The Man with the Golden Arm

Here is a story from the DailyMail (UK) about how an Australian blood donor has made a far reaching impact.

Not too long ago, thousands of babies in Australia were dying each year of Rhesus disease. Other newborns suffered permanent brain damage because of the condition. The disease creates an incompatibility between the mother's blood and her unborn baby's blood. It stems from one having Rh-positive blood and the other Rh-negative.

James Harrison, 74, has an antibody in his plasma that stops babies dying from Rhesus disease and since then he has been given to hundreds of thousands of women. He has enabled these mothers to give birth to healthy babies, including his own daughter, Tracey, who had a healthy son thanks to her father's blood. It is estimated that he has helped save 2.2 million babies so far.

He made a pledge to be a donor at age 14 after undergoing major chest surgery in which he needed 3.5 gallons of blood. Mr Harrison has been giving blood every few weeks since he was 18 years old and has now racked up a total of 984 donations. When he started donating, his blood was deemed so special his life was insured for one million Australian dollars. He was also nicknamed the 'man with the golden arm' or the 'man in two million'. His blood has since led to the development of a vaccine called Anti-D.

If haven't considered donating before and are eligible, you might want to reconsider. Your donation could have more of an impact than you would think!

Photo: James Harrison, MailOnline

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: Haitian National Red Cross Society volunteers lead singing and dancing for health promotion in shelters, while the Danish Red Cross rebuilds a school destroyed by the quake, and the American Red Cross releases its two month progress report.

CHILE: The IFRC and Chilean Red Cross are giving special emphasis to psychological support for people traumatized by continuing strong aftershocks.

Côte d'Ivoire: The ICRC is bringing seeds and farming equipment to some 15,000 who have now returned to their homes near the Liberia border after being displaced as a result of conflict.

COLOMBIA: Acting as a neutral intermediary, the ICRC has facilitated the release of two soldiers (1, 2) held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

RWANDA: The ICRC has completed it's project to bring improved access to safe drinking water for 10,000 people in Huye district.

INDONESIA: Six months after the West Sumatra earthquake, transitional shelters are being built with support from the IFRC and Indonesian Red Cross to house thousands of people.

GLOSSARY:

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

Vote Now For The Last Measle!

Guess what?

“The Last Measle" – a video that the Red Cross produced last year – has been chosen as a finalist in the Large Organization category for the 4th Annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards!



This was an incredibly competitive year, with submissions of 750 videos from more than 450 nonprofit organizations in 4 countries. They will select the top video in our category based on a public vote that begins today and ends at midnight EDT on Wednesday, April 7.

Watch the videos and vote now:

http://www.youtube.com/nonprofitvideoawards

Prepare-aphernalia: Kosher for Passover

**Reposted from 4/9/09**

Last night's attendance at a Passover seder got me thinking about "Kosher for Passover" foods and their long shelf life. Which, of course, got me thinking about them as supplies for a disaster kit.

In fact, since we all know that a disaster can happen at any time, isn't it possible that it could happen right in the middle of Passover?

So I did a little research and discovered the following:

While it varies from product to product, the shelf-life of matzo is 2 to 2-1/2 years (you can also get it gluten-free); gefilte fish is 4 years; and canned soups are 3 years. There's no word on the life of the vaccum-packed (and delicious) macaroons, but I imagine it's longer than a year.

If you keep kosher or just want to add some variety to your kit, these Passover staples would be a good choice. Don't forget the powdered wine!

Image courtesy of m kasahara -- my favorite Passover tradition...matzo ball soup!!

MST3K + ARC

I'm not sure that there's anything more to say than that THESE ARE AWESOME.

Oh, and that I think we need to revisit a Comedy Central partnership.

Special thanks to @flintironstag for tipping us off to these gems!

Update on César Chávez Challenge

A few weeks ago I mentioned the 2010 National César E. Chávez Blood Drive Challenge. César Chávez's birthday, March 31, is celebrated as a holiday, intended to promote service to the community in honor of Chávez's life and work. Campus College Assistance Migrant Programs (CAMP), have made their nation-wide service project a series of blood drives.

Even before César E. Chávez Day, many universities have already held their drives, and as of March 29th they have accomplished-
Collection of 765 Pints of Blood
Registration of 938 Blood Donors
251 (27% of donors) 1st-time Donors
307 (33% of donors) were Hispanic/Latino Donors
CAMPer Donors (CAMP Grants ONLY) had 102 registered to donate blood out of 622 enrolled on campus (16% of donors)

Most of the drives are centered around César E. Chávez Day, with 62 drives nationwide this week. Locally, this includes:
30-Mar OR Western Oregon University (Monmouth)
31-Mar OR Chemeketa Community College (Salem)
2-Apr OR Portland Community College (Portland)

The students are well on their way to exceed last years' amazing results! Wish them luck and please pass on the word if you know anyone from those Colleges!

Photo: Migrantstudents.org

Spring Cleaning Can Wait. Let’s Go Shopping!

I just love to shop, especially in the Spring, when the sun is out(at least part-time) and the flowers are blooming. Hey, speaking of flowers,try incorporating a floral print or vibrant, new color accessory to your wardrobe. Check out the cute dresses at Ann Taylor Loft, guy’s you can punch up your collection too at Banana Republic.

While brightening up your closet, you can stop by and visit the Red Cross Blood Mobile. We’ll be on-site at Bridgeport Village all day Monday, 3/29 from 9 am to 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to do some shopping and then donate blood, you’ll feel good and make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Now here’s something even better, show your Red Cross sticker after donating (I tried sticker works too) and receive 10% off your purchase at New Balance (they have new spring arrivals)and get a FREE cookie from Paradise bakery, yum.
Just a few details you’ll want to know about your next shopping trip, to make an appointment to donate blood, click here and enter the code: bridgeportvillage. Walk-ins also welcome!

A Good Sign For Preparedness

Preparedness information should be available to everyone, no matter what language you speak. From Arabic to Vietnamese, we've got a ton of materials right at your fingertips.

And now, thanks to our friends at the Willamette Chapter in Salem, we've got one more language to add to the list -- American Sign Language (ASL).

With help from students at the Oregon School for the Deaf, they've created this fantastic 5-minute PSA that walks you through the steps of getting prepared. And, if you can't understand sign language, the whole video is subtitled so anyone can easily follow along.



Major kudos to the students and to our friend and associate producer Margaret Sanner. Really amazing work!

Red Cross Tackles TB

World Tuberculosis Day was yesterday. Along with other goals, the treatment of "diseases of poverty" has always been the mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). While tuberculosis (TB), a respiratory illness, is typically curable with standard antibiotics, in developing areas like Latin America, Central Asia and Africa, the treatment method requires additional support.

Through preventative "treatment" of environmental factors - improved living conditions, clean air, nutritious food and quality medical centers, the ICRC has forced the multi-drug resistant strains to back down. Specifically, in Azerbaijan prisons, TB used to defeat over 300 inmates a year. With the creative and targeted methods of the ICRC and the World Health Organization, that number has now dropped significantly!

"By last year, the number of [prison] deaths had fallen to 20, thanks to prevention measures, improved screening and diagnosis, and medically supervised treatment and follow-up,"Nikoloz Sadradze, ICRC head in Baku, Azerbaijan, stated.

These results show incredible commitment from our international partners and gives the ICRC every reason to celebrate!

Information courtesy of cnn.com
Photo courtesy of usaid.gov

Foursquare: Rewarding Volunteerism?

Despite the existence of Please Rob Me, I've been experimenting with Foursquare.

I mainly started to see if there was some way we could be using the geo-locating service for work...a discount in our store for people who check in? A free first aid kit for our Mayor?

And, naturally, I wasn't the first one to check in at the Red Cross. In fact, our current Mayor -- Jesse -- comes in every other Thursday to give platelets. Yeah, he's not going to be ousted any time soon. (And, yes, we totally gave him a t-shirt.)

I tell you this because the fine folks at Stage Two Consulting recently blogged a similar idea. If there are all these badges for exploring bars, coffee shops and the like, why aren't there a few badges for doing good in your community?

Among their suggestions:

The Spare a Pint Badge -- One of the things people think about when they’re helping others is giving blood. So now you’ve unlocked the “Spare a Pint?” badge on FourSquare! Just like getting a Starbucks badge for checking in and getting your coffee, getting this badge should be just as simple...except you’re going to be saving someone’s life as a result.

The Kris Kross Badge – Not one to exploit tragedies, but if you decide to help in an emergency, whether it’s local, statewide, national or even international, you should be recognized for your actions and good deeds in helping out the Red Cross. This is in honor of all the volunteers who risk their lives to help others.

The Good Samaritan Badge - Earned by gaining any five of the above badges (or by going to five different volunteering venues/facilities).

I adore this idea and am thrilled to see people thinking about other ways that tools like Foursquare (and Gowalla) can support non-profits and encourage community involvement.

If you use these tools, would you try for one of these badges?

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.]

ICELAND: When a volcano in Eyjafjallajokull glacier erupted in the middle of the night, more than 40 Icelandic Red Crossers sprung into action, registering 600 evacuees and providing overnight shelter and psychosocial support for some 120 people.

LATIN AMERICA: As it has previously done in Azerbaijan and Georgia, the ICRC is fighting the spread of TB in Latin American prisons.

KUWAIT: The families of six Iraqis detained in Kuwait in connection with the 1990-1991 Gulf War have begun a three-day visit to their relatives facilitated by the ICRC.

NIGER: The ICRC has distributed food and household items to more than 10,000 displaced persons and local residents who have been affected by inter-community violence in the Tillabéri region of western Niger.

CHILE: Spanish Red Cross volunteers workers are setting up psychosocial support programs - training teachers to cope with kids' fears and holding therapeutic sessions with groups of people affected by the earthquake.

HAITI: The ICRC is helping to repair and maintain water networks and restoring dignity to the elderly with projects like installing ventilated improved pit latrines - some adapted for wheelchair users.

SRI LANKA: Since the 2004 tsunami, the ground water in the drought-prone town of Potuvil has become brackish and undrinkable. The IFRC - together with support from the American, Swedish and Irish Red Cross societies - is helping to provide a new sustainable water supply.

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

Win Free Blazer Tickets!

Here is your chance to show your spirit at life-saving, and potentially to show off your team spirit as well!

The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive on Saturday, April 3rd, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the first 30 people to sign-up and present to donate will be entered into a drawing for a free pair of courtside tickets to watch the Blazers' last regular game of the season! That is the April 14th Blazer game against the Golden State Warriors, Section 117, Row GG, seats 9 and 10 (only 6 rows away from the actual court). Check out the great view yourself.

Here are the details:
What: Blood Drive for the American Red Cross
When: Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: 9925 SW 35th Drive, Portland, OR 97219
Why: To help save lives (each donation may save up to three lives), and for the chance to win free courtside seats to the Blazers final game of the season.

There's A New Crew In Town...

The Red Cross loves zombies. Well...more accurately, we love to prepare against zombies. From the latest Zombotica fundraiser to Ready Radio episodes to our virtual friends on Second Life, our undead awareness level exceeds most. Now, in addition to our zombie preparedness allies at NW Tactical Adventures, a new force has emerged in the battle for survival: Zombie Squad.

Their mission, as stated online, is "to increase its readiness to respond to disasters such as Earthquakes, Floods, Terrorism or Zombie Outbreaks." They've partnered with the Red Cross to host blood drives and raise funds for Hurricane Katrina relief, as well as host paintball tournaments, zombie intelligence briefings (movie nights) and more!

I briefly met up with the local Zombie Squad during the "Enchantment Under The Dead Sea" dance for Portland's annual Zombie Prom. With our similar missions, I predict a partnership in the future to ensure proper eradication (and preparation) for the zombie apocalypse...and a few more common disasters!

Graphic courtesy of 4.bp.blogspot.com

Save The Bunny, Take The Survey

Over the weekend, I went to Forest Grove.

Sure, this might not sound exciting, but it was a chance to drive by the Harvey's Marine rabbit and check out McMenamin's Grand Lodge. Better than that, I got to spend the day tasting sake (and yummy saketinis!) at SakeOne, the world's only American-owned-and-operated sakéry and the leading producer of "Ginjo" (premium) grade saké in the U.S.

From the bunny to the hotel to the rice wine, each of these places are important to Washington County -- especially from a tourist and preservationist perspective.

And there are many other important people, places and things from Banks to Beaverton that also need protection from natural disasters.

So now's the time to share your thoughts:

How would an earthquake or flood impact Washington County?

Are there culturally significant buildings that might be at risk?

What can the county do to reduce the risk for elderly or school-age populations before a disaster occurs?

Read a little bit about the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan and then take the survey.

Do it for the bunny, guys.

Photo courtesy of the awesome folks at Vintage Roadside, who have two tees from vintage Oregon locales!

Photo Find: "To Red Cross Building"

Thanks to Audrey for pointing us in the direction (I make no apologies for that pun) of this fascinating photo by James Patrick Gibson. The aged beauty of that sign is lovely. I just hope that arrow is still sending people to the right place after all these years!

Which brings up a question for our readers... Do you know where your local Red Cross building is?

Prepare-aphernalia: The Backpack Couch

One common excuse people give for not having an emergency kit: "I have nowhere to put it."

Okay, fair enough. Maybe you live in one of those adorable tiny houses or a studio apartment with incredibly cramped closets. Well, my storage-space-seeking friend, worry no more. I give you... The Backpack Couch.

Just think of all the prepare-aphernalia you could pack in these pockets! Flashlights, food bars, first aid kits, tools... and if it were me I'd probably tuck a little tin of cougar gold canned cheddar into a special pocket just in case I need my cheese fix while sheltering in place.

So there you go. A kit you can sit on! No closet space required.

Hat tip to CarrieBethH for introducing us to our new favorite furniture.

World Water Day 2010

In our world today, more than one billion people do not have access to clean water.

More than two billion people do not have adequate sanitation facilities.

Some four million people die each year from diseases associated with the lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

4,000 children under five years old die every day from those same associated diseases.

Added to this, in times of disaster and crises, the urgency to meet basic water and sanitation needs saves lives, reduces diseases and restores dignity.

Water means life for our planet. See what the Red Cross is doing to help.

A (Virtual) Trip To Geneva

Getting my passport renewed this morning has filled me with a yen to travel.

But I, like you, am sadly confined to my desk. Even on this beautiful sunny day, I can really only get as far as Mississippi (the street, not the state).

So in the spirit of wanting to vacate our bunker-like building and put my passport to good use, I give you a virtual trip to Switzerland. More specifically, the International Red Cross Museum in Geneva.

Inside The Travel Lab has done a fabulous job of walking readers through the museum -- from the bound, shackled figures at the entrance to the knowing inscription, "Everyone is responsible to everyone for everything."

Sure, it's not light reading, but this is certainly one way to feel transported on a Friday afternoon.

World Water Day

March 22nd is World Water Day and so I'd like to emphasize the importance of water in public health and highlight some of the progress being made worldwide!!

According to the WHO Sessions on Water and Public Health: "Water has a profound influence on human health. At a very basic level, a minimum amount of water is required for consumption on a daily basis for survival and therefore access to some form of water is essential for life. However, water has much broader influences on health and well-being and issues such as the quantity and quality of the water supplied are important in determining the health of individuals and whole communities."

The need for sanitation and access to water is absolutely vital to community health and should not be denied to anyone. Thankfully, there are many organizations and individuals who are working as hard as they can to ensure that very thing. A few global examples:

ICRC: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ICRC has just rebuilt the Kibirizi water system, putting clean drinking water within easy walking distance of 30,000 people.
In Haiti, ICRC has installed water bladders and storage tanks in the city, and has a long-term partnership with the city's water board to promote more efficient and sustainable water distribution.

Mercy Corps: In Haiti, Mercy Corps water and sanitation team has conducted assessments at 28 separate sites in Port-au-Prince and is busy providing clean water systems and at least 500 safe latrines for more than 42,000 people.

World Water Relief: In Madagascar WWR is partnering with La Salette mission to provide clean water to 26 schools and orphanages.
In the Dominican Republic, WWR has the goal of bringing water to all eighteen Bateys (refugee/worker camps) in the area, and is well under way with the initial implementation of a system at Batey 7.

I'm very proud of the efforts of organizations like the one I serve in for their continued efforts to bring health and prosperity to every person.

photo courtesy of worldwaterrelief.org

'Pints for Pups' Blood Drive at OHS

Here is a purrfect opportunity to support two great causes at the same time!

The Oregon Humane Society is hosting a 'Pints for Pups' Blood Drive with the American Red Cross on Saturday. If you present to donate at this drive, the Oregon Humane Society will offer 30% off any adoption fees. The drive will be from noon to 5 pm at the OHS Shelter (1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR 97211)

Adoption fees at OHS start as low as $55 for dogs and $35 for cats. Puppies, kittens and special breeds can be higher, which makes the 30% “Pints for Pups” discount all the more attractive.

All OHS pets are spayed/neutered and come with an identifying microchip, initial vaccinations, a free veterinary exam, and a free month of health insurance – extras worth several hundred dollars if purchased separately.

Photo: OHS Live Petcam (refresh or visit their website for updates!)

Red Cross Worker Released!

With near-endless means of communication, positive news like that of Gauthier Lefèvre's, a Red Cross aid worker in Sudan, can often go unnoticed.

For those unfamiliar to the situation, the Darfur region in west Sudan has an exhaustive history of violence. While much progress has been made, aid workers like Lefèvre are often captured. Thankfully, as of today, Lefèvre, the last foreign Darfur hostage, was released and will soon be back with his family in France!

"I am extremely relieved to be freed. I want to thank everyone involved. I know many people worked for my release," Lefèvre said after arriving to the airport in Khartoum, Sudan's capital city.

After five months of captivity, Lefèvre's work in Sudan symbolizes the ongoing efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross. In Sudan, the ICRC's operation started in 1978 and is one of its largest in the world.

Photo courtesy of afp.com

First Aid Kit -- Live Tonight!

Like many Oregonians, I'm sad to be missing SXSW in Austin this week.

But while all you tech nerds (and I swear I say that with love) are missing the interactive program, I'm really missing the music.

And I'm especially bummed that tonight I won't be seeing the band that has the best Red Cross-related name ever...Sweden's own First Aid Kit.



Not only do I love Swedish musicians, I love that these two young ladies (ages 17 and 19) are already being compared to indie favorites like Fleet Foxes. And then there's that name...do they throw band-aids out into the audience? Do they travel with gauze in case of emergency? Who knows!

Because I know you're wondering, I did find the answer to the question about where the name came from. Per First Aid Kit's Johanna Söderberg:

Apparently, when Klara (Söderberg, her sister and fellow performer) was 12 years old, she decided that if she was ever going to make music, she wanted to work under as pseudonym. She scanned through an English-Swedish dictionary and found the name First Aid Kit. When she started performing live with me, we decided to stick with that name. For us our band name means that our music is a sort of consolation, a comfort. Call it a plaster for the soul, if you like.

Clearly they take their name seriously. Perhaps just as seriously as the Red Cross takes teaching first aid. Awesome.

P.S. If you're curious to see First Aid Kit in person, they'll be playing Mississippi Studios on Friday, June 4. Just remember that we tipped you off before they were hot!

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.]

CHILE: The ICRC has been working with the Chilean Red Cross to bring medical supplies and communications to prison inmates affected by February's earthquake, as well as helping tsunami victims get back in touch with their families.

HAITI: 20-year-old Hatian Nadia Grossaint became a Red Cross volunteer because of the earthquake. She has dubbed her team "the Haitian sensation" and is leading them into hard-to-reach areas to distrubte tents, tarps, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits and other supplies.

BANGLADESH: The ICRC and the Bangladesh Red Crescent distributed aid, including: dhal, soybean oil, salt, cooking sets, hygiene items, tarps, jerrycans, mosquito nets and blankets to some 3,500 Bengali and indigenous people who were forced to flee their homes after violence broke out in February.

BOLIVIA: Throughout 2009, ICRC delegates visited detainees, helped promote international humanitarian law, and trained and equipped four emergency-response teams from the Bolivian Red Cross.

PHILIPPINES: With support from the ICRC, one determined warden tackled the overcrowding and health issues in her Antipolo City Jail.

GLOBAL SNAPSHOTS: The British Red Cross blog has begun a "global snapshots" series, featuring stories about how Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies work throughout the world.



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

Favorite Captcha EVER!

What are the chances that I'd get this captcha? I mean, really...whoa.

If you like following the advice of randomly generated words on your computer, you'll probably want to go here.

What NOT To Do...

Happy St. Patty's Day, all...
...but please don't drink and donate!

Portland: A Time-Saving (and Life-Saving) City

"Fast" is not normally a term I associate with our beloved city of Portland. "Friendly," yes. "Beautiful," definitely. But Oregonians tend to take their sweet time sipping tea and coffee, savoring slow food, and moseying down the highway at a leisurely 5 miles under the speed limit (<-- this still flabbergasts me).

But there we are at #2 on Real Simple's 21 Top Time-Saving Cities. Perhaps it's not as much about being "fast" as efficient. Real Simple cites our light rail system, bike-friendliness, abundance of food carts, and one more thing... speedy emergency services that translate to one of the highest cardiac-arrest survival rates.

So I guess that's a pretty amazing bragging right - even if it comes at the expense of our easygoing reputation.


P.S. You can help increase that cardiac-arrest survival rate even more by taking a CPR and AED class!

An Excuse For A Party?

I don't know about you, but I'll find any excuse to throw a party. With upcoming March holidays like Saint Patrick's Day, the lesser-known Submarine Day or even the extremely random Something on a Stick Day, there are many options out there!

Along with these holidays are two important Red Cross celebrations in March: Red Cross Month AND National Flood Safety Awareness Week!

Perhaps you'll find time this month to donate your skills or money to the Red Cross as it prepares for disasters, trains individuals in life-saving skills and provides blood services to communities near and far.

Celebrate Flood Awareness Week (March 15-19th) by practicing your flood response and by hosting a preparedness party! Then reward yourself with mudslide pie and a disaster flick like 2012!

Graphic courtesy of passionweiss.com

Cast Your Vote In Safety Video Contest!

Lessons learned:

• Don't play around with ketchup.
• Don't steal golf carts.
• Don't throw stuff at your co-workers.

While all of these things sound fun (especially throwing stuff at Robin!), each of them can severely compromise your workplace safety. Want proof? Just watch these 7 videos, which illustrate just how quickly things can go wrong.

The 45-second student-made PSAs are finalists in an Oregon contest, which we blogged a while back. Now it's time for you to vote for your favorite -- the top three entries will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500 and will earn a matching amount for their school. See my personal favorite here:



Contest winners will be unveiled at an April 10, 2010 screening event at Northern Lights theatre in Salem. For more details, go to www.orosha.org/psacontest/.

(Fake) TruBlood

Are you ready for a drink with all flavor and no bite?

In the past we have blogged about fruit punch flavored Blood Energy Potion and cherry smelling Blood Bath, but what about something with actual blood (orange) in it?

In the HBO Series True Blood, the development of synthetic blood immediately turns vampires from creatures of the shadows to fellow citizens. This synthetic blood is made into a prominant drink for vampires, called 'TruBlood'. With the series being a hit, a human version of 'TruBlood' has been created and released upon us as a 'uniquely carbonated, slightly tart, lightly sweet blood orange drink'.

In reality, we have no substitute to human blood. That is why the area hospitals need about 5,000 pints a week. Please remember to donate blood if you can, and make sure you are hydrated (not necissarily with blood orange!).

Photo: Trendhunter Magazine

CreHAITIve Re/Vision In Pittsburgh

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm totally jealous of Pittsburgh.

You see, Pittsburgh creatives recently held an (awesome) event for Haiti and I'm kicking myself that we didn't do the same thing in Portland.

The benefit auction -- CREHAITIVE RE/VISION -- showcased an amazing collection of posters, each representing the themes of rebuilding communities and restoring hope in Haiti.

According to the event curator, the posters "also shined as an example of the collective support of the greater Pittsburgh community for the relief efforts of the Red Cross, as they came out to bid on these one-of-a-kind designer-submitted creations."

While I am impressed with every single poster, I've picked four of my favorites for you to check out. You can see all of the 65 submissions right here (click on the first one and you'll be able to scroll through the rest).

If looking at posters isn't enough, you can also check out the people who attended...looks like a good group!

I've stashed this idea in my brain for future use. Portland Ad Fed, PRSA PDX and AIGA Portland...get in touch anytime!

Monitoring Earthquakes...From the Coffee Shop

Got a laptop? You can help monitor earthquakes.

As reported in the the Los Angeles Times, the "Quake Catchers" program aims to make earthquake detection easier and cheaper by using accelerometers built into MacBooks and other newer laptops. Accelerometers are tiny devices that detect movement and are embedded in everything from iPhones to the Nintendo Wii.

Scientist Elizabeth Cochran got the idea of harnessing accelerometers for an earthquake network by watching the "Seismac" program on a friend's MacBook. But while Seismac allows you to shake the MacBook and get accelerometer readings for fun, Cochran hopes "Quake Catchers" can help science and maybe save lives.

If schools, businesses and individuals sign on for the program, there's hope that this could become part of an early warning system. There are already 1,000 people in the network...wanna join?

Thanks to the Los Angeles Times and Popular Science

EMS Introduces Trained Service Dogs to Help Cut Costs

Canines have been used for police work, search & rescue, tracking and a variety of other tasks. Now they're assisting EMS...and doing so at a much lower cost.

In all due seriousness, your dog might not be able to give you mouth-to-mouth, but you can certainly save Fido in an emergency. Perhaps it's time to sign up for Dog First Aid?

P.S. Special thanks to Brandy Bowers at the Bureau of Environmental Services for sending this on. Shout outs to the original (?) sources including The Poodle (and Dog) Blog and Just One More Pet!

Haiti: Two Months Later

This morning the American Red Cross published a two month progress report on relief efforts for Haiti.

"As part of its largest international response since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the global Red Cross network has helped nearly 1.9 million Haitians since the country’s January 12 earthquake. It has so far spent or allocated $106.4 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors and will continue to support hundreds of thousands of additional survivors in the years ahead until the last donated dollar is spent."

You can currently see a summary of the relief effort progress online, with several key numbers including: 400,000 relief items have been handed out, 600 responders have been deployed, assistance for 25,000 people arriving in the United States, 1,800 units of blood provided, and even 1,100 latrines have been constructed.

The statistics don't end there though. On a somber note, a article by LiveScience yesterday took a look at annual death tolls from natural disasters. Only two and a half months into 2010, the death toll has exceeded the annual averages from 2000 to 2009 by about three times. While those years had an annual average of 78,000 deaths from natural disasters, the earthquake in Haiti alone is believed to have resulted in at least 220,000 deaths (2009 had only 10,416). Other noted major disasters so far this year include earthquakes in Chile and Turkey, as well as snowstorms in China and the US Northeast.

Help is still needed! You can donate money online now or by texting 'Chile' or 'Haiti' to 90999.

Photo to right: A quick picture I took yesterday at Salem Center Mall, which had several of these large signs asking for help with the Chile earthquake relief.

2010 National Cesar E. Chavez Blood Drive Challenge

Speaking of challenges for youth...

The 2010 National Cesar E. Chavez Blood Drive Challenge has begun and over the next month will include over 100 colleges/universities nationwide, allowing approximately 10,000 students/staff/faculty to engage in not only promoting Cesar E. Chavez's Legacy as one of the most important American civic leaders of the 20th century, but contributing to the very important task of increasing blood donation participation amongst the Hispanic/Latino community. This is because Hispanics have the highest percentage of the much needed 'O' blood type.

These blood drives and outreach educational activities are promoted by students from the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which assists students who are migratory or seasonal farmworkers (or children of such workers) enrolled in their first year of undergraduate studies. The National Blood Drive Challenge is the major service project that brings together the CAMP programs nationwide. Several institutes of higher education in Oregon are participating, including: Chemeketa Community College, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, Portland Community College, and several more. To see a preview of some of the great work they will be doing, check out the video below produced by PCC's CAMP program last year!

A New EXIT Strategy?

I can imagine controversy over evacuation policy or emergency preparedness funding...but it took me a moment to realize that our most basic aid in the event of a disaster, the red illuminated "EXIT" sign, might be cause for debate.

Slate Magazine and journalist Julia Turner bring forward the notion that, yes, perhaps that iconic "EXIT" sign is due for a change. The article, titled "The Big Red Word vs. the Little Green Man" is unfortunately not about a change towards a Yoda figure on exit signs, but instead, a running man design outlined in green.

The "running man" design, as it's been called, has one particular advantage over the commonly used "EXIT" design: no words. Just like many traffic signs, this is a crucial consideration for those without an English-language background. Speaking of traffic, Turner argues that the green background is also associated with "go" while our bold red text is often linked to "stop" or "danger."

How should we properly address this dispute? My opinion: as a fan of the democratic process, I think we need campaigns to represent the two options: the "EXIT" sign group and the Running Man group. The best part of this idea? ...The campaign theme songs! The Running Man group would clearly use the timeless Bon Jovi track "Runaway." Especially with all his Red Cross action lately, this makes complete sense.

For the "EXIT" sign group, I'd have to kick it back to the '90s because you know that Ace of Base "saw the sign" with their one-hit wonder "The Sign." If Swedish musicians Ace of Base are content with the current English "EXIT" sign, who can really complain? That is what the song's about...right?

Exit sign graphic courtesy of slate.com

Turkey's Earthquake Proof Airport

With the news this morning of major aftershocks being felt in Chile, many of us are questionning just how vulnerable our homes and buildings are.

A while back, I blogged about the earthquake proof house.

Today, I thought I'd share a little bit about the earthquake proof airport.

The Sabiha Gökçen International Airport terminal in Istanbul opened on Halloween 2009 and is the largest "seismically-isolated" (aka earthquake-protected) building in the world.

Designed by the engineering firm Arup and able to withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, the 2 million square-foot terminal can absorb 80 percent of back-and-forth shaking, the most destructive movement. How? The building features a foundation with 300 dampers, each with a bearing sandwiched between sliding steel plates (see image).

But why bother with such complex construction? Since Istanbul is located over three tectonic plates, a major earthquake is likely to occur in the near future -- in fact, there's about a 60 percent chance that an earthquake will level the city by 2040. An airport that's still standing can be used to fly in emergency medical supplies and food, key components of disaster relief.

Hey Port of Portland, are you listening?

Thanks to Popular Science and Trendhunter for help!

Meet Our Hero: Manuel Baquero

The 13th annual Oregon Trail Chapter Breakfast of Champions was held on Tuesday, March 9th, celebrating our community heroes. Manuel Baquero was one of two to receive the 'Blood Hero' recognition. Read his inspiring story below!



Manuel Barquero learned the importance of giving blood from his father, who is not only a blood donor, but also a recipient. With a condition that requires regular blood transfusions, his life literally depends on this life-saving gift.

It was this family connection that influenced Manuel to start donating blood in Puerto Rico at age 19. Ten years ago, he began giving in Oregon and now he not only donates regularly, but also inspires others to give. Today, Manuel is a Red Cross volunteer, helping with outreach and interpretation for the Latino community-sponsored Blood Drives. His language skills have been vital to growing these events by more than 1,000 donors in just two years.

Meet Out Hero: Thomas Stapleton

The 13th annual Oregon Trail Chapter Breakfast of Champions was held on Tuesday, March 9th, celebrating our community heroes. Thomas Stapleton was one of two to receive the 'Blood Hero' recognition. Read his inspiring story below!



When Thomas Stapleton’s wife was pregnant and couldn’t give blood, she asked him to donate on her behalf. That simple favor has turned into a lifelong commitment – two decades later, Stapleton has donated more than 50 pints of blood to the Red Cross.

As an O-negative “universal” donor, Thomas’ blood can be used for transfusions to people with any blood type, and plays a key role in maintaining our community’s blood supply. Knowing he’s a valuable resource, Thomas recently switched over from regular blood donation to a process called double red cell donation. Now he can give two units in just one sitting, helping save twice as many lives as ever before.

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.]

CHILE: In one of various relief activities, mobile Red Cross teams have been taking satellite phones into some of the worst quake-damaged areas to help people restore contact with their family members.

HAITI: Last week marked the 100,000th Red Cross-assisted vaccination in Haiti. This week the American Red Cross passed the $100 million mark in aid for Haiti relief and recovery. And a third milestone: the Red Cross and partner humanitarian agencies have passed the halfway mark in the race to provide emergency shelter for those affected by the earthquake.

UGANDA: A catastrophic landslide completely wiped out three villages. The Uganda Red Cross has been assisting with search and rescue, and providing tarp, blankets, cooking sets, water purification tablets and other aid to more than 1,500 affected families.

NIGERIA: Violent attacks last Sunday in five villages just south of Jos forced thousands of people to flee their homes. The ICRC and Nigerian Red Cross Society have been providing first aid for injured persons, food and water for displaced people and detainees, and collecting the names of the missing with the aim of finding them and reuniting them with their families.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: The ICRC is reuniting 15 children with their families after years of separation.


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

Mashable: Prepare for Disasters Using Social Media

I'm in the habit of e-mailing myself tweets that I want to remember to write about on the blog. Last night, I sent myself three, which is a new record.

First, a post from Mashable, that serves as a mini-guide to how to prepare for a disaster using social media. As the writer says:

When it comes to natural disasters, modern technology is making it easier than ever to take control by creating your own emergency response system — no high pitched beeping required. There are tons of tools to help you create emergency preparedness plans, keep in touch during a disaster, and get your life back after one strikes.

Suggestions include:

• Using Google's MyMaps to plan an escape route and family meeting place
• Using ICE app to store your emergency contacts and medical info
• Using this online guide to shut off your utilities
• Using the Emergency Radio app for breaking news updates
• Buying a multi-talented Red Cross radio
• Signing up for e-mail disaster updates from FEMA
• Storing important documents in the cloud

Check out the whole article with tons of helpful resources!

In Memory of Margaret Larsen

As I understand it, Margaret Larsen was our chapter's oldest volunteer. In honor of her long commitment to the Red Cross, I thought we'd share a little bit about her life as seen in the McMinnville News-Register.

Margaret Larsen was born January 27, 1913 in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Margaret spent much of her life volunteering and giving to others. In 1966 she founded the Mid-Valley Rehabilitation Inc., which provides vocational and residential programs for the disabled in Yamhill, Polk and Marion counties.

She was a member of the American Red Cross disaster response team for many years, making her last cross country trek to the Pentagon in 2001 for the 9-11 disaster.

She cooked at the St. Barnabas Soup Kitchen, volunteered as a Fund Raiser for local Hospice, helped children read in the SMART Program and until a few months ago worked at the City Outreach Ministries. In her “spare” time she loved to garden.

Margaret died at home on January 24, 2010 at the young age of 97.

Thank you, Margaret, for a lifetime of support to the American Red Cross. You will be missed.

Youth - You have been challenged!

To donate blood!

High school and College students play a critical role in maintaining the blood supply for the Pacific Northwest. Nearly 20% of the regions blood donations are from individuals 24 years old and younger that donate at their school's blood drives. These are the future blood donors.

The 2010 High School Blood Drive Challenge is now up and running, lasting til June 4th. The schools with the highest percentage of blood donation within each division will take the honor of wining the traveling trophy to keep in their school for one year. Plus the winning school will get a pizza party for all those who presented to donate blood or volunteer during the competition. You can check when your school blood drive is happening and see the competition standings online.

College students/alumni have a challenge as well! A new American Red Cross Blood Donors Facebook application was launched this morning, called the 'Campus Blood Donor Challenge'. It lets you show support for your school by registering donations with a national database, letting you see how your school is matching up with the Facebook competition out there!

Are you a student with questions or looking to show support and get your friends to donate? The new American Red Cross Blood website has a entire student section devoted to student concerns and needs!

Meet Our Hero: Sean Cusack

Meet Our Hero: Brian Miskimins

Meet Our Hero: Paramedic Steve Revier

Meet Our Hero: Jack The Chihuahua