March is nearing an end, and on this last Tuesday of the month we take a look at our final trivia question on the Season Finale of Tuesday Trivia with Lindsey. This month we’ve talked about everything from history and Haiti, to celebrities and Sudden Cardiac Arrest. So I thought the best way to end Red Cross Month was to take a look at how we will spend the rest of the year. Without delay, here is your final Red Cross Tuesday Trivia question.

During 2010, the American Red Cross will inevitably respond to disasters down the street, across the country, and around the world. We will teach First Aid and CPR to millions of people and collect blood donations that save lives-- and we will be able to do all of this because of the generous support and tireless effort of our volunteers, donors, and friends. Everyone has their own role, but together we make the lifesaving-mission of the Red Cross possible.

Attention Mizzou alumni, parents and friends! You can show your support for the University by donating blood at six satellite locations of the Mizzou 2010 Spring blood drive. The Red Cross has convenient locations in Midtown St. Louis, North County, South County, West County, St. Charles County and Fairview Heights, Ill. You can find the addresses at redcrossblood.org.

The Mizzou blood drive (held on campus April 7-8) is one of the largest college blood drives in the nation. You can be a part of it and show your Tiger Pride by donating at one of our centers starting today, March 29 through April 18.

I’m often asked when is the busiest DAT shift.  It’s a good question and there is not a definite answer.  Sure, there are some things that do seem to consistently raise our response numbers, ie: power outages, extreme weather, full moons.  However, we generally respond to 2-3 fires every 24 hours.  Occasionally though, we have a rush.  This week, we experienced a rush for about 24 hours last Wednesday, responding to eight events and helping 40 people. 

Much of this activity happened during the 4pm-12midnight Wednesday shift.  I saw Carl Moskowitz, (one of the DAT members who worked that shift) the next morning as he arrived to help with another Red Cross project.

License Collector Michael McMillan and community partners hosted a fundraiser at the St. Louis City Hall in the Rotunda on Tuesday, January 26^th. The premise behind the fundraiser was for St. Louis City employees and community partners to have an easy access to donate for disaster relief in Haiti. In addition to easy access, donors were requested to give according to their financial ability – coins accepted. The “Make A Change for Haiti” effort was well received by employees and community partners. Local television station, STL TV, was on hand to cover the day’s events and activities. STL TV provides government related informational television programs to the residents of the City of St. Louis. The event will be aired for several weeks to give area residents in City of St. Louis an opportunity to view this collaborative effort.

It’s that time of year and the St. Charles Service Center kicked off the awards season with their volunteer recognition event last Friday….congrats to Brad, Cheryl, TJ, volunteer resources and planning committee for putting on yet another great luncheon event with hundreds of volunteers to honor.  The event also doubled as a Mayor’s convention…as there must have been every Mayor in the St. Charles County area (no kidding!)  I think this is a great testimony to how important partnerships are to the Red Cross and community.

Also, I heard the Red Cross Live! Event in Metro East was a huge success at the local fire house with 25 guests, including the Mayor of Belleville.  What a great opportunity for the Metro East area to see the Red Cross in action. Congrats to Sandy and team!

Spring is here and before we know it flowers will be blooming, baseball will begin, and the weather will change every five minutes. That’s why we should all be prepared for a common spring weather custom: the thunderstorm. Unfortunately, Unprepared Ursula already got caught in one. Good thing the Red Cross’s Team Preparedness was nearby to help!

All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes and hurricanes. Heavy rain can lead to flash flooding. High winds can cause damage to homes, overturn vehicles, and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages. Many strong thunderstorms can even produce hail which can injure people and animals. If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter. Get out of structures, such as mobile homes, that are susceptible to being blown over in high winds.

Cool Valley Elementary School, located in North St. Louis County, is in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. The school’s motto is “Preparing for tomorrow by doing our best today”. In an effort to “do their best” for Haiti, the principal and student initiated a fundraiser. This fundraiser ignited excitement among the students, faculty and parents.

School Principal Ralph Moore and students at Cool Valley Elementary School wanted to help families in Haiti who were displaced by the earthquake. The students decided to rally together and donate their coins toward disaster relief. They knew that every student, regardless of financial status, could participate in the effort. Pennies found in the car, nickels under sofa cushions, quarters in coat pockets and money given to them from parents were placed in a glass jar designated for “Haiti Disaster Relief.”

Have you ever considered donating blood? The American Red Cross Biomedical Services strives to be recognized as the leader in transfusion medicine. We are committed to quality, ensuring the availability of the safest possible blood products, and delivering customer service that consistently meets or exceeds expectations. The Red Cross strives to ensure that every person in need of blood or blood products has their need met. The Red Cross is committed to provide the right blood to the right patient at the right time, every time. This is truly an extension of the Red Cross mission – a constant presence to help those in need.

Did you know the American Red Cross has been teaching First Aid for 100 years? 100 years is a long time-- I can’t even begin to imagine the number of lives that have been saved by Red Cross trained responders. I am always reminded of the impact our training has on people’s lives when we host our Lifesaver Award ceremony at the Chapter. At a recent Lifesaver Ceremony I heard the most uplifting story of a grown man who always made sure he took his First Aid and CPR classes through the Boy Scouts. A gentleman stood before a gathered crowd and choking back tears explains that if it hadn’t been for all the years of First Aid training he may not have known what to do to save his adult son’s life. While making home repairs his son passed out in a crawlspace under the family home. The man was able to remove his son to fresh air, call for help and provide the care needed to sustain life. I saw a man who was truly grateful to all of his First Aid instructors over the years for the opportunity – the gift – he was given when his skills saved his son’s life. The gift the man was talking about…he joked he would still be able to tell his son ‘no’ from time to time.

Yesterday, our Chapter honored five people who used their CPR, First Aid and AED skills to help save someone’s life. The stories are incredible and demonstrate the power of knowing what to do in an emergency. 

Welcome back to Tuesday Trivia with Lindsey, your home for Red Cross trivia tidbits. Last week we took a look at Red Cross celebrity supporter, John Mayer, and his numerous contributions to our Haiti Relief efforts. This week we’ll switch up from the disaster side of things and stroll over to health and safety. I am your host Lindsey, and here is your question for the day.

Yesterday I caught a story from The Post Dispatch regarding two Poplar Bluff, MO brothers and an ironic coincidence.

For the past two and a half years, I have taught many children about different topics on Health & Safety and Disaster Preparedness. It might be Scrubby Bear, Twister Turtle, or Safe on My Own. Many times I find myself at the same location, Oakville Elementary. Oakville Elementary is located two exits from the JB Bridge off of Yaeger Rd., in South County. When walking through the hall, I feel as though I am part of the faculty and staff. Students and teachers greet me with a smile and, “How are you, Ms. Kiefer?” or the children will often say, “Are you coming to our class today to teach?”

I found this story on redcross.org and thought I’d pass along to the St. Louis community. The following are excerpts taken from a diary entry of Marco Jiménez, with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

March 11, 2010: Port-au-Prince is in ruins. Dust everywhere. Seven and a half weeks after the tragedy, it seems the earthquake happened only yesterday. The emptiness is like a silence within a silence. Hollow. Close your eyes and you can feel it. Words fail.

Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church was recently featured on the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Sunday, February 7^th). The church is located in the inner-city of St. Louis and has a membership of 5000. With the completion of its latest building project, an $8 million sanctuary, and current construction  plans for a four-block, $34 million housing development, the church is leading the way in urban renewal. In the midst of full construction schedules, community outreach programs, senior housing projects, and youth support initiatives, the church wanted to make a difference in Haiti.

Pastor Jones and the Friendly Temple have already gained notoriety for its tremendous impact in the North St. Louis City neighborhood, but they wanted to reach beyond the St. Louis metropolitan area. They had the perfect solution: The Church’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday concert attracts hundreds of guests and entertainers, so the church decided to donate the proceeds from its annual concert to the American Red Cross, St. Louis Area Chapter for Haiti disaster relief. 

It’s Flood Safety Week, so it only seems natural that Unprepared Ursula is at it again and this week she has managed to get herself caught in a flood. In fact, she may even be in New Jersey or Fargo, North Dakota, where Red Cross volunteers (including a few from St. Louis) are currently working to provide relief to those affected by spring flooding. Luckily for Ursula, the Red Cross’s Team Preparedness is here with the answers to her flood questions.

How can I protect myself in a flood?
Regardless of how a flood occurs, the rule for being safe is simple: head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater. Even a shallow depth of fast-moving floodwater produces more force than most people imagine. It is exceedingly dangerous to try to walk, swim, or drive in floodwater...

I've been a Red Cross volunteer since 2007, frequently spending my Wednesday nights down in the Chapter's Ready Room. Last year I was fortunate enough to experience a streak not often allowed to us - no fires for my team from late February until this past January. Aside from the occasional disaster assessment for a fire earlier in the day or helping to relieve a team that's been at a fire into the next shift time, I've had a lot of boring nights. I would often apologize to new volunteers because riding with me meant they were not going to have a chance to learn their new job. All that time spent not being at a fire scene allowed me to get a lot of my own work done and let me sit back and reflect. 

On March 1^st, twenty-two students, ranging from pre-school to 5^th grade, visited the Chapter with their donation for Haiti Disaster Relief. Thelma Bryant, director of FAHLO Christian Academy, related how the students wanted to support Haiti relief. They decided not to have their annual Valentine Day party, but instead donate money to the families in Haiti.

The Academy stresses the importance of giving to one’s neighbor in need. This opportunity gave the students an actual project to demonstrate what they had been taught by their teachers and parents. Such excitement surrounded the students as they donated funds toward the Haiti effort and made plans to visit the Chapter. Phyllis Greene, in our Accounting Department, has known the director of FAHLO for many years. When the director of the Academy voiced an interest in donating to Haiti Relief, she contacted Phyllis.

Another week, another Tuesday, which can only mean it’s time for Tuesday Trivia with Lindsey. I’m pretty excited about today’s answer so let’s get down to business. Cue the music: Welcome to Tuesday Trivia. I’m your host Lindsey, and here is your Red Cross inspired trivia question of the day.

During the past two months, dozens of musicians, actors, and public figures have leant a hand in our efforts to provide immediate disaster relief to those affected by the Haiti earthquakes. One such artist opened not only his musical repertoire, but also his personal pocketbook to support the Red Cross’s mission. This particular artist will be in St. Louis later this week performing a concert of his hit songs- perhaps even including a song used in a Red Cross Haiti Public Service Announcement. Who is the musical superstar in town this week that contributed directly to the Red Cross Relief Effort in Haiti?

Shalom Church City of Peace, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Freddy J. Clark, is committed to assisting persons in the community with various educational and support programs. Recently, the congregation of 10,000 responded to the emergency and long-term needs of the people in Haiti for food, clothing, medicine, and emotional support. Rev. Dr. Clark was compelled to announce to the congregation to bring a special love offering for Haiti Disaster Relief on a designated Sunday. 

The North County congregation is known throughout the community for its outreach in bringing information, job resources, health screenings, and wellness events to St. Louis area residents.

Despite how far modern technology has come – the truth remains: we cannot prevent a disaster from happening. Knowing this, the best thing to do is prepare in advance. With just a little advance preparation, you’ll know where to go, what to do, and how to recover.

These days, modern technology is making that process of getting ready even easier. Here’s a quick of websites and mobile apps that can help in your preparedness efforts:

Everyday American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Youth Services staff go to schools all over the St. Louis Metro area. Often times we get to go to the same schools several times over the course of a year get to know the children, and hear their personal stories about how their family started to check their smoke detectors once a month, or what they did when they had a fire. One story in particular has stuck with me.

When I first began working in Youth Services I went to a school in the Normandy School District to give a Cool Cat presentation. The Cool Cat presentation teaches children what do to in the event of a fire and how they can prepare their family for home fires...

Today not only marks two months since the tragic earthquake in Haiti, but two months since the global Red Cross has been in Haiti working to provide immediate relief. Since January 12^th- thanks to the overwhelming generosity of those of you down the street, across the country, and around the world- the American Red Cross has been able to provide food, shelter, clean water, basic necessities, and lifesaving treatment and vaccinations to millions in Haiti.

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you our Two Month Progress Report, which provides insight as to where donated dollars are being spent and how the Haitian community is receiving your aid. The Red Cross relief operation truly has been a team effort...

Earlier this week, several tornadoes ripped through Arkansas leaving behind a path of damaged homes and injuries. This got Unprepared Ursula thinking, and Team Preparedness is once again coming to her rescue. Here are tornado safety tips to keep you safe this spring.

How can I protect myself from a tornado?

•The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement or safe room. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
 

Well, it’s that time of the year! Daylight-Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. this Sunday, so, it’s time to ‘spring forward’ our clocks one hour. Not only do we spring our clocks forward, it’s time to change the batteries in our smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors as well.

•Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
•Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.

Since the only children I have are the furry kind, I don’t think like a parent when it comes to emergency preparedness. My family’s emergency plan only accounts for two adults and our pets, so from time to time questions come my way that I just never would have thought of…

JoAnne Cronan, the Americorps member from our Metro East Service Center just asked me such a question the other day. Recently the recommendation for what to do if you are in a car during a tornado changed. For years the main option was to get into a low lying place, such as a ditch, however, last summer, after much research, the recommendation was changed some what:

Today is Tuesday March 9^th and that means it’s time for trivia! As always, I will be posting your Red Cross-inspired trivia question this morning, giving you time to answer throughout the day, before posting the correct answer later on this afternoon. So let’s get started! Welcome to Tuesday Trivia with Lindsey!! I am your host, Lindsey, and here is your trivia question for the day…

On Sunday night, The Hurt Locker became the runaway-and surprise- success of the 82^nd annual Academy Awards taking home a total of 6 Oscars, including one for “Best Picture.” The film, a “riveting, suspenseful portrait of the courage under fire of the military’s unrecognized heroes: the technicians of a bomb squad who volunteer to challenge the odds and save lives doing one of the world’s most dangerous jobs” (SOURCE: thehurtlocker-movie.com/), also took home Oscars for “Best Original Screenplay” and “Best Director.”
 

There is a natural inclination to mark significant dates and events in convenient increments of time (one month…six months… one year anniversary). In this way, we afford ourselves the distance, and the perspective to attend to other priorities. And, when you are in the business of responding to emergencies at home and abroad, the list of priorities never ends. Nearly two months after the Haiti earthquake, another one strikes in Chile. And just this morning, halfway around the world in Turkey, a 6.0 earthquake ripped through Turkey.

With this level of activity; vigilance cannot be sustained with heartfelt sentiment alone. There will always be the next “big thing” coming down the line.
 

The City of St. Charles recently witnessed the devastation of an apartment fire that was televised throughout the St. Louis area. One woman and her pet lost their lives in this terrible disaster. More than a dozen people escaped, while firefighters rescued one man who was trapped behind a locked sliding glass door in an upstairs apartment.

I started last weekend feeling “that difference” that we all want to make.

Last Friday was my first time making Big 5 presentations with students at Paideia Academy on Linton in north St. Louis city. Big 5 is a fun, interactive presentation that emphasizes the benefits of healthy eating from the 5 food groups as well as getting daily exercise and 9 hours of sleep each night.

After recent events, many people (much like “Unprepared Ursula” in the picture) have been left wondering “what should I do during an earthquake.” And the answer is The Red Cross can help: Be Prepared. Here are some valuable earthquake safety tips from a member of the Red Cross’ “Team Preparedness.”

Much of the damage caused by earthquakes is predictable and preventable. We must all work together in our communities to apply our knowledge to enact and enforce up-to-date building codes, retrofit older unsafe buildings, and avoid building in hazardous areas, such as those prone to landslides. We must also look for and eliminate hazardous at home, where our children spend their days, and where we work. And we must learn and practice what to do if an earthquake occurs.

Many people do not know that when they donate blood, that blood can be divided into several components that may benefit up to three people.

One of those components is platelets. Platelets are small components that help the clotting process by sticking to the lining of blood vessels. They are made in the bone marrow and survive in the circulatory system.

Platelets are used to treat a condition called thrombocytopenia, in which there is a shortage of platelets, and they are also used to treat platelet function abnormalities.

This past weekend I was invited to a fundraiser dinner for Haiti relief. During the past month I’ve talked with quite a few community organizations, schools, and the media about the Red Cross operations in Haiti. What made this event unique was its overarching theme- inter-faith dialogue.

What would the Red Cross have to contribute to inter-faith dialogue? As a non-religious, non-political organization, it would seem that such a topic would be avoided. In fact, reaching across culture and faiths has a lot to do with the work we do internationally; starting with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as the Red Shield in Israel. Even locally, many of our partnerships are faith based.

Ah, the Return of Red Cross Month- celebrating our volunteers and donors, remembering our rich history, and of course, my personal favorite- Tuesday Trivia with Lindsey! Every Tuesday during the month of March (our month of blogging) I will be offering a tidbit of Red Cross trivia to you in the morning- giving you a chance to answer throughout the day- before posting the correct answer in the afternoon. So let’s get started- intro cheesy theme song here- Welcome to Tuesday Trivia with Lindsey!! I am your host, Lindsey, and here is your trivia question for the day…

Over the years, when proclaiming March as Red Cross Month, US Presidents both past and present have said a few words about the Red Cross. Below are quotes from Presidents Nixon and Carter.

Saturday morning, many of us awoke to devastating news of the massive 8.8 magnitude Chilean Earthquake and awaited reports of a tsunami that threatened the Pacific. Since then, the American Red Cross has been working to support our Pacific Chapters and the Chilean Red Cross with their immediate response efforts. So far, The American Red Cross has made an initial $50,000 available for relief operations in Chile, and we stand ready to mobilize additional support, including relief supplies, trained personnel and additional financial assistance.

For nearly 70 years, March has been known as Red Cross Month. The history of this tradition is fascinating (for those who enjoy history). But today, March is a month not just to celebrate the Red Cross—but to celebrate YOU: the volunteers, donors, and supporters who make the lifesaving work of the Red Cross possible.

 A Tsunami warning is in effect for Hawaii. Expected landfall is about 11am local time (4pm ET). You can follow the Hawaii Red Cross chapter on Twitter:http://twitter.com/hawaiiredcross. Currently, American Red Cross chapters in Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands are working closely with their local government emergency offices and will support shelters after the tsunami should they be needed.

Registering with the Safe and Well Web site is an easy way to notify loved ones of your well-being during a tsunami evacuation (US only).

If you know someone currently in Hawaii, and they have time before evacuating, encourage them to register as Safe and Well. Registration can be done with the Safe and Well feature of redcross.org or by calling 866-438-4636.Friends and family can then search for the message on Safe and Well by using their phone number or complete address.

For more information on tsunamis, what causes the, how to prepare, and what to do after, click here.

Stay tuned for the latest updates.

Lindsey Weber is the Marketing and Communication Associate for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. 

Here is the latest on the American Red Cross response to the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile: 

The American Red Cross has pledged an initial $50,000 from the International Response Fund to assist communities impacted by today’s earthquake in Chile. We are prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation.

We are working with the International Federation of Red Cross / Red Crescent to determine if and how the American Red Cross is responding.

By now, you’ve probably heard of the 10 American missionaries in Haiti who were arrested on charges of child kidnapping. They allegedly tried to cross the Haitian/Dominican border with 33 Haitian children. According to the group from Idaho, they didn’t know they needed documentation on the children. It was a simple case of people with a heart to help making a mistake. The Haitian government didn’t see it that way. The story got me thinking about the many people who have contacted our local American Red Cross chapter, with a heart to help, ready to hop on a plane for Haiti.

The Red Cross doesn’t accept spontaneous volunteers for international disasters. The organization already has a pool of prescreened and pretrained volunteers specifically for international relief work. When well meaning people call, I have to tell them that we are unable to accept their heartfelt offer.

Admittedly, I’ve been not-so-quietly wishing for an end to winter for several weeks now. I’ve grumbled about the layer of grime on my car, the bitter wind in my face, and the constant chill that has kept me trapped indoors. I’ve tried to keep my spirits high, though, with thoughts of Spring. You know – trees returning to their gorgeous green, grass that needs to be cut, shedding the sweater for a comfortable t-shirt? And while most of my visions have been of bright, sunny days in the 60s and 70s, I’ve even dreamt of a pleasant spring shower or two. But now, I might be reconsidering. You know the saying, “be careful what you wish for?” In my single-minded focus on a big spring bloom, I forgot that with spring, comes spring flooding. (Shudder.)

Veterans have done so much for our country yet, for some reason, often seem forgotten. This past Sunday was a wonderful way of showing some of the veterans in the Missouri area, they are not forgotten. They were honored with a concert from the Temptations Review at the Fabulous Fox Theater. The show was wonderful, full of songs and those classic Temptations’ dance moves which had the veterans moving and shaking throughout the day.

I LOVE the Winter Olympics; the competition, the passion, the dedication and drive. I love the athletes and their stories, I love what the games stand for, and of course, I love the cowbell. Needless to say I’ve been glued to the television since the Opening Ceremony last Friday. So it may come as no surprise that Olympic fever got us looking for a Red Cross connection (a favorite game cherished by staff members and volunteers alike). A few days and a little investigative work later, Katie Nagus is awarded with a Gold Medal of her own for stumbling upon this Red Cross nugget.

Last week, Katie spoke with Heather Badenoch, the Senior Public Affairs Advisor, at the Canadian National Red Cross, and Heather was able to fill us in on how the Canadian Red Cross is helping out.

We thought that you would be interested to learn that the IRS has issued guidelines on a new provision that allows you to claim donations for Haitian relief on your 2009 tax return. 

If you are donating to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti, you may be able to claim those donations on your 2009 tax return. Here are 10 important facts the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about this special provision.

1. A new law allows you to claim donations for Haitian relief on your 2009 tax return, which you will be filing this year.

2. The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.

This is my first year working for the American Red Cross in St. Louis. I work in the Youth Services department in which we have the unique opportunity to travel all over the area into various classrooms giving presentations on health, safety and disaster preparedness topics. It’s an exciting job where each day offers a different story or experience.

Just yesterday I visited a school nearly as far out on 270 South as you can go without heading over the bridge into Illinois. As I walked into the classroom of about 60 1^st graders, they all nearly simultaneously screamed “Miss Sara” as if it had been planned. I’ve visited their classrooms about 6 or 7 times now and have nearly exhausted the presentation options...

It’s hard to believe, but today marks 30 days since the already badly impoverished nation of Haiti was slammed by a massive earthquake in the heart of its capital city. And just 30 days out, we can already see a slight but noticeable waning of media and popular interest in the catastrophe. Like all tragedies, whether international, or even personal, we get back up, we look forward, and we move on.

But for those who call Haiti their home, who survived but with no hope of leaving and starting over someplace else, for those who lost family and loved ones, who didn’t have a chance to say good bye, who are still barely hanging- no doubt for them, the past 30 days have gone by in a surreal blur, with a dark and uncertain future stretched out far ahead of them.

Today marks one month since the devastating earthquake shook Haiti. For some of us, it’s hard to believe it has already been a month. But for the Haitian community, I imagine the past four weeks have felt more like an eternity.

While the needs of Haiti are still immense, the Red Cross continues to make progress. Hundreds of thousands of survivors have already received Red Cross support in the form of relief supplies, food, medical services, water, sanitation support and shelter. And thanks to the more than 600 Red Cross and Red Crescent workers from 30 nations who are in Haiti today, long-term needs are also being assessed. So not only are we providing immediate assistance, but the Red Cross is working to provide support and training that will help the Haitian Community recover and rebuild in the years that lie ahead.

Tomorrow is the one month anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, and in those four weeks, the Red Cross has made a tremendous effort to help the Haitian people with their immediate needs: Food, water, and shelter. But what exactly does that mean? 

Think about what you would need if your home and everything you owned were suddenly gone -- with no place to sleep, nothing to eat, and not even a change of underwear! Take a look as Tracy Reines, the Director of International Disaster Response for the American Red Cross, explains what items are currently being given out to Haitian families:

I recently saw an article that was titled “Goodbye swine flu! Epidemic seems to be over.” It immediately raised a red flag for me so I headed to the experts, the CDC.

The Thaxton was a happening place Friday night as almost 200 people celebrated the launching of Club Red, the Red Cross Connection for the young and hip. Being slightly older, but arguably still hip, I had a fabulous time, and I was so excited by the interest and energy all our young visitors displayed. Huge kudos to Shelby Shire and her team for pulling this together and getting the word out about this exciting new volunteer and social networking opportunity. The desserts were to die for, the information timely, and the potential for our next generation of volunteers, boundless.

Let's keep it going!
Mary Jo

Mary Jo Blackwood is a Board Member for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.

It has been three weeks, nearly a month, since the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti. Since then, More than 500 Red Cross workers from around the globe (100 from the United States) have descended on the country, providing food, water, medical care and so much more.

Nearly all of the Red Cross workers are volunteers - people who put their own lives on hold for weeks at a time to help those in need. They don't get paid, the hours are incredibly long, and the conditions often difficult even in the best circumstances. Yet time and again, when there is a crisis, there is a humanitarian spirit that bonds us all to work together to help.

Volunteers at the St. Charles County Center have been offered an open mic to share the many different services and programs the American Red Cross has to offer. Mike Thomas of KWRE invites all listeners within ear’s reach to sit back, relax and hear to what we have to say. Sometimes nervous about being on the radio, Mike’s kind and relaxed approach seems to calm our Volunteer’s minds and causes them to almost forget they’re ‘on-air’!

We’re there to share our lives within this amazing organization, hoping to educate those listening about what the American Red Cross really is. We know there’s no better way to get this information out to those we live around than to send someone to share from the heart.

Therrrre baaaack!!

Did someone say they saw the St. Louis Cardinals in Haiti? Well, not quite, but it’s pretty close…

During her deployment to Haiti, American Red Cross Volunteer Winnie Romeril snapped a photo of a Haitian man receiving aid. A local radio station handed out emergency hand crank radios from the American Red Cross, and this particular gentleman was a lucky recipient. But what really caught my attention was what the gentleman was wearing…

On February 5, 2010 the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will launch its newest group, Club Red. Club Red is a group for young professionals to learn how they can be more involved with the mission of the Red Cross.

I have to build on what Deane has said, what a wonderful time to be a part of the American Red Cross! I too was able to visit a “crazy hat” relief drive held by school children. Their concern for a country few had even heard of before the earthquake is astounding! A local school is beginning to collect 1,000,000 pennies! That’s not a typo – one million! School children are showing they are today’s leaders, taking action to support disaster response and recovery efforts. Efforts that even adults have a hard time understanding. Community response to support the relief work following the tragic earthquake in Haiti has been great, with every part of the community getting involved. 

Almost $ 3,500… Wow! I am blown away by the generosity of the students in the St Louis area. Yesterday, I went to three schools (Mason Elementary, South Technical High School and Kennard Classical Academy) to accept checks on behalf of the American Red Cross for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. One absolutely adorable little kindergarten girl from Kennard Classical Academy pulled me aside and said, “I gave all my money in my piggy bank to help the people from the earthquake.” Some of these kids created and sold beautiful pins in the shape of a house, some paid $1 to wear baseball caps and some very creative hats. In some schools, the faculty and staff even got in on the action by paying $5 to wear jeans to school. We also received checks from the parents of these students. I wish everyone could see the look on the faces of these kids when I tell them how much the Red Cross appreciates their help and especially how much the people of Haiti will appreciate their help. I have four more schools to visit this week. I can’t wait! This has become my favorite part of working at the Red Cross.

As relief supplies continue to arrive in Haiti, although significant bottlenecks remain, The Red Cross is continually assessing the disaster relief operation. Not only is The American Red Cross assessing current needs of the Haitian community, but also long-term care.

As of today, the American Red Cross has spent or committed more than $67 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors. During this emergency phase of the relief operation, the American Red Cross is focusing its resources on in several areas:

Today we had the opportunity to sit in on a phone call with American Red Cross volunteer Winnie Romeril. Currently, Winnie is on the ground in Haiti working alongside a team of 430 International Red Cross volunteers to provide relief to Haitian earthquake survivors.

Between the phone cutting out, wind humming in the background, and noisy diesel trucks kicking up dirt and causing her to cough, Winnie was able to briefly update us on the situation in Haiti. The noisy scene was a strong reminder that the images I have seen on TV are still very much a reality for those involved. At the same time, it was also a very encouraging reminder that the donations and support of the American public is getting to the Haitian community, one meal, hygiene kit, and medical treatment at a time. Which definitely adds up; The American Red Cross and its partners are distributing relief items – such as hygiene kits, blankets and water containers – for up to 1,000 families (6,000 people) each day.

Ten days after the Haiti earthquake, logistical bottlenecks remain, but American Red Cross volunteers on the ground say that “Haiti is coming back to life.”The pipeline to get resources into Haiti was a straw following the earthquake; it’s now a garden hose, but we are still waiting for it to become a fire hose. But even despite all of the logjams, supplies are slowly getting through.

In just the first week of the Haiti response effort, the American Red Cross has already spent or committed $34 million; 50% of which is being used on food and water, 30% on purchasing and distributing relief supplies (like blankets, soap, first aid supplies, etc), and 20% on logistics and items needed to keep the relief operation moving.
 

The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter is about to launch a new club – Club Red! Designed to attract the next generation of supporters, donors and volunteers, Club Red officially launches on Friday, Feb. 5 – just two weeks from now! 

On Friday, Feb. 5, Club Red will celebrate its launch with a cocktail soiree themed “Flirting with Disaster.” Planned well before the Haiti earthquake, the event will bring awareness of the Red Cross to young people across St. Louis.

“Slow but determined” is the best way to describe the movement of relief supplies into Haiti and on the ground. The existing infrastructure has simply been stretched to its limit. Still, help is getting through. This is remarkable considering that the Haiti relief effort is the largest operation undertaken by the International Federation of the Red Cross in its 90 year history. Red Cross national chapters from as far away as Japan and Russia, and nearly every national Red Cross in the region surrounding Haiti have been mobilized. And bear in mind; the Red Cross is but one of many international organizations on the ground in Haiti. So, one can imagine the enormous logistical challenges.

Despite news of enormous logistical challenges and another, larger aftershock striking Port-au-Prince this morning, Red Cross aid is still making it onto the streets of Haiti. Red Cross responders from seven countries are treating injuries and performing surgery at hospitals and medical centers throughout the capital city. In addition to Port-au-Prince, Red Cross volunteers have even been able to reach survivors outside the capital city, providing first aid in camps and prioritizing the need for food, water and other basic supplies.

Today marks one week since a series of earthquakes shook Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Since then the American Red Cross has been working diligently to put aid in the hands of earthquake survivors.

Today, American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern is on the ground in Haiti visiting relief operations and helping to coordinate the distribution of aid. Gail joins a team of more than 400 Red Cross workers from around the world in Haiti as well as thousands of local volunteers. While in Haiti, Gail is meeting with the Haitian Red Cross, local government, and USAID in addition to Red Cross leaders from around the world. (And speaking of leaders from around the world, check out this video to see President Obama’s visit to our American Red Cross Disaster Operation Center in DC yesterday).

I found this story on the American Red Cross National Blog and thought I would share.This post, "Still Open for Business," was written by Winnie Romeril, an American Red Cross volunteer in Haiti and was originally posted on redcrosschat.org January 18, 2010 by Wendy Harman. 

After a tiring day of travel from Santo Domingo, I arrived at the American Red Cross office. The structure is visibly unstable but the open air office is abuzz with activity. All salvageable furniture is on the lawn, the front gates are open, and the street is orderly. It’s friendly, full of humanity. Red Cross flags hang on the walls.

After this weekend, there is significant progress to report in terms of the American Red Cross response in Haiti. Right now, more than 400 Red Cross workers from around the world as well as several thousands of local volunteers are addressing urgent needs and mobilizing a massive operation in Haiti.

I know there have been many news reports about the "bottleneck" effect of having only one operational runway at the airport in Port-au-Prince. While those reports are true, I can tell you this weekend several Red Cross planes and trucks landed in the region, delivering a field hospital and much needed materials such as tarps, blankets, hygiene items, buckets, shelter supplies and more. Three more shipments are expected today and tomorrow in the Dominican Republic before being trucked into Haiti.

I wanted to share with you some photos we've received from our staffers in Haiti, documenting the situation on the ground following Tuesday's earthquake. The photos help to bring home the magnitude of the tragedy, and the importance of our ongoing support of Haitians in this time of crisis. 

Take a look and, if you haven't yet, consider making a contribution of any size to help fund relief efforts. The earthquake victims need all the support we can give.

Click here to view photos

It is Day 3 of the Haiti earthquake relief effort, and I have a few updates to report:

• The Red Cross now has dozens of disaster specialists in Haiti, assessing the damage, addressing urgent needs and establishing the foundation for a long-term recovery plan. Today six disaster responders arrived in Port-au-Prince, and are joined by the 15-person staff we already had on the ground, and the 12 Red Cross teams that arrived from other countries yesterday. Among them are engineers, surgeons and family linking specialists. These teams will establish field hospitals, restore water and sanitation systems, distribute supplies and restore family links facilities.

Here is an update for Thursday January 14, 2010:

American Red Cross Support
Today, The American Red Cross released an additional $9 million for earthquake relief in Haiti, bringing our commitment to $10 million. In addition, disaster management specialists are arriving in the Dominican Republic today and will travel by land to the disaster zone. These individuals join the 15-person staff we already have on the ground in Haiti as well as thousands of local Red Cross volunteers. As airports begin accepting relief shipments and more commercial flights, tarps, cooking sets, hygiene items and other supplies from the American Red Cross warehouse in Panama will be distributed to an initial 5,000 families. We have been told that the Red Cross presence has been very reassuring.

Many people are wondering if the American Red Cross is sending blood to Haiti as part of its disaster relief.

Here at the St. Louis Red Cross, we have received a lot of phone calls from people wanting to know more information about the Haiti Earthquake and what they can do to help. So I’ve been gathering as much information as possible to keep our Red Cross friends informed. Below is a summary of the most up to date information. In addition, the St. Louis Area Chapter has created a Frequently Asked Questions page which has everything you need to know about making donations, volunteering, and getting in touch with loved ones. And as always stay tuned to the National Disaster Online Newsroom for the latest information straight from the front lines.

Calling all O-negative blood donors! An announcement yesterday from the Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region says the need is urgent.

Here's the reason:

Low holiday donor turnout and harsh winter weather have severely impacted the supply of Type O-negative blood.

Here and in much of the Midwest, the O-negative blood supply has gotten very low, and it’s expected to drop to even lower levels in the coming days and weeks.

It started as a pretty much normal Disaster Action Team run. The scanner reported a house on fire, and we were on our way.  We happened to be only a mile or so from the fire, so we got there as the firefighters were still battling the blaze which seemed to be contained to the attached garage. 

The homeowner was there and we immediately got him a hat and some gloves.  As we were watching the firefighting operation, he told us his story.  He took a break from working in his workshop in the garage, which was heated by a wood-burning stove, to fix lunch. After he popped the pizza in the oven and did a few other in-the-house chores he went back to the shop to find it filled with smoke. He got the neighbor to call the fire department - they arrived, and we arrived minutes later.

I don’t want to point fingers, but it would appear that while welcoming in the New Year someone left the door open too long and let Cold Weather sneak in with 2010. Now, I’m not angry, but if the responsible party would be so kind as to clear this mess up and get back to tolerable winter weather, it would be greatly appreciated. It was fun while it lasted- the cold temps gave me a nice excuse to stay home this past weekend, wrap myself in a warm blanket, sit by the fire, and sip my hot chocolate. But when I realized this morning that I would have to face the brutally cold temps and- dare I say- leave the house, reality set in. It’s miserable. We’re seeing below-average temperatures nationwide, and with snow predicted for the St. Louis Area later this week, it would appear there is no escape.

I’ll admit- I’m a sucker for snow, so in order for me to be able to enjoy it, I’m going to have to get past the cold temperatures first. So with a few Red Cross tips, I’m tackling the cold temps head-on this week. Here’s how:

What a busy weekend for Red Cross "Disaster Action Team" volunteers! I counted no less than six fires where the Red Cross provided assistance for 17 adults and 14 children. And that doesn't include the fires where there were no clients affected, but Red Cross responded to help provide food and warm cocoa for the firefighters in the cold temperatures.

Check out this story on the Post-Dispatch's website on Sunday about several of the fires. And in case you missed it, last week, a feature profile on the Red Cross DAT teams made the front page of the Post-Dispatch (there are also some great photos of the volunteers in action)!

If you saw me today, chances are, I was grinning ear to ear.  I’m generally a happy person, but today was special. Why you ask??? Because today, the greater St. Louis community (my hometown!) got to learn a bit about the Red Cross Disaster Action Team (a group I’m passionate about) and the assistance they provide to disaster clients (another group I’m passionate about).

A couple of weeks ago, St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter Greg Jonsson and photographer Laurie Skrivan did several “ride alongs” with the Disaster Action Teams who respond in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. They got to see Red Cross volunteers, on the front lines, providing for the immediate emergency needs of families affected by disaster. They did an outstanding and accurate job documenting what they saw and they share the DAT story in today’s Post Dispatch.  If you haven’t seen the article yet, here’s a link.

It’s the last week of 2009…a time to remember the year that was, and look forward to a new beginning with the turn of a calendar page.

It’s also a time to make donations to charity, so you can get that last-minute deduction on your taxes.

I know, it sounds kind of selfish for only giving away money during the last week of the year, knowing it will come back to you in the form of a reduced tax bill (or in some cases, an increased tax return!) But many charities, including the Red Cross, rely on these end-of-the-year donations.

In that spirit, the Red Cross is making it even EASIER than EVER to make that tax-deductible contribution – through your cell phone.

I came across this posting on the national Red Cross website, and just had to share:

Social worker and Red Cross leader Emily Bissell designed the first Red Cross Christmas Seal in 1907. Bissell hoped the stamps could be sold to raise funds for an experimental tuberculosis (TB) hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.

The stamps were a success—the first supply sold out in two days. The tradition of an annual, nationwide campaign against tuberculosis began. Beautiful stamps were created by many of the nation’s best-known artists and illustrators.

On Wednesday, December 2^nd we at Metro High School held our 5^th blood drive. This blood drive was a huge success. We had a goal of 23 units and exceeded that goal by collecting 27 units of blood. Since each donation saves 3 lives, we are going to be able to potentially save 81 lives. WOW!

YouthCorps has been organizing blood drives at Metro for the past two years and this will be our third year. We have established a tradition of doing two blood drives each school year, one in the Winter and one in the Spring. We feel that this is especially important now with the current shortage in the blood supply.

Here's a look at our recent Holiday Mail for Heroes card sorting event. The St. Louis Area Chapter had some 2,000 cards to sort through! (Photos after the jump!)

Holiday Mail for Heroes was slowed down a bit because the volunteers were eager to share messages added to cards for the active duty and veterans. The cards from children seemed to catch everyone’s eye. Some were simple, some quite detailed, but all were from the heart. Cards came from all over the country for sorting by St. Louis Chapter Volunteers. 

Hello all!