It’s Memorial Day weekend – a time for BBQs, a dip in the pool, and of course – Road Trips!

The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects the number of Americans traveling on vacation this Memorial Day holiday weekend will increase 5.8 percent from last year, with approximately 32.1 million travelers taking a trip away from home. 

If you’re one of those hitting the highway, make sure you leave prepared! Put together a disaster supplies kit, just in case you get stuck somewhere.

Well, this week is hurricane preparedness week and many people from the St. Louis area are asking, “Why does that matter to me?” 

Moving to St. Louis in August, I was unsure of what to expect out of my AmeriCorps experience. Everything that I have been taught and have learned has been like being thrown into a cold lake in February, awakening all my senses to what I had not expected. I came to the Red Cross not knowing much about the organization or much about the disasters that strike the cities across the U.S. daily, much like the majority of the population.

When you think of a disaster happening you think of other cities, other states, even other countries. You never think of your city, your town, your block, but it happens. And it has been very apparent during my time here with AmeriCorps.

Like many of you, I was surprised to learn this week was the 5^th birthday for Youtube. I mean, only 5 years?!?! How did we ever survive before the mindless entertainment of the “Evolution of Dance,” sneezing pandas, and piano cat?

Last night, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) presented the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter the prestigious Bronze Quill Award. The Bronze Quill Awards celebrate the top communicators and organizations in the St. Louis region that drive excellence with projects developed and implemented in 2009. Each Bronze Quill Award entry is judged on its own merit by judges from IABC chapters across the nation, giving the St. Louis Area Chapter national exposure.

There were more than 100 projects entered in this year’s competition, and it is my pleasure to announce the Ready Rating Program received the Bronze Quill Award of Excellence in the Overall Communications Plan category. This is the highest honor in the Bronze Quill Award competition. The Overall Communications Plan category specifically recognizes programs or campaigns created to enhance an organization’s relationship with, or provide information to, a key audience by incorporating media relations, brand communications, special events, and more.

Absolutely not! Well, maybe. The first time I was accused of being an Adrenalin Junky I was insulted! I envisioned a hyped up ambulance or fire truck chasing maniac. Then I had to admit to the ‘rush’ of helping a family that just lost everything after a house fire. As a Disaster Action Team rookie, I could only sit back and be proud of our volunteers who calmly and methodically go about the business of collecting information and meeting the needs of the newest clients.

There is another kind of ‘rush’ that happens when a blackened-face firefighter flashes a smile over cold drinks and cookies and says “thanks for being here”.

Thanks, AmeriCorps and St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross for the experience.

Do you think you’ll ever need to use your first aid training on someone? I just did!

A couple of little girls were riding their bike and skateboard down the hill in front of our house recently. One little girl (8 yrs old) spilled off her bike when her sister’s skateboard went out of control and slid under the bike. The young biker landed on her arm.

I ran out of the house and down the hill armed with my first aid kit thinking I’d be cleaning minor cuts, scrapes and applying Band-Aids. She was screaming, “I think I broke my arm! I think I broke my arm!!!!!” I noticed scratches and slight swelling so I used two of the gauze slings I got from my First Aid class and wrapped her arm against her like the manual said. In the mean-time, the older sister used my cell phone and called their mom. Her mom came running up the street and after checking out the situation, said she would let me know when they find anything out from the doctor.

As you may, or may not, know AmeriCorps week is this week and being one of the current AmeriCorps members, we decided to honor those previous members who lit the path through Red Cross’ door by giving them a little gift. AmeriCorps members have served nearly 3,300 nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations since 1994 when the program began, including the American Red Cross. A few of the past AmeriCorps members- who served their hours right here at the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter- have now become full time Red Cross staff which is a great accomplishment, and very encouraging for those of us who are still acting members.

It is interesting to see how different people are yet how they all strive to achieve the same goal. This is what most intrigued me about AmeriCorps. I have been serving in the Emergency Services department of the American Red Cross for nearly 10 months now, and I have seen more, and helped more people in the 10 months than I have in my entire life.

For several years, the Red Cross HIV/AIDS program has not been funded by the National Red Cross. For many Red Cross Chapters, this meant they had to let go of their HIV/AIDS programs, or find their own funding. At the St. Louis Area Chapter, we have been lucky enough to not only keep our program, but to staff four full-time employees for the last few years. However, with the economy in dire straits, funding for HIV/AIDS programs around the country at various organizations, not just the Red Cross, has gotten more and more scarce, and more and more Chapters have had to let go of their programs that promote sharing the facts about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in a culturally sensitive, nonjudgmental way.

Even though the Red Cross Aquatics team is busy throughout the year, it’s true that there is an increased sense of awareness from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That’s when most public pools open their gates, and kids around St. Louis flock to the water slides, diving boards and deep ends. And since May is Water Safety Month, we thought it might be a good time to blog about the importance of water safety and our annual Lifeguard Event, presented by Ekon Benefits.

The Red Cross offers learn-to-swim classes for kids of all ages, starting at 6 months of age. It is a good idea to get kids acclimated to the water early. Take it from Genelle Brakefield who enrolled her son, Cooper, in Red Cross learn-to-swim classes when he was 10 months old.  Now Cooper is 1 ½ years old and loves being in the water with his mom and dad. Genelle says she wanted to get him enrolled early because she remembers swimming at her subdivision pool by the age of 2.

It’s Mother’s Day and all the moms -- past, present and future -- received a rose this morning, a small gesture of thanks for the sacrifices many volunteers are making. For many of us, this is day six of the operation in Little Rock and we have had a birthday party, Mother’s Day, and many shared meals and tears.  

Multiple tornadoes hit no less than twelve counties in Arkansas with some level of damage on April 30/May1. The remainder of the storm dumped the water in Tennessee, an operation that is getting a lot more attention. Despite Arkansas being overlooked, the volunteers here are providing the services the community needs with a smile and eagerness that is top notch. 

This week, May 8^th to May 15^th, we are celebrating AmeriCorps Week. The celebration will probably get lost in the shuffle of Mothers’ Day, Graduations and celebrating our volunteers, but around the Chapter we should tip our hats to Jack Riegel, Elaine Hegel, Kate Johnson, Nicole Holtgrefe, Angela Hakim, Elena Sabin and Marie Major who are AmeriCorps Alums. They, at one time or another, accepted the challenge to Get Things Done. They joined the over 574,000 members who have served since 1994 and contributed their hours to the 718 million project hours.

My AmeriCorps tour has taken me into the VA Hospitals, out with the Disaster Action Team after fires, and to many St. Louis organizations and church groups wishing to know more about Community Disaster Education. Then there are volunteers and staff-- all dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others while stretching the dollar to do the most good for the most people. What a tour!

All this month, I have the opportunity to live in Denmark with several other young professionals as part of a Rotary group exchange. The group I am traveling with are wonderful people with a diverse background .There are six of us in total.  Our leader is a Rotarian and the five participants are all young professionals in different business sectors (non Rotarians).

The program that I am participating with (which is sponsored by Rotary International) is called Group Study Exchange or GSE. 

Sitting in an office day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute, tends to weigh heavily on you. Not to mention add some weight to you. So this year a few of us decided to kick things into gear and start up a Biggest Loser competition.

There were a total of fourteen participants who started out. Throughout the competition there was a friendly rivalry between competitors, people bringing each other chocolate, which in any other situation would probably be considered a very kind thing to do, however, in this situation was absolutely diabolical.

I also noticed something else as the months rolled along. People started talking about eating healthier and exercising techniques. I wouldn’t have thought much of it if it weren’t coming from people who were not in the competition.

As the Community Disaster Education Specialist, I take emergencies seriously. Sometimes to the extent that it irritates my family and friends. Like when I tell them, “you know, you really should be in your basement during a tornado warning instead of upstairs looking out your window,” or “you know, you really should make sure that you have a working flashlight in case your power goes out instead of trying to use your cell phone as a flashlight.” I just can’t help it; preparedness is more than my job, it’s a way of life.

Needless to say, on Friday during the tornado warning, I was hunkered down in my basement waiting it out. In my house, it’s not just me and my husband, it’s also five rabbits. Four of them are our pets (Thor, Valkyrie, Odin and Frigga) and the fifth is a foster rabbit (Studio) for the Missouri House Rabbit Society.

I recently had the privilege of shadowing Becky White, Disaster Specialist for the St. Louis Area Chapter, and the Disaster Action Team (DAT) Tuesday day crew. For those not familiar with DAT, it's a team of Red Cross-trained volunteers who respond to local disasters (primarily residential fires) and provide immediate assistance in the form of food, clothing and shelter to the disaster victims. They also provide snacks and beverages to the emergency first responders on the scene.

Within the first two hours of my time with the DAT crew, I had learned what to listen for on the scanner, and even more importantly, what it all meant; the difference between a pumper truck and hook and ladder (these are different types of fire trucks); the average response time for the first fire truck to arrive at the scene (3-4 minutes for the City of St. Louis!); the difference between a black, red and white fire helmet; among many other interesting things about what the DAT crews do day in and day out.

Lifeline. We’ve all heard the word before, but to each of us it may mean something different. Maybe you’ve been a contestant on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and needed to use your lifeline to answer the question, “Who was the 28^th President of the United States?” (FYI - It was Thomas Woodrow Wilson). Or maybe, just maybe, you’ve heard of how the American Red Cross and Lifeline partner to provide seniors peace of mind with the push of a button.

How’d I get on that topic? Yesterday, I had the opportunity to spend the day with Jean Romine, Red Cross Lifeline Specialist. While traveling across town in the Lifeline van, I learned what “lifeline” means for the subscribers and their families – and me.

Technically speaking, Lifeline is a subscription service that seniors -who chose to live at home on their own- use to maintain independence. The help notification device provides a sense of security both for the subscriber and their family. If something happens to the subscriber, they can call for help at the push of a button and know someone will be there to respond.

From the bitter freezing cold of winter to the sweet warmth of spring, the seasons have turned once again.

Sadly these last few months have been all too busy for the International Delegation of the American Red Cross. Between Haiti and Chile, we have seen just how unsentimental the whims of nature can be. The death and suffering in Haiti alone was more than most of us could really wrap our heads around.

But things are settling. Reports out of Haiti are indicating “green shoots” of hope. And Chile, despite the force of her earthquake, paled in comparison to what we witnessed in Haiti.

Let us remind ourselves however that even after the worst immediate trauma of a humanitarian crisis has passed; the secondary effects of damaged or decimated infrastructures will continue to complicate and even compound many less “visible” but no less urgent concerns.

I love volunteering for the American Red Cross. I have been volunteering for the St. Louis Area Chapter for a little over five years working in the disaster services department (We are there when your need us most!). We give comfort and aid in large scale disasters - the kind that the news media covers for days or even weeks. My first major disasters were the hurricanes of 2005 Rita and Katrina.

There are many perks and extra benefits that I enjoy as an American Red Cross volunteer. For instance, The Red Cross assists families in small local disasters like house fires. A team of dedicated Red Cross volunteers are on the job 24/7/365. They will show up and asses your needs and provide for your emergency needs on the spot. I find great satisfaction from the hugs and appreciation I receive from these folks. It is really a special benefit. Most of these small scale disasters never even make the news.

So you can imagine how I felt on Wednesday April 14th, as I was part of a really fantastic once-in-a-lifetime perk.

Like most St. Louisans, I have only been waiting since last October for this day to get here. Break out the hot dogs, bring on the Clydesdales, raise your foam fingers, and let’s play ball! Happy Cardinals Home Opener, St. Louis!!

If you are lucky enough to be celebrating this self-proclaimed holiday by attending today’s game, there are a few general safety tips to think about before heading down to bustling Busch Stadium.

As the Youth Services intern, I have been spending a great deal of time giving health & safety and disaster preparedness presentations to kids at Combs Elementary in Florissant. I was the unofficial health teacher this school year for my group of amazing second graders. While the presentations are fun and the kids are engaged, sometimes my coworkers and I wonder if the kids retain any of the information we give them. A note written to a second grade teacher, Ms. Whitaker, by the grandmother of one of the boys, Gaige, answered our questions:

Yesterday’s earthquake near the California-Mexico border was just another reminder of how vulnerable we all are to the possibility of an earthquake in our part of the world. Living near the New Madrid Seismic Zone, it is only a matter of time before a large earthquake hits close to home.

So in my search for earthquake information today, I came across this fun game from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency:

 

Just as Unprepared Ursula was starting to feel good about preparedness, she realized there was an emergency situation she had never really considered: What happens in the event of a nuclear power plant incident? It may seem improbable, but nuclear power plants exist outside of The Simpson’s. Luckily Team Preparedness has the answer!

Why talk about nuclear power plants?
Nuclear power plants operate in most states in the country (including Missouri and Illinois) and produce about 20 percent of the nation’s power. Nearly three million people live within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of an operating nuclear power plant.

Have you ever heard the term “apheresis?”

Apheresis is a special type of blood donation that allows for the collection of a specific blood part, or component, such as platelets. Platelets aid in the clotting process to prevent or stop bleeding and are vital in helping patients with leukemia or other cancers. Due to recent advances in medical treatment, the demand for platelets is growing dramatically, but platelets collected from whole blood donations can no longer meet current demands.

Guess what?

“The Last Measle" – a video that the Red Cross produced last year – has been chosen as a finalist in the Large Organization category for the 4th Annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards!

This was an incredibly competitive year, with submissions of 750 videos from more than 450 nonprofit organizations in 4 countries. They will select the top video in our category based on a public vote that begins today and ends at midnight EDT on Wednesday, April 7.

The nominated video is below, but you must CLICK HERE to view the 16 finalists and vote. So be sure to check out these truly inspirational videos and don’t forget to cast your vote!!

Miles per gallon, parts per million, cost per kilowatt hour – these are terms of measurement we have heard before. They are concrete terms that measure very specific things.

What intrigues me though are those concepts that are difficult to measure…How do you measure compassion? What unit of measurement do we use to quantify appreciation? What about empathy? 

I find myself using terms like oodles. Uber.  A whole bunch. Lots and Lots! There are some things that are difficult to put a finite value on.

These ideas remind me of the MasterCard commercials – you know the ones. Candlelight Dinner for two: $90. One Carat diamond engagement ring: $2500. The perfect proposal: Priceless!
 

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.