Prepare-aphernalia: 5 of the 10 Essentials in the Palm of Your Hand

Speaking of the New Year and compact preparedness gadgets, I bring you our final "prepare-aphernalia" find of 2010...

I'm going skiing for New Year's Eve, and I have to admit that I kind of wish I had one of these handy multi-gadgets with me: the Adventure Medical Kits SOL Origin™

It's prepare-aphernalia for the outdoor adventurer - packaging five of the Ten Essentials of preparedness for outdoor adventurers into one pocket-size, waterproof case.

According to Adventure Medical Kits' website, the SOL Origin™ includes:

..everything you need to survive outdoors longer! Fire Lite striker emits a powerful shower of sparks to light tinder quickly. Directional compass helps you get back to civilization. With the combination knife, light, whistle, fire striker and fire starter you have 5 of the ten essentials in the palm of your hand.

Plus the case flips open to reveal a Rescue Flash signal mirror that can help rescuers find you if you get lost on the mountain.

At $50 I'd say it sounds like a worthwhile investment for any outdoorsy Oregonian.

Last Chance for Tax Deductions

I'm not really a numbers person, but I have several accountant friends. They say it's good to get your charitable giving in before the New Year. That way you can claim it on this year's tax deductions.

I prefer to think of it as a way to squeeze in one more heartwarming good deed before the holiday season comes to a close.

Whatever your reasons for giving, this is just a reminder: Tomorrow is your last opportunity in 2010 to send your donation to the Red Cross. (I believe my accounting buddies say it has to be "mailed by" tomorrow.)

If you want to be sure to meet the deadline, you can donate at OregonRedCross.org/HelpNow

And thank you for your awesome support - whether it's reading, re-tweeting, volunteering, donating, or whatever else - throughout the year.

photo via Moe-

The Donor with an 'Iron Heart'

Donating blood is a rewarding and emotional experience, as you embrace the knowledge that your donation is going off to help save lives. On the other side, there are many recipients with their own stories and in desperate need of blood. One of those recipients was Brian Boyle, whom in 2004 was severely injured after a dump truck plowed into his vehicle after swim practice. He lost 60% of his blood and had to be placed in a medically-induced coma. Miraculously, he recovered with the help of 36 blood transfusions. The experience will always be close to his thoughts, and he wrote a book about the ordeal called "Iron Heart".

Years later, Brian has been making national news in giving back. The holiday season in particular is tough for the American Red Cross, with so many people off on vacation and adverse weather keeping people from donating. Brian is giving back by hosting a large series of blood drives named after his book throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. This is the second year of the Iron Heart blood drives, which are likely to beat last years' 16 drives that collected 1,116 units of blood. His youthful voice and story are of particular importance given that schools are often out for the Holiday break, that typically represent 20% of total donations. The Greater Chesapeake & Potomac Blood Services region has honored him the past two years as Spokesman of the Year, and he is featured in national advertising campaigns (as pictured above).

Hosting a blood drive is easier than you might think, and can be of great help in opening a new audience to the idea of donation. The number one reason people don't donate blood is because they haven't been asked, and hosting a drive is a great way to pose that question. Learn more by clicking here!

You can learn more about Brian Boyle, what he went through, his work with the American Red Cross, and his book at http://brianboyle.wordpress.com/.

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...

Côte d’Ivoire: The situation in Côte d'Ivoire following the recent presidential elections is becoming increasingly tense. Red Cross workers have been helping the wounded, visiting prisoners and restoring contact between family members.

SUDAN: Darfur, an area of Sudan that has been affected by armed conflict since 2004, is almost as big as Spain. It has only one rehabilitation center where people in need of a mobility device can get assistance - supported by the ICRC.

YEMEN and GUANTANAMO BAY: For the first time, families in Yemen and their relatives detained at the US facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been able to communicate via video-teleconference, using a new service made available by the ICRC.

ARMENIA and AZERBAIJAN: Three times over the past year, the ICRC has been instrumental in the handing over of ex internees and mortal remains between Armenia, Nagorny Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

NIGER: To help ease the consequences of the serious crisis in food production and livestock raising, nearly a million head of cattle will be vaccinated as part of a vast campaign conducted by the country's ministry of animal resources with support from the ICRC.

PAKISTAN: Volunteers from the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, IFRC and their partners are handing out thousands of winterized shelter kits to help families affected by the recent floods survive the harsh winter.

GLOSSARY:

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

VIDEO: Blizzard Timelapse

Wow.

December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.

Sure, this is timelapse, but still...severe weather can hit pretty quickly. Get winter weather safety tips, see what the Red Cross is doing back east, and learn how one state's Mayor is trying to help from the Twittersphere.

Prepare-aphernalia: Turn Your Trunk Into A Motorhome

If you drive a car frequently, we hope you at least keep a basic preparedness kit (maybe even a highway kit) in your trunk. But if you want to step your preparedness level up a notch - or rather several notches - we've found an amazing piece of prepare-aphernalia for you...

100 years after the invention of the Swiss Army Knife, a new incredible, foldable, compact, gadget-packed contraption has made it's debut. It's called the swissRoomBox, and it's basically an entire motorhome that folds up and fits inside the trunk of your car.

Provided you have a hatchback. (And, if you're an Oregonian, there's a good chance you do.)

Like a Transfomer, the swissRoomBox can unfold and reform itself to become many different things - a sink, a shower, a bed, a table, and even a stove top range. Basically, it offers nearly complete self-sufficiency. Which would be handy if you ever find yourself stranded in your vehicle.

At a little over $8,000 it's a significant investment, but much less than an actual motorhome. Now who wants to buy one and invite me to go camping with them?

The Coolest Commemorative Item Ever

Can something commemorate a natural disaster and be TOTALLY AWESOME?

The answer is yes.

If you couldn't tell from the image, this is a genuine Jim Beam bourbon whiskey bottle, SHAPED LIKE MOUNT ST. HELENS.

Y0u may have seen similarly decorative bottles in your local thrift store (for example, I have a lovely pastel totem pole in my kitchen). But I'm pretty sure you've never seen one like this.

If the shape alone weren't enough, perhaps the fact that it contains genuine St. Helens ash is tempting. Or that it's available from the fabulous Community Warehouse for just $6-$10.

If you're a disaster aficionado, you want this on your mantel. Or maybe I do. Seriously. I think I'm buying this. You better beat me to it!

Saving the Galaxy One Pint at a Time

On January 1, 2011, the Red Cross will host an epic battle between the ultimate galaxy warriors: Stormtroopers vs. Klingons! Blood and platelet donors from the greater Portland area will be called upon to choose their side in the intergalactic showdown!

This first annual galaxy blood drive will take place New Year’s Day at the Portland Donor Center and will run from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. On site and available for photo opportunities will be members of “The 501st Legion: Vader’s Fist” and “The Klingon Assault Group (KAG).”

Every presenting donor will cast their ballot for the Stormtroopers or the Klingons, and the side with the most votes will walk away with the Galaxy Drive Trophy! In addition, donors will be given buttons (like the above graphic, plus Star Wars/Star Trek only styles), shirts and can enter into a drawing to receive one of several gifts, including: a one-night stay at the Columbia Gorge hotel, a “Tauntaun” sleeping bag, two $25 gift certificates from Gartner’s Meat Market, a Mary Kay package and more.

To participate, here’s how it works:
1. Call (503) 284-4040 to register as a donor for the “Saving the Galaxy One Pint at a Time” blood drive on January 1, 2011. Donor appointments are not required, but are preferred.
2. All interested participants can also register online by visiting www.redcrossblood.org. Please use the sponsor code “stardrive” to register for the “Saving the Galaxy One Pint at a Time” blood drive on the Internet.

Blood donors must be at least 16 years old (16 year-olds require a signed Red Cross parental consent form) and meet minimum height and weight requirements.

Galaxy domination is yours for the taking! ...Whose side are you on?

It's Never Too Late For Giving

Your Xmas shopping time is dwindling quickly, but we've got a gift suggestion that will work right up until the very, very last minute.

It's not too late to choose something from our online Holiday Giving Catalog – and send an e-card to let your recipients know the meaningful gift you gave in their name.

Any year-end gift you give right now will help save the day for someone in need whenever disaster strikes. You'll bring true meaning to the season, in the form of real relief like food, shelter, and other critical assistance – for children, families and neighbors down the street, across the country and around the world.

Happy holidays from all of us here in Portland!

VIDEO: Holiday Mail Delivered

A giant thank you to the countless people who participated in our Holiday Mail for Heroes program! Now these injured service men (and women!) are receiving well wishes and thanks, just in time for the holidays...

VIDEO: Building A Family Preparedness Kit

This prepared mama has M&Ms in her disaster kit...and a whole lot more. What about you?

Why the Heck Should I Give to the Red Cross?

I've been playing around on this new Red Cross website all morning, whyshouldigive.org. It's not so much a game, but it gives you different reasons that the Red Cross is an amazing cause worth giving to.

The facts range from general, the Red Cross responded to 550 fires in the Phoenix area last year to obscure, Elvis was a Red Cross supporter and donated blood while in the army.

After reading the facts, there's an option for you to click to donate. It's a fun way to find out more about the Red Cross and donate any amount from $1 to whatever your heart desires. Check it out!

PHOTO: Alien Mothership Or Thundercloud?

For your Friday afternoon, I give you the coolest weather photo I've ever seen, all credit to Sean Heavey.

Check out all of Sean's truly incredible images and learn more about the "supercell" here.

(And, of course, stay safe in a thunderstorm with these handy tips!)

Prepare-aphernalia: A Sleeping Bag Coat

A hat tip to our colleague Nathan down in Eugene who sent us this one...

A Detroit art student has designed the Elements S[urvival] coat - a versatile, super-warm garment that doubles as a sleeping bag. She intends it to be used by people currently experiencing homelessness, but we think it could potentially be useful to anyone who loses their home to a disaster. In other words, a great piece of prepare-aphernalia to have in your emergency kit.

It's currently in the prototype phase so you can't buy one just yet, but it sounds like production will be getting started soon. We're looking forward to the day when this ingenious piece of clothing hits the commercial market.

A popular television game show featuring the American Red Cross tonight.

What is....Jeopardy?

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Okay, there may not be any 'Dings' but classic quiz shows get these trivia nerds excited.

That's why we'll be parked in front of the boob tube tonight at 7:00pm.

Jeopardy's own Clue Crew paid a visit to the Red Cross in Washington D.C., recorded video clues for tonight's show and then donated blood!

Even if you aren't a fan of Jeopardy you may learn something new about the Red Cross.

And then you can be like us and quiz your friends and co-workers at random. What, that's not fun?

The Perfect Gift.

‎'Tis the season and everyone's searching for that perfect gift. It's about discounts, bargains and savings. But what are we really saving?

If just 10% of people in the U.S. gave blood this holiday season, up to 32.4 million lives could be saved. Do more than save money this year...donate the perfect gift and help save a life!

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...

ISRAEL: Emergency medical personnel were there to support the response operation and to treat the medical problems of the fire fighters, police officers, soldiers and volunteers during last week's major wildfire.

NIGERIA: The ICRC and the Nigerian Red Cross Society are providing protection and assistance for people affected by the violent clashes between Nigerian security forces and the John Togo group in Warri, Delta state, and neighboring communities.

HAITI: Despite widespread civil unrest and political protests in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince last week, Red Cross ambulances were busy transporting patients to hospitals and cholera treatment centers around the country.

SUDAN: The ICRC working in cooperation with the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, has launched the latest phase of a campaign to vaccinate 700,000 animals against five major endemic diseases in Darfur.

PAKISTAN: The IFRC has launched a pilot project that will see 3,100 seed packages handed out to families in the Larkana and Hyderabad regions of Sindh to help them replant crops that were lost in the recent floods.

GLOSSARY:

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

Photo Frenzy!

Our Flickr site has blown up with all of the latest Red Cross action! If you've been following the blog, you know that Blood Services hosted multiple Thanksgiving Day blood drives in Vancouver, Salem and Portland. All were incredibly successful...and Portland's drive was calculated as the largest ever accomplished at the donor center!

Also, our Regional CEO for Blood Services went out to celebrate years of support with Ben and Jerry's at our latest "Pint For Pint" drive (see photo above). With last Saturday's drive marking the most recent partnership, the scoop shop has donated nearly 900 pints of ice cream! We can't begin to say how much we appreciate their help!

Drives like these help the Red Cross make it through the challenging winter months, when many people require blood, and when more donors tend to be too busy, out of town or sometimes too ill to contribute. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or schedule a donation online, and check out the rest of the photos on our Flickr site!

Aumsville Tornado

Things are so busy around here that I'm just going to post a few links:

Updates on our tornado response

Tornado safety tips

Photo set from tornado

Quick video clip of shelter supplies arriving

Donate to the Oregon Red Cross

On Being A Volunteer In Rural Oregon

"When the local Red Cross volunteer arrives at the scene, their goal is to assess the situation, provide comfort and immediate assistance to the family in the form of shelter, food, clothing and mental health aid. Most of all, their job is to help that family regain a sense of safety.

[In Northeastern Oregon] All of this service is provided by less than 15 dedicated core disaster volunteers. Yep, you read that right, less than 15 people provide this remarkable service.

It is with great privilege that I have been given the opportunity to serve with all these local disaster volunteers. Having been a volunteer for the American Red Cross for more than 10 years in many different chapters, I can say that being a volunteer in rural Oregon has been the most rewarding."

Read the whole Hermiston Herald article from Oregon volunteer, Mike Mathisen

Why I Want Today's w00t!

I have three dream jobs.

1. Writing for the Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer.

2. Writing for Groupon Portland.

3. Writing for w00t!

The writing for all three is catchy, engaging, fun and more than a little bit ridiculous, which is right up my alley. Take, for example, today's pitch from w00t, which may be my favorite of all time. Reprinted in full, 'cuz it's that awesome.

-----------

AND NOW A COMPLETELY IRRATIONAL, FEAR-BASED SALES PITCH.

Go ahead: tell yourself you can’t afford to buy more junk.

‘Tis the season for holiday shopping and with it, shopping fatigue. It gets harder to convince yourself to splurge on cheap, battery-powered junk you probably won’t use and easier to say, “maybe my plan of going into indentured servitude to Visa wasn’t such a great idea.”

Well how are you going to say no to a First Alert ONELINK Wireless Smoke Alarm 2-Pack?

“Oh, it doesn’t even make a good present!” You know what makes a good present? LIVING THROUGH A CATASTROPHIC FIRE. “I don’t know, we’re already over our holiday budget!” Try not having a budget BECAUSE YOUR HOUSE BURNED DOWN! “Look, I just wanted an iPod for my kid.” You know what your kid wants? TO AWAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO A HARSH BEEPING SOUND AND NOT THE FEELING OF FLAMES ROARING OVER THEIR BODIES AS THEY SHRIEK “OH NO, WHERE IS MY MOMMY? WHERE IS MY DADDY? IT’S LIKE I’M MELTING! MY NEW IPOD DIDN’T WARN ME OF THE FIRE CONSUMING OUR HOME!”

So just to make it easy, if you DON’T want to buy these smoke alarms, just check the box marked “I don’t value the safety of my home and worldly possessions or the lives of my loved ones.” Go ahead. Blame it on the holidays. IF YOU DARE.

Pick up your smoke alarms NOW.

Walking Tall with My Superhero Tool Belt

When I was an innocent, tiny teen, my friend and I decided to take a women’s self defense class at our local community center. Although we were being educated at a small all girls Catholic school (read: sheltered), we were privy to a more modern world and wanted to arm ourselves in a more physical way than what was usually expected of a lady.

At class, we were taught the importance of standing tall, walking confidently and the power of a strong “NO!” And, yes, we were taught to hit ‘em right where it hurts. Kapow! I left that short three hour class walking taller and feeling stronger. As my dear mom would say, "It's great to have that under your belt!". Although it was unlikely I could take down a 300 pound man with one blow to the throat (or the Joker for that matter), I felt prepared for whatever was coming my way.

Today, I completed my training in Adult CPR/First Aid and AED, and many of the same feelings from my self defense class have been reignited. If my diabetic best friend faints, I know just what to do. If a stranger at the market appears to be having a stroke, I know just what to do. If my backpacking companion is burned by a camp stove, I know just what to do. Not only do I know what to do, I have enough knowledge of these skills to be confident enough to execute them. Now, I've got that under my belt.

These days I’m no longer innocent but I am still tiny (read: underestimated) so I feel the need to pack my sacred Superhero tool belt to the brim. I continue to carry the skills I learned in self defense class all those years ago and now I get to add my certified life saving skills. Now more than ever, I feel prepared to take on the world.

Have you stocked your Superhero tool belt?

C’mon. Take the class. Click below.

Get Trained

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

From the Big Picture Blog...

"Fire from a fireplace consumes a staged room during a holiday safety live fire demonstration on December 9, 2010 in Menlo Park, California. The Menlo Park fire department held their annual holiday safety demonstration to promote fire safety during the holidays. Demonstrations using live fire showed how quickly fires can consume a home when a dry Christmas tree comes in contact with fire or candles are left unattended. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)"

Home fires are the most common disaster we respond to here at the Oregon Red Cross, and the frequency picks up noticeably around the holidays. I don't have the recent stats on hand, but I do know the folks working our fire desk here at the Portland office have been especially busy these past few weeks.

Nationally, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 47,000 fires occur during the winter holidays claiming more than 500 lives, causing more than 2,200 injuries, and costing $554 million in property damage.

Eek!

We want you to have a safe and happy holiday season. So here are a few simple holiday fire safety tips:

• Place Christmas trees, candles, and other holiday decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles.
• Purchase flame retardant metallic or artificial trees. If you purchase a real tree, make sure that it has fresh, green needles that aren’t easily broken. Keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water.
• Make sure that light strings and other holiday decorations are in good condition. Do not use anything with frayed electrical cords and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Always unplug tree and holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree. Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
• Use only sturdy tree stands designed not to tip over. Keep curious pets and children away from Christmas trees.
• Keep anything that can catch on fire—pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove top.
• Designate one person to walk around your home to make sure that all candles and smoking materials are properly extinguished after guests leave.
• Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.

More fire safety tips here.

Believe It Or Not

Check out the lower panel on this Ripley's Believe It Or Not comic...

Incredible, huh? How lucky that the delivery guy knew CPR!

But here at the Red Cross we don't want to just bank on luck. We want to educate 5 million people in Citizen CPR (aka "hands-only") before the end of 2011 so that there's a better chance your delivery guy (or neighbor, or friend, or hairdresser, etc.) will have the skills to help save your life.

It's not full CPR certification, but performing hands-only, Citizen CPR is better than doing nothing at all. And if more people are empowered to help save a life (without worrying about mouth-to-mouth contact), that's a good thing.

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...

COLOMBIA: Floods have affected more than 1.5 million people. The Colombian Red Cross has given food, emergency shelter, water, and other aid to hundreds of thousands and plans to intensify its operation in the affected regions.

IRAQ/KUWAIT: In its capacity as a neutral and impartial intermediary, the ICRC continues to support the authorities in their efforts to find out what happened to over a thousand people still missing in connection with the 1990-1991 war.

NEPAL: In connection with efforts to resolve cases of missing persons in Nepal, the ICRC and the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, with technical support from an Argentine forensics anthropology team, jointly organized a four-day workshop on forensics.

GUINEA-BISSAU: Some 30 volunteers of the Red Cross Society of Guinea-Bissau from various parts of the country, together with nurses working in emergency services in the capital's hospitals, are taking part in an advanced workshop on first aid.

INDIA: The ICRC, with support from the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (an organization run by the Indian Red Cross society of Dimapur) has re-launched a physical rehabilitation center in Dimapur, Nagaland.

EUROPE: Red Cross teams are responding to extreme weather across Europe.

GLOSSARY:

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

Facebook+Clorox=$ for the Red Cross

What's the coolest thing that Clorox has done since color-safe bleach?

I may be biased, but I'd say it's their support of the Red Cross. For more than 20 years, Clorox has supported the Red Cross's disaster efforts financially and through product donations.

Now Clorox is helping us raise money through Facebook, but we need your help! You can visit the Clorox Facebook Page and click on the yellow "start helping" icon. Clorox has pledged $1 for every click.

Next time you log in to Facebook, find the page of the company that has kept your whites so white all these years, and take a moment to click the link.

Thank you all for your support!

Earthquake Etiquette

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

Would I survive an earthquake?

A few minutes ago, the answer to my question was-- ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Here's the deal- being from Miami, the word "earthquake" has always meant "some mythological natural disaster that never happens in Florida so why worry about it" type of event. It dawned on me that I had virtually NO IDEA how to survive when the BIG earthquake hits PDX, so I figured I better get crackin' (oh my-- bad puns!) and learn the tricks and trades to avoiding an early demise.

After a little research, I discovered that there are 3 steps to take if an earthquake hits:

Step ONE- Survive!!!
Step TWO- Support myself- mostly so that I don't annoy my neighbors
Step THREE- Try to be useful-- again, so I don't annoy my neighbors

I figured I would start with Step ONE and ask four of my most trusted compadres here at OTC how they would survive. Here's the feedback-

Lise- (my fellow blogger) taught me to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On". Since "stop, drop, and roll" has come in handy for me, I figured I would take the advice of a native Portlander. Apparently, I am supposed to find something to hide under and then find something stable to hold on to. I have now organized UNDER my desk to contain items that will be useful to pass the time while the earth is shaking-- comic books, carrot sticks, and a balloon.

Dave- (the Health & Safety Guru) suggested that I find an interior wall, put my back to it, and put on my hard hat. "Hard hats are great," Dave suggested, "sometimes I just wear mine when it's a busy day." In my opinion, anyone who keeps a hard hat in their office is someone that I need to know-- and listen to. Unfortunately, all I have at my desk is a sombrero, which comes in handy for Mariachi sneak attacks (we've all had them), but not natural disasters.

Francisco- (the coolest diversity dude on the planet) said one phrase-- POP-TARTS! That's right... Pop-Tarts can save a life. Here's why- their shelf life rivals that of a twinky, they taste good, and you can eat them cold.

Maighie- (the breathe of the AmeriCorps Vista Sista-hood) reminded me that I'm probably going to care about other people when the earthquake hits, so I need to come up with a Safety Point. My first mission is to find people to meet up with. Then I have to figure out where to meet them. Then I'll have to figure out how to get there. Anyone looking for safety point buddy?

For more tips, check out OTC's amazing Earthquake Safety Checklist for more suggestions on how to be ready!

Prepare-aphernalia: Buckle Up

There's not much fashionable preparedness gear out there.

Sure, there's a bra that saves lives and a vest for our furry friends. But most things are just conceptual or prototypes, like this amazing parka from my favorite art exhibit ever.

But today I get to tell you about a piece of prepare-aphernalia that's actually available for purchase, would look great on a guy or a girl, and is a great addition to your fashion-forward disaster kit.

This sweet belt from six eight six ventures into multi-tool territory with a buckle that contains Philips and flathead screwdrivers, an adjustable wrench loop and -- most important -- a bottle opener. Not girly enough? Ladies, your version can be found here.

Sure, a real multi-tool (like this one) is more useful overall, but you never know where you might run into an emergency and, if you're wearing pants (which I sincerely hope you are), you'll likely have this right around your waist.

Prices come in at around $55 and are available in a variety of places online.

Free Ice Cream at Ben and Jerry's "Pint for Pint" Drive!

It's that time of year again! No, not for the holidays...for the Red Cross "Pint For Pint" Blood Drive! This Saturday, December 11th, the Red Cross and Ben and Jerry's are teaming up again to reward presenting donors with a free pint of ice cream!

This event will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at Ben and Jerry’s Hawthorne Scoop Shop in Portland, located at 1420 SE 36th Avenue.

Because Ben and Jerry's Scoop Shop has been such an awesome blood drive sponsor (by giving away almost 800 pints of ice cream), our CEO of the PNW Blood Services Region will also be presenting an award at the Hawthorne location!

To participate, call (503) 528-5603 to register as a blood donor for the “Pint for Pint” drive. Donor appointments are not required, but are preferred. All interested participants can also register online at this link: http://bit.ly/fbjswc

Last Call for Mail for Heroes

When I was a kid, I loved holiday projects. We made paper stockings, Rudolph Christmas tree ornaments, and of course, holiday greetings cards for soldiers and the elderly.

The Red Cross partnered with the Pitney Bowes Foundation to give us an opportunity to relive this childhood memory or share a memory with your own children while brightening the holidays of soldiers and their families. We are collecting and dispersing holiday cards among our armed forces.

The cards give people, young and old, a chance to show appreciation to soldiers and brighten the day of someone who may be spending the holidays alone in a hospital or fighting for our country.

The cards must be postmarked by December 10. The deadline is approaching, so take some time to sit down and make some cards. They can be sent to:

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

Must See TV: A Message of Hope

CCTV (Capital Community Television) in Salem has a few new stars! Our pals at the Willamette chapter of the American Red Cross have joined a slew of other local non-profits recording greetings for the holidays.

While some of the non-profit groups got creative with porcupine puppets and a capella perfomances, the Red Cross team decided to keep it simple - delivering an important message of hope for this holiday season...

Good job, guys!

Friday Final Cut

It's Friday, and I once again find myself with a plethora of stories. So here's your final cut...everything that I want to share, but don't have time to blog.

Enjoy!

• This video shows just how Thanksgiving housefires happen.
  
  
• Wanna see what's lurking in the next room? A glass doorknob protects you from fire, zombies.
  
  
• They're HOT! A map of disaster hot zones around the world.
  
  
• 6 deadly injuries that you THINK you'd survive, thanks to movies.
  
  
• Your chance to vote for the Red Cross to win $200,000...no donation required!

Ice Ice Baby...

Love hockey? Love ice-skating? Most importantly…love free stuff?

On Wednesday, December 15, 2010, the Clark County Donor Center is hosting the Mountain View Ice Arena blood drive...just in time for winter weather! The Clark County Donor Center is located at 5109 NE 82nd Avenue, 98662 in Vancouver, Washington. The drive will run from 1:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

Each presenting blood donor can choose between a complimentary coupon for free admission and skate rental to the Mountain View Ice Arena OR free tickets to see the River City Jaguars versus the Eugene Generals on January 9, 2011!

To schedule your appointment, or for more information, please contact: Darren Goan (Red Cross) at 360-989-2921 or Bob Knoerl (Mountain View Ice Arena) at 360-869-8700.

Are you new to the blood donation process? Check out this video link to find out more!

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...

SWITZERLAND: The ICRC is set to play host, for the first time ever, to a conference on international standards for law enforcement.

SUDAN: As the referendum in South Sudan approaches, the ICRC is stepping up preparations for possible humanitarian emergencies.

CAMBODIA: Hundreds of people lost their lives in a stampede at last week's Water Festival. The Cambodia Red Cross has been assisting with medical aid, psychosocial support and helping people search for missing loved ones.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO: A campaign to vaccinate 3.6 million people against polio got underway last week and has so far reached over 2 million people.

GLOSSARY:

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

Pay It Forward Today

Today is pretty cool...let me tell you why.

Reason One: Many of you may have seen the movie or read the book “Pay It Forward”, a story about a young boy who did three good deeds for others in need. In return, all the kid wanted was for them to pass on the good deed to three other people and keep the cycle going.

Well, today is Pay It Forward Day! While one good deed might not seem like much, if everyone did something good for someone else, then the cycle of generosity and kindness can spark us to become better people. This is easy to do at the Red Cross, where you can give blood, volunteer, learn life-saving skills and even respond to an emergency.

Reason Two: Today is also World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day is all about raising awareness to tackle HIV prejudice and help stop the spread of HIV. The Red Cross is a huge partner in the fight to control and educate on AIDS.

The Public Health Education Division of the Red Cross educates people on how to stop the transmission of HIV, encourages people to respond in informed ways to people who have HIV, and helps people apply the facts about HIV to their own behavior.

Additionally, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have come together to combat HIV through a global alliance, with the resolve to do much more and much better in our collective endeavor against this epidemic. This commitment to scale-up is linked to specific and measurable targets to double, by 2010, the magnitude of our quality HIV programming in prevention, treatment, care and support, and in tackling stigma and discrimination.

Between "paying it forward" and supporting a global effort to reduce mortality from HIV, I think today is definitely worth celebrating.

Graphic courtesy of successinhr.com

Attention Filmmakers

MOFILM, a global film-making community, invited the Red Cross to participate in a video competition where aspiring filmmakers can create videos for big brands and social causes. The competition gives both amateur and professional filmmakers a chance to get noticed AND win a trip to Barcelona!

Interested filmmakers (ages 16+) should create a TV public service announcement to "inspire, challenge, and motivate" people to give despite our stagnant economy. The organization challenges filmmakers to create a breath-taking, powerful and humorous :30 or :60 film. The films will be judged 50% on originality and creativity and 50% on adherence to the assignment.

This is an excellent opportunity to donate your time and skills to the Red Cross...and you may even get a monetary reward. In addition to the Grand Prize of $8,000 and a trip to Barcelona, there are cash prizes for 4 runners up. We also may use the winning entry for a Red Cross Campaign. The competition ends January 31, so don't delay.

Good luck and happy filming!