What In The World, Wednesday!

Welcome to What in the World, Wednesday! 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...

LIBYA: ICRC teams have joined forces with Libyan doctors and nurses in east of country to treat people wounded in the fighting while other members of the global Red Cross/Red Crescent network coordinate to help those displaced by the fighting.
GAMBIA: The ICRC and Gambia Red Cross Society are providing more than 400 Senegalese refugees with three-month food rations, sleeping mats, clothing, soap and hygiene kits.
Côte d'Ivoire: The ICRC and the Red Cross Society of Côte d'Ivoire are distributing medical and other supplies to hundreds of people who have fled fighting.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Survivors of sexual violence often face further suffering through social exclusion. Using theater, dance and other methods, community members trained to provide psycho-social support by the ICRC encourage relatives and society to accept the survivors.

GLOSSARY:

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

Quick Update!

"That is a hat Carmen Miranda would KILL for!"

While we can't guarantee that receiving CPR and First Aid Training from the American Red Cross would save this persons life, but we can ensure that your workplace will be better prepared against sudden cardiac arrest, choking, and first aid emergencies. To sign up for a workplace training visit us online at www.arccentralvalley.org or cal (559) 455-1000.

Do You Want To Be A Summer Lifeguard? We Can Help!

So I was watching the news this morning, and on Kopi's 10-Day Forecast he mentioned that by Thursday this week we will be having some 70 degree weather here in the Valley. I immediately thought of two things. One, I need to tan my legs before short season officially begins, and two, I need to be sure all of our local pools have a certified Red Cross lifeguard on site. Okay, I lied, the second thing I thought about was buying new flip flops. But I digress. With Spring only a few weeks away that means you are slowly running out of  time to go out and get a swimming or lifeguarding course out of the way before it's time to hit the pool.

Are you a teen starting to think about Summer jobs? Our Aquatic Lifeguard Training course will teach you the skills necessary to land that first lifeguarding position. As long as you're a competent swimmer, the class should be a cinch. Just think, you'll get paid to work on your tan by the pool all day with an endless supply of ice cream sandwiches flowing from the snack bar. Perfect! Plus, it'll look great on those college applications.

Those that spend time around water but don't need a lifeguard certification can benefit from some of our other classes, such as Basic Water Rescue - perfect for camp counselors, deck hands, fitness professionals and families with boats or pools.

Training sites are located in multiple locations in the Central Valley Region. Click HERE for a list of available classes. Don't miss out on this opportunity to save a life...starting with your own. Actually mine, because I am a horrible swimmer! So get certified today!

Prepare-aphernalia: Purified Water On-The-Go!

Raise your hand if you love your Brita! We sure do, but, would you trust your Brita when there is a “boil-water” warning out and you have no way to boil your water?

No need to fret thanks to the Hand-Powered, Battery-Free UV Water Purifier! This handy portable tool uses a proven UV system to destroy waterborne microbes, making your water safe for you, your family and your pets.

So, next time there is an earthquake, water-line break, you’re out camping and don’t pack enough water, or any other emergency situation that disrupts your drinking water supply, be happy that you took the steps to be prepared so that you won’t be parched!  
For more tips on water safety visit the CDC online or if you think that your school, company or organization would benefit from a Be Red Cross Ready presentation that focuses on being prepared for all types of emergencies, please contact Alex Villa, Program Manager, Health & Safety Services at (559) 455-1000 to schedule a presentation.

Is The House On Fire Or Is Mom Just Cooking Again?

The American Red Cross travels to local companies, organizations, clubs, community centers, churches and just about anywhere else you could think of to present to the community about how to be “Red Cross Ready.” These presentations are to demonstrate what we do at the Red Cross, what an emergency is, and how to be prepared. This would include getting a kit, making a plan, and being informed.

These presentations, however, are not only for you, but for us as well.

The questions and comments open our eyes to what the community is thinking and how we should be focusing the material that is presented. For example, during a presentation at an elementary school, a student asked if they should evacuate the home every time the smoke alarm goes off. This leads me to ask myself the question, what is most kid’s first reaction when the smoke alarm goes off? In the case of my son, he would automatically assume that I was cooking and carry on playing without giving a second thought that there may be a fire. This would seem like common sense however, this perception of smoke alarms was overlooked when presenting to these types of audiences.

So what should be done? Personally, if a smoke alarm wasn’t turned off within a minute, I would then begin to investigate and then proceed to throw a shoe at it if there was in fact no fire. However, we wouldn’t want our children to search for a fire if the smoke alarm wasn’t turned off.

So, how to answer the child’s original question of “does he need to evacuate every time?” I would now respond with: if mom or dad is in the kitchen cooking and the smoke alarm goes off for 20 seconds before they can reset it, then you don’t need to evacuate.  However, if it is 11:00pm, no one is yelling “it’s alright,” and the smoke alarm is going off for more than a minute, then you need to evacuate and go to the outdoor family meeting place.

So be sure to have these conversations with your family.  If no one is on the same page now, it will make an emergency a lot more confusing.  So make Get a kit, make a plan, and be informed!

For more information about training and preparedness courses, please contact us at (559) 455-1000 or visit us on the web at http://www.arccentralvalley.org/.

-Aaron Lloyd, Health & Safety Services Intern

What In The World, Wednesday!

Welcome to What In The World Wednesday, 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...

MEXICO: The Mexican Red Cross, with ICRC support, opened a new mobile clinicproviding medical care for migrants near the border with the United States.

LIBYA: In response to medical needs, Libyan Red Crescent staff and volunteers have been collecting blood, evacuating the wounded and working in the hospitals. The global Red Cross and Red Crescent network is working together to coordinate humanitarian response to the crisis.

Côte d'Ivoire: A month after inter-community clashes erupted, ICRC and Ivorian Red Cross volunteers are maintaining their assistance - providing emergency supplies, medical aid, and safe drinking water for thousands.

ARMENIA: Last month, theICRC and the Fuller Centre for Housing Armenia launched a joint program in Tavush province aimed at helping improve living conditions for the families of persons who went missing in connection with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

NEW ZEALAND: Among many ongoing earthquake relief efforts, sixty Red Cross welfare volunteers are working with the Christchurch City Council, going door to door in teams of two, to check in on affected people in the Eastern suburbs of Christchurch.

GLOSSARY:

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

Red Cross Asks People To Join During Red Cross Month.

Organization Helping Those In Need For 130 Years 

March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross is asking people to join them in helping those in need by volunteering their time, making a donation, or taking a class.

“When someone provides a hot meal to a disaster victim, takes a first aid class, or helps someone in the military, they join the Red Cross,” said, Ellen Knapp, Regional CEO of the Central Valley Chapter. “We want to say ‘thank you’ to all who support us. That support enables us to provide help and hope to those who need our assistance.”

For nearly 100 years, U.S. Presidents have called on people to support the American Red Cross and its humanitarian mission. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to proclaim March as Red Cross Month in 1943. Since that time, President Obama and every president since have issued proclamations designating March as Red Cross Month.

The Red Cross has been helping people for 130 years, responding to disasters, assisting members of the military, and teaching lifesaving skills.

The Central Valley Chapter responded and provided assistance in 446 local disasters last year. The chapter processed 580 emergency military calls, and trained 35,113 individuals in CPR/AED, first aid, and aquatics safety. The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time and money to do its work.

In the spirit of Red Cross Month, your local Chapter of the American Red Cross has set a goal to train 1,000 individuals in the Central Valley in FREE CPR or Disaster Preparedness. Throughout March, the Red Cross will come to your business/organization and train groups of 10 to 25 in either a non-certificate “Hands Only Citizen’s CPR” course or a Be “Red Cross Ready” disaster preparedness seminar. Courses will last between 30 minutes to an hour and are a perfect lunchtime treat! For more information or to schedule your training today please contact the American Red Cross at (559) 455-1000.

On March 25, the Central Valley Chapter will be holding our ninth annual Real Heroes event in which we celebrate selfless acts of courage and humanitarian service by real people in our community, at the Chandler Airport - Memley Aviation Hangar. This 1940’s themed night will begin at 5:30pm with a silent auction, followed by the presentation of this year’s heroes, dinner, dancing, and live auction. Tickets are $50 per person and are available on our website www.arccentralvalley.org.