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...

KYRGYZSTAN: Tens of thousands of ethnic Uzbek refugees are returning to their home towns in Kyrgyzstan. This rapid, mass return of refugees poses challenges, but the IFRC, ICRC, and the Red Crescent Societies of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are working together to transfer aid where it is needed.

IRAQ: Currently more than 30,000 detainees all across the country are visited regularly by the ICRC. Learn more about how the ICRC helps detainees and their families.

NIGER: As the food crises worsens, the Red Cross steps up its response. In collaboration with the World Food Programme, Red Cross volunteers have already distributed food to more than 12,000 people and plan to reach more than 100,000 people by end of June/mid-July.

AFGHANISTAN: In an area where landmines pose a great risk, wheelchair basketball has become a popular sport since the ICRC built an outdoor basketball court at one of their seven orthopedic centres in the country.

GLOSSARY:

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

It's A Lifesaving World After All

I love sharing save stories. Here's a great one from Larry in Florida:

------

I saved a lady at Epcot in Disneyworld. We were eating at the Japanese steak house. She was laughing with her family and all of a sudden stopped. She stood up and looked around. I realized she was in trouble when she was attempting to take in breath and her neck muscles were heaving. She didn't do anything else; no universal choking sign. I did the Heimlich Maneuver three times and the steak came out.

She was 51 and with her entire family. It was so scary for me , her and her family. We were all crying afterward. My nerves were shot. This is a terrible but frequent accident.

When I followed up with Larry -- a paramedic of 23 years and clearly an excellent guy to have around in emergency -- he sent on a little more info.

It was a very unique experience. I just pray that someone would do it for me. It truly is a hopeless and embarrassing feeling for the victim. She said to me afterwards that she was thinking about going into the restroom to try deal with it herself, which scared me even more. She would have not had enough oxygen to come back out.

Please tell people that they must do the universal sign for choking (see photo). What shocked me was that she just was standing there. Her eyes got real big. I don't think others knew exactly what was going on.

The lady I saved and I are now Facebook friends; I feel like I am a part of her family. It could have been my mother or sister.

------

Thanks, Larry, for sharing your story. And if you want to be able to spot the signs and save a life yourself, consider taking a CPR class (where we promise to also teach you abdominal thrusts).

He's Ready To Save Your Life

Over at NYC The Blog, Paolo asked about this ad, spotted in a New York elevator.

I know nothing about it, other than that it's fairly old. How do I know this? Because it uses a tagline -- Together, We Can Save A Life -- that's not on our materials anymore.

But whether it's old or current, the ad still has a good message. It also reminds me of a sad point made in our recent summer survey:

Americans say they are most comfortable giving CPR to family members, friends and coworkers, with less than half very likely to perform CPR on a stranger. The survey showed that physical appearance was a significant factor when people are deciding to perform CPR on a stranger, and men with a disheveled or sloppy appearance were the least likely to receive assistance, with only half of respondents saying they would very likely try to give them CPR.

Bottom line, training (and a breathing barrier) should make you feel comfortable saving ANYONE'S life when it's needed, no matter who they are or what they look like. Are you ready?

Paranoia Or Just Being Prepared?

We've talked before about luxury doomsday bunkers and "preppers;" now check out this video from ABC News and tell us what you think.

Meet Emily, The Robot Lifeguard

Every summer, the American Red Cross teaches thousands of people the basics of lifeguarding. But there's one guard on duty that didn't take a Red Cross class -- meet Emily, the robot lifeguard!

According to the Popular Science article:

This summer, EMILY (for EMergency Integrated Lifesaving lanYard) began patrolling Malibu’s Zuma Beach and will watch over about 25 more by December.

Although lifeguards operate this version by remote control, next year’s model will autonomously save potential drowning victims as reliably as a human. Once a lifeguard tosses EMILY into the surf, its sonar device will scan for the underwater movements associated with swimmers in distress. Its electric, Jet Ski–like impeller drives it at 28 mph through even the roughest chop, getting a flotation device—itself—to victims six times as fast as a lifeguard would. The ’bot’s camera and speakers will let an onshore lifeguard calm the person and instruct him to wait for human help or to hold on as EMILY ferries him back.

Here's EMILY in action:



Since we don't have any EMILYs in Oregon (yet), we're still reliant on the life-saving skills of good ol' people. If you know someone who'd love to be a lifeguard or if you want to become one yourself, get in touch with us.

Exciting Publicity On Portland Blood Donation

The latest edition of The Portland Observer came out yesterday...and it featured two Red Cross articles!

The first is a cover story on the critical need for blood donation through the lens of Latay Hammick, a young girl in the Portland community with sickle-cell anemia. Sickle-cell anemia causes red blood cells to form an abnormal crescent shape. Because of this rare shape, sickle cells are fragile and must be supplemented through blood transfusions.

The second article describes the incredible success of the Charles Drew Blood Drive. Since blood recipients are most likely to find compatible matches from donors of the same ethnic background, this drive highlighted the importance of African Americans donating blood and signing up for the Bone Marrow and Organ Donor Registries.

Read the Latay Hammick article here. Read the Charles Drew Blood Drive article here.

Thank you to The Portland Observer for supporting the Red Cross!

Never a dull moment at the Red Cross...

I am finding it difficult to finish my smoothie as I witness Troy Jenkins, a certified First Aid/CPR instructor and EMT, amuse the classroom with horror stories of bloody incidents. I feel like I'm about to faint but the participants are loving every minute of it, comprised of future lifeguards and nannies. The girl on the left was my First Aid partner, she was a sweetheart!! Check out their list of First Aid/CPR classes here.

It's only my fourth day as an intern at the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, and I have yet to witness a dull moment. Yesterday I rode along with Americorps (super sweet gig) to present Fire and Safety procedures to kiddos, with the help of Disaster Dog and Cool Cat. The day before I also went with them to a TWP presentation (Together We Prepare) for community members. Not only am I learning how to give these presentations myself, I am soaking in a ton of useful knowledge. Like, everyone should designate an out-of-state contact to connect family members and relatives in case of an emergency because while local lines might be shut down, usually out-of-area lines will still be working. Sometimes cell phone calls might not work, but text messages will. Good stuff. Did you know that the Red Cross will happily do these free presentations for anyone in our community? Classrooms, workplaces, churches, etc. Let 'em know!

May I mention, the volunteers and staff here are amazing?! I had the opportunity to celebrate an Annual Board Awards ceremony this week and was blown away by the dedication and bond shared by individuals I continue to meet and befriend every day. Red Cross is definitely a great and popular place to get involved; their Volunteer Department is a huge and valuable branch of this organization. I've already met a handful of staff that have traveled the world and with inspiring stories to share.

I'm also planning to take Disaster Responders training courses soon, so that I can be prepared in case of local or national disasters. Volunteers can be called upon to respond to emergencies in the area once they have been trained. All their classes are free! The Statewide Training Calendar can be found here. Join me!

Anyways, I'm off to check in with the Health and Safety Department now. Cheers!

Kalong

Blood science in the news!

There have been a couple interesting stories related to blood lately- lets take a peak!

In blood collection, centrifuges are often used for a variety of purposes. They are the fundamental machine in double red and apheresis donations, separating out parts of the blood and returning the remainder to the donor. Additionally, blood drives use them to test for iron deficiency anemia as an indicator for a donor's blood quantity. Rice University students Lauren Theis and Lila Kerr (left) created the Sally Centrifuge as part of a class on global health, and will take it overseas this summer for testing in developing countries. Kerr and Theis are minoring in global health technologies and took the Introduction to Bioengineering and World Health class. They were told that they needed to find a way to diagnose anemia without power, without it being very costly and as a portable device. They found that a salad spinner met those criteria. When tiny capillary tubes that contain about 15 microliters of blood are spun in the device for 10 minutes, the blood separates into heavier red blood cells and lighter plasma. Source: Rice University.

Also, platelets are the important component of blood responsible for clotting. Platelet donations are always needed as they can't be stored for more than a week, as the donation will eventually itself clot. The complex nature of platelets essential job demanded a study into how platelets react during a heart attack. A team of bioengineers from the University of Pennsylvania Institute for Medicine and Engineering have trained a computer neural network model to accurately predict how blood platelets would respond to complex conditions found during a heart attack or stroke. Researchers seek to understand blood as a reactive biological fluid whose function changes through a variety of physical and chemical stimuli. For platelets, it was discovered that the complexity of integrating numerous signals can be built up from the responses to simpler conditions involving only two stimuli. The model predicted platelet responses accurately, even distinguishing between 10 blood donors, demonstrating an efficient approach for predicting complex chemical responses in a patient-specific disease environment. Source: Science Daily. Photo: Popsci.

Want to know what you should do when someone has a heart attack? Consider taking a class from the Red Cross!

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...

UZBEKISTAN: The Uzbekistan Red Crescent, IFRC and ICRC are on the ground and working near Uzbekistan’s western border with Kyrgyzstan on a relief operation to meet the needs of some 92,000 adult refugees.

BANGLADESH: The worst rain in decades has caused mudbanks to collapse, burying thatched homes and blocking main roads. The Bangladesh Red Crescent and IFRC are responding with food, water, emergency shelter materials and other relief supplies for more than 6,500 people.

HAITI: The maternity wards in Red Cross field hospitals remain busy performing deliveries and working to save the lives of many babies born weak or premature.

PALESTINE: A Palestine Red Crescent Society psychosocial support program brings joy and hope to orphaned children in Qalqilya.

AUSTRALIA: In honor of Refugee Week, the Australian Red Cross teamed up with MTV to produce a campaign to encourage understanding and fight discrimination.

GLOSSARY:

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

Fashion Finds: Summer REDecorating

Even though Tara's gone, her REDecorating tips live on. And even though it doesn't FEEL like summer, with the solstice passed, I can assure you that it really is.

















So, first up, how about some wall art? These microscopic images of blood cells from WellCome would look terrific framed up and displayed. While the red blood cells have a medical "polka dot" sensibility, I tend to prefer the white blood cell, which comes in three fantastic colorways: turquoise, royal blue/green and brown/purple. Hanging all three on the same wall would definitely make a statement.
















Speaking of statements, what exactly would a bathroom that features blood drip hooks, a bloody bathmat and a handprinted shower curtain say? Perhaps "Dexter Lives Here"? Or Patrick Bateman?







And if you're looking for a slightly more subtle way to throw some blood around your house, how about this shelving system, inspired by blood capillaries? I'm not sure how much it actually stores, but it's certainly organic.






No matter how you decide to REDecorate for summer, we hope your plans include a stop by your local Red Cross chapter to donate some of the real stuff to us. Have you scheduled an appointment?

Twilight: Eclipse Blood Drive

In the past, the Red Cross and the 'Twilight' franchise seem to go hand-in-hand. Chapter services promoted the film, then Twilight came back to support Chapter services, and Blood Services loves any chance to tie in the importance of blood collections to pop-culture! With the days counting down until the next film, Eclipse, there is a special event you should know about...

On June 30th, the Red Cross will hold an Eclipse blood drive at the Clark County Donor Center. Twilight fans can donate blood in honor of their favorite vampire or werewolf and get free twilight memorabilia. The donor center hours are from 1:00 PM - 7:30 PM.

The company that makes the jewelry for Twilight is called Artisans Designs, and is based out of Portland. Rick Thurber is the owner of Artisans Designs, and is also a big supporter of the Red Cross. On June 30, Rick will receive a pin marking his lifetime blood donation of 14 gallons to the Red Cross! Anyone who presents to donate on at this drive will be entered into the drawing to win a piece of jewelry from the Twilight movies. Two pieces will be donated for this drawing, Dr. Carlisle's ring and Alice's Choker.

So if you are eligible to donate and are with Team Edward, donate to support the Cullen family! And if you are Team Jacob, starve a vampire by donating blood and have a chance at taking the Cullen family crest!

Photo 1: Promo for Twilight Eclipse (Summit Entertainment)
Photo 2 & 3: Artisan Designs

CPR Romance, Take Three

If you've been following Cross Blog for a while, you know all about Singles CPR. And you might even know that it got started with our spotting of CPR-related "Missed Connections" on Craigslist.

Well, it's been a while since there's been a lost love connection in CPR class, but here it is:

Katie, the acupuncturist from CPR class with the beautiful smile and cool clothes...we were partners for most of the day, saving dummies' lives. I wish we had talked before you drove off. Let's hang out sometime. You have such positive vibes. :)

If you remember my name, include it in your reply so I know it's you. But if you forgot, I won't hold it against you. I'm sure you can think of something so that I know it's you.

P

Help us connect Katie and P -- spread the word!

Lifesaving At A Wake

My morning started with coffee...and lifesaving.

As I walked past the coffee cart, trying to resist a vanilla soy latte (I failed), owner Nancy stopped me with a story.

Turns out that her sister Julie, a respiratory therapist, was at a wake recently when a friend tapped her on the arm and pointed to a women who just didn't look quite right.

As the older lady turned blue, Julie rushed over to help. While someone else called 911, she checked the airway for any blockages and then went right to it and started performing chest compressions and rescue breaths. And sure enough, the lady's pulse came back.

After a stay in the ICU, it now appears that the lady will be fine, thanks to the quick thinking of Nancy's smart sister!

The one lesson learned from the incident? Carry a breathing barrier. Even though Julie had just bought a first aid kit from our store, she didn't have a face mask handy. But proud sister Nancy is picking up a keychain version for her today.

Photo courtesy of Walkinonsunshine

The Prophet Of Doom Speaks

"An earthquake preparedness kit? I don't have an earthquake preparedness kit."

Uh, ouch.

Like our friend -- and Prophet of Doom -- James Roddey, we're working hard to change the perception that the Big One can't happen in Oregon. Check out this video from CNN that reminds us there's lots of work still ahead...



P.S. At about 2:32, you'll see Linda Kozlowski, one of our own Red Cross volunteers and a board member!

Discrimination Sux

Around the globe, Red Cross societies are celebrating World Refugee Week (June 20-26). And we would expect nothing less than awesome from the Australian Red Cross in honor of the occasion.

And here it is... In partnership with MTV Australia, I give you "Labels."



You can read more about the PSA here.

And if you're interested in celebrating World Refugee Week here in PDX, I highly recommend checking out this Thursday's free movie screening of WAR DANCE. Read more about it here.

Feel Good Friday

The More Things Change...

For those of you who used to subscribe to the Ready Radio podcast on iTunes, you've probably been wondering what the heck happened to us.

Surprise!

Nothing happened to us. Something happened to iTunes.

I have no idea what the problem is, but if you want to catch up on back episodes of the show that puts the rad(io) in readiness, go to http://www.readyradio.org/.

While there, you'll see Episode 19, which is a new attempt in partnership with the fine folks at PDX.fm. Instead of being anywhere from 15-25 minutes long, we're breaking our podcasts into five-minute, bite-sized chunks. We're also going weekly (instead of every other week), so there'll be more Ready Radio goodness to satiate your safety cravings.

We'll still try to give you some prepare-aphernalia and helpful hints, but we'll miss out on the Logan Whitehurst. Forgive us...and keep listening!

P.S. If you want to listen live, uh, I'm not sure what to tell you. It should be on Thursday mornings after local favorite Morning Submission, but is also airing sporadically throughout the week. We'll try to let you know it's on when WE know it's on.

Dragon Boaters Paddle To The Finish!

Is there anything tougher-sounding than a "Dragon Boat Team?" I think not. This past weekend, the Red Cross Racers, our group of awesomely aquatic staff and volunteers, competed in the Rose Festival's Dragon Boat Race.

When seconds counted, this crew blew away the competition in the quarter-finals with a first place position that earned them a semi-final finish for the year. This came from nearly three months of weekly 3-hour-long practices - work that started back in late March!

The Portland Red Cross Dragon Boat team is a group of staff members and friends from all over the Red Cross services: blood collection, health and safety, financial development and even a former CEO. We've had a presence at the Dragon Boat competition since 2003 and we definitely plan to keep the tradition going next year!

Go Red Cross Racers!

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.]

KYRGYZSTAN: Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes due to brutal violence. The ICRC and Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan have assisted 16 medical facilities by caring for more than 1,130 injured people in the past week, and the American Red Cross has committed an initial $50,000 to the relief effort and stands ready to deploy staff and relief supplies, if requested.

TANZANIA: The IFRC is raising awareness about albinos in danger of being attacked for their body parts, which are sold as superstitious talismans.

GEORGIA/SOUTH OSSETIA: The ICRC organized a second round of family visits to detainees of Georgian and South Ossetian origin on both sides of the administrative boundary line.

TAJIKISTAN: Torrential rain, snow, avalanches, floods, mudslides, rock flows and landslides... the Red Cross is responding to the country's worst disaster in over a decade.

SUDAN: The ICRC facilitated the handover to government authorities of 35 members of the Sudanese army, who were released by the Justice and Equality Movement. The ICRC has been working in Darfur since 2004, where it provides assistance for victims of the armed conflict and other violence.


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

VIDEO: Demi's Visit To Chile

I don't know much about Demi Lovato, but judging by this video, she seems like an awfully big-hearted young woman.

Demi went to Chile with the Red Cross and was able to bring letters from American teens to teens in Chile who survived the recent earthquake. Check it out!

Charles Drew Blood Drive

On Saturday, June 12, the Portland Red Cross hosted the Charles Drew Blood Drive. It was a huge success, not just for bringing in blood donations, but for strengthening our Portland community. See photos and read more below:



Blood recipients are often most likely to find compatible blood for transfusion from donors of the same ethnic background. This becomes particulary urgent for illnesses where multiple transfusions can cause difficult cross-matching, such as sickle-cell disease, a blood disorder carried by 1 in 12 African Americans. The Charles Drew Blood Drive strives to educate the community on the importance of African Americans donating blood and signing up for the Bone Marrow and Organ Donor Registries.

This is the second Charles Drew Blood Drive that was initiated by Kaiser Permanente African American Professional Association, and, for the first time, included African American sororities and fraternities. Many sponsoring community groups attended, as well as two local African American artists Ann Willoughby and Bobby Fouther.

Also at the event was Donate Life Northwest heart recipient Rosie Tabb. Rosie has worked as an American Red Cross donor recruiter and received blood transfusions during her heart transplant.

Attending artist Bobby Fouther carries a personal connection to blood donation as well. He said, “My grandmother died of sickle cell before I was born. I know firsthand the importance of African Americans donating blood. Because we often share blood types and rare antigens, we can offer special hope to others with sickle cell disease."

Many community groups made this event possible. We thank all parnerships and give special recognition to SEI and Champions Barbershop for their promotion and recruitment efforts. Additionally, our gratitude goes to sorority Zeta Phi Beta for recruiting one third of the drive's blood donors and to sorority Delta Sigma Theta for providing special treats in the donor canteen.

The blood drive sponsors for the 2010 drive were: Delta Sigma Theta, SEI, The Links, Inc., Champions Barber Shop, Kappa Alpha Psi, Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kaiser Permanente African American Professional Association, African American Men’s Group and Omega Psi Phi.

We (Still) Shine As One

I didn't want to let World Blood Donor Day pass without sharing MY favorite video.

Here's Robin lipsynching the theme song "We Shine As One." Lyrics are available, if you'd like to sing along.



P.S. How lucky am I to work with someone who does things like this for fun?!

Emergency Preparedness Town Hall Tonight

Nothing on your calendar for tonight? Consider checking this out...

The Portland Office of Emergency Management is hosting a Town Hall to talk about emergency preparedness and hear from you about disaster readiness in our city and the hazards we all face.

With natural and man-made disasters in the news on an almost daily basis, it makes sense to think about personal and community preparedness. Here's a great chance to learn more about getting prepared for any type of disaster, whether it is a power outage or a snowfall that shuts the city down for a few days, or THE BIG ONE looming on the horizon.

Carmen Merlo, Director of the Portland Office of Emergency Management, as well as Emergency Management staff will be on hand to talk about creating a disaster resilient community and the resources available to help achieve this goal.

James Roddey, from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, will issue a QUAKE-UP call for Portland and discuss briefly the earthquake risks we face in Portland and throughout Oregon.

You'll learn what resources you can tap into, how to begin that emergency plan, why it's so important to take responsibility in getting yourself and your family prepared, and how you can help support your local neighborhood's effort with emergency preparedness.

TONIGHT
6:30 to 8:30 PM
Multnomah Arts Center
7688 SW Capitol Highway

When the Big One hits, will our bridges go down? Photo courtesy of Matt.Picio.

How Fire Extinguishers Work

This weekend, a friend of mine was telling me about buying t-shirts from Woot.

Woot, I wondered? But isn't Woot all electronics and tech stuff? Evidently I haven't looked in a while, because there's now stuff for kids, oenophiles and the aforementioned hipster tee aficionados.

And that's when I stumbled across this gem, which describes the REAL way fire extinguishers work. Awesome. And only $15!



If you really want to know the ins and outs of extinguishers, check out this resource, which will also freshen up your all-important PASS skills.

Note: If you don't "get" this tee, it's probably because you haven't seen this video. Watch, learn and be careful!

World Blood Donor Day

As a Geography wiz myself, at blood drives I often wonder how donating might be different (and similar) internationally. In honor of World Blood Donor Day (June 14th) lets take a peak at blood donations around the world!

(Warning: the following videos feature photography from various aspects of the blood donation process. Viewer discretion is advised.)

Australia

Australian Red Cross
Since this blog pretty much loves the work by the 'other' ARC, lets see how a donation takes place down under. This video features Australian comedian Aquinia Van De Zandt and Australian Idol Star Rob Mills at the Elizabeth St. Blood Donor Centre in Sydney, showing us what it takes to donate blood. I find it interesting that after a donation, donors are offered tea and biscuits!

Germany

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Blutspende
Here is a rather cute video showing how easy blood donation is in Germany (not very different from in the US!).

India

Indian Red Cross
This video shows International Red Cross/Red Crescent officials taking a look at the blood donation section of the Indian Red Cross Society Hyderbad State Branch.

Canada

Canadian Blood Services
The Canadian Blood Service was founded by the Canadian Red Cross, and they present this very professional quality video taking one through nearly all aspects of blood collection. Follow a blood donation from a Canadian Blood Services clinic, to processing, to hospital, and finally to the patient.

Japan

Japanese Red Cross Society Blood Programme
Japan has been known for some very innovative marketing techniques and futuristic donor centers to attract blood donors. Here is a look at the donation efforts of the Osaka Prefectural Government, and what the donation process involves.


What did I learn from all these videos? That blood donors worldwide share in a very similar experience that is actually quick and simple, and for which all these donors deserve many thanks for their efforts!

If you can, please consider donating this summer as donations tend to suffer when school is out and people are out enjoying the sun. Only partway into June, Central Oregon reports blood drives have already shown that as many as 32% of donors have not kept their appointments.

Your Inside Look

Our Red Cross vests get us in places that others don't.

Yesterday was a prime example. I went out to the search and rescue site for Kyron Horman and talked with reporters who, like the general public, are being kept far away from the actual operation.

But because of my vest and the Red Cross' important role, I was waved right in.

So consider this slideshow your REALLY inside look. And thanks to volunteers Lynne and Lori for letting me snap their photos!

Tea Fundraiser Hosted by Red Cross Youth Council

Students with the Red Cross Youth Council of Southwest Washington held a great fundraiser in Vancouver on May 30th. The event included two well-attended tea times, a vintage fashion show and a successful silent auction.

Dressed in American Red Cross uniforms from 1918-1960, the youth showcased the amazing history of our organization. If that wasn't enough, the youth council has also been busy supporting the Red Cross by creating video advertisements and walking in the Starlight Parade!

Awesome job guys!

Photo courtesy of Kaya Winn, American Red Cross of Southwest Washington

Supporting The Search For Kyron Horman

If you live in the Portland area, you've surely been following the case of Kyron Horman, a seven-year-old who has been missing from Skyline Elementary School since last Friday.

It's hard to watch these cases and know that there's little you can do to help. Which is why I'm so proud to tell you that your local Red Cross chapter IS helping, starting this afternoon.

We're sending our EKRV (mobile kitchen) to support the search and rescue operation. We'll be providing hot drinks and soup to about 350 workers who are committed to finding the missing boy.

What's more, we'll be doing it all weekend long...and longer, if needed. And though we might switch from hot drinks to cold, we'll be there to help.

Of course, if you have any information about Kyron Horman, please be sure to call the tip line at 503-261-2847.

Oregon College Athlete Chosen for 2010 Red Cross/ NAIA Leadership Program

I spend a lot of time working with collegiate leaders in promoting blood donations, and love to hear when local students are recognized and empowered for their incredible help with the life-saving mission.

Jessica Lea, a Volleyball and Basketball player for Eastern Oregon University, has been announced as a participant in the 4th Annual Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program. Jessi is one of 15 NAIA student-athletes currently in Washington, D.C. for two weeks of energetic leadership training at the Red Cross National Headquarters, from June 7-18. She is representing the Lewis and Clark Red Cross blood region(serving Utah, Idaho, Montana, Southwestern Wyoming, and eastern Oregon, including LaGrande where EOU is located).


The student athletes participate in a rare and unique opportunity to acquire first-hand coaching, mentoring and professional leadership training presented by senior leadership at the Red Cross. Students learn how to organize successful campus blood drives, actively participate on a leadership board and take part in diversity and cultural competency training. State Farm Insurance is a major sponsor of this partnership. To gain an understanding of what this program involves, you can take a look at last years' blog by students.



In the past, Rachel Cotter (07-08) and Kimberly Lindow (09-10) from Portland's Concordia University have participated, and both are still active Red Cross leaders in the community. Kimberly recently made the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII College Division at-large team announced on May 20, presented for outstanding quality both on the court and with the textbooks!

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.]

BANGLADESH: The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has given new boats, and new hope, to hundreds of fishermen who lost their livelihoods in last year's Cyclone Aila.

POLAND: In the first stages of the devastating floods, more than 100 Polish Red Cross volunteers worked tirelessly to save lives, and provide clean water and first aid while hundreds more now work to distribute aid.

PHILIPPINES: The ICRC is assisting more than 7,000 drought-affected families in Ifugao with distributions of rice, fish paste, cooking oil and laundry soap.

SOMALIA: Despite recent heavy rains, clean drinking water is still scarce in this region troubled by armed conflict and drought. In one of many water sanitation projects, this Spring the ICRC assisted more than 100,000 Somalis with an emergency distribution of drinking water via tanker trucks.

WORLDWIDE: The ICRC assisted record numbers of internally displaced people in 2009, providing health care support, emergency household items, food, agricultural support, water and habitation services and other aid in response to specific needs.

INDIA: As a part of the Tsunami Recovery Program, the American Red Cross and Indian Red Cross Society together helped inaugurate the early warning center in Tamil Nadu.

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

Breakin' Records, Takin' Names

Our Wendy (as we like to call her) has the incredible privilege of speaking on behalf of Red Cross social media efforts all around the country.

Sadly, she's never come to speak in Portland (hint, hint) so this video from the Mashable Media Summit was the first chance chance I've had to see her in action. It goes without saying that she's phenomenal.

Watch live streaming video from mashable at livestream.com

The best part of the video comes around 15:20 when the Red Cross joins up with the Universal Record Database (URDB) and -- what else? -- sets a world record. This one is for the most online donations made by text message in one room. According to Mashable, after whipping out their smartphones of choice, the crowd managed to raise $2,210!

Great presentation, great call-to-action...congratulations Wendy! And where's YOUR yellow jacket?

Take The Restaurant Safety Quiz!

It goes without saying that Portland has a foodie culture. We love our food carts, our James Beard nominees...and even our fast food.

To go along with all this food comes -- of course -- food service workers. From chefs to waiters, bartenders to dishwashers, these are the folks that make our love of food possible.

To keep them safe and well, our friends at Oregon OSHA have come up with a little quiz that tests your knowledge of food safety.

For example, would you know which restaurant workers have the most injuries? Or what the most common injury is?

So take the test and, if you need a brush up, maybe it's time to consider also taking a first aid class. Our bellies depend on it!

Check Out That Cross!

As promised, here's a quick pic from inside a moving vehicle of the Cruz Roja de Cabo. Check out that HUGE red cross!


Photo credit to the amazing Andrew Singer!

Intergalactic Planetary...

Although there was no ziggy stardust, the Red Cross made an outerworldly impression at the Starlight Parade this Saturday. The event, which usually attracts over 250,000 people, took place on June 5th in downtown Portland. Illuminating the streets with music, colorful lights and larger-than-life floats, this parade features community groups from all over the Northwest.

Because anything could happen in the future, the Red Cross featured a theme of far-off futuristic preparedness in our float entry, complete with a UFO and space suits!

See photos below!

Safe(ty) Travels

When I went to Mexico, I brought along books, a swimsuit, some sunscreen, flip flops...and aspirin.

Note that aspirin alone doesn't make a first aid kit, but I was traveling with my prepared parents and I knew for a fact that they'd have a mini-kit with bandages and much more. In fact, when I got a sun allergy (seriously? that happens?), my mom reminded me that she had a decent supply of Benedryl on hand for just that sort of thing.

Which begs the question -- When you travel, do you bring first aid supplies?

If not, you might as well start now. Pack them up, stick the kit in a suitcase and leave it there. That way it'll be there when you need it.

Need help figuring out what to include?

Check out this "how to" guide from USA Today, as well as this guide for Europe (that could really work for anywhere) from the incomparable Rick Steves.

Bon voyage!

Photo courtesy of ztephen

Another Item for your Future First-Aid Kit

Last month we heard about a promising laser system being developed by the Air Force that would quickly bond tissues like skin for faster healing and prevention of infection. This laser seems to act like a 'dermal regenerator' from Star Trek. In Star Trek, dermal regenerators were one of four futuristic items commonly found in medical kits. Now we can cross another item off the list as science-fiction becomes science-fact!


The most prominent medical device in Star Trek is the 'hypospray'. Hyposprays supposedly use a noninvasive transport mechanism of compressed air to transfer the injectant from the device into the subdermal layer below the skin, without the use of a needle. The device pictured above is not a fictional Star Trek object, rather P.L.E.A.S.E. - a painless laser epidermal system used to deliver drugs, medications and vaccines without a needle, directly through the skin. Instead of air, it uses a laser to create a micropore in the epidermis to deliver the high molecular weight medication. The micropore is so tiny that there is no pain and no bleeding. This device can potentially be used for pain control, diabetes management, in-vitro fertilization, and much more!

The best news? This device is not something far-fetched or in development. According to the tech-news site Dvice, it has just been approved for sale in Europe and likely will come here in the near future.

P.S.- the other two items in a Star Trek medical kit? A Tricorder (became reality as the iPhone) with a medical scanner attachment and a Trauma kit.

My Failed Cruz Roja Video

I went to Mexico...and all I brought back were photos of safety signs.



The sad thing is that there was supposed to be a video.

During our family trip, we drove into San Jose de Cabo for some shopping. On the way, we passed the Cruz Roja building, complete with a HUGE red cross (and, of course, lots of Red Cross ambulances outside).

On the way back, I was determined to get a photo. I got out my iPhone and got ready.

Wait, my brother said. Why don't you get VIDEO?

Good idea, I replied (brilliance runs in the family).

He handed me his video-capable iPhone, I switched to film mode and -- with spectacular cinematography -- proceeded to capture a long, incredibly detailed shot of the Red Cross presence in Cabo. Victory!

Uh, my brother said. You did hit record, right?

Ummm...no. I didn't. And that, my friends, is why you have no video.

The good news is that my awesome cousin, realizing that I don't share my family's intelligence genes, snapped a photo at the same time. He'll send it on in a day or two and I'll post so that you, too, can appreciate the local Cruz Roja!

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.]

NORTH AMERICA: The IFRC is preparing to support relief efforts in the Americas in the event of the very active hurricane season being predicted.

GUATEMALA/EL SALVADOR/HONDURAS: Agatha is the first tropical storm of the season for Central America, and Red Cross volunteers are already assisting thousands.

SRI LANKA: With international support, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society volunteers are responding to the worst floods in five decades, providing meals, shelter, and other relief items for thousands.

NIGER/MALI: An ICRC program carries out two acts of humanitarian assistance in one fell swoop by buying livestock from struggling farmers and distributing the meat to those in need.

TAJIKISTAN: Hundreds of Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan volunteers help the government tackle a polio outbreak with a national vaccination and communication campaign.

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

Vintage Video: Why Not Live?

Kids playing with matches. Dramatic car accidents. Hands sliced open on can openers.

Seriously, you'll want to watch this.



Once you've decided that you really DO want to live, perhaps it's time to take a refresher first aid course?

CPR Class Goes LIVE!

We didn't blog this in advance, but if you follow us on Twitter, you might already be tuned in...

In honor of CPR & AED Awareness Week, we're getting all social media on a CPR class. You can follow LIVE tweets right now, right here:

http://twitter.com/search?q=%23cprweek

And you can actually see the class itself -- LIVE from Portland, Ore. -- right here:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/portland-red-cross

We'll be attempting some giveaways via our Twitter, so turn on, tune in and LEARN!

The Large Red (Cross) Double Decker Bus

This blog occasionally talks about how the Red Cross as a lifestyle isn't only about the life saving, yet also about style. When people think of the United Kingdom, one of the first stylistic images tends to be large red double decker buses. The British Red Cross decided to apply their Red Cross style to one of the buses.

The Big Red Cross Bus is the worlds' first all-in-one thrift shop and volunteer information center squeezed into a double decker bus. The bus is a solution to two problems they have been having; their Red Cross thrift shops facing increasing popularity, and reaching out to recruit volunteers across the country.

It is currently touring the UK from 31 May to 12 June, visiting 12 locations along the way as part of their volunteer week. As they put it, the bus advertises the 'world’s biggest and cuddliest humanitarian movement'. The bus definitely looks 'big' and 'cuddly'! The first floor features an assortment of clothes, books and DVDs (and accept donations!), while the second floor (pictured left) features a lounge for learning about volunteer opportunities.