Helping Haiti Through Art, Prose and Poetry

I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to a friend of ours on Twitter.

Her name is Clare Jeffcock and you can find her at @ClareJulissa. She's 13 (!!!) and already just as passionate about the Red Cross as many of our long-time volunteers.

Clare's been asking lots of questions about getting involved -- giving blood, volunteering and fundraising. And now she's put her smarts into organizing one of the more creative Haiti benefits I've seen.

To help her out, I wanted to share the announcement on our blog and urge those of you with artistic talents to participate. Here's the scoop from Clare!

"I'm going to put together a collection of poetry and artwork about the Haiti earthquake, get it printed as little booklets, and sell them as a fundraiser. The proceeds will be split between Mercy Corps and the Red Cross.

If you want to help, send your artwork or poetry to me at julissaholly(at)gmail(.)com, with the subject 'Helping Haiti.' Send text-based stuff as a .rtf or .txt file, and artwork as .png, .jpg, or .gif files. Please send each thing as a separate attachment, but as one email.

You can send as many things as you like, but please proofread and/or have someone betaread all writing."

Clare then gives a great example of what she's looking for -- @AlannaZelen's poem "Devastation."

Please support the work of this incredible 13 year old. She's going to be a powerhouse Red Cross supporter in the future -- let's get her started off right!

Photo: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

Warning Labels That'll Make You Laugh

Sometimes I feel a little like your mom.

I'm the one who's always reminding you to drop, cover and hold on...or learn CPR...or change the batteries in your smoke detector. I'm over-cautious and maye even a little naggy at times. And maybe, just maybe, all my admonitions of "Stay safe!" and "Be prepared!" get a little annoying.

So yeah, I'm pretty much a human warning label. But labels (like me, I'd like to think!) can be downright funny.

For proof, I'd suggest checking out Forbes' collection of 15 Laughable Warning Labels.

My personal favorite? The Superman costume that warns that the outfit does not enable flight or super strength. For more, check out the Wacky Warning Awards and, one of our favorite blogs, Safety Graphic Fun!

And if you want truly helpful safety tips, I suggest you check here for enough to keep you protected all year long.

Blood Donor Spotlight: Craig Cline

Craig Cline of Salem, Oregon has been donating blood for 26 years. Today he is scheduled to give his 160th pint of blood at the Red Cross.

Craig donates blood because he gets a “good feeling” knowing that each pint he gives may help save lives. Craig encourages other people to donate blood with their family and friends. “Create your own Red Cross team, and give blood together,” says Craig.

The Red Cross would like to thank Craig for his blood donations, passion and years of support. Donors like Craig who consistently give blood can help save lives and contribute to an adequate blood supply.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to make a blood donation appointment. Your pint of blood could help save up to three people's lives... that's pretty amazing when you think about it.

Photo of Craig Cline and his dog

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.]

HAITI: American Red Crossers Mat Morgan and Bonnie Gillespie have both recorded videos journaling their experiences working on the relief effort.

INDONESIA: Hundreds of Red Cross rescuers in the province of West Java continue the search for survivors after heavy rains triggered a landslide early on Tuesday morning that engulfed 37 homes.

AFGHANISTAN: As fighting continues, the ICRC is focusing on evacuating and treating the sick and wounded in Helmand province. Two hospitals in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah and in Kandahar have been receiving patients from the area where fighting is most intense, but movement through the area is dangerous, making it difficult for the sick and wounded to get the care they need.

RWANDA: With its tracing and family reunification program, the ICRC has reunited over 14,000 unaccompanied children with family members in Rwanda since 1995. One such young woman was just reunited with her family after 15 years.

Côte d'Ivoire: Volunteers of the Red Cross Society of Côte d'Ivoire, with support from the ICRC, have been providing relief and assisting people injured in street demonstrations.

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

Please (don't) Ignore the Man Behind the Big Red "X"

Something incredible has just come to my attention. It's called Safety Graphic Fun and it's a blog dedicated to the graphics and signage that make our world little safer. The website is currently having a caption contest to try and best label what might be going on in this picture. Pant-less man boarding a train? X-ray doors on a dumpster? You decide! Submit your caption and you may be a winner!!

Speaking of all things safe and logo-ey (I'm creating new words here), I have a logo that means safety and preparedness worldwide. The Red Cross symbol is an image people everywhere associate with relief, safety, humanity, education, and compassion. You can learn more about the Red Cross mission and what we are all about here.

And make sure you don't do whatever it is that the above image tells you not to do. I may not know what's going on in that picture, but I do know that it's not safe....

Zombies vs. Robots: Who Will Win?

Zombies or Robots?

You all know our preference, but the answer of who will rule the world will be definitive at on Saturday, March 13 when Zombotica comes to Dante's.

The event, coordinated by the incredibly energetic Emily Gibson (who has helped us many a time with sound for Ready Radio), is expected to surpass BaconFest and the Snuggie Pub Crawl in terms of PDX.fm awesomeness.

And aside from the bands and the beverages, Zombotica will also benefit a very nice charity. Who, you might ask? Why us, of course!

Vote now and join us on March 13 at Dante's.

P.S. Zombies rock!

A Bloody Good Bath

Refresh post-blood donation with this blood bag shower gel from spinninghat.com. It won't replace the pint you just gave away, but it will leave you smelling like cherries. Yum! Give blood, smell good.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS to donate the real stuff.










Photo from toastergun

Why I Give: Heathman Hotel

Donors don't always have to give money.

Sometimes they give things that are incredibly useful in other ways...things like space.

Not outer space (though that would be pretty cool!), but physical space. Conference room space. Meeting space. Event space.

And that's part of what the generous folks at the Heathman Hotel gifted to the American Red Cross. Space for our division meeting -- where our leaders can come together to discuss the mission, vision and direction of the organization; to plan for the future of the Red Cross.

But that's not all -- the Heathman is also helping with rooms for out-of-town guests, food and event support. Wow!

As General Manager Chris Erickson says, "To us, this partnership is not about business; it is about the people you help."

So thank you, Heathman Hotel, for your $5,000 in-kind donation...and for supporting the future of the American Red Cross!

Photo by Thomas Hawk

TIME: There's No Point in Doing Good Badly

At our board meeting tonight, our Emergency Services Director pointed out an article that appeared in the latest issue of TIME magazine.

The piece, "There's No Point in Doing Good Badly" by Nancy Gibbs, had a powerful impact and I thought I'd pass it along to you.

Gibbs makes a point similar to what we shared from Claire Durham.

"Money is fleet and nimble. The very thing that makes it unsatisfying to give makes it powerful to deploy. It can turn into anything--a water bottle, a prefab house, a tetanus shot, a biscuit. It lets relief agencies buy locally whenever possible, supporting local markets for products that are culturally and environmentally right."

Read the entire article.

Photo Post!

Our Red Cross Flickr page is updated! I wanted to share two links for recent events that occurred along with, of course, Flickr links:

1. Chinese New Year - The Red Cross came out and rocked this event for the year of the tiger! Almost every fair attendee left with a Red Cross bag full of life-saving information (for speakers of English or Chinese), as well as gifts and fortune tellers! See the slideshow here!

2. New Columbia/Tamarack classes - Two Saturdays resulted in Red Cross training for New Columbia/Tamarack neighborhood members, with 26 participants now trained in CPR/AED and First Aid and 10 now trained in Babysitting! These classes were offered free of charge to the participants, thanks to a generous grant from State Farm Insurance! See the slideshow here!

Blood & Ink Blood Drive

A few months ago, fellow blogger Lise and I were at the Portland Tattoo Expo telling people that they might still be eligible to donate blood after receiving a tattoo.

At the Expo we met some very sweet women who told us that they were part of the Gypsy Queens, a national organization of tattooed promotional models who promote a positive image of women with ink and strive to end negative stereotypes of heavily tattooed women. They were eager and excited to partner with the Red Cross.

On Saturday, March 6, members of the Gypsy Queens Oregon Chapter will donate blood at the "Blood & Ink" Blood Drive at the Red Cross Portland Center between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. By donating blood at the Red Cross, the Gypsy Queens hope to support their mission while helping the Red Cross clear up common misconceptions about blood donation by people with tattoos.

Receiving a tattoo in Oregon—where tattoo parlors are regulated by the state—does not automatically defer someone from donating blood. The state of Washington, however, does not regulate tattoo parlors, and those who receive tattoos in Washington have to wait a year after receiving their tattoo before trying to donate blood again.

You're invited to join the Gypsy Queens by donating blood at the Blood & Ink Blood Drive. All those who present to donate blood at this event can enter into a free drawing to win a $75 gift certificate to New Rose Tattoo in Portland (4823 SE Division Street). The gift certificate was generously donated by shop owner and tattoo artist Traci Manley.

To schedule a blood donation appointment at this drive, call 1-800-RED CROSS or click here. To find out if you are eligible to donate blood and to learn more about which states regulate tattoo parlors, call 1-800-737-0902 or email CanIDonate@usa.redcross.org.

Please help us spread the word about this event!

P.S. I secretly want to be a Gypsy Queen. They're really awesome and really adorable.

Photo: Jessica Higgins

Fashion Finds: Spring REDecorating

There's something about springtime that makes me want to have a yard sale, buy new furniture, redecorate my house, and get a new haircut (I've come to the sad realization that I just can't pull off bangs).

If you're also feeling like your house (and hair?) could use some lovin', here are some tips on how to redecorate this spring in Red Cross-style.

These 1956 vintage Red Cross safety guides would look oh-so-adorable stacked up on a bookshelf. Although stylish, the info inside is outdated; we suggest learning current life-saving techniques by taking a Red Cross class.

Like the safety guides, this vintage life preserver is cute, but totally useless in the life-saving department. Best to hang it on the wall and leave it there.

Put this blood-splattered trivet in your kitchen, and someone might think you've chopped off part of your finger while slicing up an avocado. You should probably study up on Red Cross First Aid techniques just in case.

Fact: anything with a dog on it is cute. Just look at the Alsatian dog on these coasters inspired by a Red Cross WWI vintage poster. During WWI, this doggy was used to help inspire the public to donate money to the Red Cross. Now he'll also keep your friends from leaving rings on your coffee table (rude!).

Don't worry, I didn't forget about your hair... these Red Cross vintage pin hair clips will give you that new, unique look you're searching for.

Beaver Bleeders!

As you may have seen, Oregon State University and the University of Oregon show quite the support when it comes to donating blood. For the past several Novembers they have competed in the annual Civil War blood challenge. What about the rest of the year?

I have had the honor of advising the OSU Blood Drive Association for the past few years, which also has a counter-part at UO. These student groups help promote blood drives and supervise the volunteer efforts on their respective campuses year round. At Oregon State, week 7 of each term is blood drive week for the largest drive in the Pacific Northwest. The four day drive tends to bring in over 1,200 donors and 300 volunteers each term! I had the honor of going down to Corvallis for this past week, and I am happy to report that the drive beat all expectations.


Monday: 222* on the goal of 216
Tuesday: 264* on the goal of 234
Wednesday: 260* on the goal of 246
Thursday: 303* on the goal of 288
TOTAL Collected: 1,049* on the goal of 984
*All numbers are pints of successfully collected blood products from either whole or double red collections. Actual attendance is greater.

107 percent of the goal for the Winter term drive, which traditionally is the slowest! For the campus community, the blood drive is 'the' thing to do and it is always amazing to see such great support.

(Photo from The Daily Barometer, OSU's student paper)

Video: One Month In Haiti

What makes a bigger impact -- words or images?

How about both?

This "one month in review" video tells the story of the Red Cross' work in Haiti -- what we've done and what's to come. Check it out.

Photos: Singles CPR Gets Hot!

What did you do on V-Day? These fine folks made out with dummies, enjoyed lavish food and drink and learned the skills to save a life.

And by fine, I do mean fine...

Check out these cuties who attended Singles CPR!

(The last 18 photos are from the most recent event.)

Things I Love: The Dimes' "Save Me, Clara"

Things I love:

Songs that relate to the Red Cross.

Clara Barton.

Portland bands.

So you can only imagine the joy I feel knowing that local band The Dimes have written a song that's inspired by Clara Barton. Oh, and it's really crazy good.

Listen to the acoustic version of "Save Me, Clara."

Go see The Dimes live at Doug Fir on March 26. And make sure to cheer extra loud when they play "our" song, would you?

P.S. Read a review of their album The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry right here.

Got Ideas? DHS Wants To Hear From You

Not a fan of color-coded threat levels?

Wish hazard risk assessment tools were open source?

Have ideas for how disaster preparedness information could reach more citizens?

For the next month, you'll have the chance to share your thoughts directly with the Department of Homeland Security via a new tool they've set up here:

http://openhomelandsecurity.ideascale.com/

It'll be up and running through March 19, with the goal of collecting input on how DHS can enhance transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation...all while saving taxpayers money. Eventually, the ideas submitted will help guide the development of an official DHS Open Government plan.

So get to it. Now's your chance to be heard...don't miss out!

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.]

HAITI: Last weekend marked a few big milestones in the relief efforts. 1. The Haitian National Red Cross Society resumed blood donation sessions in the quake zone. 2. Red Crossers from around the world helped provide 5,000 vulnerable families with tarps and rope in the largest Red Cross relief distribution since the quake. (See to-date activities of IFRC, ICRC, and American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. You can also follow Red Crosser Mat Morgan tweeting from on the ground.)

MONGOLIA: Extreme cold and snow storms this winter have destroyed thousands of families' livestock and livelihoods. The Mongolian Red Cross Society are providing some 1,200 households in the five worst-hit provinces with emergency food supplies including rice, flour, cooking oil, salt, tea and sugar, and other aid including warm clothing and felt boots, and psychosocial support.

YEMEN: Almost six months after the latest round of fighting erupted in the north of Yemen, tens of thousands of people, displaced and residents alike, remain dependent on humanitarian assistance provided by the ICRC and the Yemen Red Crescent Society.

UGANDA: The ICRC is distributing seeds to 58,000 farmers in northern Uganda who have returned home after being displaced years ago by the fighting.

MYANMAR: Almost two years after Cyclone Nargis, the Ayeyarwady delta is gradually recovering. Major challenges remain and survivors are still struggling, but the recovery operation is well underway and some of the new innovative approaches used can now serve as examples for other operations.

WORLDWIDE: What's it like to live in the midst of armed conflict? The ICRC conducted a public opinion survey in Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia, Haiti, Liberia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon and the Philippines to capture the experiences and opinions of civilians who are living with the everyday reality of armed conflict.

On a similar note, the Australian Red Cross just released a new interactive campaign to educate the public about the laws of war.

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

February 19: Honoring Vanport Survivors

When you think about NW Oregon's biggest disasters, there are two that quickly come to mind.

One is the Columbus Day Storm of 1962.

And the other? The Vanport Flood in 1948, which destroyed in hours what was once Oregon's second largest city with more than 20,000 people.

It's important to note that nearly 30 percent of Vanport's residents during the flood were African-American and the sudden total destruction of the racially segregated community was seen as a catalyst for integration of other Portland neighborhoods and schools.

At the start of World War II, Portland did not have the local workforce necessary for the fast-paced ship building activities. Shipyard operator, Kaiser Company, recruited approximately 10,000 more shipyard workers, and encouraged Black people nationwide to come to Oregon.

To address the housing shortages this demand created, Vanport City was designed and built within months; its first residents moved into Vanport in January, 1943. Once completed, it was the largest housing complex in the United States.

From 1941 to 1946, the Portland area's African-American population grew dramatically as 15,000 to 20,000 new residents moved into the area. The rise was especially striking as Portland's pre-war African-American population was near 1,800.

I tell you all of this because -- for the first time in the 62 years since the flood -- a Portland city official (Mayor Sam Adams) will recognize Vanport survivors as part of the City of Portland's Black History Month celebration.

The reception will be held on Friday, February 19 at City Hall, 1221 SW Fourth Avenue, in the atrium from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. All Vanport flood survivors are encouraged to attend the event.

I'm hoping that we can be there to honor these survivors as well, as the American Red Cross was definitely involved in the efforts. When thousands of residents were evacuated, Red Cross disaster workers responded, opening shelters and providing food and clothing. Our Motor Corps drivers carried volunteers and supplies to the stricken area. In fact, when President Harry S. Truman made a personal inspection of the damaged area, he commended local Red Cross workers for their response and assistance to more than 6,000 families.

A big thank you to City Hall and Mayor Adams for taking a moment to reflect on this tragic piece of Portland's history -- an event that had a dramatic impact on the Portland we all know and love today.

If you'd like to read more about Vanport, check out these resources:

The Vanport Flood & Racial Change in Portland
Impact of Vanport Flood Remembered at PCC
Vanport Flood, May 1948
REPORT ON VANPORT CITY FLOOD DISASTER (Oregon Historial Society)
Vanport City and the 1948 Vanport Flood

Wes Bentley Gives Blood

In light of this, I give you this, and ask that you do this.



I didn't actually recognize this actor (Wes Bentley). Good-looking, talented, famous, AND a blood donor? Now I'm pretty sure I won't forget his face!

Year of the Tiger

*This is a re-post from last week =)

While Tara will be lamenting not being able to attend Singles CPR this Valentine's Day, I will be eating nuomici and watching wushu demonstrations. That's right - it's time for fun and festivities in the Year of the Tiger at the Chinese New Year cultural fair happening this February 14th at the Convention Center!
This annual Portland jamboree celebrates both contemporary and traditional Chinese culture with features of dance, martial arts, food, puppet shows, and more!
The Red Cross will be there again this year, spreading the word about preparedness and soaking up the sights, sounds, and tastes. Can you tell I'm excited about the food?
So come on down to the Convention Center between 10am and 6pm, and help usher in a new year of prosperity and new fortunes!

photo courtesy of zhushi.abang.com

Will You Be My Valentine?

Faux card available from someecards. Real emergency contact card available from us.

Happy Valentine's Day, All!

Haiti Earthquake: One Month Later

One month ago, I was planning my brother's birthday, getting ready for a friend's fashion show and attending NTEN's non-profit mapping showcase.

One month ago, residents of Haiti were going about their daily lives as well.

And then, in an instant, everything changed.

On Tuesday, January 12, less than one hour before sunset, a 7.3 earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port au Prince, causing catastrophic damage and loss of life. One month later, the needs are still immense, but the Red Cross continues to make progress helping earthquake survivors in need.

We are:

• Producing more than 1.2 million liters of water per day, enough for 300,000 people.
• Providing more than 1 million water-purification sachets and containers that allow people to clean and carry water.
• Distributing food and relief items (blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, buckets, water containers, laundry soap/detergent, and mosquito nets) to nearly 37,000 families (or 185,000 people).
• Building latrines as quickly as possible in Port-au-Prince and Leogane, with more than 150 constructed to date.
• Partnering to establish two field hospitals and four mobile healthcare clinics, which are providing medical services to up to 1,300 people per day.
• Providing nearly 750 units of blood for earthquake survivors and funding $600,000 worth of food for the mobile clinics.

All this important work is being done by more than 600 Red Cross and Red Crescent workers from 30 countries around the world, working with more than 2,500 Haitian Red Cross volunteers.

If you'd like to know more about what's been accomplished in the last month -- and the needs that lie ahead -- please read the just-posted Haiti Earthquake One Month Report [PDF].

Photo: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

Giving Blood is for Lovers

Still don't know where to take your Valentine this weekend? I can't think of anything more heart-warming than helping to save lives together.

Blood donor duos are absolutely adorable (and sexy, as mentioned). Check out this newly-wed couple to the left. They donated blood together immediately following their wedding ceremony. How sweet is that?

Much better than a box of chocolates, if you ask me...

Photo courtesy of Xinhua.

Portland: Things Look Generous Here

Speaking of how much people want to help, I thought I'd share this cool stat with all of you.

Portland is #36 when it comes to the most generous cities online!

To give a little clarification, this is out of 273 of the nation’s large cities and is based on per capita giving during 2009.

The average gift is right around $60, creating a total of $2,687,397 coming from 44,313 donors.

But, as nice as number 36 is, should we -- as a city with one of the highest rates of volunteerism (#2) -- be aiming a little higher with our online charitable giving?

Next year, #25!

P.S. You can always get started now by making your gift right here...

British Red Cross: Help Not Hinder Haiti

Leave it to Boing Boing to point out something I should have spotted ages ago.

On Monday, they directed people to this post by Claire Durham of the British Red Cross Blog.

In her author bio, it mentions that Claire works for the international logistics team, responsible for getting life-saving items to where they are needed in a big disaster.

So I imagine Claire knows exactly what she's talking about when she takes to her soapbox and explains why donating cash is better than donating "stuff."

I highly recommend reading the whole article, but I'll get things started with one quote and one "favour":

QUOTE: "Unwanted donations create chaos, waste and confusion for an already stricken country. The risks are spiralling costs or actual threats to its people, environment and industry. For example, local shop owners, who may have lost family members and their home and then find their business crumbling as food or clothing aid is imported."

FAVOR: "Could you please get just another person you know to read this blog. The more people who can understand the down side of unsolicited goods, the less chance there is of this stuff cluttering up the aid effort."

Thanks for sharing, Claire. We hope everyone hears your message!

It's Time For Pizza Tonight!

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to support Franklin High School's Red Cross Club in hosting a fundraiser at Pizza Hut!

To participate, simply go to www.oregonredcross.org/pizza and print out the voucher.

Take out, dine-in or delivery is welcome at these Pizza Hut locations in Portland:

8201 SE Powell
3628 NE Sandy
2124 SE Powell
611 NE 82nd Ave.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to give the fundraiser voucher to Pizza Hut with your receipt. At the end of the day, the Red Cross Club receives 20% of sales from those receipts!

50 Ways To Please Your Lover

It might not sound like a huge accomplishment, but I'm proud to say that Singles CPR landed the #38 on Willamette Week's "50 Ways To Please Your Lover" list for Valentine's Day!

Here's what they had to say:

Lose your inhibitions and get down on your knees...then bend over...and tilt your partner’s head back to listen for signs of breathing. It’s CPR for singles! Now that’s hot.

And just in case you've forgotten the details:

Singles CPR
Sunday, February 14
3-5 p.m.
Monterosso Room at Hotel Lucia
400 SW Broadway

Register at www.oregonredcross.org/SinglesCPR!

Top Four Reasons Why People Who Give Blood Are Sexy

**REPOSTED, but with one new reason!**

The discussion about why giving blood is sexy began months ago, as I tested out the logic on a variety of female friends and co-workers. All agreed -- there's no doubt that dating (or marrying) a blood donor is definitely where it's at.

My only wish is that I could give you five reasons. Maybe you can contribute a suggestion?

REASON 1: Because they are likely disease-free.
In order to be eligible to give blood, you have to have a pretty clean health history. That means you can't be undergoing treatment for a variety of not-so-sexy STDs. But this reason isn't a home run. There are still a few that you have to watch out for. Hey, at least we've screened out about half!

REASON 2: Because they are likely drug-free.
More good news. Blood donors can't be IV drug users. What's more, you're ineligible to give blood if you've used illicit drugs in the past few days. So, if you're looking for someone who cares about clean living, make sure to stop by our canteen.

REASON 3: Because they can take a little pain.
Giving blood isn't always sunshine and bunny rabbits. There's a finger prick and a needle poke and even though they don't really hurt, I can't promise you won't feel anything. Bottom line: People who give blood are ready and willing to withstand a little discomfort. Ahem.

REASON 4: Because they care about others.
A blood donor is, at the core, a kind person. They care about saving the lives of strangers (3 for every pint donated) and are willing to do a good deed for no financial gain -- just a warm, fuzzy feeling and maybe a cookie. They even show up when called...and who doesn't think reliability is sexy?

Single men and women, I urge you to make a point of dating donors. And think seriously about becoming a blood donor yourself; someone may just be looking for you.

Photo courtesy of toastforbrekkie

Fun Facts About Blood

Okay, so most of these "Fun Facts" really aren't all that fun; they're actually quite serious. Nevertheless, they're pretty interesting, and maybe even a little mind-blowing:

• Nationally, more than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• The number of patients who receive blood in the U.S. in a year: 5 million (2006).
• More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

Blood cannot be manufactured – it can only come from generous donors. Only 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, and of those, only 8% actually do. That amounts to about 3 out of every 100 people. Are you eligible? Can you help?

To make a blood donation appointment, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

Texting Campaigns: What Works, What Doesn't

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard "Text 90999 to HAITI" at least one or two times by now.

Most people have figured out how it works (though some, clearly, have not), but you may still have some unanswered questions.

To that end, I wanted to point you towards three things:

1. An FAQ about the Red Cross/Haiti mobile giving campaign that answers every question I can think of.

2. An article from Mashable listing 5 Real Challenges for Non-Profit Mobile Giving Campaigns.

and

3. A PRSA luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 17, featuring yours truly talking about this very topic.

I'll be completely honest with you -- I had nothing to do with this campaign other than to help promote it. I know a little bit about how it came together (there were actually talks occuring prior to the earthquake), but not much. That's why I'm hoping that the nice folks at NHQ and/or MGive will join me...appropriately, via phone.

This mobile giving campaign has proven to be a success (see the latest $$ totals by state) and there will surely be more to come in the future. Now's your chance to get up to speed...

The Earthquake Protector

Earthquakes (both in Haiti and right here in Oregon) are on everyone's mind lately. We recently came across this video on Boing Boing of the initial testing of the Earthquake Protector - a base isolation system for buildings that could help them (and the people inside them) survive major quakes.

It's pretty amazing to see the difference. Let's hope that someday in the future all buildings are built to be as earthquake-resistant as the one on the right... (Jump to the 1:00 mark for the most intense test run.)

The Heart of Life

Since I have at least one friend who reads this blog and is a big fan of John Mayer's music (and his forearms, but that's a different story...), I thought I'd post the new Haiti PSA that uses the song he donated.

I think it's a pretty fitting tune to illustrate that there is hope even in the midst of disaster.

What's Happening in New Columbia and Tamarack

Back in November, a house fire in North Portland spurred our chapter to prevent emergencies in the New Columbia and Tamarack neighborhood by delivering disaster preparedness information door-to-door and offering free CPR/AED/First Aid and Babysitting classes to residents - possible from a generous grant from State Farm Insurance.

Since November, we've been attending events such as the Winter Family Night to continue the outreach and keep everyone preparedness-minded. Most recently, on January 27th, 16 residents woke up early on Saturday to get trained in Babysitting or CPR/AED and First Aid skills at the Boys and Girls Club. One attendee even called us back and left an incredibly grateful message to the chapter for offering the free classes, which she said would have otherwise been difficult to afford.

This Saturday, the Portland chapter is again hosting these important training courses to certify even more residents to prevent, rather than react, to emergencies!

Photo from our Flickr site shows Red Cross staff jumping into action during a CPR drill.

CPR is Sexy this Valentine's Day

Last Valentine's totally blew. I went out to a fancy restaurant with my boyfriend (good). We waited for more than an hour after our reservation time to get seated (bad) while the restaurant had several open tables (double bad). The restaurant ran out of the vegetarian option I wanted (bad), and then they ran out of the dessert my boyfriend wanted (bad). Then they didn't offer any sort of compensation for all of the inconveniences (very, very bad).

This Valentine's Day, I kind of wish I were single. It's not that I don't love my previously-mentioned boyfriend, it's just that I really, really want to go to our Red Cross Singles CPR class. But Lise says that rules are rules: you have to be single to attend.

I feel so unloved.

While we can’t guarantee mouth-to-mouth with other attendees, Singles CPR is a great way to meet new people in a fun, low-pressure environment. Most importantly, you'll learn skills that could potentially save the life of your future sweetie.

Stop by Bo Asian Bistro to mix and mingle with other class participants before things get started. Class begins in the Monterosso Room at Hotel Lucia at 3 p.m., where you'll enjoy complimentary light appetizers from Typhoon! Catering By Bo, sweet treats from Pix Patisserie and some awesome doorprizes. Post-event (around 5 p.m.), we'll socialize back over at Bo Asian Bistro.

Attendees will also receive a free two-week membership to the Portland Mercury's Lovelab Personals, and could win door prizes from Maiden in the Mist, Staccato Gelato, Whiffies Fried Pies, Secret Society, 3 Doors Down, Saint Cupcake, Icon Salon, Wax On, Sock Dreams, Le Happy and more!

Pix and Whiffies!? Now I really wish I could go.

See photos, read a review and register online for our sexiest CPR class.

Word of the Day: Vulnerary

I'm a Word Nerd. I try to learn at least one new word everyday (not to say I'll remember it or be able to show it off in conversation, but still...)

Today's Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is "vulnerary," an adjective meaning "used for or useful in healing wounds." It comes from the Latin word "vulnus" meaning "wound."

I'm realizing that the only way I remember new words is if I use them the day I learn them. That being said, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you about all of the handy, vulnerary products we have for sale in our online store.

Out hiking or at home--it's always a good idea to have a First Aid kit with you.

Thanks for letting me practice a new word on you!

Image: Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit, $25

Mass Care Newsletter: First Issue

From international disasters such as the devastating earthquake in Haiti, to local emergencies such as house fires and floods, the American Red Cross is iconic as a shelter and feeding authority when it comes to emergency situations. The Red Cross commonly refers to this service as "mass care."

This past January, the Red Cross has put out, for the first time ever, a publication for this crucial service. Reading through the first issue of Mass Care Messenger, I noticed that Deborah Tyler-Cook, our own Oregon Trail Chapter volunteer, wrote an article on her upcoming Avon Walk for Breast Cancer event!

In addition to our local spotlight, I found a few other newsletter features to share:

1. An article highlighting pet-friendly shelters (such as our incredible warming centers), offered a great quote on why this is such an important consideration:

"Lessons learned after Katrina show about 50% of pet owners stated not being able to take their pets was the reason they did not seek a safe shelter," writes Darla Hesse, Disaster Manager, Midway-Kansas Chapter.

2. A volunteer spotlight on Okay Thomas Hill (who has seen action on 26 natural disasters) writes what it means to be a mass care volunteer from his recent deployment to the tsunami in American Samoa:

"In Samoa, a family lost an aunt. They were grieving her. I sat and talked with them. They were overwhelmed. That’s part of what we do. We listen. We try to let others know they matter. Giving to people is 10 times more satisfying than taking.”

To read the Mass Care Messenger yourself, email Scott Meyer at meyersc@usa.redcross.org.

Photo shows Oregon Trail Chapter Mass Care volunteers at our Damascus Shelter Exercise

Learn, Laugh, Save Lives

Laugh it up while you learn life-saving skills at LOL CPR (a.k.a. Comedy CPR)! Our next class is this Tuesday, February 9, at the Blue Monk on Belmont (3341 SE Belmont, Portland OR 97214). Lucky for you, there are still spots left.

When you’re done with the class, you'll be ready to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults ages 13 and up. The course meets OSHA guidelines and includes the latest science for emergency cardiovascular care as well as useful take-home materials...which is just a rather serious way of saying that the skills you pick up in LOL CPR are definitely no joke!

Sign up for LOL CPR here.

Cancer can be prevented too.

When I was 14-years-old, my grandfather passed away of lung and throat cancer. It was—and remains to be—the saddest moment of my life. I think and dream of him often and wish that I could go back in time, take the Marlboro out of his hand, and throw away his remaining packs of cigarettes. When he died, I vowed to honor him by never smoking; thinking of him makes this more than easy.

Today, February 4, is World Cancer Day, an initiative led by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC). Its intent is to bring global awareness to the life-threatening disease. This year’s campaign focuses on cancer prevention; about 40% of cancers are thought to be preventable.

More than 1 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need platelets and blood transfusions, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatments.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to make a potentially life-saving blood donation.

Photo from the World Cancer Campaign website.

Haiti benefit songs heard across the Web

The crisis in Haiti has shown an amazing outcropping of support from across the planet. This global community has come together to provide hope for a single nation facing a trying time.

To show support, many top music artists and actors have come together to create a pair of benefit songs, quite appropriately "Everybody Hurts" and "We Are The World". They are to be sold as singles to benefit relief efforts. A sample of those involved in the projects include Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Pink, Jamie Foxx, Carlos Santana, LL Cool J, Barbra Streisand, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, along with around 70 others. Pre-orders are reported as 'through the roof', and the following news video produced by ABC covering the work behind the scenes to create the "We Are The World" single is spreading through various social media outlets.



Can't wait to show your support? You can donate directly to the American Red Cross Haiti relief fund online!

Kids Helping Haiti

From emptying their piggy banks, to organizing school-wide fundraisers, the kids in our community have shown that they care about the people of Haiti and are doing what they can to make a difference.

In the last few days, I have visited 2 local elementary schools to accept their donations and to talk about how their donated pennies are helping us to help the survivors of the Haiti earthquake. I have been impressed by the maturity and compassion shown by the kids and have been amazed at how much money they have been able to raise! As these kids have proved, pennies can add up to make a difference.

The kids of Oak Creek Elementary School in Lake Oswego, OR raised $2,548.63! To put that in perspective, that's money enough to provide family-sized tents and water cans for five families of five!


The kids of Willamette Primary School in West Linn, OR raised $1,237.00, which can provide cooking sets, hygiene packs, blankets, and water containers for twelve families of five!


So here's a big thank you to the kids of Oak Creek Elementary and Willamette Primary, as well as all of the other kids (big and little) who have given their pennies to this worthy cause.

If you would like to donate to the Haiti Relief Effort, click here or text "HAITI" to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Dr. Charles Drew: Blood Banking Pioneer

Dr. Charles Drew (1904-1950), an African American blood specialist, surgeon, educator and scientist, was the first medical director of the first American Red Cross blood bank. Dr. Drew laid the foundation for modern blood banking. Today’s American Red Cross blood program is the result of his pioneering work in blood collection, plasma processing and transfusion.

During the month of February we celebrate Black History Month. You can honor Dr. Charles Drew and and his important contributions to blood banking by scheduling an appointment to donate blood. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

Click here for more information on Dr. Charles Drew.

Mmmmm....Brownies!

Robin and I are gearing up for brownies.

Even though we were sadly disappointed in what should have been chocolatey goodness last year, we're returning to Chicago for more Palmer House baked goods.

Oh, and that International Communicators Conference.

This time we'll get a chance to present about the work our Chapter has done on Holocaust tracing and share a little about our incredible Benson High Red Cross club. We'll also get to brainstorm with our peers from around the country -- places like New York, San Francisco, Miami and Seattle.

In the meantime, we're leaving the blog and Twitter in the capable hands of Tara, Nate, Anne and Carley. Give 'em hell, guys!

On The Ground In Haiti: Jordan Shares His Story

Last week, we had a special guest at our All Staff meeting....my friend Jordan!

Yes, now that he's home (per Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders policy for those who've been through this type of experience), he came straight to the Red Cross to talk about living through a major earthquake and helping Haitians in their time of need.

On the initial impact:

When the earthquake began, Jordan was the main MSF pharmacy, just across the street from their trauma hospital. There was a slow rumbling sound, and the ground began to move side to side so violently that it was impossible to walk without hanging on to something. Jordan made it outside just in time to get hit with a wave of concrete dust from the hospital, which had collapsed. The building to the right and left of the pharmacy had collapsed as well.

The MSF hospital was three stories, but now looked like two. The entire first floor (housing the emergency department, radiology, intensive care unit and blood bank) had been flattened -- all patients and staff on that floor were dead.

On the moments after:

After the shaking, there was total, complete and utter silence. Jordan noted that Port Au Prince is normally quite loud, but there were no dogs barking, no car alarms, no nothing. Then, seconds later, the entire city started screaming. The city is a natural amphitheater and "the sound was amazing in a terrible way." This lasted for three days.

On the need for care:

The MSF team had thought they'd use their mass casualty plan, but the situation was much to dire. It became simply, "Save whoever you can." They were used to trauma, but no one had ever seen this many crush injuries at once. First there were 10 people, then 50, then 500, then after about 10 minutes, more than 1000. They couldn't even triage people; everyone was critically injured.

On finding solutions:

Incredibly, the team was able to use materials from the surviving pharmacy to fashion a makeshift operating theater (out of pallets and sterile sheets) so they could start surgeries within the first 30 hours. They built another operating room in a shipping container. They used the headlights of their one remaining vehicle to perform countless first aid dressings and suturing. Street vendors showed up to help, assisting with evacuations and security.

Eventually, they were able to build an entire field hospital outside the pharmacy using spare parts and salvaged material. Complete with triage, emergency room, critical care, operating rooms, sterilization unit, mini pharmacy, blood bank, electricity, and back-up water supply.

On heartbreaking encounters:

Because Jordan is white, Haitians made an assumption that he was a doctor. Whenever he'd be out in the street, people would hand him dead babies and ask him to help. He'd have to tell them that nothing could be done, their loved one was dead. And then, in the kindest, most compassionate way, he'd have to move on, focusing on the non-medical work he was responsible for -- supplies, logistics, drinking water.

On incredible survival:

On Day 1, the team was able to talk to several people on the hospital's first floor. By Day 2, there was only one. The building was dangerously tilted, but there was a 12-inch wall they could get through. They were able to feed the survivor biscuits and water. Eventually a multi-national team was able to help with the rescue and got him out. As it turned out, the survivor dived under a metal frame bed when the earthquake hit. The bed pinned him, but saved his life.

They also evacuated many people from the rubble who already had external fixations (metal attachments to their arms and legs used to stabilize broken bones). They also found a 2-month-old baby named Lundina 30 hours after the initial collapse. Lundina had been a patient before the collapse and had been accidentally abandoned by her mother after her mother thought she was dead. Jordan and his friend Alan found her underneath her bed, still attached to her IV and inches from a few thousand pounds of fallen concrete.

Here are just a few other tidbits:

• Any ill will between Haiti and the Dominican Republic disappeared the moment the earthquake occured. The Dominican Republic was the first on the ground providing military support, water and food.
  
• All communications went down, including their satellite phones. The only thing that worked was Jordan's Blackberry. He had a friend text the MSF offices in New York about what had happened and within an hour, they were loading planes. All told, the texting worked for about an hour before it was down for three days.
  
• Jordan will definitely keep doing this work. His plans are to sleep for a week, but he enjoys his role, "serving humanity for the better."

Thank you, Jordan, for coming to share your incredible story. We're so proud of your work and that you were there to help those in such great need. You remind us of the importance of the work that the Red Cross, MSF and many others are doing on the ground in Haiti...and you inspire us to continue do more every day.

Photos courtesy of Jordan Wiley

Dreaming Of Disaster

Over the weekend, I had a really awful dream.

Essentially, Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens erupted simultaneously. Unfortunately, a bunch of my co-workers and I were stuck in a cabin right on the side of the mountain, in the path of imminent danger.

I, of course, was busy twittering the news over at @RedCrossPDX, but was so stressed out that I couldn't type anything correctly. I think I finally got something out -- "Hood and St. Helens erupting. Lava heading our way. Thanks for your support." -- when Alexis pulled me away from the computer with a stern warning that lava really WAS rolling rapidly down the mountain and really I had to stop with Twitter.

The group of us curled up into the fetal position, knowing that our time was coming. We all held hands and waited. And just as the lava touched my toes...I woke up.

Coincidentally, that very same night, Blogger Tara had a disaster dream as well:

"I had a natural disaster dream last night, too, but mine involved running from a hurricane! At one point I remember saying in my dream: 'I need to print out all the Red Cross disaster tips and put them in a binder.' A binder?! Weird dreams. I'm glad we're all ok."

So, if our bad dreams serve any purpose, use this as a reminder to get up-to-date on disaster tips. They're all on our website under the "Preparedness" section. See here for volcanoes and hurricanes, specifically.

Question: Have you ever had a dream about a natural disaster? What was it? And, if you know anything about dreams, any thoughts on what this all means?