of anything PERSONALLY, but Tara, that lime green dress?!?! -- but I don't think anyone would call Stacy and Clinton on us.

But at one Red Cross chapter, someone DID call What Not To Wear on a co-worker. And in Episode 10 of Season 7, Alexandra -- a Health & Safety team member -- got schooled in style.

Stacy and Clinton intervened in the fashion emergency, resuscitated Alexandra's wardrobe and left her fully prepared to get back into the dating scene.

So, congrats Alexandra, on living through the truly terrifying 360-degree mirror. We're so proud to say there's one more Red Cross gal making our organization look great!

Big Bloody Head

So maybe this is old news in the art world, but have you seen this ridiculously crazy frozen sculpture by British artist Marc Quinn? It's made entirely from his own blood! Quinn created this sculpture called Self (1991) from ten pints of his own blood that he collected throughout a period of five months.

My excuse for not knowing about this until now is that I was only in elementary school when Self was made. At the time, I was more into art made from fine media like colored pencils and smelly markers.

In 2005, Self was sold to a US collector for £1.5m. You could say that Marc Quinn has some expensive blood (and you could even say that there's a pretty big price on his head--zing!). Can I argue that Red Cross blood donors are cooler than Marc Quinn? I mean, they generously give up their blood for free!

Should somebody tell Marc Quinn that those 10 pints of artsy blood could have helped save up to 30 people's lives? To make a blood donation appointment (for life-saving purposes, not artistic) call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit http://www.givelife.org/.

Photo: artnet.com

Beat The Clock!

Can you gather four disaster kit items from a supermarket in less than 60 seconds? Before scaring others with your mad-dash through Safeway, practice this challenge online!

The coolest part of this game is, it personalizes your kit for you! After I filled out my answers, Outlook instantly updated me with a customized shopping list. So whether your survival depends on Nutella, Nintendo DS or Ninja Monthly Magazine (a REAL publication), make sure to pack it in your disaster kit!

Volcano Or Wildfire?

Let's play a little guessing game. What do YOU think this image is -- volcano or wildfire?




It might look like a volcanic eruption, but it's really the recent Station Wildfire in Los Angeles. You can check out the incredible time-lapse footage from photographer Brandon Riza right here.

Well worth watching!

Test Your Flu IQ ("Influenza Quotient")

What's your flu IQ? Find out by taking this quick quiz from TIME.com.

If you didn't ace it, no worries. You can study up with a boatload of resources at www.oregonredcross.org/flu

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.]

EUROPE: The IFRC has released an advocacy report on first aid activities in Europe. Topping the charts for most population trained? Norway with 95%, Germany and Austria with 80%, and Iceland with 75%.

BURKINA FASO: The ICRC and the Burkinabé Red Cross Society launched an emergency aid operation for some 5,000 victims of flooding in the capital city, Ouagadougou.

YEMEN: The ICRC has provided water, shelter, food, and health care for thousands of civilians affected by ongoing fighting.

SOMALIA: Agricultural specialist Henri Maindiaux explains how ICRC agricultural programs have been helping alleviate the dual effects of drought and conflict.

AUSTRALIA: The moving Our World At War exhibit has made its Australian debut - demonstrating, through photography, the "ongoing relevance of the Geneva Conventions in protecting those not, or no longer, taking part in hostilities."

BRUSSELS: To mark the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, Sweden and the ICRC are organizing a conference on how to enhance respect for international humanitarian law by non-State actors.

GAMBIA: The general staff of the Gambian armed forces and the ICRC signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to make the study of international humanitarian law part of the country's military training program.


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

Starve Ian Somerhalder. Give Blood.

I'm either telling you about this a week late or a day early.

I prefer to think of it as the latter -- you're just extra-primed to watch Episode 2 of The Vampire Diaries tomorrow night on The CW.

Why should I watch, you might ask? Well, I'll give you one really smokin' crazy incredibly awesomely hot reason -- the glorious Ian Somerhalder. Yes, Ian (also known as Boone on Lost and Paul Denton in The Rules of Attraction) makes my Top 10 list of hottest actors. That dark, dark hair. Those blue, blue eyes. That pale, pale skin.

As you can see, he's just perfect for playing a vampire. Plus, he also really likes blood. And, if he wasn't sexy enough already, he actually wants you to give it to the Red Cross. Check it out...

And, hey, you celebrity cabinet people at NHQ, could you get on adding Ian to the roster? I can think of one Red Crosser who'd be REALLY happy about that!

Be Intergalactically Prepared!

Putting together a disaster kit shouldn't feel like homework, it should be fun! Personalize your kit with some favorite books, tasty snacks and yes...even LIGHT SABER glow sticks!

Available through the national Red Cross store, this device functions as an emergency light, whistle AND you'll get major Sci-Fi (not SyFy) props for being Star Wars-minded in a disaster.

With a light saber dual just waiting to happen, you'll be making excuses to practice your sheltering-in-place response! WARNING: cool light saber sound not included.

So do I... So. Do. I.

Mmm... marzipan...

Another brilliantly bizarre e-card from SomeEcards. (If you go to the site, be advised: a lot of the cards are pretty, um, "edgy.")

FYI, you can find some slightly more reasonable flu season preparedness plans at oregonredcross.org/flu. Oh, and by the way tomorrow is the last day of the flu prevention YouTube PSA contest. Don't forget to vote!

Surviving Fires And Hurricanes

Lately, the talk around the office has been all, "Did you see last night's 'Surviving Disaster?'" Everyone seems to be watching and getting enthused about the tips and tricks that can help you get through an airplane attack or a fire.

I haven't watched myself, but I'm thinking about tuning in to tonight's episode about surviving a hurricane. Sure, we don't have 'em in this part of the country, but I understand that the Red Cross will be making a cameo and was an integral part of the process.

To get you up to speed on the show's premise, you can watch the the episode about surviving fires right here. You can also download some pretty sweet desktop wallpaper with a fire survival checklist...and who doesn't need that?!

Disaster Response Update

September 14:

Disaster responders from the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross assisted a family of three displaced by an apartment fire in SE Portland. The family will receive assistance with lodging, food and clothing, as needed.

September 12:

Disaster responders from the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross assisted a family of three displaced by a house fire in N Portland. The family will receive assistance with lodging, food and clothing, as needed.

September 11:

Disaster responders from the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross assisted a family of five displaced by a house fire in N Portland. The family will receive assistance with lodging, food and clothing, as needed. Trained mental health volunteers will also be on hand to provide emotional support.

Disaster responders from the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross assisted a family of three displaced by a house fire in NE Portland. The family will receive assistance with lodging, food and clothing, as needed.

Historic Hygiene: Red Cross TP

How many other non-profits can say that they have their own branded toilet paper? My guess...none.


This historic hygiene item was spotted by our friend and blog reader Elana. According to her e-mail, "We went to an event at Ft. Vancouver this past weekend where they had scenes from past wars. We spotted this at the World War I display."

Thanks for passing this along!

Blood-Squirting Lizards... Ewwww (Awesome)!

Robin sent me the below video a few months ago and it had me shouting "ewwww... awesome!" for all my cubicle neighbors to hear.

Did you know that some animals squirt their own blood on to attackers as a means of self-defense (we prefer blood squirting for life-saving reasons, but hey)? Gross, fascinating, and cool all at the same time. Read about it here or watch the video below of a Regal Horned Lizard desperately trying to avoid winding up on someone's dinner plate (warning: the video is a little on the graphic side, but not too bad).

Rappin' With Xploregon

Have you heard the Red Cross Rap?



These teens from Camp Fire's Xploregon program seem pretty well-versed in putting together a disaster kit. They've even got our Together We Prepare Oregon booklet handy!

If you didn't catch all the lyrics from the rap, you can go here to put together your own kit.

Poll: First Aid Training

What do you think? Should first aid training be required in the U.S.?

Red Cross to Ignite Portland!

That title may be misleading...so, FYI, this is not an arsonist plot. Ignite Portland is a forum for anyone off the street to "ignite" ideas in Portlanders. Want to eliminate tiny dogs from the planet? Ignite has a plan for that. How about learning the history of magic? Ignite's been there, done that.

Robin, Lise and I decided that we needed in on this action and submitted a proposal for Ignite 7! If you value your life in the event of a zombie apocalypse, please go to our proposal page and leave a comment to the organizers! We need your help to prepare the masses!

In the meantime, attend the Zombie Research Society's "survival event" at NW Tactical Adventures on September 26th and 27th. Practice your skills using airsoft guns on the undead! As I've mentioned before, owner James Gunn may be the most prepared individual in the Portland-metro area when the apocalypse occurs.

Graphic courtesy of onpdx.com

Rep. Wu On Flu

It rhymes AND it's good info:



For flu PSAs from all 48 members of Congress, go here.

Who Wants Cake?

Here's a little trivia for you. While 9/9/09 was Beatlemania Day here in "The States," it was Emergency Services Day across the pond where 9-9-9 is the number to dial in emergencies.

Fortunately, one blog was brave enough to break out of Beatles mode and cover it. That blog? CakeWrecks.com - the hub for photos of disasterously funny cakes-gone-wrong. Surprisingly there are quite a few flour-filled confections that feature emergency services. (Becuase nothing "Happy Birthday! I love You," like a fleet of first responders, right? Um...right?)




Check it out and see if you can play "spot the Red Cross vehicles."

Preparedness Now

From Preparedness Now's description:

Up-and-coming film director, motion graphics designer and Art Center College of Design alumnus, Theo Alexopoulos, takes you on a visceral journey through the USGS ShakeOut Earthquake Scenario.

The film was created by the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project in cooperation with the Designmatters program at Art Center to depict the physical, social, and economic consequences of the most comprehensive earthquake scenario ever created. The film gives the viewers a sense of what will be happening and inspires them to prepare and mitigate for a faster recovery.

The premise underlying the film is that design is a powerful catalyst that can bridge the divide between scientific understanding about damaging quakes, and the ability of the public to feel empowered and to change their behavior in terms of preparedness.

Happy Beatles Day!

9/9/09 is apparently very significant to numerologists, but I'm more excited by the double-shot of Beatles goodness today:

a) The Beatles' entire digitally remastered catalog is being released!
b) The Beatles Rock Band video game is launched!

Because of this, I thought I would throw out a few Beatles hits that have significance to the Red Cross, most obviously, their song Help! Other notable lyrics include the songs Rain, Young Blood (thanks Tara!), Because and Twist and Shout (for earthquake reference...obviously).

These lyrics might be a stretch, but really though, the Beatles are the perfect way to calm down after an emergency. Enjoy unending Beatles radio today and remember the impact those four Brits continue to make on the world.

Graphic courtesy of pastemagazine.com

Living Up to Her Name

Donor the bloodhound lives up to her name; not only is she the official mascot of the McIntosh County Red Cross in Georgia, she also donates blood to help other dogs in need.

Click here (or below) to see video of Donor (Don't you just want to snuggle her? She's so cute and droopy!).


Is your dog eligible to give blood? Click here to find out.

Photo of Donor from WTOC News

You Go, Girl Scout!

Crumbly, thin-minty, peanutbuttery, chocolate-coated goodness... mmmmmmmm...

I'd venture to guess that when most of us see that Girl Scout logo, the first things we think of are those deliciously caramel-delightful cookies. But these scouts aren't just about selling cookies! Oh no. They're about saving lives too.

That's right, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security Citizen Corps the Girl Scouts have just unveiled a new preparedness patch! The goal is for the Girl Scouts to help advance community preparedness nationwide.

"As a former Girl Scout,” says DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, “I know the ‘Be Prepared’ motto well-and I look forward to working with the Girl Scouts to spread the preparedness message to all of our nation’s citizens.”

Wanna be cool like a girl scout? Be prepared for anything.

P.S. Thanks to John Solomon - aka the One-Man Emergency Preparedness News Feed (who you should be following!) - for blogging this fantastic story. I would likely have missed it otherwise!

Real-Life Hero: Al Fischer

Who's your every-day, real-life hero?

My grandfather will always be my #1 hero. Before marrying my grandmother (and then contributing to the baby boom of the 50s), he fought in the 4th Armored Division of Patton's Third Army during WWII. While in Germany, he helped the U.S. to win at the Battle of the Bulge and liberated a concentration camp. Aside from his truly heroic military acts, he was a humble, hilarious, and intelligent man who had a special way of making all of his 18 grandchildren feel equally loved (we still argue over who was grandpa's favorite--it was totally me, of course).

If you're undecided about your real-life hero, I've got a new candidate for you: Al Fischer, an 83-year-old print shop operator from Massapequa, New York. Al is scheduled to donate a pint of whole blood today. His donation today will give Al a total of 40 GALLONS of blood donated in his lifetime. Al has touched over 1,000 lives through blood donation. How's that for inspiration? To read more about Al and his blood donation history, click here.

To be more like Al, make a blood donation appointment today by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or by visiting http://www.givelife.org/.

Photo: Al Fischer of New York is scheduled to donate a pint of blood today that will give him a total of 40 gallons donated in his lifetime. Photo by Howard Schnapp.

"Whether The Weather" With Letterpress

I love letterpress. There's just something about the indentation of each design, the heavy card stock, and the overall heft and weight that just feel somehow special. Unique. Classy. Handmade.

That's why I'm particularly excited about our latest venture via the Neighborhood Notes Partnership Project. We met with LeeAnn Dolan at Ecru Modern Stationer (the BEST place to pick up classy cards!) and brainstormed how we might work together.

The end result? These stunning letterpress cards, crafted with the help of the incredible Julie at Studio Olivine.

The message -- a classic nursery rhyme -- is simple, sweet and perfect for any occasion. And the price -- just $4.95 -- is well worth it, knowing that every single cent will go to help your local Red Cross achieve our mission of saving and rebuilding lives here in Oregon.

So stop by Ecru in the Pearl today and pick up your card. Supply is limited!

A Day Called "X"

"Ladies and gentleman. You've heard the reports that enemy planes are approaching. In less than 3 hours, an H-bomb might fall over Portland."

And so begins my new #1 favorite disaster movie of all time.



It's called "A Day Called 'X'" and it was filmed in Portland in 1957. It aired on CBS with narration provided by Glenn Ford.

There's not much of a plot -- essentially the entire city is evacuated in anticipation of a nuclear air raid, after Soviet bombers are detected by radar stations to the north.

But here are just a few of the other details that I loved:

• The film calls Portlanders "rugged and friendly"
• The radio station featured is KOIN
• All of the "actors" show extraordinary composure in the face of impending doom (i.e., they have virtually no reaction, whatsoever).
• Great shots of everything from SW Broadway to Good Sam Hospital to the Central Fire Station and the Steel Bridge.
• Turning away of Washingtonians at the border (Ha!)
• A reference to the 1955 Operation Greenlight city-wide evacuation (a photo of which is here)
• The Red Cross role as part of the Civil Defense Team and our work providing food and coffee, served in very familiar branded coffee cups

While the film might not convey the sense of realism that most of us expect these days, there were some good safety tips. They recommended that people keep listening to the radio to stay informed and they did mention a family heading to an out-of-neighborhood meeting place -- still things we teach nowadays. If you're looking for more terrorism preparedness tips, go here.

Really, I can't recommend this film enough. If you take the time to watch it, feel free to leave comments about any places you spotted and thoughts you might have.

"The people of Portland are ready if there's ever a day called 'X'...how about you?"

Your vote counts on FluTube!

I hope YouTube doesn't mind that little name mash-up, but it's a fun way to describe the Flu.gov video PSA contest. Gazillions of homemade flu prevention videos were entered. Now they have been honed down to ten finalists, and YOU can vote on who will win. (Voting ends Sept. 16th)

I'm rooting for either Hazmat or Bagman but the rapping doctor seems to be getting a lot of attention around the blogosphere. They're all actually pretty amazing. Which do YOU think does the best job preparing people for flu season?

(P.S. As you know, we're also fond of this flu PSA, even though it's not part of the YouTube contest.)

Disaster Response Update

September 5:

Disaster volunteers from the Oregon Trail Chapter responded to a single family fire in Tillamook, OR. One adult, who evacuated the home through a window, received assistance with lodging, food, clothes and a storage rental.

Simple Flu Preparedness

I adore this short, simple PSA from the fine folks at the IFRC. Check out their website for widgets, posters and much more!

Lifesaver Celebrates 45 Years of Service

From the Record Courier in Oregon's Baker County:

The Oregon Trail Chapter's Northeastern Oregon District held a celebration in the Baker City office on Aug. 31. The purpose was to celebrate and thank Roberta Morin for her 45 years of service to the Red Cross.

Morin began as a Jr. Lifesaver when she was 13 years old. She’s been working with the Red Cross ever since. Roberta and her husband, John, have owned a ranch in Hereford for 36 years. Roberta became a CPR Instructor because her father, Elmer Amundson, had a pacemaker. The pacemaker didn’t stop him from coming to Baker County to hike and hunt and fish at Roberta’s place. She decided she’d better become proficient at CPR.

Thank you, Roberta, for all the time, energy and hard work you've given us over the decades!

Rescuing Katrina's Four-Legged Victims

You know that we love pets around here -- we actually dedicated Episode 5 of Ready Radio entirely to pet preparedness.

The thought of any pets being abandoned by their owners in a disaster is a sad one, but thanks to some incredible volunteers many of them can be reunited after the fact.

Check out this interview on NPR's Fresh Air. Terry Gross talks with Margaret McLaughlin, who helped rescue animals after Hurricane Katrina. Don't miss the part about Rudy and his bedroom with pig sheets and pig paintings!

Photo courtesy of Marianne Todd/Getty Images

Two Truths and 10 Lies

I recently read a great phrase that described news media as a "fire hose" of information that needs to be filtered through to find reliable sources. It can be especially overwhelming when watching for updates on the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. Who knows what to trust and how to react?

Well, with the World Health Organization declaring the H1N1 virus as a "stage six" pandemic, I thought I'd list ten flu myths to dispel any fears you might have and turn that fire hose down a bit...okay, okay, that's taking the metaphor a little too far.

Graphic courtesy of mediabistro.com

Yo Young Blood Donors!

Yo yo yo! Wuz up, my dawgs?! Wanna shake your laffy taffy all the way down to the Red Cross to donate some blood? I heard that helping to save lives is all that and a bag of chips. Playas, scrubs and wangstas agree that donating blood is da bomb... Boo Ya!

So, maybe 90s slang isn't cool anymore and maybe I need to let go of my love for the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (never!). But the point here is this: no matter how you say it, high school-age donors aren't afraid to help save lives through blood donation.

Each year, thousands of youth donate blood throughout the Pacific Northwest region. Every blood donation that’s made can help save up to three people’s lives. You do the math. That’s a whole lot of lives helping to be saved by high school-age blood donors.

To help ensure that each young blood donor has a positive donation experience, the Red Cross has recently implemented new blood donor criteria for youth. The updated guidelines are based on height and weight and apply to all high school students, regardless of their age, who present to donate at high school blood drives, and all donors younger than 19 years of age who present to donate at blood drives outside of the high school setting.

Even if you’ve donated blood with the American Red Cross in the past, you may not be able to now, based on the new requirements. Take a look at the new criteria posted here to see if you might be able to donate blood.

Can't donate now? You may be able to one day. Don't forget to re-check your blood donor eligibility in the future. In the meantime, consider volunteering at your high school’s blood drives (a great way to earn your free cookies and juice!).

CONTEST: Tell Us Just One Thing...

Just one thing.

That's it. As Robin would say, "Easy peasy."

On Twitter, tell us just one thing that you're doing to get prepared this September (aka National Preparedness Month).

To get you started, here are some quick ideas:

• Buying enough water for my family
• Setting aside extra pet food
• Picking up a crank radio
• Taking the free online Be Red Cross Ready training
• Practicing the "sleeve sneeze"
• Putting games for the kids in my kit
• Picking a disaster meet-up place

You get the point. It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive or hard. And if you tweet us with just one thing, we'll enter you to win -- not one, but three -- prizes that will get you started on being prepared for anything:

• A Safety Starter preparedness kit
• A vintage first aid kit
• A "Be Prepared For Anything" t-shirt

You have until September 30 to send us your tweet (please use the hashtag #just1thing for tracking purposes) to be entered. If you win, we'll send you your prizes via snail mail.

Easy peasy.

P.S. I've just decided that if you do multiple things, you can get multiple entries. This doesn't mean you get an entry for every item you add to your disaster kit (that could go on forever), but if you're taking several different preparedness actions, be sure to let us know all of them!