» Health & Safety

Danielle May Cause High Surf and Rip Currents

Wendy Harman — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:34:24 +0000

Despite being hundreds of miles from shore, Hurricane Danielle will bring high surf and dangerous rip currents along the east coast this weekend.

Hurricane Danielle is currently a Category Four storm with winds of 135 mph. She is projected to travel well east of Bermuda and not make landfall in the US. Forecasters are predicting dangerous waves and rip tides all along the coast over the next several days.

If you’re planning a trip to an east coast beach this weekend, please brush up on these tips:

Be aware of how dangerous rip currents are.
Swim only at beaches with lifeguards in the designated swimming area.
If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight the current.
Swim parallel to shore until free of the current.
Once free, turn and swim toward shore.
If you feel that you won’t make it in to the shore, draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.
If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1. Throw the swimmer something that floats – a lifejacket, cooler, inflatable ball, and yell instructions on how to escape the current.
When at the beach, check conditions before you enter the water. Check to see if any warning flags are up or ask a lifeguard about water conditions, beach conditions, or any potential hazards.

For more information on Rip Currents, please visit NOAA and United States Lifesaving Association.

What We’re Reading

Wendy Harman — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:23:58 +0000

Red Cross begins massive SMS campaign in Port-au-Prince [ReliefWeb]
The Red Cross is this week sending hundreds of thousands of SMS across Port-au-Prince in an effort to help people prepare themselves for the hurricane season.

First Aid Kit [MySpace]
Swedish folk group aiming for hearts instead of charts. You can buy a physical first aid kit from us here.

Ella [YouTube]
This is the story of Ella, a Sierra Leone Red Cross Society employee.

Pakistan Floods [YouTube]
You can donate via American Red Cross

Wordless Wednesday [Heritage Zen]
World War I Red Cross volunteers standing in front of St. Mary’s Church (Our Lady of Czestochowa), in Worcester, MA.

Archives Reveal [Smithsonian Institute blog]
During World War I, Woodrow and Edith Wilson kept a flock of sheep on the White House grounds to save costs to cut the grass, The wool was also auctioned off to raise money for the Red Cross.

I can see the headline now… [Columbus Red Cross chapter blog]
I felt a strong responsibility to tell gawkers, including my own family, to find shelter instead of watching this funnel cloud turn up in the sky on a warm evening in August while vacationing on Lake Erie – I work for the Red Cross after all.

9 year old hero saves drowning brother [ABC]
A 9-year-old boy is being credited with saving his 2-year-old brother’s life in a swimming pool accident in Joliet, Illinois, thanks to a life-saving CPR class. Take a class today.

California to deploy nation’s first mass mobile alert system [Government Technology]
California and Sprint have officially joined forces to spearhead the nation’s first mass mobile alert system, which means warnings about terrorist attacks, wildfires, hurricanes, school shootings and other emergency situations could soon be at citizens’ fingertips.

A rare fire tornado filmed in Brazil [BBC]
A ‘fire tornado’ has been caught on camera in the Brazilian municipality of Aracatuba, caused by strong, dry winds that fanned wildfires. A whirlwind of flames spiralling several metres high danced across fields, bringing traffic to a halt on a nearby road, before it disappeared. The phenomenon followed weeks of drought which have sparked brush fires across the country.

Mad Men and Ghostbusters

Wendy Harman — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:32:47 +0000

Here are 5 blog posts from local chapters we think you’ll enjoy. You can also find your local chapters on Facebook.

Time to perform CPR on Mad Men [Chicago Chapter]
Danger Will Robinson, Danger! [Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter]
Eternal Optimism of the American Mind [Louisville Chapter]
Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts [Oregon Trail Chapter]
Shipping Supplies to Iowa [St. Louis Chapter]

Ice Cream, Toast, and Duct Tape

Wendy Harman — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:06:37 +0000

Here are 3 blog posts from local chapters we think you’ll enjoy. You can also find your local chapters on Facebook.

Ice Cream + Volunteerism = The Perfect Combo [Tallahassee Chapter]
Toast Emergency! [Oregon Trail Chapter]
Are you Duct Tape Savvy? [Louisville Chapter]

Tweets of the Day: CPR edition

Wendy Harman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:52:03 +0000

Everyone should learn CPR! You never know when you can save a life! RT @KTVU: Heart-Attack Victim Saved By Pizza Man http://bit.ly/dw37rN#fbless than a minute ago via UberTwitterChristine Mabry
ChristineMabry

People, I’m CPR certified and will SAVE. YOUR. LIFE. less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhoneAndrea Marchant
andreamarchant

RT @NikiOtt: Started my day doing CPR..what a start to the day. Saving lives..that’s what I do. less than a minute ago via TweetDeckSemaray Lambert
Mr1upOvaYoU

Jalen takes a CPR & First Aid Class

Jalen Chow — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:25:43 +0000

Today I attended a CPR & First Aid Class. In this class we learned to do CPR and operate an AED or Defibrillator. When I first saw how long the class would take (four – five hours) I was surprised, but once it started it went by fairly quickly because there was so much to learn. We practiced the steps that you would take if you found an unconscious person and needed to help them.We practiced with dummies to simulate what giving CPR would really be like. I was able to gain a lot of new information that could very well allow me to save a life in the very near future.
The ARC CPR & First Aid Class has been very effective. For example, I talked to a 17-year-old lifeguard who received training at the Red Cross and on his very first day at work he pulled a man out of the pool and gave him CPR and it saved his life. Can you imagine saving someone’s life on your first day of work? There are all these amazing stories and I was so inspired by them. At the end of the class, I got my official CPR certification. It feels good to know that I have learned the skills that could one day save a life.

Here are some other interesting facts about the ARC CPR & First Aid Class:
1. The ARC trains 10,000,000 people in CPR and First Aid per year!
2. Every one of the 722 Red Cross chapters offers training, so if you’re interested in signing up, you can just contact your nearest chapter.
3. They have a number of classes from babysitting to lifeguard training, so no matter what your interests, they probably have something for you.

Red Cross Mascots

Wendy Harman — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:58:25 +0000

Urlesque is showcasing 34 extremely silly mascots today. There are some great characters included, but we want to play, too.

When it comes to mascots we’ve definitely got a few around here:

Who’s your favorite mascot of all time?

Be cool…

Wendy Harman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:44:26 +0000

Just be cool… Be cool… Blend in.

It’s hard for any of us to be cool this week. You know, because of the heat wave!

Here are some tips to help you try, though:

What should I do during a heat wave?

Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical updates from the National Weather Service (NWS).
Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
Eat small meals and eat more often.
Avoid extreme temperature changes.
Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
Postpone outdoor games and activities.
Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors.
Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat.

Happy Like the Emoti-sun

Wendy Harman — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:36:37 +0000

Summer’s here! We want yours to be as happy as this emotisun.

>> Here’s how to prepare for a safe summer

Whatever you do, please do not dive like any of these people.

Jada Pinkett Smith and the Red Cross Nurses

Wendy Harman — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:48:50 +0000

Jada Pinkett Smith’s TNT show HawthoRNe is on tour and our Red Cross nurses around the country are helping out.

You can help out too by joining the HawthoRNe Facebook Cause. HawthoRNe is matching each person who joins the Cause with $1 up to $10,000.