Donate via Text

So, I was minding my own business when a altruistic question came to mind…

Is there a way I can donate to the Red Cross via text message?

Lo and behold- there is! During the Red Cross Holiday campaign, those with a mobile phone can now text GIFT to 90999 to make a $25 donation to the Red Cross.

Time is limited, however. The opportunity begins today and will continue through December 31.

ALSO- people who make a $25 text donation will be able to download a badge for their Facebook pages!!! Awesome, right?! Not only do I get to show my friends my philanthropic ways, but I may also inspire them to donate too.

And, in case you were wondering, if you text REDCROSS to 90999 it will let you donate $10 to support Disaster Relief. Pretty cool, huh?

You can text GIFT to 90999 to give $25, which will be added to your mobile phone bill/deducted from your prepaid account. Msg & Data rates may apply. Reply STOP to 90999 to Stop. Full terms and privacy policy: redcross.org/m

Treat yourself and support the Red Cross

Treat yourself to fine dining at Gracie's Restaurant in Hotel DeLuxe, 729 SW 15th Avenue. Tonight only, 20% of all proceeds will support the Red Cross's Oregon Trail Chapter.

Gracie's takes you back to Hollywood's Golden Age with its elegant ambiance and tasteful American cuisine. Meals, including sizzling forest mushrooms and pan-seared halibut are prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Dinner is served from 5pm - 9pm

Parking in the adjacent garage is always complimentary for guests.

Hope to see you there!

A Future after the Flood

Married with a 5-year-old son, Freda Tremper and her husband typified a young couple just starting out. She was 28 he was 32. They owned a small home on Gertz Road located off the Willamette River. Mr. Tremper was working an interim job at the sheriff’s office. Everything seemed going well for the young couple, when tragedy struck.

On Memorial Day in 1948, the dike holding back the Columbia River collapsed. The city of Vanport, which at its lowest point was 15 ft below the river level, instantly met a wall of water.

The Trempers lived outside of the city, but still had little time to evacuate. Friends rushed to help remove personal belongings from the Trempers home. After salvaging their most treasured belongings, the Trempers took refuge with friends, and within 24 hours, their house was swept away.

Among the 25,000 left homeless by the Vanport Flood, the Trempers felt helpless. Luckily, the Red Cross reached the scene soon after the flood and began working with victims. The Red Cross generously gave them $6,500, a present day value of just over $57,000, to obtain a new home.

The young couple didn’t waste any time. They soon purchased a $500 lot and used the remaining money to build a house. Since the disaster, their lives quickly went back on track. Mr. Tremper became successful with a real estate business, and the couple’s life went returned to normal.

“I am so grateful to the Red Cross for helping us in our time of need. I now make a monthly donation to the Red Cross to give back what they have given me,” declared Mrs. Tremper

One Heroic Cat

Fellow cat people rejoice! Finally a feline is being honored as a hero.

A cat named Nudge saved his humans from a fire by waking them in the night. And the American Red Cross of Central New York is honoring him for that heroic act at their annual Real Heroes Breakfast.

Many a dog* has had this honor bestowed upon them (notably, Jack the Chihuahua, who was awarded hero status at our Breakfast of Champions this past year), but this is the first official Red Cross cat hero I've heard of.

Congratulations, Nudge!

*and, of course, many more humans.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips

This long weekend many of us are likely going to turn up the heat to cook a feast, a welcome contrast to the frigid weather outside. Cooking a turkey is not the easiest thing to do, and Thanksgiving Day has more than double the number of home cooking fires than an average day according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In fact, each year more than 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving Day. The Oregon Red Cross has a list of tips for the Thanksgiving holiday.

And I don't know about your family, but mine is quite infamous for nibbling throughout the day while waiting for the food to cook. Talking while eating is the leading cause of choking, and if you encounter this situation the Red Cross wants you to remember "FIVE-and-FIVE Can Keep Them Alive."

Do you think you know your stuff(ing)? Take our cooking safety know-how test!

Have a safe and happy Turkey (or Tofurkey) day!

Given Freely-- No Recompense

So, I was minding my own business when a foxy question came to mind…

What one word describes the inside of a Red Cross Emergency Warming Center (EWC)?

Racking my brain and allowing inspiration to move within me, the one word that I couldn't shake was Gifted. And here's why:

The volunteers: In less than an hour, the gymnasium floor was turned into a land of comfort and safety simply by using red mats, kindness, and dog crates. The gift of ingenuity. Problems that could have arisen were quickly extinguished as OTC volunteers used compassionate voices and created clever solutions to bring comfort. The gift of listening to the needs of others. I noticed that the line between those serving and those being served disintegrated simply because the volunteers comfortably and sincerely engaged with a population that tends to be overlooked, discriminated against, or ignored. The gift of acceptance.

The clients: A former Zen Monk reminded me of humility. He told me of enchanted places where men stare at the floors for months simply to connect to the heart of humanity for just one second. His goal-- to lose his ego so that he may be a pillar of hope for others in need. The gift of sacrifice. Another client could draw circles with perfect mathematical precision freehandedly. It takes him days of dedicated drawing to finish a single page of immaculate circles and geometric shapes. The gift of patience. I saw the love of a couple in their seventies who have been with each other through incredible financial fluctuations-- one day they were swathed in fluffy comforters, the next day they were holding hands, asleep on two red mats pushed closely together, and sharing a single blanket. The gift of companionship and commitment.

The church: By gifting OTC the space to open the EWC, we were able to help prevent serious illness and death to 163 individuals. The gift of generosity.

The gratitude that I feel, and continue to feel, because I have had the opportunity to volunteer at a Red Cross EWC is a gift to my heart that cannot be forgotten

What is your one word that describes an Emergency Warming Center?

Wednesday Final Cut?

So it's not Friday, but it IS the end of the week around here, so I'm doing a special Wednesday edition of the Friday Final Cut. Here you go!

• If someone collapsed, would your first reaction be to tweet? What if that someone was Bill Nye, the Science guy?
  
  
• Those folks Down Under do the darndest things. Check out this volunteer flashmob, something I'd love to replicate in the States!
  
  
• Would you prefer to tweet your help request to 9-1-1? The FCC might allow it...

Free Pies and More at Tomorrow's Thanksgiving Blood Drives!

Start the season of giving by giving the gift of life! Present to donate blood or platelets at Portland's 16th Annual Thanksgiving Day Blood Drive tomorrow, November 25, 2010, from 7 AM to Noon. Or...for Vancouver or Salem residents, attend tomorrow's Thanksgiving Drives at the Clark County or Salem Donor Centers tomorrow from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Presenting donors will receive a free pumpkin pie from Thriftway, a two-for-one discount coupon to the Oregon Ballet Theater’s production of The Nutcracker, and an American Red Cross T-shirt (all while supplies last). Enjoy coffee and treats after you donate. There will also be entertainment and special activities stations, including button making and videos.

This inspiring annual event has become a favorite with families and groups of friends who mark the start of the season of giving by helping local hospital patients in need. Donated blood is used to treat cancer patients, trauma and burn victims, premature babies, organ-transplant patients, those living with chronic blood diseases, and others. Blood and platelet donations collected at this special Thanksgiving Day event will help boost the blood supply going into the winter season, a time when blood donations typically decline.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit this link to make a donation appointment at this event!

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...

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: In areas that can't be accessed by trucks, ICRC workers are using barges and motorcycles to get aid to people still recovering from last year's violence.

TOGO: After heavy flooding, it's essential to reduce the risk of disease from contaminated water. That's why around 100 Togolese Red Cross volunteers specially trained in community health work are going door-to-door in the areas worst affected by Togo's recent floods to explain the importance of washing hands and of treating water before drinking it.

SERBIA: The Red Cross of Serbia continues to provide support to people affected by this month’s earthquake, which hit the city of Kraljevo. In addition to distributing food and other items, a psychosocial support program has now begun, helping people to deal with the shock of the disaster and the impact on their lives.

WORLDWIDE: The ICRC has announced the winners of the "Young Reporter" competition, who will travel to a country that has been affected by armed conflict – Georgia, Lebanon, Liberia, the Philippines or Senegal – and will be given the opportunity to cover a local ICRC humanitarian project.

GLOSSARY:

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

'Red' Friday

The Friday after Thanksgiving has popularly become 'Black Friday'- a day when millions of Americans wake up incredibly early to take advantage of the years' best sales with door buster values. It is called 'black' because it tends to be when retailers get out of the 'red' and turn a profit. As a giving non-profit that relies on donations, and 'red' is our color to fame, the Red Cross prefers 'Red Friday'. And this is your chance to save some green without having to challenge the lines or wake up early!


For a limited time, you can save 20% at our Online Oregon Red Cross Store! During check-out, just use the discount code 'HOLIDAY10' to immediately see your savings. The Red Cross store has a whole lot more than first aid kits; books, clothes, bags, water bottles, and a lot of other great holiday gifts.

30 Disaster Movie Money Shots

The Red Cross is all about preparedness, and often we are discussing how to prepare for big catastrophic event. These days we can start to visualize how these types of events would unfold, thanks to modern filming techniques including computer graphics, advanced miniatures, and new developments in pyrotechnics. If a picture can tell a thousand words, a video of landmarks collapsing can tell millions of words. And- make millions of dollars in the box office.


The science and technology news blog io9 collected the most famous of these 'money shots' from disaster movies, and came up with a list of their top 30. Remember when the White House was destroyed in Independence Day? Or how about when Los Angeles became too 'hot' to handle in Volcano?

Portland tends to escape the Hollywood disaster movie treatment. In fact, S.M. Stirling's Emberverse book series, the video game series Fallout, the film Alien Apocalypse, and the film The Postman all feature the philosophy that a worldwide post apocalyptic situation would feature Oregon as a center for rebuilding society. Then again, Portland likely has the most realistic disaster film with "A Day Called X".

Photo: io9

The snow is falling!

Is it really not winter yet? Well, something certainly is in the spirit of 'fall' outside.

I am currently at home staying warm in my Red Cross polar fleece, preparing for what will likely be a tricky day of driving tomorrow. The snow came a bit later than expected, and the extra rain will likely mean ice. The Red Cross has many suggestions for an emergency car kit to prepare for nasty situations like this, and here are a few key items for winter weather:

* Gloves
* Blanket
* First Aid Kit
* Warm Clothes
* Flashlight
* Emergency Radio
* Batteries
* Glow Sticks
* Food
* Water (in a freezable container)

In addition to first aid kits, the Oregon Red Cross store offers a variety of emergency kits suitable for cars.

Seattle faced the brunt of this storm Monday during the evening rush hour, leading to large delays and many accidents across the Puget Sound.

As for blood drives, the Red Cross strives to keep all blood drives operational as the need is constant. A large majority of drives tend to maintain their schedule. The adverse weather can lead to an increased demand for blood with a steep decline in donations. If you can donate and safely travel to a drive, it is greatly appreciated. If you can’t because of the weather try to schedule an appointment soon after the storm passes. On a related note, the Portland areas' largest annual blood drive is this Thursday: the Thanksgiving Day Blood Drive (sponsor code: thanksgiviportland). A great way to give thanks by giving life!

Photo: Rich Marilyn, Michelle Harrison - KATU

One Year, Four People, One Humongous Disaster Kit

Here's one for the extreme prepare-aphernalia fans.

COSTCO is running a sale on 1-year, 4-person supplies of freeze dried and dehydrated food.

One whole year. For four people.

At the Red Cross we recommend having at least 3 days of supplies on hand in case of disaster. But I guess a year's worth couldn't hurt.

And while at first glance I thought the $2,999 price tag seemed like a steep investment, then I did the math.

There are 18,485 servings in the whole kit. Let's say that again for emphasis... eighteen thousand four hundred and eighty-five servings. (Whoa.)

If I calculated correctly, that means each serving costs just a hair over 16 cents.

That's downright cheap!

The Montreal Gazette says these kits are perfect for "preppers." I'd say they're perfect for budgeters too!

But whether or not you'd call yourself a prepper, and whether or not you're ready to drop $2,999 on a truck load of food, we hope you've at least got your 3-day kit well stocked with non-perishable deliciousness.

Bon appetit!

Today's Agenda: Busy.

Quick post today, as we're very, very busy.

Why, you might ask?

1. We're helping out at the Mission of Mercy dental clinic, passing out hot coffee and preparedness info. On a chilly day like today, the coffee is much appreciated.

2. We're gearing up to open our emergency warming center for the first time this year. It'll happen tonight, 9p-7a, at the Imago Dei Community, 1302 SE Ankeny. All are welcome, pets included!

3. We're trying to remind people that when winter storms come, it's best to be ready.

What are YOU up to today?

New Seismic Fault Found...And It's Nearby!

This planet has been around for millions of years and yet we're still discovering new things. Which, when you stop to think about it, is pretty incredible.

I tell you this because one new discovery is an active seismic fault, capable of unleashing a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. And, it's right here in the Western US.

It's located in Idaho's portion of the Rocky Mountains, and runs close to the tiny town of Stanley. If a quake did occur, shaking would extend to Boise.

According to the article, scientists believe two earthquakes have taken place along the fault in the past 10,000 years, with one occurring 7,000 years ago and the other 4,000 years ago. This information has led researchers to believe significant seismic activity takes place in the region every several thousand years.

"Since we don't know when the next earthquake will occur, we simply need to prepare for it," said John Ebel, a professor of geophysics.

We couldn't agree more.

All Aboard The SS Huckleberry!

We've often said that the same principles that would help you survive after a disaster would keep you safe in case of zombie (or alien!) attack.

So it stands to reason that a zombie "safe house" would work well for post-disaster living.

That's why I'll be ready to move in to the SS Huckleberry, even though it necessitates leaving Oregon for a home on the Mighty Mississippi.

From solar panels to a full-scale farm, you'll have power and plenty of room to eat, sleep, play and recycle zombies into fuel. There are no specifics on how many people the Huckleberry can hold, but I'm pretty sure it you can bring along more than a few of your friends.

Clearly, living aboard the Huckleberry will help you survive far longer than 72 hours, but that's really all you need to get started. Pull together your disaster kit...I promise I'll let you stow it on the ship, if needed.

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...


SRI LANKA: In Nugelanda, it's not just disasters like floods and droughts, but also wild elephant attacks that pose a real danger. The Ampara branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society is distributing flashlights to shoo the elephants away, and also working on other safety measures.

HAITI: More than 1,000 trained Haitian Red Cross volunteers have now fanned out across the country to provide important and potentially lifesaving hygiene information to help prevent the spread of cholera.

The January earthquake not only left thousands of newly disabled Haitians without legs and arms, it also completely destroyed one of the most important rehabilitation clinics in Haiti designed to provide long-term specialized care. The American Red Cross and ICRC are now helping to fund the reconstruction of this rehab clinic and its workshop and training facilities.

INDIA: Indian journalists have been taking part in a competition organized by the ICRC and the Press Institute of India, encouraging people in the media to understand humanitarian values and promoting high-quality reporting on the topic.

PHILIPPINES and INDONESIA: University students took part in international humanitarian law moot court competitions organized, in part, by the ICRC.


GLOSSARY:

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

Check In On Foursquare When You Donate Blood!

Smartphone user? Apparently, this means my phone is "dumb," but for those with more cell phone firepower, today marks the launch of an exciting new foursquare app for blood donors!

For those that don't know, foursquare is a geolocation tool that serves as a friend-finder, social city guide, and a game that challenges users to experience new things such as donating blood. It also rewards them for doing so.

Starting today, you can unlock a special badge on foursquare by “checking in” to your blood donation location and then using a combination of the words “blood” “donate” and “Red Cross” when you “shout” what you’re doing at the “check-in” location. You must use the words “blood” and “Red Cross” along with any form of the word “donate” (i.e. – donate, donated or donating).

For example, a blood donor might walk into a college blood drive, “check-in” to the student center, and then “shout”: “I’m donating blood with the Red Cross” in order to unlock the Red Cross blood donor badge. The donor’s “check-in” and “shout” can also be shared with friends on Facebook and Twitter.

The foursquare app is available for BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android. Go forth, donate, and be rewarded!

Donuts, Dollies, and Dugouts- Oh My!

So, I was minding my own business when a clever thought came to mind…

What one food played the most significant role in Red Cross history?

After a short investigation, I concluded that the food that takes the proverbial “cake” is nothing other than —the DONUT!

Yes, the donut! The symbolism of the donut was quite surprising to me-- this tasty treat was a testament of comfort, relief, and friendship during two significant American wars that Red Cross volunteers served in.

Here are some examples of how donuts have been dunked throughout our history:

“Donut Dollies” played an important role in Vietnam. These were young female college graduates sent by the Red Cross to Southeast Asia who had “a thirst for adventure and a desire to do something real,” as one Donut Dollie recalls. Their mission: to distract US soldiers on the front lines with games, songs and a listening ear. Though they did not actually make donuts for the soldiers, there presence brought "a touch of home" to men serving in combat zones.

“Donut Dugouts” were canteen facilities set up at various locations during World War II where a soldier could pause for a cup of coffee, a donut (Official Red Cross Donut Recipe), and a bit of friendly conversation that offered him a familiar and reassuring connection with home.

Perhaps a little donut dunking will work its way into my agenda today!

Hands Can Do Incredible Things

Some call it "hands only" CPR.

Others call it "compression only."

But no matter what name you use, this simple version saves lives. And here at the Red Cross, we want to teach it to 5 million people by the end of 2011.

In the interest of spreading the word, the Ad Council worked with the American Heart Association to create this PSA (and this one, too). I love it...what do you think?

P.S. Want a slightly longer (2.5 minutes vs. 30 seconds), yet just as cool, tutorial about compression-only CPR? Check this out.

Man Discovers Clara Barton's (Haunted?) Post-Civil War Office

Yes, that's right. The Clara Barton - founder of the American Red Cross.

They were planning to tear down the old vacant building at 437 1/2 7th St. in Washington, D.C. when the U.S. General Services Administration sent in a carpenter named Richard Lyons to check the place out before demolition.

But when he got there, strange things started to happen. Strange things that led him to discover some of Clara Barton's artifacts - her office sign, documents, and even some clothing. Turns out this was the office where she ran her missing persons bureau after the Civil War.

I'm totally not making this up! Watch the official video on the GSA.gov! You get to see the office and some of the old artifacts - plus hear Richard tell the spooky story of how he made the discovery.

A Little Background
Knowing that the Civil War would result in thousands of missing persons and separated families, Clara began writing down the names of the soldiers she'd seen wounded or killed on the battlefield. Her plan was to open a government office where people could inquire about missing soldiers and she could publish her lists of names. At first the government didn't respond to her requests to set up a missing persons bureau... until President Lincoln himself got wind of the idea. He helped Barton convince the War Department to give her a small office (the one Richard discovered!) with a few staff members.

From 1865 to 1869, Barton's missing persons bureau tracked down more than 22,000 missing soldiers, gave out almost 100,000 printed missing persons lists and anwered nearly 63,000 inquiries.

She went on to found the American Red Cross.

P.S. We wrote a short history of Clara Barton's awesome accomplishments a few years ago.

P.P.S. Thank you, Wendy, for sharing the GSA post!

2010 Civil War Update

We are now half-way through the Civil War Blood Drive Campaign. The counted ballots so far have the Beavs with a slight lead, 2,073 to 1,491. However, don't let those numbers convince you the Beavs are going to win.

I just returned from a week at the OSU campus drive, which tends to be the regions largest drive. An amazing 1,072 units of blood were collected over four days, and a region record for double red collections, with 40 successful procedures on Wednesday alone (on six setups). Double red donation involves a centrifuge that takes roughly twice the quantity of red blood cells of a normal whole donation, but returns the platelets and plasma. Having this drive earlier in the campaign tends to give the Beavs an early lead.

It sounds like a lot, yet next week is the University of Oregon campus drive! The Duck drive only brought in about 200 units of blood a few years ago, however the challenge from the Beavs has been heard- 604 units were collected last year and this year a fifth day is being added (Monday). The UO Alumni Association is stepping up to the challenge as well, with special events and activities to rally students and alumni.

Don't forget- the campaign is state-wide. You can vote for your favorite team at any area blood drive now through November 20th. As the final days near, keep track of the competition at www.civilwarblooddrive.com and spread the word!

Friday Photo: Train Track Spaghetti

Occasionally on Fridays we like to post an amazing photo we've either spotted or taken.

Today's photo via gadget blog Gizmodo: train tracks turned into spaghetti by an earthquake in New Zealand. Gizmodo calls it "a reminder of just how incredibly powerful the physical forces underneath our shoes are."

And that makes me wonder... how prepared are we Oregonians for The Big One? According to this Oregon Business article, Portland isn't ready.

Are you?

Maybe our earthquake safety checklist will help you get started.

[Photo found via the national Red Cross blog. Thanks, Wendy!]

Get Crafty For A Good Cause

Do you have the day off today for Veteran's Day? Are you sitting at home bored?

Well how about using that free time to get your craft on! Help out with our fourth annual Holiday Mail For Heroes project by making a holiday card for a service member or veteran, and then mailing it to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456

P.S. Need artistic inspiration? Check out some of the cards we made at the office.

Thanks For Making Us Famous, Ride For Red!

Do you remember us blogging on the Ride For Red team, which includes Miss Canada and Olympic bobsledders? They rolled into our Portland office last month and showed us what true superstars are all about. When they arrived, not only did the team allow us to snap some fun photos, but Shannon (AKA Miss Canada) donated blood after an 80 mile day of biking!

The team put together an awesome video of the donation...which you can view below and at this link. For more information on the Ride For Red, please visit:

Ride For Red website – http://www.therideforred.com/
Blog: therideforred.blogspot.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/rideforredORG
Twitter: www.twitter.com/therideforred

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...

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: The ICRC has begun distributing food to 55,000 residents, internally displaced persons and refugees. It's the biggest relief operation the ICRC has ever carried out in the country.

AZERBAIJAN: Earlier this week, acting as a neutral intermediary, the ICRC repatriated an Azerbaijani citizen, formerly interned in Armenia, and the body of an Armenian citizen who had died in Baku in October.

PAKISTAN: Stagnant pools of flood water create a high risk of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever. The ICRC is distributing 200,000 mosquito nets to help prevent the spread of disease.

INDIA: This week, India launched a series of mass measles vaccination campaigns, supported by technical assistance from the American Red Cross and its Measles Initiative partners. In 2008, three out of four children who died from measles were in India. By the end of 2012, the country hopes to have protected 134 million children against this deadly and highly contagious disease. To support the worldwide efforts of the Measles Initiative, visit our holiday gift catalog and make a donation that will save another mother’s child.

GLOSSARY:

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

Foodie Survival Kit

We often remind people to pack foods they like in their emergency kits.

Why? When you're in the midst of upheaval, you don't need to be trying to choke down foods that make you want to upchuck.

Being in a disaster is sort of like getting the flu. Your body is in a state of stress, and that can make it hard for you to digest anything but familiar, comforting flavors.

That's why we kind of like the idea of this Foodie Survival Kit. It's got all the herbs and spices you might need to make emergency food palatable.

Of course, not everyone is a picky foodie. But at the very least, we recommend packing a tiny jar of salt in your disaster kit. Because, as the folks at The Meadow might say, a little bit of salt can go a long way.

Don't Listen to Dwight

I call it the "sleeve sneeze." They call it the "vampire cough." Either way, it's a smart thing to do.

You know what's not a smart thing to do? Generally, anything that Dwight says. Check out this Flu Safety clip from NBC's The Office...

The Race isn't over yet...

On Sunday, local-driver Greg Biffle was quite the sensation in the #16 American Red Cross Ford Fusion at the Texas Motor Speedway. He was often seen at the front of the pack, and finished the race in the outstanding position of #5.



Even though it was the last appearance this season of #16 with the Red Cross Racing design, the Red Cross Racing challenge continues! After donating blood, you can report your donation online for points that can be redeemed for some great Red Cross Racing prizes. If you've already been donating, you have nothing to lose! In addition to the expected prizes of shirts and hats, there are some amazing useful items as well- including pliers, a laptop bag, and even gardening tools.

American Red Cross blood donations from January 16th, 2010 to January 15th, 2011 are eligible, so long as they are reported by January 24th, 2011 and points must be exchanged by January 31st, 2011. For complete rules and details, see www.redcrossracing.com .

Haven't donated yet this year and are eligible? Sign up for an appointment today to join the race!

Photo: Yahoo, #16 American Red Cross Ford leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500

A Little Bit of History

As you know, we Cross Bloggers tend to geek out on vintage stuff - especially if it has anything to do with Red Cross history or disaster safety.

So I wasn't surprised when Lise excitedly texted me a photo of this antique book she found in a thrift store - The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Horror: The Complete Story of the Greatest of American Disasters

Plus, an apparent bonus chapter - Horrors of the Vesuvius Eruption.

Huh?

Not sure why they would throw in the Mt. Vesuvius eruption (AD 79 in Italy) along with the history of a modern day American Earthquake. One of these things is not like the other...

Anyway, the Red Cross wasn't around for the Vesuvius eruption, but we certainly were there for the 1906 earthquake. It was the biggest natural disaster we had yet responded to. If you're interested, here's a little history.

Be "Super" Safe at the Office

Office safety should be taken seriously. This Superman/office safety mashup video... should not.

"Filing cabinets. Harmless looking things, aren't they?" Hahaha...

P.S. Do you really want to maker your office safer? Buy or build your own office disaster kit.

P.P.S. Remember to use code HOLIDAY10 for 20% off if you're shopping our online store this holiday season!

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...

HAITI: As Hurricane Tomas heads toward Haiti, the Red Cross is helping people get ready for the storm and also preparing to respond afterward.

PAKISTAN: Three months since the floods, high waters in the southern province of Sindh still prevent more than 1 million people from returning home. Red Cross and Red Crescent workers from around the world (and right next door) continue to provide aid.

INDONESIA: Red Cross workers are still busy providing food, shelter and water for thousands of evacuees after the double disasters of a tsunami and a volcanic eruption.

SERBIA: Volunteers sprung into action after a 5.3 magnitude earthquake that damaged electricity and water supplies in the city of Kraljevo.

ITALY: Red Crossers are assisting thousands of evacuees who were forced out of their homes when torrential rains caused floods throughout the entire northeast of the country.

GLOSSARY:

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

In Memory of Our Friend John Solomon

This is a hard post to write. Yesterday our good friend John Solomon passed away.

John was an incredibly enthusiastic advocate for emergency preparedness, and we're grateful to have had the pleasure of working with him on a number of projects over the past few years.

John inspired us by using his skills as a journalist, author, and prolific blogger to make the world a better, and safer place.

He stood out, not only because of his huge heart and encyclopedic knowledge about emergency preparedness, but because he encouraged collaboration, creativity, innovation and FUN in a field that can often seem dry and stodgy.

He once said:

If we are to build a more ready, resilient American nation, we need to get more of the public’s heart beating again about preparedness... using creativity and intelligence as well as the emerging social media tools and popular culture.

Like the time he interviewed Grover - yes, THE Grover of Sesame Street - for his "What Should We Tell The Public?" video series (in which he often interviewed emergency management leaders from FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Red Cross among others). Or the way he embraced the use of silly puns like "prepare-aphernalia."

After he started chemotherapy treatment, John became an even more outspoken advocate for blood donation as a part of community emergency preparedess.

In his own words:

While I sit watching the bags drip into my arm in the hospital clinic, I cannot help but think about the people who have taken the time — and weathered the brief poke in the arm — to make sure that someone they didn’t know (like me) would be able to fight leukemia or deal with other of life’s challenges.

John, of course, had been a blood donor himself when he was able. He walked the walk. And he made a positive impact on the world.

On behalf of myself, Lise, and Wendy (and I'm sure everyone else who had the chance to work with him)... we'll miss you John.

Educate yourself about emergency preparedness by browsing John's blog, ingeniously entitled In Case of Emergency, Read Blog.

The Gift of Preparedness

It's that time of year again. Twinkly lights have begun to appear in the department stores, and Jubelale now lines the shelves of grocery coolers across the Northwest...

Yes, holiday season is upon us.

If you're already pondering presents for friends and family, consider giving the gift of preparedness.

Get them a starter kit, an emergency radio, a pocket knife, a safety tube, or any number of other prepare-aphernalia.

Chances are these are things they'd never buy for themselves, but they will appreciate having. (My friends thought it was super cool when I gave them all safety tubes one year.)

Oh, and we've created a special discount code just for you! During November and December, buy your gifts using code HOLIDAY10 and get a 20 percent discount on your purchase.

There you go. There's your one-stop shopping. Now you can just relax for the rest of the season. Your only holiday decision left to make? Which kind of pie to eat first. Mmm... pie....

photo via MarcinMoga / Lolek