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...

SOMALIA: Levels of malnutrition have reached a new peak and are currently the highest in the world. The ICRC and the Somali Red Crescent plan to open ten new feeding centers while mobile teams made up of nurses and nutritional specialists will visit people in the areas worst affected.

SUDAN: Since fighting first erupted in Kadugli in early June, the ICRC has been providing support for the humanitarian activities of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society - delivering clothes, shelter materials, hygiene items and household essentials for 18,000 people.

SOUTH SUDAN: A new national Red Cross society for a new nation - The South Sudan Red Cross is formed of staff and volunteers who have until recently worked for the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, which continues to operate in Sudan.
TURKEY: More than 10,000 Syrians, fleeing domestic unrest, have been living in six ‘tent cities’ near the border for over a month. The camps are run by the Turkish government, while relief supplies and personnel are being supplied by the Turkish Red Crescent Society.
CYPRUS: More than 100 Cyprus Red Cross volunteers were mobilized in the wake of a massive explosion that ripped through a naval base in the south of the country.
VIETNAM: A Vietnam Red Cross team has provided relief and financial assistance to more than 400 families affected by flash flooding in Nghe An Province.


GLOSSARY:

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

Make A Safe Splash This Summer!

Many people own a home pool and will most likely spend this, and many more summer weekends splashing in it. So for those of you who are home pool owners or have kids visiting home pools, try to spot the dangers in the photo above.

If you were unable to spot the dangers, here they are:

1. No automatic self-closing, self-latching gate: This kind of gate could eliminate nearly all pool drownings of toddlers. The home should never open into a pool area as children can wander out of the house into the pool before being noticed.

 2. Toys in the pool: Remove all toys from the pool after playtime is over; they can tempt children to the edge of the pool or into the water when there is no supervision.

3. Diving board: Many, perhaps most, in-ground home pools are unsafe for diving, even pools fitted with a diving board. The deep end is often too short making head-first entries risky. The best safety practice is to avoid diving in home pools.

4. The alcoholic beverages: Alcohol is involved in about half of swimming drownings. Avoid alcohol when swimming or diving, since even small amounts can increase the risk of injury.

5. Ummm… where are the adults? Whether at home or on vacation, adult supervision is the best protection for children – even those who can swim. This means keeping children in your line of sight at all times, watching them, and staying close to them.

I know from personal experience just how dangerous being an inexperienced swimmer can be. As much fun as pools are, there are many dangers associated with swimming that must be taken into consideration, especially when young swimmers are near pools. It’s important that all young swimmers, experienced and inexperienced, receive ample rest during swim time. 

Also, keep a close eye on children even if they appear to be safe. I can recall several instances from my childhood, where I was rescued from a fun and seemingly harmless swimming pool, by family members who were alert, attentive and ready to come to my aid once I started to go south! So let’s make sure that all children have memorable summers at our local pools by keeping them safe, healthy and happy.

Take a look at our Home Pool Essentials online course and make a splash in safety this Summer!

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...

SUDAN: The recent violence in the Sudanese state of South Kordofan has left almost 58,000 people displaced. 600 Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers are working long shifts to provide first aid, psychosocial support, and distribution of food and shelter items.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: 18 detainees who had been detained after recent clashes in the Kaga-Bandoro area were released under ICRC auspices.

KUWAIT: The remains of 32 Iraqi soldiers killed during the 1990-1991 Gulf War were repatriated under the auspices of the ICRC.

IRAQ: Three decades of conflict have left hundreds of thousands of families struggling to find out what happened to their missing loved ones. Since 1980, the ICRC has spared no effort to put an end to their anguish.

BRAZIL: Together with the Brazilian Red Cross, the ICRC teaches a course in basic first aid to community members in an effort to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of armed violence. The skills they acquire enable residents to respond to emergencies.

NIGERIA: The IFRC and Nigerian Red Cross Society are using cell phones to combat malaria.

GEORGIA: Following floods and mudslides, volunteers from the Red Cross have joined the local population in the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti to help clean the main roads and support the most vulnerable people.

VIETNAM: The Red Cross helping to prevent the spread of waterborne illnesses with a new hygiene education program that uses puppets, games, exercises and role-playing to encourage primary school children to understand the importance of personal cleanliness and hygiene, and discuss it with their friends and family.

GLOSSARY:

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

Clara Barton: The Beginnings of the American Red Cross

Happy (Monday) Tuesday Bloggers!

I'm hoping that all of you had a safe holiday weekend, and aren't as sunburned as many of us in the office are. However, because of my year-round tan, many of my co-workers don't believe that I actually went to a barbecue yesterday since I seem to be the same shade I was on Friday afternoon. It definitely didn't help my case that I had automatically scheduled a blog posting from yesterday. (I did, I swear!)

Yesterday, I mentioned how Clara Barton began the American Red Cross over 120 years ago, but for those of you who are still in the patriotic mood should check out this awesome video on how Clara's need for socks became the organization that it is today!

Happy Fourth of July From The American Red Cross!

This Fourth of July has a lot in store for us, but along with the picnics, fireworks, and fun, the holiday can also be a time to remember those who serve and protect our country.

We at the American Red Cross offer thanks to those in the military who are serving at home and abroad this Fourth of July, and those who have died or were injured.

Many don't know this, but our commitment to the military is how the American Red Cross received its start. In April 1861, Clara Barton established an agency to obtain and distribute supplies to wounded soldiers. In July 1862, she obtained permission to travel behind the lines, eventually reaching some of the grimmest battlefields of the war and serving during the sieges of Petersburg and Richmond. Barton delivered aid to soldiers of both the North and South. Referred to as the "Angel of the Battlefield," Barton went on to found the American Red Cross, and always placed an emphasis on serving our members of the Armed Forces.

Today, her legacy continues as the American Red Cross provides Services to the Armed Forces. Both active duty and community-based military can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications that link them with their families back home, access to financial assistance in partnership with the military aid societies, information and referral and assistance to veterans.  Red Cross personnel form a global network in 700 U.S. chapters, military installations worldwide and in forward deployed locations in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Become a Service to Armed Forces Volunteer today, and help serve those who have served our country. From all of us at the American Red Cross Central Valley, we wish you and yours a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Carbon Monoxide Detectors...It's The Law!

We at the Red Cross are constantly stressing the importance of checking your smoke detectors regularly, as well as practicing family fire drills. But many are unaware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide, often known as the silent killer. New California State Law is taking an active approach to reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

California Senate Bill 183 was signed into law to regulate the installation of Carbon Monoxide detectors. The law is a two-part law that requires an update to the Transfer Disclosure Statements used in a real estate transaction, and puts into law the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010.

The first part of the new law requires that as of July 1, 2011, Transfer Disclosure Statements (TD forms) include a line item regarding the presence or absence of a Carbon Monoxide detector in the same manner as Smoke Detectors, for all residential units that are sold. This applies to just about all types of occupancies from single family owner-occupied and rentals, to multi-family housing. If the property is being sold, it must now include a CO Detector if the dwelling has gas appliances, fireplaces, and/or attached garages.

The second part of the law enacts the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010 which requires that all residential properties, not just those being sold, be equipped with a Carbon Monoxide detector when the property has a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, and/or an attached garage.  All single-family homes in structures with 1-4 units (owner or tenant occupied) must be equipped with a detector on or before July 1, 2011. 

All other multi-family residential units must be equipped with a detector on or before January 1, 2013, not just those being sold.

For rentals, the Carbon Monoxide detector must be operable at the time the tenant takes possession. A tenant is responsible for notifying the owner or owner’s agent if the tenant becomes aware of an inoperable or deficient carbon monoxide detector within his or her unit. The owner or owner’s agent must correct any reported deficiencies in the carbon monoxide detector and will not be in violation of this section for a deficient or inoperable carbon monoxide detector when he or she has not received notice of the deficiency or inoperability.

The bottom line is that ALL SINGLE FAMILY residential dwelling units as of July 1, 2011 must have a CO detector, even those that are not being sold. All other dewlling units (multi-family, dormatories, hotels, motels, etc) must have CO detectors installed by January 1, 2013.

Expect to see this new inspection item in your home inspection report. Home inspectors will be required to report on the presence or absence of a working Carbon Monoxide detector just like they report on Smoke Detectors, and water heater strapping.

Most carbon monoxide detectors run for around $35.00 to $50.00 dollars and can be found at Home Depot, Lowes, or even Walmart. It is a small price to pay for the safety of you and your family. 

Safety Comes First This Fourth Of July!

Your Fourth of July holiday plans may include taking to the highway, setting up a small fireworks display, or firing up the grill to cook something delicious. The American Red Cross provides useful tips that will help you and your loved ones have a safe weekend:

How to stay safe as you travel over the holiday weekend:

• Buckle up, slow down, and don’t drive impaired.
• Be well rested and alert; give your full attention to the road.
• Use caution in work zones.
• Observe speed limits.
• Make frequent stops.
• Be respectful of other motorists and follow the rules of the road.
• If you plan on drinking, designate a driver who won’t drink.
• Clean your vehicle’s lights and windows to help you see, especially at night.
• Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, or during inclement weather.
• Don’t overdrive your headlights.
• Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low.
• If you have car trouble, pull as far as possible off the highway.
• Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in your trunk.

• Find out what disasters may occur where you are traveling, especially if they are disasters you have never experienced before. Find out how you would get information in the event of a disaster (local radio systems, emergency alert systems).
• Pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination. Travel and weather web sites can help you avoid storms and other regional challenges that could impact your safety.
• Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.

If you are travelling with your pet, our web site offers special things you should know to make your trip more enjoyable. 

Use caution around fireworks:

• Never give fireworks to small children, and always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Keep a supply of water close by as a precaution.
• Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.
• Stay at least 500 feet away from professional fireworks displays.
• Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks.

To find out more about how to enjoy your holiday, visit www.redcross.org.