Boil Order Tests Portlanders' Preparedness

This weekend, the Portland Water Bureau tested your emergency preparedness.

On Saturday, PWB announced that residents on Portland's westside needed to boil their water, thanks to some e.coli contamination. Read more here.

By Sunday, the boil order was lifted, but not before many reports of bottled water shortages on grocery store shelves.

If you've been following our instructions to be prepared for anything, you surely had bottled water on hand already. Probably even enough to last for 72 hours, just in case.

But if you weren't ready, now's your chance to pull your disaster kit together. Whether you need to calculate your family's water needs or figure out how to store water properly, we've got you covered.

Winter usually means blackouts, storms and flooding for our area. Take the time to get ready now -- you never know when something unexpected might happen.

Image courtesy of PWB's Flickr. Check it out!

Beaver Beat Down

Who do you think would win in a fight: a duck or a beaver? This time I'm actually talking about the animals. Most people might say a beaver because of their big teeth and powerful tails. But, on the other hand, a lot of ducks are pretty plain evil (especially the one I had an "encounter" with at Blue Lake Park circa 1988... you still give me nightmares, wherever you are).

We might not know about animals, but we can say that beavers dominate ducks, as far as blood-donating sports fans go. The OSU Beavers get to hang on to their Civil War Blood Drive trophy for at least another year. Here are the results of the Civil War Blood Drive campaign:

OSU: 4,792 votes
UO: 3,596 votes

Total number of participants: 8,388 (our largest Civil War Blood Drive campaign to date!)

Let's face it though, the real winners here are the hospital patients who could potentially receive some of those 8,388 pints of blood. Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2009 Civil War Blood Drive!

Photo: an actual beaver tail! (courtesy of greencolander on Flickr)

Talkin' Turkey Causes Trouble: 5 Steps To Save Someone From Choking

Moms know best when they say, "It's not polite to talk with your mouth full." Apart from being a dinner table faux pas, talking while eating is the most common cause of choking. This Thanksgiving, the American Red Cross offers tips that can help avoid a dinner disaster and save a life.

If someone is choking, remember "FIVE-and-FIVE can keep them alive."

•Ask the person if they are able to breathe and if you can help.

•Once you know the person is unable to cough, speak or breathe, have someone call 9-1-1.

•Lean the person forward and give FIVE sharp back blows with the heel of your hand.

•If the obstruction isn't dislodged, give the person FIVE quick, upward abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).

•If you are alone, you can perform abdominal thrusts on yourself, just as you would on someone else. Thrusts can also be administered by pressing your abdomen firmly against an object such as the back of a chair.

•If you feel as if food may be caught in your throat, never leave the room. Stay where others can see you and help if your airway becomes blocked.

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. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

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

PAKISTAN: With ICRC support, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society is operating mobile health clinics for victims of violence in Waziristan. 

NEPAL: Where hundreds of people have lost an arm or leg to conflict, accident or disease, the ICRC runs a physical rehabilitation program. This week they launched a five-day "Amputee Follow-up" camp for more than 80 people to have their artificial limbs checked, adjusted and repaired.

COLOMBIA: As a part of its extensive HIV outreach program, the Columbian Red Cross is providing support for an orphanage for children orphaned by AIDS.

JAMAICA: The Red Cross is also a pioneer in HIV/AIDS programs in the Caribbean. 

WORLDWIDE: The IFRC is mobilizing Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world to tackle the global road safety crisis.

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

Red Cross Volunteer To Serve On Governor's Earthquake Commission

There's just something about seismic safety that awakens the geek in me. (Maybe it's all the amazing engineering that goes into things like the world's largest earthquake-safe building.)

So when I heard about Governor Kulongoski appointing David Holton - a Red Cross volunteer from Salem - to the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission (aka, OSSPAC or the Earthquake Commission), I was super stoked.

This commission has the unique task of promoting earthquake awareness and preparedness through education, research, and legislation, and Holton will serve on the Education Sub-committee. An excellent fit for a Red Cross volunteer who has been involved in both disaster response and seismic retrofitting/reinforcement of buildings (<-- read preparedness geek like me).

Congratulations, David!

P.S. Learn the basics of earthquake preparedness at http://www.oregonredcross.org/earthquakes

"Continuing Push for Research" (or CPR)

Bad CPR pun? Probably.

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. Along with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using an automatic external defibrillator or AED is critical to surviving cardiac arrest. This device delivers a shock of electrical energy to the affected heart.

Knowing this, investigators at Oregon Health and Science University recently examined CPR in a study completed earlier this month. By enrolling 11,000 people felled by cardiac arrest, this study is the largest of its type ever attempted.

"We went into this study knowing that CPR before defibrillation was important but not how much CPR was needed," said Mohamud Daya, M.D., lead investigator of the study and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine.

In the clinical trial, ambulance teams were randomly assigned to use an automatic external defibrillator (AED) after giving either thirty seconds or three minutes of chest compressions. Both methods are considered standard practice.

"Overall survival in this study was higher than expected even though the study did not find that any of the interventions tested was better than another" said Dr. Terri Schmidt, one of the study investigators.

In order to provide the most effective CPR and AED training, we need studies like this one. Get trained now at the Red Cross!

Information courtesy of OregonLive and OHSU.
Image courtesy of redcross.org.uk

Prepare-aphernalia: Slip-On Coasters

With H1N1 and seasonal flu making the rounds this season, it's especially important to avoid swapping germs by mistakenly drinking from someone else's glass at Thanksgiving dinner. (You wouldn't want to inadvertantly give - or receive - The Holiday Gift You Don't Want.)

That's why I'm loving these slip-on coasters from DimmalimmHome on Etsy. They're handy, classy, and just seem much more practical than wine glass charms. They come in packs of six, but it looks like you can get combos of 12 or more color/shape variations if you're planning a big holiday party.

Could there be a more stylish way to be prepared for flu season? I think not.

Here are a few more tips for keeping your germs to yourself at holiday gatherings:

- Avoid the usual kisses and handshakes when greeting friends and family.

- If hosting the holiday dinner and someone in the household becomes ill, make sure that they can be isolated into a separate area for care, or ask another family member to host dinner to avoid spreading the flu.

- Wash hands frequently, before preparing food, while cooking, and especially before eating.

- Keep plenty of hand soap in the bathroom, preferably in a pump container. Skip the pretty hand towels this year and instead use disposable hand towels or a roll of paper towels.

- Consider putting the glasses away this year and using plastic cups, or provide a way for guests to identify their drinks. (<-- Like the awesome slip-on coasters!) Don’t drink out of anyone else’s glass.

- Put serving utensils in every dish, including snacks like nuts, pretzels, etc. This allows people to spoon out their portion instead of reaching in with their hands.

And, last but not least... Please remember the sleeve sneeze.

Found via Apartment Therapy.

World's Largest Earthquake-Safe Building

Let's talk about Turkey. No, not the bird. The country. Let's talk about Istanbul.

Istanbul has been a prominent city for thousands of years (known first to the ancients as Byzantium, then Constantinople) because it's centrally located for trade and travel between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Unfortunately, it's also centrally located near the confluence of the Arabian, African, and Eurasian tectonic plates - a prime earthquake zone. (The IFRC and Turkish Red Crescent Society have been involved in responding to - and helping prepare for - a number of earthquakes there.)

Which is why engineers designed the new international terminal at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport to be the world's largest earthquake-safe building. Basically, it's a reinforced structure built on top of bearings that allow it to roll around while the building itself stays intact.

Think of it as a brick sitting on top of (very safe) skateboard as opposed to a Jell-O mold sitting on top of a washing machine. Significantly reduced wobble. (That's the way I think of it anyway.)

Read a more detailed explanation on Wired Science.

TweetsGiving: Making The "T" Word A Trending Topic

Around this time of year you start hearing the "T" word a lot. No, not turkey... Thanks.

And we want to thank the people who nominated us for TweetsGivingPDX - an event celebrating non-profits who use technology for good. We're honored that you thought of us!

We'll be speaking at the event next Tuesday evening at the Lucky Lab SE (details below) about how we utilize the magic of tech to spread the word about our mission. This, by the way, will be one of many TweetsGiving events around the world encouraging participants to express gratitude using online tools. In other words, making the "T" word a trending topic. How cool is that?

Follow the local TweetsGiving activity on twitter at #TweetsGivingPDX.

Join us - along with the other nominated non-profits - on Tuesday, November 24 for Portland Tweetsgiving!

* Where: Lucky Lab SE, 915 SE Hawthorne Boulevard
* When: 5:30 – 7:30p

RSVP

Meet The Flu Fighters!

Today's my last day in the JIC, so I'll give you one last flu-riffic resource -- the Flu Fighters!

These superheroes are a grown up version of the Scrub Club, complete with equally excellent names. There's Maxxine Vaccine, Hans Washer and -- my personal fave -- Andy Septic.

Their message? Be a workplace flu fighter: practice the flu fighting code.

The Flu Fighters began as in internal campaign at SAIF, but have been so successful that they're now being shared with Oregon employers as a public service.

View and download the Flu Fighter posters (and learn the code!) here:

Be a workplace Flu Fighter
Hans Washer
Maxine Vaccine

I've Got The Swine Flu; Can I Sit On Your Lap?

Best. Quote. Ever.

Watch the story and see if you don't have new sympathy for our city's store Santas during this holiday season.

And if you're worried about making Santa sick, here's what you can do to prevent the 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. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

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

UGANDA: "Some had never been hugged until they scored their first goal..." Former child soldiers meet not on the battlefield, but the soccer field for a friendly match supported by the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support.

WORLDWIDE: In advance of Universal Children's Day, the ICRC is calling for a stop to crimes against children in war.

BANGLADESH: Two years after Cyclone Sidr, close to 250,000 families have their lives back.

KENYA: Delegates from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are gathering in Nairobi this week to discuss strategies to effectively address the humanitarian challenges of the coming decade. You can read daily bulletins from the assembly.

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

Store Manager Saves Baby With CPR

A staff person for the Portland Goodwill stores just wrote to us inquiring about nominating her colleague for a Breakfast of Champions Hero Award. And her story was too amazing for us not to share:

Yesterday we had a store manager resuscitate an unconscious and not breathing 18-month-old with two short rounds of CPR. I believe the baby has Asthma and H1N1…

The manager also instructed the baby’s mother to get the child’s inhaler from the car and then gave the baby small compressions to get it into her system, while rubbing her chest.

The paramedics arrived quickly.

Our store manager learned how to help the baby by becoming certified each year in your CPR classes we offer here annually. She’s been attending for 5 years...

Incredible, right? I'm continually amazed when I hear stories of how people have used CPR and other lifesaving skills in real life. It really never gets old. I cry every year at our Breakfast of Champions.

If you know a hero you'd like to nominate, go to www.OregonRedCross.org/champions

Flooding Causes Waffle Shortage!

Due, in part, to flooding in its Atlanta bakery, Kellog's has announced a shortage of Eggo waffles. They've now begun rationing them, so expect a waffle rush at your local grocery and an overabundance of "leggo my Eggo" jokes.

Yes folks, it is officially time for waffle panic. (Unless, like us, you live or work right next to a waffle cart.)

Just one more sad side effect of natural disasters. **sigh**

Photo via flickr's alexfiles.

Teens are Terrific!

Would YOU wake up early on a cold, Saturday morning to walk door-to-door distributing fire safety information? Well 37 Benson High School teens did just that last weekend. Thirty-seven! Check out this photo set of the teens in action at our Together We Prepare New Columbia/Tamarack Neighborhood outreach event.

And would YOU give up birthday presents, and ask your friends to donate blood instead? This teen did. She was so excited to turn blood-giving-age that she decided to make her birthday into a real celebration of life. Check out the video.

Amazing. Someday I hope to be as cool as these teens. Rock on, guys!

A Holiday Gift You Don't Want

The Oregon Department of Human Services folks did a great job with this PSA, which you should be seeing on a TV near you. If you're a fan of clever (and effective) flu PSAs, I'd urge you to go back and watch all of these as well.

Way to use a touch of humor to get people to pay attention -- that's the kind of messaging we like around here.

If The Roads Aren't Ready, Are You?

According to a new ODOT study, many Oregon roadways (like HWY 101, I-5, and some bridges) could  become impassable in the event of a major earthquake.

That means you could could find yourself stuck at work - or on the road - without a way home. Are you ready? Do you have a disaster kit at work? How about a road ready kit for your car?

Read the entire ODOT report. Listen to the OPB story. 

I Just Caught "Swine Fever"

In honor of my week in the JIC, I thought I'd share this mock commercial from SNL. Makes me hungry for BBQ!

PIO 4 H1N1 JIC

This week I'm out of the office...but hard at work.

I've taken on the role of Lead PIO (Public Information Officer) for the H1N1 JIC (Joint Information Center). I assure you, the world of government -- much like the Red Cross -- has a billion acronyms. Knowing what they mean makes us feel special.

Essentially, my role is to take media calls, put out press releases and update this website, which acts as a centralized clearing point for communicators within our region (Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties...with a little help from Columbia and Clark).

By having centralized information, it ensures that when any PIO speaks with reporters, they are using the same numbers, data, language, stats, etc. In a time where info about the flu can change on a day-by-day basis, consistency is key.

If you'd like a behind-the-scenes look at the online resource for communicators, go here.

If you just want to know more about the flu in Oregon, go here.

If you want to know the weirdest, wackiest (okay, just most common) questions about the flu coming in this week, go here.

Wanted: Info On "Ice Twisters"

[In my best booming movie trailer voice...]

In a city where ice is infrequent and tornadoes are even rarer... In a community that thought they were prepared for anything... They weren't prepared for.... ICE TWISTERS!!!

That's not the real trailer. I just made it up. I have no clue what the real trailer says because we can't find it.

Here's what we know:

There's a new SyFy channel movie - apparently filmed in Portland - in which they've invented a wacky new super-disaster: ice tornadoes. Unfortunately, since its debut this weekend, no one can find any info about it. Was it so cheesy that they felt the need to remove all traces of its existence from the internet??

Portland Mercury reporter, Patrick Alan Coleman, is on the case. If you have any information - like where to view a trailer of this soon-to-be-classic film - let him know.

By the way, if - given today's windy conditions - you want to brush up on storm safety or regular old ice-free tornadoes, we've got you covered at:

www.oregonredcross.org/winter

www.oregonredcross.org/tornadoes

Together We Prepare New Columbia and Tamarack

For our chapter, when disaster strikes in a neighborhood, is isn't enough to offer prevention strategies through literature alone...we've decided to hit the streets and speak to residents one-by-one, ensuring that we make an impact!

This Saturday, November 14th, Red Cross volunteers and staff are coming to the New Columbia and Tamarack area. We'll be offering free smoke detectors, disaster prevention information and training in CPR/First Aid and Babysitting! With such a multilingual community including Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Arabic, Swahili, Oromo, Vietnamese and Cantonese, we've connected with Neighborhood House and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) to offer translators. This allows us to bring the Red Cross message to residents regardless of language.

In addition to translator partnerships, our Red Cross chapter is also working with Portland Parks and Recreation to create an emergency shelter site in the neighborhood. Other organizations that made this project possible include Boys and Girls Club, The Housing Authority of Portland, Rosa Parks School, Impact Northwest, Benson High School Red Cross Club, Sandy/Boring Fire Department and grant funding through State Farm Insurance!

Civil War Blood Drive Update

Duck fans, where are you?? Get out of the pond and donate some blood!

OSU is currently dominating the Civil War Blood Drive with 2,221 OSU votes to 1,047 U of O votes. A blood drive this week at the OSU campus brought in a total of 1,013 votes for the beavers—an incredible, record-setting turnout!

Don’t worry, ducks, there’s still time to catch up. UO will be holding a blood drive next week (November 17-21) in the EMU from 10 am-4 pm. Make your appointment right now (DO IT!). Don’t forget that Red Cross gives you free post-donation snacks (the perfect way to fuel your brain between classes).

Even if you’re like me and totally lack school spirit, you can still help save lives during the Civil War Blood Drive. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to make an appointment to donate blood at a Red Cross blood drive. If you live in the Eugene area and would like to donate blood, click here.

For more information about the Civil War Blood Drive, visit www.civilwarblooddrive.com.

Prepare-aphernalia: Emergency Tea

[Stifling giddy giggles...] This Pembrokeshire Tea Company "Emergency Tea" campaign is my new favorite thing.

An emergency stash of tea - much like an emergency stash of coffee - is actually an excellent idea for your emotional (and possibly physical, depending on your level of caffeine dependence) health during a disaster. Plus, I'm pretty sure the "Emergency Tea Units" are a clever play on Red Cross ERUs (Emergency Response Units), which are rad in their own right.

And check it out - in addition to emergency tea packages, they have mugs, shirts, and an even an Emergency Tea Unit Field Agent's Handbook, billed as: The field guide to Tea production, engineering and consumption under any circumstances or locations.

Truly, essential prepare-aphernalia.

Global monitoring room for tea emergencies.

Thanks to Audrey for tipping me off to Emergency Tea. And - by the way - if anyone reading this is planning on getting me a holiday gift, I wouldn't having my own adopted tea plant. Just sayin'...

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. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

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

SOMALIA: Heavy rains are severely affecting thousands of families displaced by the hostilities in Mogadishu. The ICRC has distributed 7,000 tarpaulins as emergency shelter.

PAKISTAN: The ICRC and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society have launched the first stage of an extensive economic assistance program for families affected by violence in Malakand Division.

EL SALVADOR: The Salvadorean Red Cross has been searching for and rescuing survivors of severe flooding brought on by Hurricane Ida.

UKRAINE: The Ukrainian Red Cross Society is responding to the H1N1 pandemic through preparedness outreach and visiting nurse programs.

CAPE VERDE: The Red Cross responds to the country's first ever dengue fever outbreak.

KENYA: The IFRC is distributing food, water, and seeds for thousands of people in the midst of a crippling drought and food crisis. The American Red Cross has also contributed $100,000 to these efforts.

AFGHANISTAN: Landmine and accident victims take their message of hope to the sky with a kite-flying competition for wheelchair-bound patients at its rehabilitation centre in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

UNITED STATES: Veterans Day kicked off the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. Make holiday cards for service members and the American Red Cross will deliver them overseas.

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

Make A Phone Call, Change A Life

In honor of Veteran's Day, I thought I'd share this brief video about how one family's life was changed with just a phone call.



Every day, the American Red Cross is hard at work, supporting our troops. In fact, last year we assisted with more than 2,200 emergency communications for Oregon's military families.

Find out more about how we help with Service to Armed Forces.

Honoring Soldiers, Past and Present

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. How will you celebrate?

Yamhill county in Oregon has several activities planned to honor veterans and soldiers, including an annual Veterans Day blood drive at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum from 10am-3pm. If you live in the area and would like to donate at this drive, contact Kasey Richter at 503-434-4006 or kasey.richter@sprucegoose.org.

If you're outside of Yamhill county, but would still like to donate blood in honor of Veterans Day, please visit givelife.org. Enter your ZIP code to find a Veterans Day blood drive near you.

I also recommend honoring the memory of veterans by watching Band of Brothers, a TV miniseries about WWII . It's emotional, educational, and absolutely extraordinary.

Click here for information on Red Cross wartime history.

Image: Historic Red Cross blood services poster

Celebrate Typhoon! Tuesday

If you happen to live in the Portland area, this is just a quick reminder that today is Typhoon! Tuesday.

And if you don't remember what that means, it means that you should be making plans RIGHT NOW to head to one of the four metro area Typhoon! locations for lunch or dinner (or drinks and dessert!).

And why tonight?

Well, because there's a very special menu that benefits the Red Cross and local disaster relief. Whether you pick Preparedness Pineapple Fried Rice or Stop, Drop & Salad Rolls, you'll be making a delicious difference. Yum!

Poll: CPR Happy Hour...What's Your Thought?

Tomorrow afternoon, we're doing some brainstorming.

We've held a few Singles CPR classes and, though they've all been fantastic, they've never managed to achieve the stunning success of the inaugural Valentine's Day event. That one was a stunner -- attracting 38, uh, attractive men and women...way more than a normal class.

But, generally speaking, a non-V-Day event attracts more like 15-18 people. And definitely more girls than guys. While I think we've been "advertising" ('cuz we don't have funds to pay for it) and partnering with the right folks, I tend to think that paying $40 and spending 4 hours in an class that's not required by your work could be spendy.

Especially if you're really there to meet people...not just learn CPR.

And even more especially if you're part of the unemployed/underemployed 25-40 year old age group that we're sadly seeing so much of in Portland.

So a new idea has sprung.

How about a non-certification CPR Happy Hour? Still in a sweet location. Still lots of mixing and mingling. Still learning the skills to save a life. But making it more like $15-$20. And more like 1.5-2 hours.

Sure, you won't be certified (which will mean the folks who need it for work will head to Comedy CPR or a regular class instead), but you will know how to help someone in an emergency. And isn't it part of our mission to educate as many people as possible about how to do just that?

And, of course, we'll still hold a certification-filled Singles CPR on Valentine's Day 2010.

So, give us your thoughts in this poll. And make sure to leave comments about what idea YOU think will work best to teach a new generation of Portlanders the skills to save a life!

The Perfect Housewarming Gift...

With the new homebuyer tax credit, there will surely be lots of people buying houses in the next couple of months. And what better housewarming gift than a disaster kit?

For real, folks.

A disaster kit is just the sort of thing that new homeowners need. They likely don't own one already (and probably haven't given it much thought just yet) and it's both practical and useful. What's more, a disaster kit is affordable; the one I have clocks in right at $45.

Whether you're a friend, family member or Realtor, we encourage you to give a housewarming gift that could save a life.

P.S. If you're a Realtor who gives thank you gifts to your buyers, get in touch! We might even be able to give you some special pricing if you order several kits...

Photo courtesy of thinkpanama

A Feel-Good Friday Post

How about something to warm your heart at the end of this long week...

Nate brought me some thank you letters he received from school kids that his team had taught about preparedness, and I decided I'd type up a few sweet highlights. (My favorite is the last one. Hey, there's something to be said for honesty!)

Thanks for visiting our classroom... I didn't know that a fire extinguisher lasts only 8 seconds. That's some interesting stuff. I think your program is awesome. If someone didn't know what you talked about and heard it, it could save a life. Keep doing what you do.

- S.O.

Sometimes we just don't think about how something can come that we are not expecting... and just can't even imagine how we could just lose everything. After your speech I went home and talked about getting prepared for a bad time coming. So thank you so much for your time.
- K.M.

Thanks to you guys I got home and started packing up for emergencies. My family and I made a plan for fire emergency.

- A.M.

I really liked that you guys showed us what we should keep so that we would be prepared. I found out some things that I did not know.

-R.G.

I learned a lot... You should come to our class more often... because you came to our class I get extra credit.

- P.L.

CPR Minus Mouth-To-Mouth

Word on the street is that you can do CPR without the mouth-to-mouth.

You knew that, right? It's called "compression-only" CPR and it's a great way to start learning the skills to save a life.

This new (and downright cute) video will teach you the basics of compression-only, but we'd still suggest following up with an actual CPR class so that you're fully prepared for any incident.

Don't forget; it's important to have at least one member of every household trained!

Do you bleed orange, or do you bleed green?

Get out your duck call whistles and your beaver tails because the 8th annual Civil War Blood Drive starts today!

Show your school spirit by donating blood November 5-21. Whether you’re a Beaver believer or a diehard Duck, hospital patients need your help. Any fan who presents to donate blood or platelets on behalf of either Oregon State University or the University of Oregon, at any blood drive in Oregon or in Vancouver, Washington, will help one school win the Civil War Blood Drive trophy.

Plus, all participants may enter a drawing to win two tickets to the Civil War football game in Eugene on December 3!

To learn more about the Civil War Blood Drive and to check on the status of each team's daily scores, go to the Web site at CivilWarBlooddrive.com.

At least ducks and beavers can agree on one thing: an intense rivalry is even better when it's for a good cause.

We All Scream For Freeze-Dried Ice Cream!

Our friend Magi's comment on yesterday's post reminded me of my childhood...

Or, more specifically, visits to OMSI where I got to indulge in the very special treat of freeze-dried ice cream!

While I remember the classic Neopolitan, evidently "astronaut" ice cream comes in varieties including double chocolate, mint and cookies 'n' cream. What's more, there are actually freeze-dried ice cream SANDWICHES. Ultra yum.

So you know where I'm going with this, right? Freeze-dried ice cream is the perfect -- PERFECT -- addition to your disaster kit. Especially if you've got kids. I mean, they might balk at a 1000 calorie food bar, but astronaut ice cream? I'm pretty sure that will go over really well in an emergency.

In a quick Internet search, it seems the shelf-life is anywhere from 2 to 7 years, so you can all scream for ice cream for a mighty long time!

P.S. In awesome state trivia, it looks like Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. in Albany is a pioneer in the field, working with NASA in the 1960's and still making foods for the shuttle flights. If you want to order your ice cream straight from the local source, you can do that here.

P.P.S. If you really want to entertain the kiddos post-disaster, try picking up this Space Food Sampler, which includes "Splashdown Flavor Stix" for bottled water. Fun!

Prepare-aphernalia: Shelf-Stable Salmon

I can't think of anything that would be more comforting after a disaster than some carb-filled macaroni and cheese.

Or how about a salmon fillet and a side of rice?

Sounds impossible, right? But thanks to researchers at Washington State University (home of the infamous Cougar Gold cheese!), we just might be able to add these delicacies to our disaster kits.

According to this press release, Juming Tang, a professor in the WSU Department of Biological Systems Engineering, led a team of university, industry and U.S. military scientists to develop a microwave energy technology for producing pre-packaged, low-acid foods. The outcome results in food with a longer shelf life as well as better flavor and nutritional value compared to more traditional food processing methods such as canning.

Since the FDA has approved the technology, these shelf-stable staples could be coming soon. Get all your questions answered -- especially the ones about shelf life and storage -- now.

And, while we wait for these products to come to market, go add the already shelf-stable (and delicious!) Cougar Gold to your disaster kit!

Red Cross goes Runway Ready

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Red Cross, French fashion house Louis Vuitton has teamed with our organization to create six artist designed custom trunks to be auctioned off at London based Sotheby's.

Those who have lent their creative talents to design for the cause include Patrick-Louis Vuitton, descendant of the man for which the brand is named; Annie Liebovitz, famed fashion photographer; and Marc Jacobs, the current Creative Director for Louis Vuitton.

My favorite piece from the designer series is none other than the customized Red Cross supply kit trunk created by artist Damien Hirst.

In addition to all of the auction proceeds going directly to the Red Cross, Louis Vuitton has agreed to donate 10% of the money generated from the purchases of their top four selling handbags on their U.S. website to the American Red Cross for the month of November.

If you don't think you need the luxury LV monogramed leather on the trunk of your first-aid kit, be sure to check out our store and pick a more practical approach to these life-saving supplies.

What Did YOU Get?

Hey, trick-or-treaters. Did you spot any houses actually handing out hand sanitizer last weekend? I'm pretty sure that your dentist, your doctor and I all agree that it wouldn't be such a bad prize to find amongst all your fun-sized, full-of-sugar, finger-food.

And speaking of flu... who better to educate you on the truths and myths of H1N1 than Discovery Channel's Myth Busters! Check out their webpage devoted to flu at http://www.discovery.com/h1n1.

They bust myths about:

- The effectiveness of masks.

- The origins of H1N1

- "Swine Flu Parties" (**shudder**), and more.

Oh, and be sure to watch their icky, but impressive public service announcement about flu prevention. (Sleeve sneeze, people. Sleeve. Sneeze.)

P.S. If you're looking for flu supplies, we do sell germ guard packs that come with masks, gel and sanitizing wipes.

Thanks to Stephanie, our Health & Safety Director, for forwarding me the cartoon!