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...

LIBYA: Libyan refugees in Tunisia and people displaced within Libya itself are returning to their homes in many areas in the Jebel Nefusa including Jadu, Nalut and Zintan where the ICRC distributed 3,000 hygiene parcels and some 18,000 cans of food to returnees.

HORN OF AFRICA: Today, The American Red Cross announced an additional $1.7 million contribution toward the ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa. This additional pledge was made because despite widespread relief efforts in the region, massive humanitarian needs persist, with 12 million people impacted by three years of crippling drought.

BANGLADESH: The IFRC launched an appeal for 1.3 million Swiss francs to provide emergency relief to support 50,000 people affected by the widespread floods in Bangladesh. The American Red Cross has contributed $50,000 to the cause.

USA: Thousands of Red Cross disaster workers are working in the major relief operation along the eastern seaboard launched by the American Red Cross to help people in the path of Hurricane Irene.


GLOSSARY:

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

Pint for Pint Ice Cream Blood Drives!

The Red Cross and Ben & Jerry’s team up for a cool deal! All American Red Cross blood and platelet donors in Washington and Oregon who make a donation appointment between September 1 and September 7, 2011 will receive a coupon for a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream when they check-in to donate*.

The ice cream coupon can be presented at any participating grocery store or Ben & Jerry’s participating store. This is a sweet deal because you can help save a life and try one of Ben & Jerry’s well-known flavors like Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia or Chubby Hubby.

On a more serious note, this campaign falls on the heels of Hurricane Irene and the Red Cross is urging immediate blood and platelet donations in areas unaffected by the storm. The blood supply was already low before the storm and Irene has already caused the cancellation of more than 60 blood drives resulting in a shortfall of more than 2,100 donations over the past few days. These numbers are expected to go up due to power outages and storm damage in many areas.

"Our community relies heavily on volunteer blood donors. That reliance is even stronger during the summer months, around holidays, and with unforeseen events like Hurricane Irene. Needs often rise during these times and many people feel too busy to give blood. In order to raise donation levels around the Labor Day holiday, we are offering this special pint-for-a-pint promotion. It's our cool way of thanking folks who make time to donate during this important time." Steve Stegeman, Pacific Northwest Regional CEO.

The Red Cross wants donors to know that it is necessary to make an appointment to receive a coupon for their pint of ice cream. Coupons are subject to availability and must fall within the dates of September 1 and September 7, 2011, so call to make your appointment today.

*(While supplies last. Coupons can be redeemed at participating Ben & Jerry’s stores or participating grocery stores.)

Could it happen here? - Hurricanes

The Southeast has an extensive history of hurricanes, yet this past weekend we witnessed Irene move farther north and affect cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Boston. Hurricanes form in the Pacific too, and could they travel to Oregon?

While hurricanes are a regular occurrence off the pacific coast of Mexico and around Hawaii, there has been only one recorded tropical storm (a level below 'hurricane' status) to have landed on the US west coast, and that was in 1939 at Long Beach, California. The reason for this is from how hurricanes form and are fueled.

Hurricanes (North Atlantic/ Northeast Pacific) and Typhoons (Northwest Pacific) are both 'Tropical Cyclones', formed when energy is released by the condensation of moisture in rising air. They are 'tropical' because this occurs with warmer water, as seen in the tropics during hurricane season. If strong enough, this activity creates the 'eye' at the center which defines a hurricane.

The Northwest isn't exactly spared though, as we encounter a different type of cyclone. 'Extra-tropical cyclones' are formed from temperature contracts higher in the atmosphere, observed as low pressure systems with cold and warm fronts. These cyclones are a defining factor of our everyday weather in the Northwest, and while they are often rather calm in comparison there are exceptions that can create hurricane force winds.

Photo: Van Buren Bridge in Corvallis after the Columbus Day Storm, University of Washington.

Most notably was the Columbus Day storm of 1962. Typhoon Freda traveled across the pacific, and when it entered colder waters became an Extra-Tropical cyclone. It approached Northern California, where it found ideal conditions to form a low-pressure front that resulted in hurricane force winds and intense rainfall. Similar to Irene, it changed direction north to parallel the coast. This delivered extreme conditions across the Oregon coast, until it started to downgrade around Astoria. Power and monitors were knocked out in many areas making it difficult to know the true winds the coast received, however some believe winds of over 170 mph were observed. In the valley, the Morrison Bridge in downtown Portland reported wind gusts up to 116 miles per hour.

It is still important to be prepared for hurricane force winds, even if we don't have hurricanes. As such, we keep general hurricane preparedness tips on our website here.

Irene Recovery: Your Help is Needed

While Hurricane and Tropical Storm Irene has come and gone, the Red Cross and Government Agencies are still working to determine the extent of the damage. The Red Cross has launched one of the largest relief operations in recent memory with millions still without power, many people isolated, and possibly $10 billion worth of flood and wind damage. Restoring power is likely to take weeks, and your support is critical to help the Red Cross work with affected areas and prepare nationwide for future disasters. Here’s how you can get involved and make a difference:

Make a financial donation— The most immediate and direct impact you can make is to donate to the disaster relief fund.

Donate blood— Blood drives on the eastern seaboard are being cancelled due to weather; Help maintain a safe and stable blood supply. Make an appointment now.

Volunteer— Hundreds of trained volunteers have already been deployed, and more may be needed in the future. Sign up today.

Note: At this time the Red Cross is not accepting donated goods. As needs arises, this may change.

Other ways you can get involved:
Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10

Prepare-aphernalia: It's What's For Dinner

A big thanks and shout out to Think Geek for sending former bloggers Lise and Robin a gift package of Tactical Sammiches, a product of (no joke) firearm manufacturer CMMG.

Since Robin and Lise were both too terrified to try out the vaguely Hot Pocket-like shelf-stable meat, they delegated that responsibility to me.

For lunch today, I decided to give it a shot (no pun intended) and try one paired with emergency drinking water (only appropriate).

Was the honey barbecued beef sandwich "disaster kit deliciousness?" By the look on my face...not exactly.

Will it keep you fueled and last forever in your 72-hour kit? Does the tough-looking packaging remind you of zombie preparedness? I think you all know the answer...

Image courtesy of CMMG Inc.

Arks and Auntie Em: East Coast Preparation for the Hurricane

In all of this talk about earthquakes, we've got to mention Hurricane Irene, which is due to hit the East Coast and inland areas in the next couple of days. New York, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina have declared states of emergency.

Best Tip: Get yourself to safety before the storm hits, and then stay inside until it blows over. (LA Times)

"Help Me" Sign: Should you tie one to your roof? I mean it probably takes a whole lot of tarp, paint, and good script to get a helicopter's attention. I don't see why you shouldn't do this. Don't let it take time from securing your property. (FEMA)

Securing Your Property: Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. (FEMA)

Don't Tape Your Windows: Tape does not prevent windows from breaking. (FEMA)

Building an Ark: Although practical for 2 of every species of animals (sans unicorns, velociraptors), an Ark isn't as practical as building a safe room in your basement or an indoor room on the first floor (How to build a safe room).

Read more Hurricane Ready Tips 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...


LIBYA: The ICRC has begun distribution of medical and surgical kits to hospitals in the capital city of Tripoli. The ICRC has had a permanent presence in Tripoli since mid-April of this year.

NORTH KOREA: An emergency appeal has been launched by IFRC to provide supplies of food and non-food relief, shelter materials, clean water and health care to 30,000 people who have been badly affected by storms and floods. The American Red Cross will contribute $50,000 for the international response in North Korea.

SOMALIA: With the opening of the four new feeding programs, Somali Red Crescent feeding centers now cover the whole country, including all areas most affected by malnutrition. Somalia has been in the grip of a severe drought since October 2010.

IRAQ: The ICRC released a film today that highlights the difficulties of Iraqi women who shoulder the burden of caring for their families alone. An estimated one million women struggle to feed their families and continue to depend on outside help.

USA: Hurricane Irene is the first major hurricane of 2011 threatening the East Coast and the American Red Cross is preparing for a full disaster response. The Red Cross urges people to get a three-day supply of water, food that doesn’t require refrigeration, flashlights, a battery-operated radio and a first aid kit. Irene could affect blood collections along the East Coast and The Red Cross is urging those who are eligible to give blood prior to the storm’s arrival.


GLOSSARY:

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

Earthquake Tips: Don't Run Out of the Building

Evacuation is a really interesting concept in earthquakes. Growing up in Southern California we always learned to DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. (FEMA)

Being in an actual earthquake is very different. One earthquake that happened in the middle of the night woke up my entire family who proceeded jump out of bed (no-no), run down the stairs (no-no), and wait under giant tress and powerlines for the earthquake to end (NO-NO-NO).

One key message to take home: Do Not Run Out of the Building in an Earthquake

FEMA SAYS: "Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave."

Yesterday during the 5.9 earthquake that rocked the East Coast, people streamed out of their homes and jobs. It's the biggest earthquake since 1897 on the East Coast and it's scary: (1) You're probably in a tall building, (2) You've never been in an earthquake, and (3) Memories of September 11 popped up faster than New Yorkers thought.

On CNN Health, Nadine Kaslow, professor of psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine said that "People who lived through the attacks of September 11, 2001, in New York and Washington most likely have a low level of fear and anxiety that generally stays in the back of their psychological experience, but can be triggered." (CNN)

It's difficult to apply emergency preparedness skills DURING an emergency, so I suggest you read up on what to do if an earthquake strikes, practice with your loved ones, get ready for anything.

How Americans use Social Tools in Disasters: Infographic

According to two new surveys conducted by the American Red Cross, Americans are relying more and more on social media, mobile technology and online news outlets to learn about ongoing disasters, seek help and share information about their well-being after emergencies. We saw this yesterday in response to the East Coast Quake (including a 'laughter'-shock) and companies are realizing they can take simple steps to help save lives, such as Apple announcing it is going to add earthquake notifications to their next iPhone/iPad operating system in Japan. Below is an infographic with some key findings of the survey-


You can read the complete study results, including methodology, here!

David Douglas High School Football Team "Spreads the Red"

“Football is not just about Xs and Os and wins and losses – it’s character development.” -- David Douglas Assistant Coach Jeff Centroni

Without high school drives in the summer, the Red Cross likes to remind young blood donors just how important their donations are. After encouragement from Coordinator Monica Rush, David Douglas High School in Portland recently decided to bring in their entire football team (plus coaches, honor society members and more) to donate blood for the Red For Life program!

Thirty-six students presented to donate, with 35 of them first-time donors, as well as donations from the coaches and other students in attendance. With a 100% show rate and the push for younger donors in the summer, Monica Rush and the Red Cross are excited to see this idea grow in the future.

“As part of the Red For Life program, I put the challenge out to every school I attend to get their sports teams to come donate as a group during the summer when blood donations are low,” Rush said. “David Douglas is the first high school to ever respond to the challenge.”

The school was honored with a plaque announcing their campaign, promotion throughout the donor center, a pizza party and T-shirts, county fair passes, Girl Scout cookies and Civil War Blood Drive swag.

“This event makes students understand that the need is there all the time. My hope is they become regular donors,”Assistant Coach Jeff Centroni said.

Beyond donating and their pizza party, the group was divided into two donation shifts, which allowed all the participants to learn about the donation process by partaking in donor center tours.

“Everyone who is able to help should take advantage of that,” said Alipate Tuitauke, first-time blood donor and football player (pictured above). “My first donation went really fast and it is a good experience for anyone who can give blood.”

Monica Rush is excited for what the future holds. “I want to make this event huge. My goal is to get other schools to take on the challenge and compete with David Douglas next summer.”

Winter Is Coming...

Okay, I will admit that Game of Thrones has sucked me in. Yet apparently NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and House Stark share the same warning, 'Winter Is Coming'.

This week NOAA issued a La Niña watch for the next 6 months throughout the Northern Hemisphere. La Niña is when cooler than normal conditions above the water push the warmer surface water towards the equator. When Fall and Winter come, deeper cooler water is able to surface leading to colder than normal conditions. A La Niña watch predicts that a La Niña event may occur in the next 6 months based upon favorable conditions.

What this means for the Northwest is that we will likely receive a cooler and windier fall and winter, similar to what we saw this past year. In the recent past, La Niña has been the culprit for conditions that led to the flooding in Vernonia and severe winter storms in the Willamette valley. However, local weather forecasters are only predicting if we have an event it will likely be mild to neutral in strength.

It's worth note that we are already seeing significant impacts from cooler water. We are currently in the midst of Hurricane season (June 1st to November 30th), and the Red Cross is preparing for Hurricane Irene on the Atlantic coast. Hurricanes are strengthened by warm surface water, and for the first time since records started in 1851 the first eight named tropical storms of the season did not attain hurricane strength. We are near the end of August and are just seeing our first Atlantic hurricane. For comparison, around this time in 2005 Hurricane Katrina was forming as the fifth hurricane of the season (after a different Hurricane Irene).

This all serves as a good reminder to prepare for the winter. You can visit our website for suggestions on how to prepare for winter storms. Additionally, when there is potential for winter storms regular blood donations are incredibly important to maintain supply for when blood drives might be cancelled, as we saw on the East coast earlier this year.

PHOTO: Game of Thrones/HBO

My Last Post

It's my last day here at the Red Cross, and I feel like I should have something profound to say, but I don't.

It's been five eventful years. Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, you name it. I feel privileged to have been able to help the Red Cross respond to those events. And also to help people like you, dear blog reader, get prepared for such disasters.

Five years is a good chunk of time, but it's eons in Internet Years. Back when I posted "A Brief Introduction," Myspace was still a big deal, Twitter was in its infancy, and your mom was not yet on Facebook. My how times have changed.

But before I get too wistful, I'm going to recap some of my favorite little silly moments from way back in the blog archives. (When you're doing serious work, it's important to balance it out with some silliness.)

• The David Hasselhoff aquatics training VHS. Sometimes the little things just make your day.
• The job-hunting chicken. Don't know what ever happened to that little guy. He was running around the neighborhood for weeks!
• Making my coworkers cram into a doorway for the "What Not To Do" in an earthquake or other disaster slideshow. (Part of the epic and unforgettable Blog Off.)
• "Blood. It's Not Funnnnnnyyyyyy!!!!!!" This made all of us in the office laugh so hard we cried. Good times.

There have been SO many more silly, amazing, sad, and wonderful moments. Too many to mention.

Most of all I feel lucky to have worked with such warm-hearted, talented people. Lise, Nate, and dozens of equally awesome non-blogging coworkers.

And now I'll sign off and bestow the title of Blog Master upon the very worthy Nate Warren.

All I have left to say to you all is THANK YOU. It's been great.

6 Days Left to Submit Your Threadless Design!

Are you a design guru? If you've been watching our blog, you know that Threadless is hosting an amazing t-shirt design challenge on behalf of the Red Cross!

If you were planning to submit a design but find yourself stressing on the deadline, great news!

The contest submission date has been extended until August 25, so you still have 6 days to get your art in gear!

Now, I know we're not supposed to play favorites, but when we found out that Kristen, our very own volunteer, put a design out for the contest, we had to do a little push for her! Check out the design above and vote for her shirt at this link.

Just can't wait to have a Red Cross-inspired shirt? Check out some other fun designs from Glennz Tees like this and this or you can promote "outerworldly preparedness" with our fun Oregon Red Cross shirt. Thanks for the links Kate!

Remember, if your Threadless submission is selected, your shirt sales help benefit the Red Cross and YOU will receive:

1. $1750 cash
2. $250 Threadless gift certificate
3. Two tickets to the celebrity-attended Red Tie Affair in Santa Monica, CA on April 21, 2012
4. $500 towards airfare to attend The Red Tie Affair
5. A 2-night stay at the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica

For full terms and conditions, click here.

An Etsy Round-Up

Say you want to show off your support for the Red Cross mission, but you're not into the branded t-shirt kind of thing. Your personal style is more vintage/handmade.

Well, you're in luck, because there are other crafty Red Cross-y people out there like you, and guess what? They're on Etsy.

One of our young volunteers, Clare, recently pointed us in the direction of these fantastic finds...


Baby Beanie: How cute is this? I know a certain former Red Crosser (but really, once a Red Crosser, always a Red Crosser) who is having a baby soon. Did someone say "perfect present?"


Pendant Necklace: "Nurses bring hope." Very true.




Vintage Charm Bracelet: OMG tiny versions of vintage nurse posters! YESSSS!



French Apothecary Pillow Cover: Ooh la la. This looks like something you'd see in Athropolgie. What a chic way to show you're a Croix Rouge supporter.


Victorian-era Red Cross Dog Illustration: Adorable, antique-y, and one-of-a-kind. You can't beat that.

Red Cross Multi...Throwing Star

Here's a shirt design from Glennz Tees.
You might be asking, "Where do you keep one of these?"
The answer: "Out of reach of small children."

In case of Emergency: Break Barriers to Preparation (Not the Bank)

Should you quit smoking?
Yes.

Should you eat less daily ice cream? Probably.

Should you be prepared for an emergency?
Absolutely.

But are you?


As a Health Communication Professional, I am interested in the reasons why people who know they should change a behavior (quit smoking, reduce ice cream intake), do not. In other words, what are their barriers to behavior change. What stops them?

As I begin blogging at the Red Cross, I am becoming pretty critical of my own level of emergency preparedness. I'm very aware that I should prepare an Emergency Kit for my home, but I haven't. WHY?!

I needed to learn more about my own barriers to preparation in order to overcome them and get ready for an emergency. Upon personal reflection I found that the prep. barriers in my own life include: Perceived Cost of a Kit, and Fear of an Emergency.

Perceived Cost
Before I read the Be Red Cross Ready list of things I need for my kit, I wasn't aware that you could make so much of your own kit at the 99¢ Store! It turns out that most basic ingredients for a kit can be pretty inexpensive. Also, it occurred to me that having at least some of these things was better than having none at all. Plus, you can build your kit over time: when you happen to be at the grocery store grab a first aid kit, grab (and wash) a Goodwill blanket when you get a chance.

Fear of an Emergency
I'm scared, though convinced, that an emergency will occur. Frankly, creating a kit makes me admit that something could happen to me and my loved ones. I know that's a fear I have to overcome. So, rather than treating Emergency Preparation as an omen, I've decided to think of it as a Scavenger Hunt, or a great date idea. Collecting cans of your favorite food, goofy playing cards, and other prepare-aphernalia can be a charming experience. Take your kids, your friends, your beau!

It felt good to figure out why I wasn't prepared.

What is preventing you from creating an Emergency Preparation Kit? Think about it, maybe we can come up with some solutions together!

Kate

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...

MALAWI: 120,000 long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets are being distributed by the Malawi Red Cross with support from the IFRC.

ETHIOPIA: The Ethiopian Red Cross is providing camels for a number of families who have lost their livelihoods in Ethiopia.

KENYA: The Kenya Red Cross's 'Kenyans for Kenya' has raised approximately $5 million to deliver immediate food, water, and health assistance to those suffering from the current drought.

COTE D'IVOIRE: The Red Cross of Côte d’Ivoire, with support from the IFRC has rolled out the first phase of its emergency assistance for almost 1,000 families from 17 communities in the Toulépleu Prefecture affected by the crisis that followed the controversial results of the 2010 presidential elections in the country.

USA: Paul Olson, 79, makes his 400th donation of blood at the American Red Cross Headquarters for the Penn-Jersey region.


GLOSSARY:

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

Car Accident Spurs Family Commitment to Donate Blood

Kelsey Harris: star athlete; good friend; attentive student; teenage driver. She was on her way to school one day in Milwaukie, Oregon when she got into a serious car accident. As a result of her injuries, Kelsey needed type O negative blood, the “universal” blood type.

Kelsey thankfully made a full recovery with only a few scars to show for it. Before her accident, she hated needles and would never voluntarily go near them. However, after the crash led to receiving blood transfusions, she was able to overcome her fear.

Kelsey is excited to donate as frequently as possible. Her traumatic experience has translated into inspiration and her entire family now donates. Furthermore, Kelsey’s father is a physician and all of her family members (except her mother) are type O negative donors! The family has come in to give blood together at events like the annual KGON blood drive (shown in photo). They are grateful for the donors that helped Kelsey make a recovery and want to give back.

Kenzie, Kelsey’s sister, was even awarded the 2011 Academic Award of the Year at La Salle High School for her persuasive speech about the importance of donating blood. Kenzie said that had her sister been in a more serious car accident that day, she would have lost far more blood. “Without the help from those donors,” Kenzie said, “Kelsey Harris, my sister, might not be alive today.”

Know a hero? Nominate them!

Do you know someone who has saved a life? Inspired a community? Helped people prevent, prepare for, or respond to emergencies?

Then nominate them for hour Breakfast of Champions hero awards!

The breakfast is in the Spring, but nominations are due by September 16. So get 'em in now!

Rock Out At Warped Tour This Weekend!

Donating blood and helping save lives doesn’t have to be as serious as it sounds. The Red Cross is encouraging people to donate blood and have some fun by rocking out at the 2011 Vans Warped Tour! Concert-goers - drop by the Red Cross booth this Saturday or Sunday as we thank donors and volunteers at The Gorge and Hillsboro tour locations.

“We here at the Red Cross know that blood donors rock, and we want to thank them for their generosity by providing fun gifts like Warped Tour VIP vouchers,” says Red Cross Donor Services Manager Tim Lippert.

The Red Cross traditionally sees a drop in blood donations during the summer months when donors become busy with vacations and other activities. As donations decrease, the need for blood does not. People interested in helping to maintain an adequate blood supply during the summer are urged to make an appointment to donate blood by visiting redcrossblood.org

Friday Final Cut

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

Enjoy!

• Rescue your water-damaged electronics after a flood (or other disaster) with the amazing, Portland-made BHEESTIE Bag.
• Japanese tsunami and the birth of icebergs - BoingBoing
• Top 10 Survival Tricks for When the Zombie Apocalypse Hits - LifeHacker
• The "Tornado Guard" App. (If only this actually existed - and worked!) - XKCD
• Scientists celebrate successful forecast of undersea volcano eruption off Newport coast - OregonLive
• "You call 911! I'll go grab the... Pikachu?!" - Dorkly.com

Prepare-aphernalia: Spark Awards 'Highlights'

The Spark! Awards is an international participatory design competition, and their 2011 Design Content winners have several interesting ideas for incorporating preparedness.

You likely have had to deal with a blackout. In today's technological and mobile society, we can take access to lighting for granted. This Spark Award design suggests incorporating an LED flashlight into a door handle. It would integrate into an electronic locking mechanism, which could disengage the lock and engage the continuously charging flashlight in the case of a blackout. Not only that - but as you see below it can actually be quite stylish. An integrated light sensor could allow the flashlight to act as a night-light or mark exits.


Another Spark Award winner was the design for a U-Haul Emergency Response Conversion Kit for the American Red Cross. In a major disaster thousands of response vehicles could be needed across a large geographic area. Keeping a fleet of this magnitude would be difficult, requiring huge investment in purchasing and upkeep. This simple idea proposes prepared industrial palettes of emergency supplies with word-less instructions for volunteers to convert a rental truck into an emergency response vehicle, in this example using vehicles from locally founded U-Haul. An added benefit would be that for large local disasters, response vehicles from far away chapters would not be necessary (saving money, volunteer travel time, and potentially reduce response time).

Yet another winning design was for a Epi-Inject Wall Mounted Epinephrine Injector, making epinephrine injections easy and readily available for cases of severe allergic reactions. Want to see all the design ideas? Click here!

[Note: We don't endorse, nor sell, the prepare-aphernalia products we feature here. We just like to share cool stuff we come across.]

Photo 1: Gizmodo
Photo 2: Art Center College of Design, Pengtao Yu

The "Push Over" Technique from the British Red Cross

This video from British Red Cross shows what you should do if someone passes out from drinking too much alcohol. The brilliance of this ad shows what could happen if you don't turn your friend over.

"Did you know that one in seven young people have been in an emergency situation as a result of a friend drinking too much alcohol, with half of these having to deal with someone who had passed out through drinking too much?"

"...if you're out partying with friends and someone falls unconscious, all you need to do is push them on their side, so they won't choke on their own vomit."

Words to live by.
Literally.
-Kate

Support their cause on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Lifeliveitnow

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...

PHILIPPINES: Safe drinking water is now only a few steps away for over 1,200 residents of Mabini, a remote community in Northern Samar province, after the completion of a spring catchment built with support from the ICRC.

SOMALIA: The ICRC is scaling up its emergency operation in central and southern Somalia to assist an additional 1.1 million drought- and conflict-affected people.

SUDAN: Almost half a million conflict-affected people in Darfur have been given seed and agricultural tools by the ICRC in time for the planting season and the first rainfall.

RWANDA: The ICRC has renovated a shelter for more than 300 children. Since 2009, nearly 70 children separated from their parents by armed conflict have been among those accommodated in the shelter while the ICRC traced their families.

WORLDWIDE: The Measles Initiative has officially vaccinated one billion children.


GLOSSARY:

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

Prepare-Razzi: Prepare with Flare

When preparing for an emergency, one must have the essentials. Luckily, the contents of an Emergency Preparedness Kit can be collected inexpensively and at most grocery or drug stores (water, flashlight, first aid kit, more). For the sake of sanity during an emergency, we suggest that you add something special to your preparedness kit (a favorite food, game).

But what about the finer things in fires? I present to you the Prepare-Razzi Kit by Kate (feel free to make your own.)

Food (non-perishable): Foie Gras
"Non perishable" unfortunately excludes lobster (and most shellfish), caviar, and vegetarian Pâté from our very fabulous kit. But fear not, for $54, you can enjoy Rougie's "shelf-stable" foie gras with port and truffles for up to two years! Two years is perfect as that is when you should be replacing everything in your kit. Keep in mind it's pretty heavy in calories and sodium, but an emergency's an emergency! Bon Appétit!

First Aid Kit: Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton recreated a Limited Edition Red Cross medical trunk for a Sotheby's auction for the Nigerien Red Cross Fighting Malnutrition Programme in 2009. The Trunk was valued at an estimated £10,000–15,000, grab one!

Something Fun: Vino
Wine. Why not? Besides the issue of weight, wine can age for a couple of years in a cool, dark place. You can open it with your multi-purpose tool and split it (please split it) with friends and family (21+).

No Multi Purpose Tool?: Then try the "Emergency Corkscrew" a French product from l'Atelier du Vin for the "Bottles that just can't wait."

Keep in mind that you want to keep your kit decently light and highly accessible (perhaps we don't keep it in the Butler's pantry?).

For the rest of us there's: Deluxe Emergency Preparedness Kit (1 adult, for three days).

[Note: We don't endorse, nor sell, the prepare-aphernalia products we feature here. We just like to share cool stuff we come across.]

Image from: http://tinyurl.com/4364twv

When I Root I Root For The Timbers!

Portland Timbers Captain Jack Jewsbury was recently chosen as MLS Humanitarian of the Month for his dedication to the American Red Cross!

This honor comes after "Captain Jack" helped spearhead relief for tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri. This past year, the Portland Timbers have joined forces for an amazing partnership with the Red Cross, supporting blood drives, fundraisers and other Red Cross events.

“I just appreciate the organization here; as soon as they heard how close to home this was for me, they jumped right on board,” Jewsbury said. “And that meant a lot. That shows the class of the organization.”

Read more on this exciting announcement at the Timbers website and watch the video below for Jack's words regarding the work of the Red Cross.

Everyday Heroes T-shirt Design Challenge

More than half a million Red Cross volunteers and 35,000 employees respond to more than 70,000 emergencies and natural disasters each year. Each of these people makes a difference for families who have lost their homes, possessions, and loved ones. There aren’t enough medals to go around to honor all those who get into gear and help neighbors in need.

To help honor these everyday heroes the American Red Cross is joining with Threadless to host a design challenge that celebrates those who are donating blood, serving meals, and providing shelter when the need is the greatest. With the help of everyday heroes, communities and families are able to rebuild their lives and put disaster behind them. The chosen design will be available at Threadless, and 25% of the sale from each tee will go to the American Red Cross.

The challenge runs now through August 18th, and submissions can be made on the Threadless website. You can also check out what people are doing and help choose the winner. The purpose of this challenge is to create a stand-alone design inspired by the theme, not a brand tee. Your design should not have brand names or logos on it.

If your design is selected, you will receive:

1. $1750 cash
2. $250 Threadless gift certificate
3. Two tickets to the celebrity-attended Red Tie Affair in Santa Monica, CA on April 21, 2012
4. $500 towards airfare to attend The Red Tie Affair
5. A 2-night stay at the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica

For full terms and conditions, click here.

Prepare-aphernalia: A Compact Card-Shaped Razor

I present to you, the Carzor - a razor and mirror that folds up like a credit card to fit in your wallet.

In my book this sleek little wonder of modern design ranks 10 out of 10 on the handy-in-a-disaster scale.

Why? Well, not only would it make a great addition to your disaster kit, but having a razor on hand could help save someone's life.

If you ever have to use an AED on a man who has gone into cardiac arrest, you'll want to get the hair off his chest so you can stick the adhesive shock pads on. Some AED kits come with disposable razors for just this purpose, but if you've already got a razor with you you're one step ahead of the game.

How much is a life worth? More than $17? Well then, the Carzor may just be a preparedness investment worth making.


[Note: We don't endorse, nor sell, the prepare-aphernalia products we feature here. We just like to share cool stuff we come across.]

Hat tip to Wendy.

Come Visit Us At the Clark County Fair!

What's the perfect ending to a great summer? How about snow cones and elephant ears, monster trucks and of course, the Red Cross! Come stop by the Clark County Fair starting today through August 14th and say hi!

This year’s Clark County Fair is sure to provide endless entertainment with monster trucks, a Radio Disney kids stage, the junior livestock auction and more!

The Red Cross is a huge partner this year at the fair. We are involved in a multi-level promotion: the Red Cross logo will appear on all fair materials; our amazing volunteers will promote Red Cross services with fair attendees, stamp raffle entry "passports to fun" (see graphic above) for participants and demonstrate fun, hands-on activities for children to educate on the need for blood donors!

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...

BANGLADESH: Thousands displaced by flooding are receiving assistance from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

CAMEROON: More than 300 volunteers are on the ground combating the cholera outbreak with hygiene and sanitation awareness.

SOMALIA: The ICRC is currently distributing food to 162,000 people in areas affected by drought and armed violence in southern and central Somalia.

SYRIA: The American Red Cross is contributing $50,000 to the relief efforts in Syria as part of its international response to the civil unrest in North Africa and the Middle East. The support will be dedicated to procuring food and relief supplies in Syria for people impacted by the violence.

HAITI: In preparation for tropical storm Emily, the IFRC - in support of the Haitian Red Cross- is activating its emergency plans in Haiti. Red Cross emergency response teams are on standby throughout the country and emergency supplies are pre-positioned.



GLOSSARY:

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

Make an Arrangement to Help Save Lives

The Red Cross and Edible Arrangements®, the pioneer and leader in artistically designed fresh fruit displays and chocolate dipped fruit, are partnering during the month of August to “Make an Arrangement to Help Save Lives.”

During the month of August, all presenting blood donors at American Red Cross blood drives will receive a free coupon* for a free box of six pieces of chocolate dipped fruit as a thank you for coming in to donate blood at a time when blood donations tend to drop due to hot weather, school vacations and holiday travel.

“Edible Arrangements® is proud to partner with the American Red Cross and to thank donors for giving the gift of life, we will give the gift of delicious chocolate dipped fresh fruit,” stated Tariq Farid, CEO of Edible Arrangements International, Inc.

The Red Cross asks eligible blood donors to make or keep appointments to give blood this summer to help maintain a stable blood supply for ongoing or emergency needs. The need for blood does not take a vacation and few summer activities feel as good as helping to save lives by donating blood.

To find an Red Cross blood drive near you, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org today to make an appointment to donate blood.

*One coupon per donation opportunity. Coupons are redeemable at participating retail stores in the United States. Coupons are valid for pickup only and are not valid online or through the call center. Coupons expire on September 15, 2011. Coupons are non-transferable and are not redeemable for cash.