October is Zombie Preparedness Month!

Just a few more days left in the month of October. Are you prepared for a zombie apocalypse?! If not, then it is time you get ready. Once you are prepared for a zombie apocalypse, you are prepared for any type of emergency.

                                                                             (Credit to the CDC. emergency.cdc.gov)

To get prepared follow the 3 basic emergency preparedness steps

                                                                          ( Credit to the CDC. emergency.cdc.gov)

When making your zombie preparedness kit, don’t forget to include the basic essential items and then add your zombie necessities.

·         Water (one gallon per person)

·         Food (non –perishable, high in protein)

·         Flashlight

·         First Aid Kit

·         Medications (Prescription and non-prescription)

·         Battery operated or crank radio

·         Tools (can opener, wrench, screw driver, hammer etc.)

·         Clothing (change of clothes, sturdy shoes, gloves and a blanket)

·         Sanitary supplies

·         Cash

·         Contact information

·         Map

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently offering Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse. Also, check out their Zombie Novella!

www.cdc.gov/phpr/zombies_novella.htm

-Jessica

New Member, Jessica!!

The door at the American Red Cross is one that is revolving. We are people helping people. You can receive services and later join our amazing team as a volunteer or staff member and give back. My own personal journey began in February when I was a student at Fresno State. Thrilled, I joined the American Red Cross office in Fresno as a Service to the Armed Forces Intern. As an intern I had the opportunity to gain leadership experience while doing exactly what I love, providing services in the time of need to military members and their families.  During my time spent as an intern I also learned various skills and had the opportunity to teach the community how to be prepared in the event of a natural or domestic disaster. I took advantage of my internship and learned all that I could about Red Cross services and how we help people. At the end of the day nothing matters to me more than helping my community in any way that I can. Therefore, I greatly appreciate the opportunity the American Red Cross has given me to join the team as an AmeriCorp member. I will now serve as a Preparedness Coordinator and will work out of the Visalia office, serving the counties of Kings, Tulare and Kern.

Bakersfield Preparedness Rally

(Left, me & Right, Gaby)

New Earthquake App

Are you ready for some BIG news?!... The official American Red Cross Earthquake app was launched today! This new and informative app is FREE for iPhone and Android platforms. Not to mention as a way to provide easy accessible information to as many people as possible, the app is currently available in both English and Spanish.

The earthquake app is the third in a series of apps launched this year by the American Red Cross. First in the series was the First Aid app, providing information regarding asthma attacks, bleeding, broken bones, burns, choking and the list goes on. The Hurricane app was launched second, providing information and locations of Red Cross shelters. During Hurricane Isaac app users were able to send “I’m safe” messages to loved ones. The just released Earthquake app will provide information on what to do before, during and after an earthquake. As a part of the app, new “Shake Zone Impact Maps” will provide app users with specific local information regarding the status of their community.

Features of the app include:

§  Earthquake epicenter location, impact magnitude and local geographical impact data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey;

§  Personalized push notifications, monitoring both magnitude and geography;

§  A “Shake Zone Impact Map” that provides real-time, simplified impact assessment when available;

§  Comprehensive reporting of all seismic activity for every geographic area in the United States;

§  Options to view the app in English or Spanish based on user handset settings;

§  One touch “I'm safe” messaging that allows users to broadcast reassurance to family and friends via social media outlets that they are out of harm's way;

§  Locations of open Red Cross shelters;

§  Simple steps and checklists people can use to create a family emergency plan;

§  Preloaded content that gives users instant access to critical action steps, even without mobile connectivity;

§  Information on events that may happen after earthquakes such as fires and tsunamis;

§  Toolkit with flashlight, strobe light and audible alarm; and

§  Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

We are putting lifesaving information right into the palm of your hands. I encourage everyone to download this FREE amazing lifesaving app today!

Red Cross Month 2012 - Presidential Proclamation

AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH, 2012

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION 

After more than 130 years of providing humanitarian relief at home and abroad, the American Red Cross remains a reflection of the compassion and generosity central to our national identity. At moments of profound need, the actions of men and women across our country reflect our noblest ideals of service -- from search-and-rescue teams that brave disaster zones to ordinary citizens who deliver not only lifesaving care and supplies, but also hope for a brighter tomorrow. During American Red Cross Month, we pay tribute to all those whose dedication to relieving human suffering illuminates even our darkest hours.


A visionary humanitarian and unyielding advocate for those in need, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 after many years of tending to soldiers and families injured in war's wake. In the generations that followed, the American Red Cross served as a force for peace and recovery during times of crisis. Presidents of the United States have called upon the American Red Cross time and again, beginning when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Red Cross Week during the First World War, and continuing into the 21st century.


Today, emergency response organizations like the American Red Cross continue to play a vital role in responding to disasters that cast countless lives and communities into harm's way. When devastating storms struck cities spanning the Midwest to the Eastern Seaboard this past year, the American Red Cross and other relief organizations were instrumental partners in preparedness, response, and recovery. And when a devastating earthquake shook Japan's Pacific coast, they answered by extending support to the people of Japan and standing with them as they rebuild.


We are reminded in times like these that the strength of our humanitarian response and the measure of our resilience are drawn not only from the committed action of relief organizations, but also from individuals who step forward, volunteer, or give what they can to help their neighbors in need. With generous spirits and can-do attitudes, Americans from every corner of our country have come together again and again to show the true character of our Nation. As we celebrate American Red Cross Month, let us resolve to preserve and renew that humanitarian impulse to save, to serve, and to build, and carry it forward in the year to come.


NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2012 as American Red Cross Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, and by supporting the work of service and relief organizations.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

Just In Case You Missed Team Firestopper In Your Community!

Team Firestopper hosted an event on Saturday, February 25, 2012 to help support fire safety in Fresno’s Highway City Community. This seminar was to help encourage all the residents of this area to be aware of fire hazards, what to do in case of a fire, and how to save someone if CPR was needed. Prior to the seminar, 50 families were able to sign up to get a free fire safety kit, which included things like a fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, and a smoke detector.

There were a total of 56 families in attendance on Saturday, I believe that we did have a great turn out, and everyone that participated had a great experience, and walked away with a lot of information and knowledge on how to be prepared in case of a fire. Once families were registered they were able to go to one of the many booths that were set up, which were ran by volunteers. The booths consisted of hands only CPR, getting a kit ready in case of a fire, learning how to use various fire safety equipment like a fire extinguisher, planning a fire escape route out of the house, pet fire safety, and as well as a PG&E booth. Free lunch was provided to everyone who participated, which was a plus and a great way to end the whole event. Document protection boxes and first aid kits were raffled off at the end, with almost every participant leaving home with some fire safety prize in hand. Overall, the event was great; everyone met someone new, participants left with free prizes, and we had great weather!

Volunteering at this event meant that I was helping these families to potentially save a life if needed. I was placed at the hands only CPR station and I felt that many of the participants did not know how to perform CPR, if they did, they needed to refresh their memories on some of the exact steps to take. Volunteering, especially for an event like this, is very rewarding. Knowing that you have taught these families something important, that hopefully they will remember and use in case of an emergency is gratifying. I feel volunteering is a way to meet other volunteers and community members; it is a way to find out about problems in the community, and if possible finding a way to try to fix them. Helping others when it is needed most and giving back to the community is what volunteering is all about.

Alyssa Tapia, Intern

Preparedness Services

New Look, Same Red Cross.

The American Red Cross officially unveiled its new logo in early January, featuring the iconic Red Cross in a button, to symbolize the personal investment of volunteers, employees and supporters in the Red Cross mission. The Red Cross, one of the world’s most recognized and trusted brands, has historically represented hope, safety on the battlefield, and care in crisis.

This new look is designed to reflect the organization as it is today: modern, authentic and innovative. The updated identity is meant to appeal to both long-time Red Cross supporters and an entirely new generation of volunteers and donors, eager to show their affiliation with the organization. This presentation of the Red Cross logo is similar to the lapel pins and buttons worn by Red Cross supporters in the early part of the 20th century.

While most people think of disaster relief and blood donation when they think of the Red Cross, the updated brand identity is meant to invite people to learn more about the organization and its mission.”We want to show more people how they can be part of a Red Cross that intersects with their lives in many ways,” said Peggy Dyer, chief marketing officer of the Red Cross. “We’re proud of both our history and our future. We look forward to telling our story to a wider audience and the new brand identity is an important step in that process.”

The American Red Cross will continue to roll out its new look when it debuts a redesigned corporate website later this year. The new site will feature the logo button, updated graphics and an enhanced use of photography. It will also feature user-generated content to allow individuals to share their Red Cross experiences.

The American Red Cross is currently developing a public-service ad campaign that will feature stories of people whose lives have been touched by the Red Cross mission.

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

PHILIPPINES: Last week a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit western Visayas and some parts of northern Mindanao in the Philippines, claiming at least 22 lives with a further 71 people missing and 52 injured. Within hours of the earthquake the Philippine Red Cross, with the support of the IFRC, deployed 500 food packs, 1,000 bottles of drinking water, 1,000 sleeping mats, 1,000 blankets, 500 jerry cans, 30 tents and one mobile warehouse to serve as the temporary hospital.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Early this month a ferry carrying at least 560 passengers sank off the north coast of Papua New Guinea. Two weeks later, over 180 people were still missing with authorities believing the death toll could reach at least 200. Staff and volunteers of the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society have been at the scene of the disaster since the accident occurred, offering counseling to relatives of the passengers waiting anxiously on shore and carrying out small distributions of emergency relief supplies.

SYRIA: Relief efforts continue in Syria as the violence escalates. Over the weekend Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoys reached the cities of Homs and Bloudan, providing much needed food, medical supplies, blankets, and hygiene consumables to thousands of people. The Syrian Red Crescent and the ICRC are planning further missions to continue providing humanitarian aid to people affected by the unrest.

BANGLADESH: Throughout the last decade, the ICRC has been working with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society to promote international humanitarian law to authorities in Bangladesh. Last week deans and department heads of 35 public and private universities in Bangladesh met to discuss the inclusion of international humanitarian law in their curricula. Additionally, this week the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an anti-crime force, is participating in an ICRC training course on humanitarian principles and international human rights law in domestic legislation.


GLOSSARY:

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

Team Firestopper Is Fire Proofing The Highway City Community. Are You Prepared?

The American Red Cross Central Valley Region will be visiting the Highway City community to educate residents about fire prevention on Saturday, February 25th, 2012 from 11:00AM – 1:00PM.

American Red Cross volunteers will host a Fire Safety Seminar at Central Community Church in Highway City where participants will learn how to conduct a home hazard hunt, perform a safety makeover, and help families develop a disaster plan through a program called Team Firestopper.

There are simple steps that everyone can take to protect their home and family from fire. Team Firestopper shares this information with people in communities that are disproportionately affected by fires. As part of the program the Red Cross will be distributing FREE smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, surge protectors, and disaster preparedness kits to the first 50 families to register by calling the American Red Cross Central Valley. Participants must reside within the 93722 zip code. Pacific Gas & Electric Company presents Team Firestopper through a million dollar campaign that encourages Valley residents to Be Red Cross Ready by following these three steps. Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be Informed.

The American Red Cross Central Valley Region Team Firestopper program will work to prevent home fires in neighborhoods with typically high incidences of home fires to create a disaster-resistant community.

If you currently live in the Highway City community please call (559) 455-1000 to register for Team Firestopper!

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

SYRIA: Violence in Syria continues with one of the latest casualties being the secretary-general of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Dr. Abd-al-Razzaq Jbeiro. Dr. Jbeiro was shot in a vehicle clearly marked with the red crescent emblem after attending meetings at Syrian Arab Red Crescent headquarters in Damascus. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, IFRC, and ICRC are renewing calls for an end to violence, while volunteers continue to administer life-saving first aid to the injured.

IVORY COAST: Following the second round of presidential elections in late 2010 where both candidates claimed victory, tension and violence grew into a full-fledged armed conflict in Ivory Coast. In the chaos, hundreds of children lost contact with their families. The ICRC and the Liberian Red Cross have registered around 600 children separated from their parents and areworking to bring the children back their families.

PHILIPPINES: As tens of thousands of survivors in Mindanao, Philippines enter their second month of uncertainty, the Red Cross is announcing plans to drastically increase its support to communities affected by December’s Typhoon Washi. The revised operation will see the Red Cross provide 2,000 families with cash or other livelihoods support as well as reaching 15,000 families – an estimated 75,000 people – with food, water storage containers and hygiene kits. In all, the Red Cross now intends to reach 100,000 people through these various interventions.

SUDAN: For Darfur's pastoral communities, livestock is essential for their sustenance and constitutes the backbone of the local economy. The lack of rain, desertification and prevailing insecurity has stressed herding communities into animal overcrowding at the few options remaining, leading to increased risk of disease. The ICRC has been extending its support by training animal health workers and through large-scale vaccination campaigns in remote areas of Darfur, and in response herders are reporting a dramatic decrease in the number of animals they are losing to disease.


GLOSSARY:

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

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

PHILIPPINES: Last week tropical storm Washi swept through entire villages in several areas of the Philippines, causing the deaths of an estimated nearly 1,000 people and massive damage to infrastructure, including the water system. The ICRC, led by it’s local partner the Philippine Red Cross, distributed food packs, essential household items and hygiene kits for 18,000 people in three of the areas hardest hit within the first 48 hours. With more than 270,000 people now lacking access to clean drinking water, ICRC water and habitat engineers are devising ways to bring water from the undamaged water sources and of storing it for use by the survivors.

HAITI: The Haiti Red Cross Society is working to recycle rubble from the earthquake in 2010 to prepare for future disasters. So far they have been able to take 25,000 cubic meters of rubble and have local residents process it into concrete blocks, paving slabs or walls which will stop the ground from slipping away during Haiti’s next heavy rains or in case of another earthquake. The rubble recycling is just one part of the Haiti Red Cross Society’s neighborhood development support that assists in providing shelters, access to water and sanitation, and job opportunities along with training and technical support.

SOMALIA: Torrential rains that started in the southern provinces of Somalia in early October were welcomed in the drought stricken nation, however most roads were turned into rivers that have slowed down transport and delivery of food aid. Together with the Somali Red Crescent Society, the ICRC has distributed beans, rice and oil to over 917,000 people in southern and central Somalia. This will help farmers bridge the gap until January, when they will be able to harvest from seed the ICRC has also distributed.

NORTH KOREA: In North Korea, meager crops were severely damaged after being struck by a typhoon and flooding in July and August. Now, with the arrival of the first snow, people in the area are busy preparing for what they expect to be a severe winter. The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, supported by the IFRC, has so far distributed 288 metric tons of yellow maize to 6,051 of the most vulnerable families (24,827 people) who were severely affected by floods and subsequent food shortages in three target counties in South Hwanghae province.


GLOSSARY:

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

Happy Hanukkah from the Muppets!

Yes, it’s time to break out the old menorah to start celebrating the Festival of Lights with the family.  However, before you get too many candles lit this season, the Red Cross and a few Muppets would like to share some tips to prevent your holiday from going up in flames.

• Remember that lit candles are fire. Keep them at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, such as curtains, bedding, mattresses, paper, books, flammable decorations, clothing, and upholstered furniture.
• Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed. Do not leave a room before blowing out all candles.
• Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Place candles where they cannot be reached or knocked over by pets and children.
• During an emergency, always use flashlights and not candles as light sources.
• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. And keep all matches and lighters out of reach and out of site of children.
• Keep all lit candles and other open flames away from any flammable liquids.
• Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and use the test button to check each alarm each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.

Once again, Beaker shares with us the importance of fire safety:

All In A Year's Work - Red Cross Recap of 2011

American Red Cross Had 137 Big U.S. Relief Operations in 46 States in Disaster-Filled 2011

The American Red Cross helped hundreds of thousands of people whose lives were forever changed by disasters in 2011, from tornadoes, floods, wildfires and hurricanes in the U.S. to earthquakes and other disasters around the world.

Throughout the year, the American Red Cross supported the people of Japan and Haiti, while launching 137 domestic disaster relief operations in 46 states and territories to help people affected by fires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes across the United States. In addition, major international disasters included the Japan earthquake and tsunami response and the continuing work following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

“The number of lives affected by large disasters in the past year is simply staggering,” said, Ellen Knapp, Regional Chief Executive Officer. “Devastating tornadoes, flooding and wildfires wiped out entire neighborhoods. Through it all, the Red Cross, our partners, and communities nationwide responded, offering people shelter, food and comfort.”

In the United States, the Red Cross opened 1,019 shelters and provided more than 130,000 overnight stays. 27,622 trained disaster workers served more than 6.7 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 2.6 million relief items. Health and mental health workers provided more than 133,000 consultations and Red Cross workers opened 16,752 cases to help people get on the road to recovery.

State after state faced the powerful force of tornadoes in 2011. Devastating winds plowed through many neighborhoods, leaving destruction in their wake. Through it all, the Red Cross was on the scene, providing a safe place to stay, food to eat and supplies to help with the clean-up. The Red Cross helped people affected by large-scale tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin in 2011.

A large part of the country – almost 20 states – was impacted by flooding in 2011. The Red Cross launched 27 relief operations related to flooding in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont.

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee caused the need for relief operations in more than a dozen states. Thousands of disaster workers were deployed and more than 250 Red Cross feeding trucks were sent into neighborhoods to distribute meals and clean-up supplies. In New York and New Jersey alone, the Red Cross provided almost 34,000 overnight stays in shelters and distributed more than 840,000 meals and snacks.

Wildfires consumed almost four million acres across the state of Texas, and destroyed thousands of acres in New Mexico, Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma. Again, the Red Cross stepped in to help in the fire-ravaged neighborhoods, providing a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support for those forced to leave their homes, as well as firefighters and first responders.

The Red Cross depends on the generous support of the American public to assist people affected by disasters. If you would like to help, please consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

More 12 Days of the Red Cross!

The Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross put together an adorable video set to the popular carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” – check it out to see just what kind of gifts the Red Cross loves to give!

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

EAST TIMOR: A team of well-trained Red Cross Volunteers recently helped with a horrific collision in regional East Timor. Four people died and almost 20 more were seriously injured when a troop carrier crashed two hours south of the capital, Dili. Nurses and doctors at the local hospital in Aileu were overwhelmed by the size of the emergency and Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste volunteers stepped-in to help. For eight years, the organization has received funding and training support from the Japanese Red Cross and the IFRC.

IRAQ: People in rural Iraq are among the most severely affected by seemingly never-ending violence, the lack of economic perspectives and of appropriate infrastructure. The ICRC is helping needy farmers increase their production in a sustainable way, and since September has provided some 900 farmers in Diyala, Baghdad, Wassit, Babil and Anbar governorates with drip irrigation systems benefiting over 6,300 people. Since the beginning of the year, almost 42,000 people, mainly in rural areas of central Iraq, have been given a boost by ICRC livelihood support projects.

LIBYA: More than 100 surgeons are enhancing their skills treating gunshot and blast-wounded patients through a seminar in Tripoli this week. The training is being co-organized by ICRC and the Ministry of Health. The ICRC conducted similar workshops in Benghazi, Tripoli and the Nefusa Mountains earlier in 2011.

INDONESIA: The ICRC has recently completed a mass scabies treatment program at the Labuhan Deli Prison in Medan, North Sumatra, working with the Indonesian Directorate General of Corrections. Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by tiny, invisible mites that spreads easily in crowded surroundings such as at prisons. The campaign benefited 908 inmates, who had been living with scabies for years.

NIGERIA: Many children in Nigeria miss school or find it hard to concentrate because of the little talked of illnesses caused by worms. The Mushin division of the Nigerian Red Cross Society is tackling this by distributing de-worming tablets and teaching students about the importance of taking them regularly. So far 35 Red Cross volunteers have targeted 84 primary schools and provided tablets to over 22,000 children.


GLOSSARY:

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

The Twelve Days of a "Red Cross" Christmas

Christmas is a special time to celebrate and be thankful for family and friends. Give the gift that keeps on giving this season, the gift of health and safety to yourself and others.

Here is a Red Cross rewrite of "The 12 Days of Christmas." I think you will like the creativity we've shown. Sing along with the words to remind you to keep using healthy and safe behaviors during the holidays and throughout the year. Reminder, there is only 12 days left until Christmas!

1. On the first day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Seat belts should be clicking into place.

2. On the second day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

3. On the third day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

4. On the fourth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

5. On the fifth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

6. On the sixth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Wash your hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

7. On the seventh day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

8. On the eighth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

9. On the ninth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Prepare for emergencies, eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

10. On the tenth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Be tobacco free, prepare for emergencies, eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

11. On the eleventh day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Take a CPR course, be tobacco-free, prepare for emergencies, eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

12. On the twelfth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Make a donation, take a CPR course, be tobacco-free, prepare for emergencies, eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

PAKISTAN: This year alone, more than 12,000 people have benefited from services in physical rehabilitation centers supported by the ICRC in Peshawar, Quetta and Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. The centersprovide custom-made artificial limbs and supportive devices, crutches and wheelchairs designed according to the needs of the patients. Physiotherapy helps patients learn how to use new devices and to regain their full mobility.

YEMEN: Violence in the Yemeni city of Taiz has had a serious impact on basic services in recent weeks, with life-saving medical services especially hard hit. The ICRC is reaching out to authorities, fighters and all others involved to respect human life and dignity and to allow first-aid and medical teams to treat and transport injured people in safety.

AFGHANISTAN: The ICRC's assistance activities are helping to create incomes for vulnerable rural communities by piloting a poultry rearing, food-for-work project with primarily women entrepreneurs. In the months since the scheme began more than 240 women have participated in the eight cluster villages. Each has raised around 15 chickens and collected an average of 20 eggs from each hen per month.

SRI LANKA: The war is over but now the people of Sri Lanka have the hard task of rebuilding their lives and homes. The Australian Red Cross is playing a key role in dealing with the acute housing deficit in Sri Lanka, but unlike many donors it is not building houses for people by contracting foreign companies and workers to do the job. Here, people build their own housesbased on five specific cash grants, each one coinciding with the completion of a specific construction task.



GLOSSARY:

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

Christmas Tree Fire Safety!

What's a holiday party or even the traditional Christmas morning scene itself without a beautifully decorated tree? If your household, as those of more than 33 million other American homes, includes a natural tree in its festivities, take to heart the sales person's suggestion—"Keep the tree watered." That's good advice and not just to create a fragrant indoor winter wonderland atmosphere. Christmas trees account for 250 fires annually, resulting in 14 deaths, 26 injuries and more than $13.8 million in property damage. Typically shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. Dry and neglected trees can be.

The video clip above from the Building and Fire Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology illustrates what happens when fire touches a dry tree. Within three seconds of ignition, the dry Scotch pine is completely ablaze. At five seconds, the fire extends up the tree and black smoke with searing gases streaks across the ceiling. Fresh air near the floor feeds the fire. The sofa, coffee table and the carpet ignite prior to any flame contact. Within 40 seconds "flashover" occurs - that's when an entire room erupts into flames, oxygen is depleted and dense, deadly toxic smoke engulfs the scene.

Wet trees tell a different story. For comparative purposes, the NIST fire safety engineers selected a green Scotch pine, had it cut in their presence, had an additional two inches cut from the trunk's bottom, and placed the tree in a stand with at least a 7.6 liter water capacity. The researchers maintained the Scotch pine's water on a daily basis. A single match could not ignite the tree. A second attempt in which an electric current ignited an entire matchbook failed to fire the tree. Finally they applied an open flame to the tree using a propane torch. The branches ignited briefly, but self-extinguished when the researchers removed the torch from the branches. As NIST fire safety engineers say: REMEMBER, A WET TREE IS A SAFE TREE!

Your local Red Cross Chapter responds to home fires on average every 14 hours. You can help prevent home fires by taking a FREE preparedness course from the Red Cross, or becoming a Community Preparedness Education Leader. For more information contact alex@arccentralvalley.org