Twelve Days of Safety

As you celebrate the holidays and prepare for the new year ahead, take the following tips into account during the Twelve Days of Safety to keep this season safe, happy and bright! 

Ready-to-go Emergency Preparedness Kit

1. Prepare vehicle for traveling to grandmother’s house. Build an emergency kit and include items such as blankets or sleeping bags, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, compass and road maps, shovel, tire repair kit and pump, extra clothing, flares, and a tow rope.

2. Drive the sleigh and reindeer safely. Avoid driving in a storm. If travel is a must, let someone know the destination, the route being taken to get there, and how long it should take to arrive. If the car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along the predetermined route.

3. Help prevent the spread of the flu. Stay home if sick. Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible, or use an alcohol-based hand rub. Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue away after use. If a tissue isn’t available, someone should cough or sneeze into their elbow, not their hands.

4. Follow Santa’s fashion lead – dress in layers. When it’s cold outside, layered lightweight clothing will keep a person warmer than a single heavy coat. Gloves and a hat will prevent loss of body heat.

5. Use a Red Cross-trained babysitter when attending holiday festivities. Red Cross-certified babysitters learn to administer basic first aid; properly hold and feed a child; take emergency action when needed and monitor safe play. Some may be certified in Infant and Child CPR.

6. Avoid danger while roasting chestnuts on an open fire. Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If leaving the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove. This is important because unattended cooking causes nearly 90 percent of all kitchen fires.

7. Be a lifesaver during the holidays. The Red Cross recommends at least one person in every household should take first aid and CPR/AED training. Visit www.redcross.org/training for details and to register.

8. Designate a driver or skip the holiday cheer. Buckle up, slow down, and don’t drive impaired. If someone plans on drinking, designate a driver who won’t drink.

9. When the weather outside is frightful, heat the home safely. Never use a stove or oven to heat the home. Never leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended. Install smoke alarms.

10. Cut down on heating bills without being a Grinch. Get the furnace cleaned and change the filters. Make sure furniture isn’t blocking the heat vents. Close off any rooms not in use and turn off the heat in those rooms. Turn down the thermostat and put on a sweater.

11. Home for the holidays? Travel safely. Check the tire air pressure and make sure the windshield fluid is full. Be well rested and alert. Give full attention to the road – avoid distractions such as cell phones. If someone has car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.

12. Resolve to Be Red Cross Ready in the New Year. Get ready now in case someone in the household faces an emergency in 2012.

A Runner's View of Sleighbell 2011

With finals, work, relationships and everything else life seems to bring at full force this time of year, it is hard to remember what true joy feels like. Not the type of joy of making an "A" on an exam or the joy you get from going out with friends, but rather, the joy that makes you stop and remember why this life is so special. I had one of those moments on Saturday December 3, 2011 when I ran the annual American Red Cross East Georgia Sleighbell 5k race at Sandy Creek Park.

I woke up at 7:09 a.m. and rolled out of bed imagining what I could possibly wear that would keep me warm for the day's forecast- 34 degrees! After putting on my warmest socks, my tights normally reserved for skiing, a long sleeved t-shirt, a pullover and gloves, I ran out the door to find my car windshield frozen.

After pouring hot water on my windshield and remembering for a moment why I live in the South (I hate cold weather), I sped toward Sandy Creek Park. Arriving at the park, I found this picturesque landscape.

Amber Schreiner, a chapter public affairs intern and runner in Sleighbell 2011.

Fog stretched over the lake and created an air of mystery over the course while the sun fought its way through layers of dawn.

I was greeted by hundreds of beautiful people that were proud to wake up early and support the East Georgia Chapter while also staying in shape themselves. It is moments like these that make me truly grateful for the opportunity and privilege that I have. During the race, I tried to fight back my coaching instincts to tell everyone I passed (or that passed me), "Good job! Keep Going!"

Sprinting through the finish, I was filled with enthusiasm as finishers were gathered cheering for everyone else. Because running is really a personal competition, it seems support rather than hostility is always gathered at the finish line.

To my surprise, I ended up finishing 7th in my age group; but really, the beauty of the race was being reminded how wonderful this life can be if you let it.
 

The sunrise over Sandy Creek Park

Meet Carol Yeatts: Our Platelet Hero!

Carol Yeatts, her grandson Caleb, and husband Steve.

Carol Yeatts has donated platelets and blood since her college years at Emory University. In recent years, Carol donates platelets as much as possible. As an O+ blood type, she realizes the important responsibility she has as a universal donor.

“I donate because platelets have a shorter shelf-life than blood and because they are especially needed for chemo-patients,” says Yeatts.

A single platelet donation can provide enough platelets for a full therapeutic dose for a patient in need. In fact, some platelet donations yield enough platelets for two or three therapeutic doses. By contrast, it takes four-to-six whole blood donations to produce a single therapeutic dose. In this way, Yeatts is helping to save lives every time she donates platelets!

Are you thinking about donating platelets?

Here are some important facts to know before you donate platelets:

·      Platelet donations are collected at select American Red Cross Blood Donation Centers only.

·      Donors should not take any aspirin or products containing aspirin 48 hours before donation.  State regulations in New York require up to 3 days prior.

·      You can donate up to 24 times per year.

·      Plasma can be collected simultaneously with a platelet donation.  Plasma can be collected every 28 days up to 13 times per year.

·      The donation takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours and may be a single or dual arm procedure depending on the collection device used.

·      Call 1-800-RED-CROSS for platelet donation opportunities at a local American Red Cross Blood Donation Center near you. 

·      The Athens, Ga. location is located at 3525 Atlanta Hwy in the Academy Sports shopping center, and the office phone number is 706-543-8656.

·      To pass the time while you donate, you may listen to music or simply relax during the donation process.  Most American Red Cross Donation Centers also offer TVs or DVD players.  Wi-Fi is also available at some locations.

·      If you are a platelet donor, you can still make regular whole blood or double red cell donations.  Both gifts are vitally important to patients with life threatening diseases.

·          A platelet donation is also called a 'platelet apheresis' or 'platelet pheresis' donation.

Though the American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter doesn’t do blood or platelet donations at its Pulaski Street, Athens, Ga. location, we wanted to share some information about the platelet donation process to clear up any confusion!

To learn more about platelet donation, and listen to inspiring stories like Carol’s, watch the following video: 

Safety in the Workplace

According to the United States Department of Labor’s 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average employed American spends 7.5 hours at work during the week. That means the average person spends approximately half of his/her waking hours at the workplace. This statistic may not shock you but if your business is not prepared for an emergency you could be at risk for injury during those 7.5 hours each and every day.

We all take great care in making sure that our homes are safe and prepared for emergencies and possible weather disasters, but what about when we are on the job? Have you ever stopped to think what you would do if a tornado, hurricane or even a fire afflicted your office? What if someone fell when trying to reach a high shelf and was injured?Would you know what to do?

It is important for your office to have an emergency plan and instruct every employee to keep themselves safe in the event of a disaster. You also want to make sure that your office has a full First Aid Kit. A First Aid Kit goes beyond bandaging paper cuts; it could help save your own or the life of one of your co-workers in an emergency.

At your next office meeting have an emergency plan discussion. Know where you stand and what steps you must make to ensure the safety of every employee. You can learn more about these steps and other checklists for your workplace emergency preparedness here.

Finally, here is an entertaining video of what NOT to do to prepare for an emergency at your office.

Spotlight Series: American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet Member Darius Rucker

The next American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet member in our spotlight series has conquered two genres of music over two decades. Beginning in 1986 with his rock band, Hootie & the Blow Fish, Darius Rucker swayed crowds with his deep intriguing voice.



In 1995, Rolling Stone acknowledged Rucker as the first African-American front man of an otherwise white rock band. Overcoming racial norms would become a pattern for Rucker when in 2008, he reintroduced himself to the world as a country singer. His single, “Don’t think I don’t think about it” became the first top 20 country hit recorded by an African American since 1988.

When Rucker isn’t topping the charts or defying racial norms, he can be found supporting good causes. In 2010, Rucker helped raise over $1.7 million to go towards the relief efforts in Nashville, Tennessee after the city was devastated by floods. A portion of these proceeds went directly to the American Red Cross, making Rucker an integral member of the celebrity council.

"Whether it is a call to action for blood drives, disaster relief, or just community outreach, the American Red Cross does an extraordinary job at not only meeting the immediate needs of a community, but also the preparation and planning for long-term support," says Rucker. "I am honored that they would include me in the Cabinet as a member and contributor."

Be Red Cross Ready for Fire in the Kitchen

The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards.  Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms.  During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

It has been found that most fires originate in the kitchen.  Follow these steps to avoid a fire while cooking.  Start by not wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.  Never leave cooking food unattended – stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food.  If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

A stove after a house fire.

Fire Safety Tips for the Kitchen:

• Check your food regularly while cooking and remain in the home while cooking.  Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.

• Keep the kids away from the cooking area. Enforce a “kid-free zone” and make them stay at least three feet away from the stove.

• Keep anything that can catch fire – pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove, oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.

• Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.

• Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.  Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.

• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all the stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.

• Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed.  Use the test button to check it each month.  Replace all batteries at least once per year.

The Red Cross responded to more than 62,960 home fires during the 2011 fiscal year. House fires are the worst disaster threat to families in the United States. To learn how to prevent a fire in your home and how to keep members of your household safe, you can download The Red Cross Fire Prevention and Safety Checklist.  Downloadable fact sheets are also available at http://www.redcross.org/ on how to be fire safe over the holidays, how to avoid home heating fires, candle safety, proper use of smoke alarms and teaching your children what to do in the event of a fire. 

Greek Life raising money for the American Red Cross!

This past Saturday marked the first Powder Puff Flag Football Tournament, a fundraising event coordinated by University of Georgia’s Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. All proceeds from the tournament went to the American Red Cross, the fraternity’s national philanthropy.

During the tournament, fraternity members served as referees, provided lunch and set up a first aid station for team participants. Five sororities participated in the intramural-style tournament with a minimum of seven players on each team. Alpha Gamma Delta proved champions of the day and took home the trophy although everyone present had a great time.

“This year was really about establishing the event; it was nice that we were able to give the American Red Cross some money,” said Brandon Breslin, philanthropy chair of the fraternity.

In appreciation, the Red Cross honored the members of Delta Sigma Phi for their generous donation. The fraternity seeks to expand the tournament next year in hopes of raising more money and also has a pageant, Miss Sorority Row, lined up for the Spring which will also benefit the Red Cross.

pictures to come soon!

Staying Prepared for Fire Prevention

For many people, October is about fall festivals, changing leaves and crisp weather. What most people do not know, however, is that October is also Fire Prevention Month and the American Red Cross encourages individuals to take steps to lessen the risk of a fire in their home. Unfortunately, many people learn quickly just how devastating a fire can be. Red Cross volunteers have witnessed firsthand not only the physical damaging effects caused by fires, but also the emotional damage people experience as a result.

Disaster victim meets with Red Cross Disaster workers at the scene of an apartment fire.

During Fire Prevention Month, the Red Cross reminds everyone of the steps they should take if a fire breaks out in their own home.

The most important thing to remember if facing a fire is to:
GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL 9-1-1 (or local emergency number).


Other important safety tips include:

To Prevent a Home Fire...
-Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
-Test them every month and replace the batteries at least once a year.
-Talk with all household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.
-Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
-Keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters.

In Case of a Fire...
-Crawl low under smoke.
-Go to your outside meeting place and then call for help.
-If closed doors or handles are warm, use your second way out. Never open doors that are warm to the touch.
-Use caution when using a portable fire extinguisher.

Remember the word PASS when using the extinguisher:

Pull the pin and hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you.

Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.

Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

A Red Cross volunteer offers assistance with a victim of a home fire.

For more information on disaster and emergency preparedness, please visit http://eastgeorgia.redcross.org/ or call the chapter house at 706-353-1645.
(All photos courtesy of redcross.org)


By: Helen Farmakis, Public Affairs Intern

Student Organization sets goals for blood drives

Yesterday, Students for the American Red Cross (SARC) kicked off their three-day blood drive, “Don’t be afraid of the dark, come donate with SARC.” The event, which continues through Wednesday, October 19, 2011 from 11 am to 5 pm, takes place in the Memorial Hall ballroom on the University of Georgia campus. It is one of four that the organization has planned for the year.

SARC is a student-run organization that represents the American Red Cross on the University of Georgia campus. Students are responsible for planning and volunteering at the drive, which includes registration, manning both the prize table and canteen stations.

The drive offers great incentives aside from the feeling of giving back. Participants will get door prizes like t-shirts, drawstring bags, and candy. Additionally, anyone who registers, whether or not they make it through the process, will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win two tickets to the football game between rivals University of Georgia and University of Florida.

SARC has some big goals for its Halloween blood drive. “Our goal is to collect 87 pints of blood the first day, 97 the second day and 116 the third day,” says volunteer coordinator and SARC member Norman Ton. “We'll need 360 or so donors to make that goal.”

Each unit of blood collected can help save the lives of three people, and Blood Services director and American Red Cross employee Janet Jarrett stresses that much of the blood collected will be used to help children.

“When doctors are working on our smallest patients, they want to use blood [donated by] the youngest people possible,” she says. “Every single blood drive is important; every single day we have to collect the blood that we have on the books.”

Big Winnings!!

“I’ll take giving blood for $1,000 Alex.” You may be an avid viewer or have only seen Jeopardy once or twice. Either way, the phrase should be familiar to you. On Tuesday night’s episode of Jeopardy, the American Red Cross was featured in a category about donating blood. If you were lucky enough to see the episode you would’ve seen the Jeopardy Clue Crew at the American Red Cross Blood Bank in Washington D.C. The Clue Crew gives Jeopardy contestants visual clues through real life experiences.


Kelly Miyahara about to give blood.

Clue Crew members Kelly Miyahara and Sarah Whitcomb presented clues by showing the audience and contestants the process of donating blood. Kelly posted on the crew’s Facebook page that she was unable to give blood on the day of the shoot due to clotting issues, but she definitely plans to try and donate again in the future. Her fellow Clue Crew member Sarah was successfully able to donate blood!

 

Sarah Whitcomb holding the blood she just donated

The Red Cross spotlight on Jeopardy was a wonderful way to spread knowledge throughout the nation about the facts, fictions, and purposes of blood donations. If you are interested in learning more about giving blood, visit www.redcrossblood.org or visit your local Red Cross Chapter.

To read more about the Clue Crew members’ experience in Washington D.C. visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jeopardy. Remember, every minute of every day someone is in need of blood. The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood!

pictures courtesy of:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/jeopardy/the-jeopardy-clue-crew/244818748902382?ref=nf



Using Social Media In Disaster Situations

Could a tweet save your life?

People use social media for a lot of things. They log in to see pictures of the new baby, tweet about their disappointment in a reality show competition, or watch a funny clip everyone at work has been talking about.

Social media is great for all of those things and, in general, can be a great tool for procrastination. However, people are now turning to social media for more important things, including emergency information. In times of crisis and emergency, social media has become a lifesaver.

The American Red Cross recently conducted a survey to explore this idea. They found that more than 60 percent of the general public relies on online news for emergency information. When it comes to communicating after an emergency, nearly one-fourth of the general public responded that they would definitely use social media to let others know that they are safe.

You can check out the survey findings here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/63022972/SURVEY-DATA-Social-Media-in-Emergencies-2011

Along with this, the Red Cross has created a phone app, free-of-charge, that helps people during an emergency. “S.O.S. by the American Red Cross” provides real-time emergency care instructions and information to help a person stay safe. These instructions include step-by-step videos, maps, and an expansive resource guide.

Social media has long been viewed as a source of entertainment or a way to stay connected with others. Now sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and others are recognized as reliable sources for emergency news. They are essentially lifelines for people afflicted by disasters, no matter the size, scope, or location of the disaster.

                                   

 

Emergency Preparedness for your Pet!!!

photo courtesy of http://disaster-emergency-preparedness.com/

In the event of a disaster, many families have a plan in place; however, that plan may often overlook four-legged members of the family. The following is a list of helpful tips to ensure the safety of your pet during an emergency. Remember, if an area isn’t safe for you, it probably isn’t safe for your pet either!

1. Assemble a disaster kit for each animal in the house. It should include food and water, any medications, photos, veterinarian records, cleaning supplies, and animal care supplies such as carriers, collars (with up-to-date ID tags), and leashes. Keep the kits near an exit for easy access during an emergency.

2. Microchip your pets and keep the registration updated! They are the single most effective way to reunite lost pets and families.

3. In the event of a tornado, keep pets leashed and indoors. Bring them with you to a basement or windowless room.

4. Separate dogs and cats during an emergency; animals may act irrationally when under stress.

5. Identify evacuation locations that will accommodate your pets if you evacuate. Write the names down and keep them with your disaster kits.

6. Keep at least three-days worth of food and water in airtight and waterproof containers. Rotate the food every two months to avoid spoilage.

7. Always keep enough gallons of water on hand for both you and your pet in case of power outages. Feed pets canned food so they will need less water to drink.

8. If flood danger threatens, take your animals and move to higher ground without hesitation.

9. You may not be home when disaster is eminent. Find out if a trusted neighbor would be willing to take your pets and meet you at a prearranged location.

10. Never leave behind your pet unless it compromises your safety. If you must leave a pet behind, make sure they can escape, have food and water, and are not tied up.

Useful links for pet safety:
-In case of evacuation, here is a list of pet-friendly hotels:
http://www.officialpethotels.com/
-If during evacuation or vacation your pet needs medical treatment, the following contains a list of emergency veterinary clinics by location.
http://www.localvets.com/
-In case of a fire, it is imperative to alert firefighters of any pets. The following link from the ASPCA offers free window decals for your home.
http://www.aspca.org/about-us/free-aspca-stuff/free-pet-safety-pack.aspx
-Learn pet first aid!
http://www.redcrossstore.org/Shopper/Product.aspxUniqueItemId=95&utm_source=RCO&utm_medium=NewsArticle&utm_campaign=ProductPlacement

Be Ready for Any Emergency with these Guidelines!

If a disaster occurred next week, would you be prepared? If not, here are some guidelines to help you and your family make a plan and get prepared in the process.Your plan should be very detailed and entail specific locations.

Meet with household members to discuss the dangers of fire, severe weather, earthquakes and other emergencies, like power outages, as well as how to respond to each. Identify the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster, but realize that these spots might be very different.

Ensure all family members are familiar with the home’s floor plan and know the best escape routes in all the rooms—at least two for each room. Sometimes families may get separated so it’s important to have two emergency meeting places: one near the home and another outside the neighborhood in case you are unable to return home.

It’s important that all family members know how to contact each other and/or emergency services when necessary. Children should learn how and when to call 911, the police, and the fire department. Those numbers, as well as emergency contacts, such as relatives and friends, should be posted near the telephone. Additionally, it’s a good practice to have at least one local emergency contact and one out-of-state contact number that family members can call if separated.
Other things to do before a disaster include knowing the proper location and use of a fire extinguisher, keeping vital family records and documents in a water and fire-proof container, installing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on each level of the home, reducing home hazards and showing family members how to turn off the main switches and valves of the utilities when necessary.

It is also beneficial to be certified in CPR and First Aid. Certification classes are available at the American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter.

Once you have a plan in place, maintain it. Review the plan every six months and test family members on the proper responses to the disaster, keep food and water supplies updated and fresh, and test smoke alarms yearly.

However making a plan and maintaining it is ONLY ONE part of the preparation process!!

Stay informed about community hazards, community disaster plans, and any warning systems in place. If new emergency alert systems are in place, consider contacting your local EMA office to become registered.

Have a disaster service supplies kit available at your disposal, whether it’s one offered by the American Red Cross or a homemade kit. It doesn’t matter as long as it contains basic items needed to stay safe and comfortable during a disaster and is easily accessible and portable.

For more information on disaster safety or kits please visit www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady

For more information on CPR and first aid certification please visit http://eastgeorgia.redcross.org/training.htm

Why the Red Cross? A view from an East Georgia Chapter Intern

Travis Barnes, Senior at the University of Georgia 

and Intern at the Red Cross East Georgia Chapter

My experience volunteering at the Red Cross has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done while at the University of Georgia. After only three months with the Red Cross, I have learned more things about the Athens-Clarke county community than my previous five years living in Athens. I, like most students at UGA, spent the majority of my free time downtown or at Sanford Stadium before I started volunteering. Surprisingly, there’s much more to Athens than just parties and football. The things I have done while with the Red Cross have exposed me to places and people around the area I never would have met before. While volunteering, I actually was able to meet one of, if not the, best all time quarterbacks at UGA, David Green. It was amazing to meet him and have a conversation about the rewards of helping others and giving back to the community.

            Volunteering here actually makes me realize all of the things the Red Cross does to make this community a better place. Whether its delivering school supplies to underprivileged children or sending volunteers to help out with the devastation caused by natural disasters, the Red Cross is always there to lend a hand. It’s amazing how much more fulfilling I feel when I volunteer for a couple hours of my free time to help out rather than sit on the couch and watch TV or play video games.

            Whether you feel like giving back to the community, need something to boost your resume, or are just bored and looking for something to do, I strongly suggest volunteering at the Red Cross. The atmosphere is extremely friendly and I actually enjoy coming in to the office because of the laid back atmosphere and smiling faces. If you knew me personally, you would know that this would be one of the last things I would choose to do with my free time, but the feeling of satisfaction I get is overwhelming and has completely changed my outlook on things.