After Months of Non-Stop Disaster Response, American Red Cross Seeks New Volunteers to Help Storm Victims

Rash of Weather Events Deplete Local Resources

Mother Nature was harsh this past spring. She left more than 2,000 Texas families without homes, caused the Red Cross to open 60 shelters, hand out more than 340,000 meals and snacks along with 171,000 clean-up items like shovels, tarps, rakes, mops, buckets and work gloves. Her relentless nature was responded to by a force of nature made up of 2,200 trained Red Cross relief workers from around the country, with nearly half being Texans. 

Now, the Red Cross is offering virtual training courses in an attempt to recruit new volunteers to deliver their mission critical services. 

“Because the sun is shining doesn’t mean this disaster has passed,” said T.D. Smyers, chief executive officer, American Red Cross North Texas Region. “It’s quite the opposite actually. Our teams will be managing the statewide Red Cross call center, conducting disaster assessments and providing casework services most likely up through August, which is why we’re appealing for new volunteers to come join us.”

Virtual training courses are being offered this weekend in the following areas:

June 27	Orientation to Texas Disaster	9:00am-10:00am
	Caseworker: Just in Time	10:00am-12:30pm
	Disaster Assessment: Just in Time	2:30pm-3:30pm
	Sheltering: Just in Time	3:30pm-4:30pm
June 29	Orientation to Texas Disaster	9:00am-10:00am 6:30pm-7:30pm
	Sheltering: Just in Time	10:00am-11:00am 7:30pm-8:30pm
	Disaster Assessment: Just in Time	11:00am-Noon 8:30pm-9:30pm
	Casework: Just in Time	1:00pm-3:30pm 6:30pm-9:00pm

To register as a new Red Cross volunteer, go to http://www.redcross.org/tx/dallas-fort-worth/volunteer and click on ARC Flood Relief. From there, you'll receive instructions on how to register for the virtual training. All Red Cross disaster training courses are FREE, compliments of Red Cross donors who make the mission possible. 

“My team here in North Texas has literally been working around the clock since mid-April and they’ve done an honorable job for Texans,” said Smyers. “We need some more just like them to carry us through the second half of this disaster.”

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Workplace Preparedness

As National Preparedness Month comes to an end, let’s focus on workplace safety preparedness. You should have an escape plan, locate emergency tools, know where the safe area is located, and know how to handle urgent medical emergencies.

An escape plan prepares you to calmly exit the building in case of a fire or other emergency that threatens the safety of your building. Practice evacuating by walking the exit route and knowing where you are supposed to go once outside of the building.

Locate the closest emergency tools to your work area. Know where the fire alarm, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and automated external defibrillator (AED) are located.

Locate the designated safe area in case of a natural disaster, such as a tornado. Be familiar with lockdown procedures to secure your work environment from other threats.

You should know how to handle urgent medical emergencies or know who in your workplace is trained. The American Red Cross offers a variety of training courses to prepare you. Contact your Dallas Area Chapter coordinator Andria Butler at 214-678-4320 to arrange on-site training for your company.

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Are You Prepared?

September is National Preparedness Month. Are you prepared? There are three critical things you can do today. Make a plan of what you will do in an emergency, get an emergency kit, and be informed of your community resources.

Your emergency plan should start by including all the members of your household to discuss how to respond to emergencies that are most likely where you live. These events can range from those affecting only you and your family, like a home fire or medical emergency, to those affecting your entire community, like a tornado or flood. Make sure each person knows how to contact each other, including an out-of-area emergency contact person, and knows where to meet if they can't go home. Additional emergency plans should be identified for the places you work or learn.

Your emergency preparedness kit should contain enough supplies for three days in case you need to evacuate. The American Red Cross also recommends having at least two weeks worth of supplies at home. Supplies should include water (one gallon, per person, per day), nonperishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, first aid kit, a 7-day supply of medications, a multi-purpose tool, sanitation and personal hygiene items and copies of important personal documents. The following video shows you how easy it is to build a kit.

Being informed involves identifying how you will get information, whether through local radio, TV or NOAAWeather stations or channels. Learn what disasters or emergencies may occur where you live, learn, work and play. Take proactive steps now because when a major disaster occurs, your community can change in an instant. Those around you may be hurt and emergency response is likely to be delayed. Completing training in first aid and CPR and knowing how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) is an important step in being ready.

The Dallas Area Chapter offers several First Aid with CPR/AED classes. These classes give individuals the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide basic care for injuries and sudden illnesses, including how to use an AED for victims of sudden cardiac arrest, until advanced medical personnel arrive. Register at redcrossdallas.org , by calling Cynthia Gonzalez at 214-678-4816 for monthly classes offered at the Dallas Area Chapter or by calling Andria Butler at 214-678-4320 to arrange on-site training for your company.

In honor of National Preparedness Month, let’s make a plan, make a kit and be informed.

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Earl Reminds Us to Always be Prepared

Hurricane Earl has battered the northeastern Caribbean with heavy rain and sustained winds of 135 mph causing flooding and power outages. This category 4 storm is on a path projected to hit the East Coast. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warns residents from North Carolina to Maine to monitor the storm. These types of storms are a great reminder that it is important to be prepared.

The American Red Cross offers a training program "Disaster Volunteer Reserve," where individual volunteers can attend a short boot-camp training and will only be called upon when a catastrophic disaster strikes. Taking this proactive step ensures that you are in a position to help. The Dallas Area Chapter is offering several classes in September at various times and days.

The news of this current storm brings back the horrific imagines generated by Hurricane Katrina just five years ago. While many people have taken action, it is never too late to be "Ready When The Time Comes." This is a corporate volunteer program that will train shelter workers in advance of a storm.

Hurricanes are strong storms with the potential to create hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. Preparation is the best protection against these dangers. For more information you can review the Hurricane Safety Checklist.

Whether you take action as an individual or as a company, please consider being prepared before disaster strikes.

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Disaster Training is the First Step

Above are some incredible photos from the recent flooding in Laredo, Texas.

When you see these types of images, do you ever wondered how you could help? I remember exactly when I decided to start volunteering for the American Red Cross. I was sitting helplessly in my living room watching the devastation that Hurricane Katrina inflicted. The first step is to take the Introductory Disaster Volunteer Workshop. In a few hours, you will learn the Mission of the Red Cross and about mass care activities, including sheltering responsibilities, fixed and mobile feeding, and bulk distribution of essential supplies so you can become a disaster reserve volunteer.

Upcoming classes are Saturday, July 17th 9am-12:30pm, Tuesday, July 20th 6-9:30pm, Saturday, August 21st 9am-12:30pm, Tuesday, August 24th 6-9:30pm, and Saturday August 27th 9am-12:30pm. To register please email Keith Bridges at kbridges@redcrossdallas.org .

All participants receive certification cards for the Fulfilling Our Mission and Mass Care Overview classes.

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This month in Red Cross history - Red Cross Month

In 1942, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the month of March 1943 as "Red Cross Month." The Red Cross set a goal of $125 million, the largest amount ever requested in one campaign by any American organization. The response was overwhelming. It took less than six weeks to reach the target. By June 1943, donations totaled nearly $146 million. Roosevelt called it "the greatest single crusade of mercy in all history."

The success compelled the Red Cross to repeat the March drive during the remaining years of the war and to make it the occasion of its annual membership and fund raising efforts ever since. As part of the tradition, the President customarily issues a proclamation each year declaring March as Red Cross Month.

And the rest is history...

This is a great time to get involved, if you haven't already. The American Red Cross needs your help and survives on the kind-heartedness of others. You can get involved by:

• Donating blood
• Signing up for CPR, first aid or another Red Cross course
• Giving a financial gift that can really save the day when the next disaster strikes
• Getting involved as a volunteer

See, it isn't that hard to give back. We are proud of our history and appreciative of the volunteers, employees and supporters who have given time, blood or contributions to enable the Red Cross to perform its life-saving mission.

For more information, call 1-800-RED CROSS or go to redcrossdallas.org.

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Preparedness Tip of the Week: Blind Dating Don'ts

You don't want to go blindly into a disaster. As you should know by now - make a plan, get supplies and find a contact.

But once you are prepared and ready for anything, don't forget about it. Set a date - every six months - to update your plan, review your numbers and check your supplies to make sure nothing has gone bad, expired or changed.

It is also a good idea to have a household fire, tornado or other disaster drill. If you have kids, turn it into an adventure. If you don't, you can still have fun with it. You can pretend you are a superhero. With a big superhero cape. It's OK, you can rock it. I won't tell.

In the meantime, while you wait anxiously to pull your superhero cape from a small corner of your closet, you can run down to your local American Red Cross and take a disaster training class. Becoming a disaster volunteer is the lifeblood of our organization. The classes include:

• Disaster action team workshop
• Client casework: Providing emergency assistance
• Disaster assessment
• Supervision on a disaster assignment
• Mass care: overview
• Shelter operations
• Shelter simulations
• Logistics overview
• Logistics simulation
• Public affairs overview
• Public affairs: The local response
• Psychological first aid
• Serving people with disabilities
• Foundations of disaster mental health
• Health services response workshop
• In kind disaster response workshop
• Supervision in disaster
• Collaborating to ensure effective service delivery
• Emergency operations
• Command center liaison
• Disaster instructor specialty training

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When a writer, kids and preparedness collide...

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that your kids can be prepared! In fact, one writer, who has previously written the "H is for Hope" children's books in the past, has recently released, "What You Should Do in an Emergency."

It teaches kids basic CPR, the heimlich maneuver, fire safety, sun safety and pool safety.

Yes parents, I know you are already frantically checking amazon.com but the book has not made it there yet. You, preparedness maniacs, are some of the first in the loop.

As suggested, after your child reads the book they should definitely run down to your local American Red Cross and take a class.

Not too shabby, huh?

Just wait, maybe I'll get up the gumption to write my own... and sell it out of the back of my car. You never know.

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Owee! National Childhood Injury Prevention Week

I have always loved the color purple. The infatuation stems back from my childhood. Why? I can’t answer that. But, purple has gotten me into trouble before.

I was three years old and wanted to be a professional color artist. Actually, I had a Hello Kitty coloring book and thought it would be a good idea to color Hello Kitty purple. So, my search began. It led to the top of the highest plateau my little eyes could see – the kitchen counter. The giant purple crayon beckoned me. I pushed a chair across the kitchen and climbed atop it. Then, I snatched the giant purple crayon from a pencil box on the high counter top. With one fell swoop, I lost my balance. I went tumbling toward the kitchen floor clutching my giant purple crayon in my left hand. My right hand reached down to catch myself.

SNAP

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

My poor little arm was broken.

Why do I mention traumatic purple crayon incident?

Because it is National Childhood Injury Prevention Week. So, the Red Cross, me and my giant purple crayon have a few tips on keeping your kids safe:

· Lock poisonous items out of a child’s reach and use child resistant containers.
· Do not leave children unattended near pools, toilets, bathtubs, showers, hot tubs, animal troughs, outside pails, diaper pails.
· Keep children away from stoves, ovens, matches and anything else that can burn them. Use a smoke detector and have a fire extinguisher ready.
· Keep small objects away from kids. You don’t want them to choke on anything.
· Remove items children may trip over. Secure the doors and windows. Put rugs down on slippery surface, ie. Bathrooms
· Cover outlets and keep plugs locked. (I once thought an outlet would make a fun ignition for a car… put the key… not so).
· Keep plastic bags, garbage bags, cords and ropes out of reach.

Although, you always do your best to make sure your child doesn’t get hurt, they may occasionally get into some trouble. Take a First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibillator (AED) class at the American Red Cross.

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Help is on the way

Have you ever stood in the allergy aisle at the grocery store or your local convenience store? There are decongestants, antihistamines, non-drying sinus, cold & sinus, daytime, p.m., 12 hour, 24 hour, sinus & allergy, nighttime nasal decongestant, nighttime cold… need I go on?

The bandage aisle is the same… tough strips, clear, fabric, sheer, sport, Transformers, Hello Kitty… you get it.

It is hard to be prepared when there are so many options. There’s a new company that is trying to change all that. Help Remedies is putting simple back into first aid. The company’s Web site is even simple. (I played the game on the front page too… I have too much time on my hands.) The products are, “I have a headache,” “I have allergies,” “I have a blister,” “I have an aching body,” “I can’t sleep,” and “I’ve cut myself.” Easy enough, right?

Then, head down to the American Red Cross – Dallas Area Chapter for a refresher (or new) course on how to fix yourself… er, utilize proper first aid. The courses are just like that: simple. On your way out, you can stop by the bookstore and grab a simple First Aid kit too. Afterward, you will be inspired to save a life, maybe your own.

So, next time you are standing in the aisle wondering if you have a migraine or sinus headache, go for the easiest bottle and swing by the Red Cross on your way home. Who says simple is overrated?

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Baby-sitters anyone?

Growing up, I was an avid Baby-sitters Club reader. I always wanted to be Dawn, the cool Californian. Although, I was probably a little more like Mary Ann. In one of the books, the baby-sitters put together a Kid Kit and created some baby-sitting tips. Well, the Red Cross can top that.

We offer a course in baby-sitting. Click here to see the flier. In the course, you will learn how to:
* Respond to emergencies and illnesses with first aid, rescue breathing, and other appropriate care.
* Make decisions under pressure
* Communicate with the parents to learn household rules
* Recognize safety and hygiene issues
* Manage young children
* Feed, diaper, and care for infants.

How cool is that? After the class, you will be prepared to take on the kiddos (and parents). Of course, parents will be glad their children are in the care of a trained professional.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today!

Now, for a bit of nostalgia, here is a clip from The Baby-sitters Club Movie.

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