Make Being Prepared One Of Your New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time of year when many people look forward to the New Year, a fresh start and what they would like to change to make their lives better. Many resolve to lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier. The Oregon Red Cross asks that everyone resolve to make 2012 the year they get prepared, to be “Red Cross Ready” when emergencies happen.

Families can look ahead and determine how to deal with disasters, whether it be a fire in the home or something that affects their entire neighborhood. They need to know what emergencies are most likely to happen in their area. Knowing what to do when disaster strikes can make a difference for everyone in your household and your community. To be prepared, you should:

1. Get a kit. If you’ve ever had to search for your flashlight when the power goes out, you know what it feels like to be unprepared. The Red Cross has a downloadable checklist to help you assemble your emergency preparedness kit. It should include the following:

Ready-To-Go Emergency Preparedness Kit

• A three-day supply of non-perishable food and water—one gallon per person, per day for drinking and hygiene purposes.
• A battery-powered or hand crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible).
• At least one flashlight and extra batteries.
• A first-aid kit, which should include all prescription and OTC medications and any necessary medical items.
• Copies of all important documents (proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies).
• Extra cash in a variety of denominations.

2. Make a plan. Talk with members of your household about what to do during emergencies. Plan what to do in case everyone is separated, and choose two places to meet—one right outside the home, in case of a sudden emergency such as a fire, and another outside the neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate. Other tips on how you should formulate your emergency plan are:

• Choose an out-of-area emergency contact person. All household members should have this person’s phone number and email address. It may be easier to call long distance or text if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service.
• Tell everyone in the household where emergency information and supplies are kept.
• Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Travel your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassable.
• Plan ahead for your pets. If you must evacuate, make arrangements for your animals. Keep a handy list of “pet friendly” accommodations and animal shelters along your evacuation routes.

3. Be informed. Know what situations may occur where you live, where you work, where you go to school.

• If you live or travel often to areas near a fault line, learn how to prepare and what to do during an earthquake. If summer includes a trip to the beach, know what to do in case you are faced with a tropical storm, hurricane or tsunami. Remember that emergencies like fires and blackouts can happen anywhere, so everyone should be prepared for them.
• Find out how local officials inform the public in the event of an emergency.
• Learn first aid and CPR/AED so that you have the skills to respond in a situation before help arrives, especially during a disaster when emergency responders may not be immediately available. Contact the Oregon Red Cross to sign up for training.

As you look to the new year and what you would like to change, add getting prepared to your list of resolutions for 2012. Visit the preparedness section of the American Red Cross website to know what to do, to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, in all types of emergencies.

Enjoy a safe and Happy New Year.

2nd Annual Stormtroopers vs. Klingons Blood Drive is Tomorrow!

Sci-fi fans! Read 'Star Trek' vs. 'Star Wars:' The ultimate showdown from CNN's blog, then be sure to roll up your sleeves tomorrow and prove you're the ultimate fan at our 2nd Annual Stormtroopers vs. Klingons Blood Drive! (12/31 at the Portland Donor Center, 9AM-2:30PM)

Also - be sure to pick up this week's copies of Willamette Week and Portland Mercury and visit PDX PIPELINE to see our ads on the drive!

UO Ducks Lineman Saves A Life (and Red Cross demos "5 + 5")

With the Civil War Blood Drive finishing its 10-year anniversary this past fall, University of Oregon students are no strangers to helping save lives. The heroic actions of offensive lineman Mark Asper prove they're "already winning before the Rose Bowl," says KGW as they report on his efforts to save a "Duck dad" from choking on Wednesday night. Also featured in the video below is your very own Oregon Red Cross staff demonstrating the need for and correct action for helping a choking victim.

Brush up on your training by taking a CPR class, or review "Five and Five to Keep Them Alive" through this blog post (thanks to our Red Cross friends at the Central Valley chapter).

A resolution that's easy to keep... and gives you instant gratification!

The new year is a time for making resolutions, and it's time to resolve to help those in need by making a tax-deductible donation to the Red Cross before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.

"Many people make charitable contributions at the end of the year as part of their holiday tradition, and the Red Cross depends on these donations to provide hope, help and compassion," said Maree Wacker, Chief Executive Officer of the Oregon Red Cross. "Nationally, donations in December account for about 20 percent of all non-disaster contributions from the public to the Red Cross."

"In Oregon, thousands of volunteers in local chapters of the Red Cross touched the lives of almost 140,000 people in the state, with disaster relief, support for military families and training in life-saving and preparedness skills," said Wacker. "Thousands of Oregonians also rolled up their sleeves and gave blood, helping the Red Cross provide more than 90% of Oregon's blood supply."

You can give something that means something before the New Year, by donating at www.oregonredcross.org, or by giving a tax deductible gift by check, or by phone at (503) 284-1234.

Every Day, the Oregon Red Cross is There

On Wednesday, December 28, 2011, Red Cross volunteers Ed Rentz, Mac McCawley and Geoff Jutzy responded to a disaster in the 9900 block of N Smith Street, Portland, OR. The fire occurred around midnight, and the family remained in their garage until all entrances were secured by a restoration company. The Red Cross provided assistance with immediate lodging, food, clothing, comfort kits, and information about Health and Mental Health services.

About three hours later, Red Cross volunteers Susan Nash and Judy Drescher responded to a disaster in the 900 block of SE Reynolds Street, Portland, OR. The Red Cross provided assistance with food, clothing, comfort kit, and information about Health and Mental Health services.

The Oregon Red Cross empowers ordinary people to perform extraordinary acts in emergency situations. We train. We mobilize. We connect donors and volunteers to those in urgent need of a helping hand.

Ten times a week, somewhere in Oregon, volunteers help a family who has lost everything in a house fire or other disaster. All disaster services are provided for free and supported solely by donations.

Thanks again to all the wonderful people, our generous donors and our amazing volunteers, who have helped us "be there" for the people of Oregon in 2011. It's not too late for you to join them: http://www.serve.com/redcross/?extlink=pa-us-serve-arc-intranet-201111

Stormtroopers, Klingons and Miss Oregon!

What do Stormtroopers, Klingons and Miss Oregon have in common? Find out in the new One minute Update from the Oregon Red Cross!

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: Relief continues to pour in for Typhoon Washi, that killed well over 1,000 people and devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Teams of Red Cross volunteers are supporting doctors in treating survivors that received wounds nearly a week ago. In addition to typical first aid, the Red Cross is using psychological first aid for the extensive suffering many survivors are facing. The IFRC, ICRC, and Philippine Red Cross continue to address relief needs by sending thousands of relief kits, addressing water shortages, and supporting damaged health care facilities.

LIBYA: Libyan Red Crescent volunteers based in the eastern city of Benghazi are continuing to address a large number of displaced individuals from the conflicts earlier this year. Over the last ten months, 200 volunteers ran a camp that sheltered 75,000 people. The camp remains full as of early December, and is now seeing refugees escaping the violence in Syria.

MALI/NIGER: With support from the ICRC, a campaign to vaccinate 4.5 million animals has just been launched in the northern parts of Mali and Niger. The animals will be treated against parasites and immunized against diseases such as sheep and goat plague, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, camel pasteurellosis, and sheep and goat pox. These vaccinations will provide food security in this region with a highly sensitive economy, erratic climate conditions, and a history of food emergencies.

MAURITANIA: Poor rains in Mauritania this year have had a devastating effect on crops and livestock, leading to an inevitable rise in malnutrition. Between 10 and 15 per cent of the population is malnourished, and the figure is even higher among children. An IFRC team is monitoring the situation by screening children using a basic toolkit; bracelets to measure arm circumference, height gauge and scales. In addition to the problems that are normally associated with malnutrition, children are also more prone to disease and less able to fight off infection.


GLOSSARY:

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