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RUSSELL HUBBARD — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:00:00 GMT

26-Jul-10 6:00 PM

Red Cross Responds to Tropical Storm Bonnie

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Friday, July 23, 2010 — As Tropical Storm Bonnie makes its way towards the Gulf Coast and the coast of Florida, the American Red Cross is making preparations for a full response. Forecasters predict the storm will bring strong winds, heavy rain, and coastal flooding to much of southern Florida, along with the possibility of tornadoes.

Get an American Red Cross Solarlink Eton Emergency Radio

Over the weekend, the storm is expected to move across the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for southern Louisiana, including New Orleans. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions, heavy rain and winds from 39 to 73 mph, are expected somewhere within the warning area..

More than 150 Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) in addition to trained disaster workers and relief supplies are ready to move from Red Cross chapters and warehouses to support chapters in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. An additional 85 ERVs are already in the area, permanently housed in chapters from Texas to Florida. These chapters are on alert and working with state and local governments to open shelters as needed.

“We stand ready to respond and support coastal residents in the path of Tropical Storm Bonnie,” said Joe Becker, senior vice president for Red Cross Disaster Services. “The most important thing people can do is listen to local emergency officials – safety is top priority.”

The Red Cross offers the following steps people can take to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

Under a tropical storm watch:

Bring items inside that can be picked up by the wind.
Turn refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings and keep them closed as much as possible so food will last longer if the power goes out.
Turn off any propane tanks and unplug small appliances.
Fill vehicle’s gas tank.
Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If hurricane shutters are not available, close and board up windows and doors with plywood.
Listen to local authorities and evacuate if advised to do so. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

After the storm:

Return home only when officials say it is safe.
Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them to the power company.
Stay out of any building that has water around it.
Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until it’s determined there is no contamination.
Keep animals under direct control.

Full details about the steps you can take to stay safe are available on the Red Cross web site.

Hurricane Season 2010: Red Cross Pre-positioned Supplies

View Hurricane Season 2010: Red Cross Pre-positioned Supplies in a larger map

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

23-Jul-10 2:00 PM

No End in Sight for Sweltering Summer Heat

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Friday, July 23, 2010 — As the long, hot summer continues, the American Red Cross encourages people to stay informed on how to endure the heat and remain safe during what can be dangerous conditions. Record-breaking temperatures have kept much of the United States in excessive heat that can put many at risk.

Be Red Cross Ready - Heat Wave Safety Checklist [PDF]

What to do when the temperatures are on the rise:

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
Eat small meals and eat more often.
Avoid extreme temperature changes.
Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors.
Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Ensure your animals have water and a shady place to rest.
Have a plan for wherever you spend time— home, work and school—and prepare for the possibility of power outages.
Know those in your neighborhood who are elderly, young, sick or overweight. They are more likely to become victims of excessive heat and may need help.
If you don’t have air conditioning, choose places to go to for relief from the heat during the hottest part of the day – schools, libraries, theaters, malls.
Be aware that people living in urban areas may be at greater risk from the effects of a prolonged heat wave than are people living in rural areas.

How to help someone having trouble with the heat:

The extreme heat can cause actual physical difficulties which in some instances can be life-threatening. Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms in the legs or abdomen caused by exposure to high heat and humidity and loss of fluids and electrolytes. Heat cramps are often an early sign that the body is having trouble with the heat. To help someone with heat cramps:

Get them to a cooler place and have them rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids.
Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions worse.

Heat exhaustion involves the loss of body fluids through heavy sweating during strenuous exercise or physical labor in high heat and humidity. Signs include cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness and exhaustion. If someone is suffering from heat exhaustion, you should:

Move them to a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition.
If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition in which a person’s temperature control system stops working and the body is unable to cool itself. Signs of heat stroke include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting; and high body temperature.

Heat stroke is life-threatening. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately.
Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person’s body by giving care as you would for heat exhaustion. If needed, continue rapid cooling by applying ice or cold packs wrapped in a cloth to the wrists, ankles, groin, neck and armpits.

For more information on what to do during these hot summer days, visit www.houstonredcross.org or www.redcross.org

23-Jul-10 12:00 PM

Red Cross Urges Everyone to Prepare for Hurricane Season

RUSSELL HUBBARD — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Click for an interactive experience that will help you customize your Disaster Supplies Kit.

Click here to download Hurricane Safety Checklist

Get a Kit

Whether purchasing a kit from us or assembling your own, your family’s kit should contain items that enable you to provide for essential needs during a disaster. A standard preparedness kit should include the following items:

Water - one gallon per person per day for a least 3 days
Food - a least 3 days of non-perishable food that requires little or no water or cooking to prepare.
Medications - at least a week’s supply of prescriptions or over the counter medications
Radio - battery or hand crank, extra batteries
First Aid Kit
Personal Documents
Contact Info
Map
Clothing
Sanitary Supplies
Pet Supplies
Tools

Planning ahead will help you have the best possible response to disaster.
Check items at least twice a year. Purchase a Disaster Supply and First Aid Kit.

Make a Plan

Planning ahead will help you have the best possible response to disaster.

Talk - Discuss with your family the disasters that can happen where you live. Establish responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team. Designate alternates in case someone is absent. If a family member is in the military, also plan for how you would respond if they are deployed. Include the local military base resources that may be available.
Plan - Choose two places to meet after a disaster - one in the immediate area of your home, in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire and one outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate. Choose an out-of-area contact for all members of the family to call in case of disaster. The selected contact person should live far enough away that they would be unaffected by the same event, and they should know they are the chosen contact.
Each family member should carry an Emergency Contact Card that inlcudes contact information for each household member, such as work, school and cell phone numbers. If you need additional space, use the back side of the card.
Remember that during a disaster, it may be easier to make a long distance phone call than to call across town.
Learn - Each adult in your household should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water and gas. Ask your local fire department to show you how to use a fire extinguisher.
Tel l- Everyone in the household should know where emergency information and supplies are kept. Make copies of the information for everyone to carry with them. Keep the information updated. Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassable or gridlocked.
Pets - Include your pets as part of your family disaster plan. If you must evacuate, take your animals with you. If it is not safe for you to remain, it is not safe for them.

Be Informed

There are three key parts to becoming informed; Get Info; Know Your Region; Take Action Steps

Get Info – Learn the ways you would get information during a disaster or an emergency - Television, Radio, NOAA,
Weather Stations, Printed Notices, Telephone/Text Messaging, Local Emergency Warning System, Person to Person.
Know Your Region – Learn about the disasters that may occur in your area. In the Houston area, we experience residential fires, flooding tornados, hurricanes and thunderstorms.
Take Action Steps – Get trained to perform First Aid and CPR and how to use an AED.

23-Jul-10 9:00 AM

Red Cross Veterans Programs at Houston's VA Hospital

RUSSELL HUBBARD — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Helping our veterans is a privilege the American Red Cross embraces.

The Greater Houston Chapter is using a new program to help spinal cord patients at Houston’s VA hospital.

Red Cross staff and volunteers play video games and use other hand held devices with patients to help them regain or improve their motor skills.

Will Spears developed multiple sclerosis after serving in the Army in Desert Storm. He’s from New Orleans and was sent from the VA hospital there to Houston for surgery and rehabilitation.

“Red Cross has been so good to me. They bring me things I need like phone cards, toiletries and an MP3 Player. And they play video games with me as part of my therapy.” said Spears

Will is especially grateful for visits by Houston Area Red Cross staff and volunteers since he has no family or friends living here.

22-Jul-10 5:00 PM

Red Cross’ Texas Open Lifeguard Competition Draws Best Teams State-wide

RUSSELL HUBBARD — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Twenty-four of the best-trained lifeguard teams from across Texas, took part in three water events at Splashtown on Sunday –Victim Recovery Relay, Passive Victim Relay and Rescue Tube Relay.

On Saturday they began competition at the Greater Houston Area Red Cross with the First Aid and CPR portion of the Texas Open Lifeguard Competition. The guards used their lifesaving skills in 'true life" scenarios. WARNING: Some Photos and Video from the event show fake, however, very "life-like" accidents that the guards had to respond to while being graded on their response to each scenario.

See more: Cut and Paste the following links.

Conroe Courier
http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/07/18/conroe_courier/sports/lifeguard_package_0719tw.txt

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/07/14/conroe_courier/news/lifeguard071510.txt

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/07/21/woodlands_villager/lifestyles/wv-s_woods_lifeguards.txt

Houston Chronicle
http://www.ultimatewoodlands.com/users/alan-fossler

Channel 39
http://67.214.99.203/Player.aspx?ClipId=,S,201007,78df1973-94e3-4cff-93db-9ad8fab349a4&ReqServer=NDS5%5cNDS5&QueryName=GREATER%20HOUSTON%20AREA%20CHAPTER%20RED%20CROSS&Offset=2557&Time=12gf(74f(74f(747rl4f(74frj4f(747Hh&E=12gC274c(7Jfr7JYzWw7(79O(WHcHh&EM=Notify%20your%20monitoring%20service%20provider%20to%20obtain%20this%20clip.&rai=91629DDF-4F88-11D7-80A6-00B0D020616E&ran=aircheck&roi=91629DDF-4F88-11D7-80A6-00B0D020616E&ron=aircheck&run=AirCheck%20-%20Houston&rut=User&pbp=N

Facebook--Houston Red Cross
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=227974&id=391643524399&ref=mf#!/pages/Houston-Red-Cross/391643524399?v=photos

22-Jul-10 1:00 PM

Red Cross’ 2010 Texas Open Lifeguard Competition Draws Best Teams State-wide

Russell Hubbard — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:15:00 GMT

Red Cross’ 2010 Texas Open Lifeguard Competition Draws Best Teams State-wide

Summer With Higher Than Average Drowning Rate in Greater Houston Area Highlights Importance Competition That Tests Lifeguards Knowledge, Skills and Ability

Saturday, July 17, 2010 & Sunday, July 18, 2010

Click here to download complete news release

15-Jul-10 1:15 PM

From Relief to Recovery: Red Cross Provides Financial Assistance in Haiti

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:00:00 GMT

By Julie Sell

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 — PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – “I love what I’m doing.” Amid the devastation of Haiti’s capital city and surroundings, Odette Mednard sounds a note of optimism. A dressmaker and owner of a small food shop attached to her home, Mednard has been a client of Fonkoze – one of Haiti’s largest microcredit organizations – since 2005. A Fonkoze group leader, she now hosts regular client meetings at her home and counsels other women entrepreneurs on their small businesses.

Mednard Odette in her store in Porto-Prince, Haiti. Mednard is a participant in a microloan program created by Fonkoze in conjunction with the American Red Cross.

Credit: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross.

Thanks to $8 million in funding from the American Red Cross, Mednard and about 18,000 other Fonkoze clients – most of them women – have received one-time payments to cover emergency expenses, had their debts paid off, and have become eligible to receive new loans to get back on their feet after the January 12th earthquake.

Mednard’s house was damaged and she lost much of her store’s inventory in the quake, but today her business is growing. “The money from Fonkoze has helped my family a lot,” she says. “My husband was a mason, but he hasn’t worked for six months. I’m supporting the family now.”

Other Fonkoze clients sound equally grateful for the funds they have received, thanks to the American Red Cross. Listen to Jacquelines Dormeus, 63, who has a business selling charcoal, beans, corn and plantains in front of her home. “Our family would be on the street,” she says. “This money brought me hope.”

Ammaselie Papouloute, 46, is a mother of six children aged 22 to five. A food vendor who sells her wares walking through local streets with a basket on her head, she had to send her children to live with relatives in the countryside after their home was destroyed in the earthquake. “My house collapsed, flat to the ground,” she says.

Now, thanks to the financial support of the American Red Cross, she is able to rent an apartment in the city and her children have returned to live with her. She has money for food, clothing and can buy supplies for the business. “Without the money, we would have died,” she says. “I had nothing to give them.”

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

14-Jul-10 1:00 PM

American Red Cross Announces Expanded Haiti Health, Shelter and Financial Assistance Initiatives

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Progress seen six months after Haiti earthquake, but much more remains to be done

July 09, 2010 — The American Red Cross today announced a series of new or expanded initiatives that will help keep open the largest general hospital in Haiti, help build more semi-permanent shelters for 40,000 people now living in tents and tarps, and provide financial assistance to tens of thousands of earthquake survivors through an innovative text messaging program.

The announcements were made during a Red Cross briefing on the upcoming six-month anniversary of the devastating January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

“Six months after the earthquake, Haiti is filled with signs of hope and progress as well as reminders of the immense needs that still remain,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross, who has been to Haiti three times since the earthquake. “The Red Cross has improved the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Haitians with emergency shelter, food, water, medical treatment, latrines and other supplies – and we are also investing in other recovery projects such as building shelters and improving water and sanitation systems.”

The new or expanded American Red Cross initiatives include:

Health

$7.9 million for health programs, including a $3.8 million agreement with Partners in Health to pay salaries of more than 1,800 Haitian doctors, nurses and other staff at the largest general hospital in Port-au-Prince. All of these hospital employees had been working without pay since even before the earthquake, and American Red Cross funding will cover their lost wages and enable to hospital to continue to provide critically needed health care.
$1.8 million to keep open a German Red Cross field hospital in Carrefour that has seen an average of 1,700 patients a week since it opened in January.
$1.4 million in prosthetics and rehabilitation support to injured Haitians through a partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
$900,000 on health programs in camps to educate Haitians about hygiene and HIV to prevent outbreaks of disease.

Shelter

$8.6 million on new shelter efforts in Haiti, with this money focused on building semi-permanent shelters for people now living in tarps and tents in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.
In coming weeks we expect to sign agreements worth more than $21 million to build more semi-permanent shelters to house about 40,000 people.
Construction on 300 temporary shelters, enough for 1,500 people, has begun in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of Cite Soleil in what will be the first large-scale shelter project in the capital by a single organization.

Financial Assistance

$9.7 million for a series of new or expanded programs that provide financial assistance to Haitians, including a $6.1 million cash-for-work program with Mercy Corps to support families outside Port-au-Prince who are hosting homeless Haitians and a $3.6 million expansion of a cash grant and loan program with Fonkoze, Haiti’s largest microfinance institution.

Innovative Text (SMS) Cash Transfer Program
In addition, the Red Cross said today that it is launching a major $50 million SMS cash transfer program to give cash grants of approximately $125 to up to 400,000 Haitian families over the next several months. Recently, the American Red Cross tested a technologically innovative program to give cash grants to families using cell phones and text messaging. During this successful pilot, smaller $50 cash grants were given out to help nearly 1,800 families move from at-risk camps to camps in safer areas. This newly expanded program will enable families to buy food and supplies, fund the education of their children, purchase medicine, repair homes, relocate from camps, and invest in their businesses and livelihoods.

“Through these programs, families who once stood in line for relief distributions will now be empowered to buy some of the basic items they need most, which in turn should help stimulate the country’s economy,” McGovern said, noting that even modest amounts of money can make a big difference to Haitian families, as 70 percent of Haitians lived on less than $2 a day prior to the earthquake.

“The same cell phone technology that enabled Americans to text donations for Haiti will now enable earthquake survivors to access money to support their families,” said McGovern.

Hurricane Preparedness
With hurricane season already underway, the Red Cross is working on disaster preparedness programs for vulnerable people currently living under tarps or tents. This includes programs that will train 500,000 camp residents on emergency first aid, safe evacuation procedures and early warning systems, as well as funding efforts to dig ditches and put sandbags on steep hillsides to reduce flooding. In addition, the Red Cross is pre-positioning emergency supplies such as tarps, tents and blankets for 125,000 people in 10 cities around Haiti and in a regional warehouse in Panama.

Money Raised and Spent
The American Red Cross has raised approximately $468 million for the Haiti relief and recovery efforts, spending nearly a third of the money - $148.5million – in the first six months. About 38% of the money has been spent on food and emergency services; about 35% on emergency and transitional/semi-permanent shelters; 10% on livelihoods and host family assistance; 8% on health and disease prevention programs; 5% on disaster preparedness activities as well as 4% on providing clean water and sanitation. The shelter and financial assistance agreements to be signed in the next several weeks will add another $71 million in spending.

The American Red Cross is on track to meet its goal of spending more than $200 million to address immediate needs – mostly in the first 12 months after the earthquake. The remainder of the funds raised will go to longer-term recovery over the next three to five years, with spending plans likely to evolve to respond to changing needs.

“We know that the crisis in Haiti is not over and the recovery process will be long and difficult,” McGovern said. “Haiti and its people must rebuild their homes, economy, health systems, schools and transportation networks. With an estimated $12 billion needed to rebuild Haiti, the needs are beyond the capacity of the Red Cross alone to fix, and will require the collective efforts of governments and humanitarian groups around the world.”

“The American Red Cross will support earthquake survivors in the months and years to come, and will be in Haiti until the last donated dollar is spent,” she added.

9-Jul-10 9:30 AM

Flood Safety Checklist

Melissa Rangel — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters. Conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain for several hours or days that saturates the ground. Flash floods occur suddenly due to rapidly rising water along a streamor low-lying area.

Click here to download your Flood Safety Checklist.

7-Jul-10 12:00 PM

Houston Area Red Cross Provides Clean-Up Kits to Brazoria County Residents in Flooded Neighborhoods

Melissa Rangel — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:15:00 GMT

Saturday, July 3, 2010 - Residents in West Columbia and Sweeny, whose homes flooded during yesterday’s storms, got some help from the Red Cross today. The Director of the Brazoria County Red Cross office and two trained volunteers went door-to-door delivering clean-up kits. Most of the residents had less than a foot of water in their homes, but it was enough to make a big mess.

Office Director Charlie Davis and volunteers Grant Murrell and Richard Manning knocked on doors, visited with residents and provided them with the supplies to make cleaning up a little easier. Red Cross clean up kits have two brooms with telescoping handles, a mop, bucket, gloves, squeegee, bleach and other cleaning supplies.

3-Jul-10 7:15 PM

Greater Houston Red Cross Disaster Volunteers in South Texas for Hurricane Alex

RUSSELL HUBBARD — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Trained Red Cross Disaster Volunteers Joe Luna and Jill Franklin are in McAllen, Texas in advance of Hurricane Alex.On Tuesday they transported cots, heater meals and comfort kits to Shelters. Once the storm passes, Joe and Jill will provide assistance including mobile feeding and providing comfort and clean up kits in the areas affected by the disaster.

Disaster Volunteers Charlie Matthew and Stephen Currie are in Mercedes, Texas to set up the Emergency Communications Response Vehicle (ECRV) in preparation for Alex. The ECRV provides communication in disaster areas that have had phone lines and electricity knocked out.

ECRV leaves Greater Houston Red Cross for South Texas.

29-Jun-10 5:00 PM

Houston Red Cross Disaster Volunteers preparing to leave for TS Alex

RUSSELL HUBBARD — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Trained Red Cross Volunteer and Radio Operator Charlie Matthew prepares the Emergency Communications Response Vehicle (ECRV) to deploy to South Texas in preparation for Tropical Storm Alex.

Matthew and trained Red Cross volunteer Stephen Currie will drive to Harlingen tomorrow to set up the vehicle. The ECRV is a specialized communications vehicle that responds quickly to disasters and provides initial communications to coordinate Red Cross relief efforts. Each ECRV has two-way radios and a satellite dish that provides a link for 10 phones and 10 laptop computers that can be networked.

28-Jun-10 5:00 PM

What is the Red Cross Role in Response to the Spill?

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:00:00 GMT

June - 2010 - The ongoing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is causing widespread concern about the potential impact for the region’s economy, wildlife, homes and shore line. As a result, many states and communities are beginning to mobilize volunteer and government resources. The American Red Cross is working with federal, state and local government partners on ways in which we can support the needs of affected communities. Right now, the Red Cross is planning for that support role, should our government partners request help.

The Red Cross is ramping up preparations for what is predicted to be a very active and dangerous hurricane season, especially along the Gulf Coast where the oil spill could cause people to evacuate for an even longer period. At the same time, we are actively responding to wildfires, tornadoes, floods and other disasters from Arizona to Montana to Arkansas. The Red Cross is accepting donations to its Disaster Relief Fund to support these efforts.

The Red Cross understands that certain communities may have unique needs or requests for help, and that will figure into our planning efforts as this situation continues to evolve.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

25-Jun-10 3:00 PM

Gulf Coast Beach Safety

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:00:00 GMT

June 2010 — For those with vacation plans on the Gulf Coast, the oil spill is understandably a cause for questions and concerns, and the Red Cross has some safety and health tips for people who are going to the area.

Beach Safety

The following Red Cross guidelines are from the Advisory Council on First Aid and Safety and Preparedness (ACFASP), a Red Cross group of experts.

Know Before You Go
Any beach trip involves possible hazards, including rip currents, stormy weather, and high concentrations of animals such as jellyfish and sharks. The oil spill simply adds another potential hazard to that list.

If you're planning to go to a beach or water area possibly affected by the oil spill, consult local and state resources to see if the area is experiencing contamination. You can also read or listen to information from local media broadcasts or Web sites.

Beach Safety

Stay out of closed or contaminated areas. Whenever possible, stay in swimming areas supervised by trained lifeguards.
If you see tar balls or other possible oil products on the beach, notify authorities and avoid direct physical contact with the substance. In most cases it's appropriate to use non-emergency contact numbers instead of dialing 9-1-1.
Don't try to rescue a contaminated animal unless you're specially trained and have adequate protective gear. Notify authorities if you see any animals in distress.
If you notice possible oil in the water, leave the water immediately.

Contact with Oil Products—What to Do

Leave the contaminated environment and wash yourself thoroughly with fresh water and soap, mild detergent or a product designed to remove oil or grease from skin. Water alone isn't enough.
Remove and place contaminated clothing and swim or dive gear into plastic bags and wash them thoroughly with fresh water and detergent.
Don't launder contaminated clothing with other clothing.
Throw away anything you can't get clean.

Health Issues
In many cases, leaving the area and removing all traces of contamination will resolve mild health symptoms.

Seek urgent medical attention if you experience acute shortness of breath, significant coughing, facial or throat swelling, nausea or vomiting or a significant rash after being exposed to oil products. Inform medical personnel of any possible exposure to oil products.

Infants, children, the elderly and those with respiratory issues or open wounds are more likely to suffer medical problems due to exposure to oil products. It's best that they stay out of any possibly contaminated areas.

What is the Red Cross Role?
The ongoing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is causing widespread concern about the potential impact for the region’s economy, wildlife, homes and shore line. As a result, many states and communities are beginning to mobilize volunteer and government resources. The American Red Cross is working with federal, state and local government partners on ways in which we can support the needs of affected communities. Right now, the Red Cross is planning for that support role, should our government partners request help.

In this situation, Red Cross activities are expected to look similar to what the public has come to expect during any disaster, with our focus on sheltering people evacuated from their homes and supporting responders with food, first aid and mental health.

The Red Cross understands that certain communities may have unique needs or requests for help, and that will figure into our planning efforts as this situation continues to evolve.

For information about the Gulf of Mexico spill, visit the Deepwater Horizon Response Web site.

23-Jun-10 9:00 AM

Red Cross Annual Meeting to be Held Monday, June 21st

Melissa Rangel — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:00:00 GMT

WHAT:

The Greater Houston Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will host its 93^rd Annual Meeting, Monday, June 21, 2010. The Chapter will present and acknowledge this year’s 2010 Certificate of Merit winners at the evening reception. This is the highest award given by the Red Cross to an individual or group who saves or sustains a life using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Health and Safety course. Certificate of Merit awards are signed by the President of the United States, who is the honorary chairman of the American Red Cross. The Certificate of Merit winners will be present at the event along with the people they saved.

WHEN:

Monday, June 21, 2010

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Program begins at 5:00 pm

WHERE:

Houston Red Cross, Chapter Headquarters,

2700 SW Freeway, Houston Texas 77098

The Greater Houston Chapter is a non-profit humanitarian organization which provides service to almost 6 million people in 16 counties through its Main Office and 14 Branch Offices. The Chapter provides the following main services: assistance to disaster victims; assistance to military families & provides International Tracing Services; non-emergency medical transportation in Harris & Fort Bend counties for the elderly, disabled or chronically ill; and offers health & safety courses such as CPR, AED & swim classes. To learn more about Red Cross services and programs, visit our website at www.houstonredcross.org.

###

18-Jun-10 2:00 PM

Houston Red Cross Participates in 2010 Hurricane Workshop

Melissa Rangel — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Sponsored by Houston/Galveston National Weather Service

WHAT:

The Houston/Galveston National Weather Service 2010 Hurricane Workshop, themed

Ready or Not. Stop by the Red Cross exhibit area to pick up free hurricane preparedness

information and learn how to prepare your own disaster kit at home.

WHEN:

Saturday, June 19, 2010 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

WHERE:

George R. Brown Convention Center

Free and open to the Public

WHY:

Hurricane Season started June 1^st and ends November 30, 2010.

For disaster & preparedness tips, visit our website at houstonredcross.org

17-Jun-10 2:00 PM

American Red Cross Provides an Initial $50,000 as Kyrgyzstan Unrest Drives Families Across International Borders

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 — Out of concern for the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people in southern Kyrgyzstan, who have fled to rural areas, mosques and farms following days of brutal violence in the country, the Red Cross has launched a multi-country humanitarian response.

Refugees on the Uzbek border escaping the ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan.

Photo Courtesy of Reuters

Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan border region

“Ethnic tensions between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks have escalated into violent clashes, including looting, arson attacks on public buildings and private residences, and targeted killings following the Central Asian country’s April elections,” said American Red Cross specialist Shavkat Ismailov, who spent several years working in neighboring Tajikistan. “The American Red Cross has committed an initial $50,000 from its International Response Fund and stands ready to deploy staff and relief supplies, if requested, as part of a joint humanitarian effort with other members of the global Red Cross network dealing with the crisis.”

Working together, the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC – a Swiss-based humanitarian group mandated by the international community to provide assistance to people affected by armed conflict – and the country’s Red Crescent society have assisted 16 medical facilities by caring for more than 1,130 injured people in the past week. A lull in the shooting on Tuesday near Jalal-Abad also enabled a small team of ICRC doctors to visit the city's main hospital, where they provided additional medical supplies to local staff, who were treating approximately 60 wounded patients.

"Things have been a little calmer in Osh over the past 24 hours, even though tensions and fear are still running high, and the situation remains very volatile, especially in Jalal-Abad," said Séverine Chappaz, the ICRC's deputy head of mission in Kyrgyzstan. "We've been able to get a better idea of what's going on outside of Osh but we still don't know the full extent of the humanitarian impact of the fighting in the region. On a positive note, we welcomed the news that the Kyrgyz authorities have been able to secure an area in Osh, where they've been using helicopters to evacuate people who feel unsafe. We also know of 17 seriously wounded patients, who were able to be evacuated from Jalal-Abad to Bishkek."

According to the team on the ground, several hundred people have been killed in the fighting, although it's still too early to say precisely how many as a number of bodies have already been buried and may not have been identified or counted, while others remain uncollected.

The insecurity over the past six days has prevented many aid agencies from bringing staff and supplies into the area and the ICRC is working with the Kyrgyz Red Crescent and the authorities to determine the scope of the needs, what's available and what else is needed, as well as facilitate and coordinate the distribution of existing aid.

"We've been in touch with a mosque in Osh, where a volunteer doctor told us that 6,000 ethnic Uzbeks had sought refuge from one district of the city alone,” said Chappaz. “Almost half of the people in the mosque are children and they're trying to survive off of food provided by a local farmer. In addition to food, they say they need insulin, IV fluids, syringes, antibiotics, soap and wound dressings as they are dealing with many burn victims."

The ICRC's first planeload of non-medical relief items arrived in Osh from the organization's logistics base in Amman, Jordan, late this afternoon. The supplies, which include blankets, tarps, cooking utensils, water containers and soap, will be distributed to 1,300 vulnerable families and will be followed by several more planeloads of similar items in the coming days.

Additionally, for the first time since the crisis started nearly a week ago, the ICRC was able to visit the main detention centre in Osh today and deliver food provided by the World Food Programme to around 1,000 detainees.

This period of unrest has led an estimated 300,000 residents to flee their homes, particularly in the Kyrgyz cities of Osh and Jalalabad. On the Uzbek side of the border, the authorities say there are now refugees staying in at least 40 makeshift camps, as well as factories, schools and parking lots, or with relatives in Uzbekistan. Most of them are women with children, bringing the total number of estimated refugees to more than 100,000, according to Uzbek officials.

The ICRC now has 25 staff in Osh, including 13 international emergency experts as well as 12 expatriate delegates in the capital, Bishkek, some of whom will be deployed to the south in the coming days. The American Red Cross has a regional delegation in Kazakhstan that is also available to support the response, if needed.

16-Jun-10 1:00 PM

The Hero in All of Us

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:00:00 GMT

June 09, 2010 — Heroes walk among us, and thankfully so. Not all of them wear a uniform, either—many are just regular people who have gotten trained in first aid and CPR/AED.

Shop the Red Cross Store - First Aid and CPR for Everyone: An Introduction to Basic Lifesaving Skills

Although many people don’t think they will get the chance to use their training, more than a quarter of respondents in a Red Cross survey said they have been in a situation where someone may have needed CPR.

Julia Bylow, Karl Knutsen and Mike James know this situation firsthand. All three work at East Union High School in Manteca, Calif., and one day they worked together to save another colleague, Sue Bloodgood.

Bloodgood was in cardiac arrest, and the trio kept her alive with CPR until paramedics arrived.Bylow, Knutsen and James were all honored by the American Red Cross recently for their lifesaving actions. The three received the Certificate of Merit, which is signed by the President of the United States and is the highest honor the Red Cross bestows.

As Knutsen received his award, he encouraged others to get trained. "It's a technique, a tool. You give up three to four hours (in training time). We need to help (the Red Cross) because they help us," he said.

Not Yet a Teenager, Already a Lifesaver
Kiara Barry also numbers among those who have used their training to save a life. In the 10-year-old’s case, it was Emily Barry—her mother—who needed help.

One evening while she was preparing dinner, Emily Barry began to choke on some candy. After gesturing to her younger daughter, Isabelle, that she was choking, the little girl ran to get Kiara.

"She didn't question me ... she just came right up and gave me the Heimlich ... she knew absolutely what to do and I am proud of her," said Emily Barry of Kiara's quick reaction.

Kiara learned this technique, along with other basic first aid and CPR skills, through a class based on the Red Cross GuardStart program. GuardStart is a pre-lifeguarding (junior lifeguarding) program for youth, and teaches them about injury prevention, emergency response, physical fitness, professionalism and leadership.

To get trained in first aid and CPR/AED, or to learn about other courses the Red Cross offers, go to houstonredcross.org and find your local chapter.

10-Jun-10 2:00 PM

Do Your Part, Be Water Smart!

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

With summer in full gear and more and more people heading to the water to stay cool, everyone needs to work together to stay safe this summer. Start learning what you can do!

Contact your local Red Cross chapter to find out which aquatic facilities in your area offer Red Cross courses.

Make Water Safety Your Priority

Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system!
Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and Learn-to-Swim courses.
Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
Establish rules for your family and enforce them without fail. For example, set limits based on each person’s ability, do not let anyone play around drains and suction fittings, and do not allow swimmers to hyperventilate before swimming under water or have breath-holding contests.
Even if you do not plan on swimming, be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water dangerous.
If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning.
Avoid alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm.

Prevent Unsupervised Access to the Water

Install and use barriers around your home pool or hot tub. Safety covers and pool alarms should be added as additional layers of protection.
Ensure that pool barriers enclose the entire pool area, are at least 4-feet high with gates that are self-closing, self-latching and open outward, and away from the pool. The latch should be high enough to be out of a small child’s reach.
If you have an above-ground or inflatable pool, remove access ladders and secure the safety cover whenever the pool is not in use.
Remove any structures that provide access to the pool, such as outdoor furniture, climbable trees, decorative walls and playground equipment.
Keep toys that are not in use away from the pool and out of sight. Toys can attract young children to the pool.

Maintain Constant Supervision

Actively supervise children whenever around the water—even if lifeguards are present. Do not just drop your kids off at the public pool or leave them at the beach—designate a responsible adult to supervise.
Always stay within arm’s reach of young children and avoid distractions when supervising children around water.

Know What to Do in an Emergency

If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
If you own a home pool or hot tub, have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
Enroll in Red Cross home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.

Contact your local Red Cross chapter to find out which aquatic facilities in your area offer Red Cross courses. To find your local chapter, enter your zip code in the far right column of this page.

Check out the information below to start learning how you and your family can be safer in and around the water this summer.

3-Jun-10 11:00 AM