Uncategorized – Page 29 – Gold Country News and Notes

Day 8: It’s Never too Late to Help Save Lives with the Red Cross

As the urgent need for many blood types continues, American Red Cross blood donors demonstrate it’s never too late to roll up a sleeve to help patients in need.

HELPING SAVE LIVES FOR 60 YEARS Jack Hefley started giving blood when he was a teenager. Now, he’s working on his 23rd gallon of blood donated through the Red Cross. Sixty years later, Jack continues to donate and help save lives.

“Some people don’t give because it hurts, but it doesn’t bother me,” said Hefley. “I give beca Jack Hefley 1 use it is just something to help someone else and give back.”

MANY BLOOD TYPES
URGENTLY NEEDED NOW Roll up a sleeve today. The Red Cross continues to have an urgent need for eligible blood donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood to give now. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients with any blood type. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients. Individuals with these blood types are urged to make and keep donation appointments as soon as possible to help replenish the blood supply.

Platelet donors and those with type AB blood are also continually needed to help ensure the shelves are stocked for patients in need. Platelets – a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, surgical patients and bone marrow recipients – must be transfused within five days of donation. Donors with type AB blood are also urgently needed to restock the plasma supply. Type AB donors have the universal plasma type, which can be given to patients of all blood types. Plasma is often needed for burn, trauma and clotting deficiency patients. Plasma can be collected during a blood or platelet donation.

HOW TO DONATE Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Platelets can be given every seven days – up to 24 times a year. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in most states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Day 9:Pizza Boy Turned Pizza Man

In the spirit of #GiveWithMeaning, we’re counting down the stories that inspired us, humbled us and make us proud to be Red Crossers.

Our first story is about 19 year-old Anson Lemmer, a pizza delivery boy. When he went on a routine pizza delivery run, his Red Cross babysitter training was far from his mind. But that delivery turned into a chance for Anson to save a stranger’s life using the CPR skills he learned from the Red Cross. His unforgettable quote – “I left a pizza boy and returned a pizza man” leaves us applauding, and wondering: Who is the next Anson? You could end up saving the life of someone you love dearly – or the life of a total stranger. Find Red Cross courses available in your area.

Behind the Scenes with ARCSA

Hello all! My name is Sophie Amirrezvani and I am the president of the American Red Cross Student Association (ARCSA) at Sacramento State.

We are dedicated to fostering a volunteering community within our club. We do a lot of events both on and off campus. I am a second year at Sac State and I remember coming into college knowing that I wanted to be involved on my campus but had no idea what I wanted to do. At the beginning of my first semester I checked out a few different clubs and the only one that really stood out to me was the ARCSA. I really loved Thursdays because not only was it one day closer to the weekend, but I got to go to see my Red Cross friends.

Last year, the club was short on officers so the officers recruited a historian and a secretary. I ended up being secretary and look where that got me. By being an officer I have learned so much more about the Red Cross and all the wonderful services we have to offer. This year I am also a board member, representing Sac State. It is truly inspiring to meet so many people that are so dedicated to helping their community. I have been volunteering for the Red Cross for just over a year now and have loved every minute of it. If you have not already done so I highly encourage becoming a volunteer! It is a wonderful experience and you get to meet so many amazing people

Whenever my mom asks me what I am up too other than school, my natural response is that I’m either volunteering for a Red Cross event or I plan on hanging out with my Red Cross friends. I am so happy to have joined such a wonderful and diverse club. Most people assume that our club consists solely of science major, although for myself that is true, I am a biology major. However, we have members that are majoring in a wide variety of subjects, ranging from criminal justice to computer science to gerontology. Fun fact: there is only one gerontology major in our club and she is awesome!!

Holiday Mail for Heroes 2015

With many service members and veterans separated from their families the holiday season due to deployments and hospital stays, the American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes (HMFH) program empowers people to “Give Something That Means Something” by sending a card of thanks and support to the members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

This year, the American Red Cross Gold Country Region is once again participating in the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. The program gives organizations, companies, schools, and individuals the opportunity to honor our local service members and veterans by sending cards filled with holiday wishes, encouragement, and thanks during the holiday season.

Collected cards will be distributed to local military and veterans facilities throughout our region during the month of December.

If you are interested in participating, please keep these guidelines in mind:

Create your own cards by hand, or use cards you may have on hand or purchased
Use generic titles in your message, beginning cards with “Dear Service Member, Veteran, or Military Family”
Do not use cards with glitter as some cards will be distributed to hospitals where glitter may interfere or aggravate existing health issues.
We ask that you not include your personal contact information, or enclose any items with the holiday cards
Consider writing heartfelt, meaningful messages as you sign your cards, and encourage a “quality over quantity” approach to cards this year.

We are also partnering with local companies and creating holiday banners so their employees can write special holiday messages on the banner.

The banners will be delivered to military units within our region.

Please also reach out to us before planning your activity so we can provide further information and guidance.

All cards should be sent or delivered to the American Red Cross Gold Country Region:

Attention: Tobrin Hewitt

1565 Exposition Blvd,

Sacramento, CA 95815

Cards can be sent to us now through December 4^th.

For more information, please contact Tobrin Hewitt @ Tobrin.Hewitt@redcross.org

Join us! Help us save lives on December 5!

Join the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign on December 4^th and 5^th for our Goal: 1000 Smoke Alarm Installation Event!

Here are some important details:

December 4^th will be a pre-canvass event where volunteers will be placing door hangers to inform residents in 17 predetermined neighborhoods in Sacramento about the smoke alarm installation event on December 5.

December 5^th will be the Goal 1000 event where each volunteer will be placed into groups of four which will consist of one Red Cross volunteer who will be an educator, one document-er, and two installers.

Red Cross member volunteers go to www.redcross.org/volunteerconnection (Go to: My Shifts, Special Events, December)

Non-Red Cross volunteers simply go to pre-register at http://bit.ly/Goal1000 and fill out the form for the day (or days) that you wish to sign up for.

Thank you for helping to make a difference! All volunteers must pre-register by Friday, November 20. No walk-in volunteering is available.

The Home Fire Preparedness Campaign aims to reduce the total number of home fire related deaths and injuries by 25% by 2020.

In One Year: Red Cross and Partners Save 26 Lives, Install Smoke Alarms in all 50 States

In just one year, the American Red Cross’ nationwide Home Fire Campaign is credited with saving at least 28 lives.

More than 63,000 families are safer thanks to the smoke alarms and safety education they received in their homes from Red Cross volunteers, firefighters and other community partners. And more than 311,000 children have learned to be safer in emergencies from Red Cross volunteers and apps.

“In this country, seven people lose their lives every day from a home fire,” said Lilly Wyatt, Spokesperson for the American Red Cross Gold Country Region. “Even one death from a home fire is tragic. Over the next few years, the Home Fire Campaign will keep on going to help protect people and prepare them for emergencies like a fire in their home.”

Here in the Gold Country Region, the Red Cross and its partners achieved the following in this first year of the Home Fire Campaign:
· Conducted 2,235 in-home visits.

· Installed more than 1,192 smoke alarms.

· Replaces 348 smoke alarm batteries.

· Created 839 evacuation plans.

· Reached XXX youth with preparedness information.

· Visited 27 cities and towns in our region.

NATIONWIDE EFFORT

People of all ages are vulnerable to home fires. During the course of this campaign, the lives saved included a two-month-old baby, a 73-year-old grandmother, and 11 members of an extended New Orleans family by new smoke alarms that the Red Cross and our partners installed.

The Home Fire Campaign is a multi-year effort to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent. Working alongside fire departments and community groups across the country, the Red Cross and its partners have installed more than 125,000 smoke alarms in nearly 2,400 cities and towns.

Launched across the country in October 2014, the Red Cross and more than 1,900 local partners and 40 national partners have:

Saved 26 lives in six states (Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, South Dakota and Texas)

Installed more than 125,000 smoke alarms in nearly 2,400 cities and towns
Reached more than 485,000 people with safety information, including more than 311,000 youth
Visited more than 63,000 homes 50 states and 3 territories

Key supporters include: local fire departments, state fire marshals, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); United States Fire Administration (USFA); National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); Rebuilding Together; Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation; Meals on Wheels America; Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS); National Council on Independent Living (NCIL); Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA); Vision 20/20; Project Paradigm; Hope worldwide; Habitat for Humanity; Portlight Strategies, Inc.; and Lott Carey.

TWO MINUTES TO ESCAPE

It is estimated that someone may have only two minutes to get out after a fire starts in their home. As part of the campaign, the Red Cross is also asking every household in America to take two simple steps that can save lives: check their existing smoke alarms and practice fire drills at home. Every family should develop a fire escape plan, and practice it.

GET INVOLVED People can visit redcross.org to find out more about how to protect themselves and their loved homes from fire or contact their local Red Cross to find out about smoke alarm installation events in their community. They can also help by volunteering their time or making a donation today to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. We respond to nearly 70,000 other disasters every year, from home fires to hurricanes and more. Learn more about how Disaster Relief donations have helped people affected by previous disasters including home fires.

American Red Cross to host fire safety programs in Sacramento

The American Red Cross invites volunteers to participate in the nationwide smoke alarm installation and Home Fire Safety Education initiative, to be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. December 5 in 17 Sacramento neighborhoods.

Participants must be 13 or older and are asked to bring a battery-operated drill, a Philips-head screwdriver and a step ladder. Teams of five will work on smoke alarm installation, home fire safety education, data collection and neighborhood canvassing.

For more information visit: www.redcross.org/GoldCountry.

Celebrating our Veterans Then, Today and Always

November 11 is Veterans Day. It is a day to remember and celebrate our men and women who have served in uniform. It also gives us a chance to reflect on the origins of the Red Cross—serving combat wounded on the Civil War battlefields.

Clara Barton began our mission caring for wounded warriors more than 130 years ago, and today, we continue it with renewed vigor and commitment.

We serve veterans on more than 100 VA hospitals around the country, and help tens of thousands of veterans every year.

In addition, the Red Cross currently represents hundreds of veterans before the Veteran Board of Appeals, and we accept approximately 10 – 15 new appeals claims cases a month.

Our service does not end there. We have also met many of our volunteers across the country who take off their military uniform, and continue to serve as veterans.

We want to specially recognize those that serve the Gold Country region with passion and dedication; especially, our Service to the Armed Forces Mr. Tobrin Hewitt who leads that department with energy and a positive outlook.

What our Future Holds

The Red Cross is the second oldest Congressionally-chartered Veteran Service Organization, and the oldest Congressionally-chartered Veteran Service Organization non-profit, with more than 150 registered and Red Cross chapter-affiliated Veteran Benefits Advisors representing thousands of Veterans.

All told, today, our Red Cross Volunteers provided 1.25 million hours of service to our veteran and military family community last year alone.

We also value talent, skills and leadership of our veteran employees—having committed to hiring 1,000 over the past three years, we exceeded that mark by 300.

For the first time ever, the Corporate Diversity office will field a new team-member resource group for our veteran and military family employees and volunteers in 2016!

This Veterans Day, the Red Cross will lead and support more than 300 ceremonies and events across the country, showing our continued commitment to our nation’s finest and their families.

This Veterans Day, and every day…we will continue to be always by their side.

Hidden Dangers in Fall Decorations (And Other Fall Fire Safety Tips!)

By Sarah Layton

I didn’t make it 30 feet into Jo-Ann Fabric before stopping at a shelf.

“50 percent off decorative pumpkins and it’s not even November yet?” I said partially to myself, partially to make a case to my begrudging husband who had accompanied me craft shopping earlier this season. That pumpkin, made of twigs and festooned with ribbon, is now a perfect addition to my kitchen island.Aforementioned twig and leaf decor.

CANDLES

Guess what else is on my kitchen island — a candle. A yummy smelling, frequently-lit candle. Even though it may not be the ideal arrangement, that pumpkin now stays three feet from the heat. Just as any item in your home should stay three feet from heat sources, including your stove, a space heater and all candles.

If your expertly carved pumpkin has survived Halloween and you can’t resist using a real candle to make it shine, make sure the candle gets blown out when you can’t monitor it, especially when you leave your home. To light the candle, use something that will keep your appendages safe, such as a long fireplace lighter. Fun fact: My family used to deploy dry spaghetti noodles for our pumpkin-lighting purposes.

LIGHTS

Are you the proud household with gigantic spiders on your roof and orange lights illuminating every window? Maybe an inflatable turkey or two in the yard? My apartment has been reduced to one string of lights in our picture window, but even with that we are super careful to unplug them every time we leave the house.

Always remember to turn off any running electric appliances before you leave home, blow out candles and unplug fire hazards such as lights that might get too hot. Especially if they are near those new curtains you spent so much money on…

LEAVES

Toddler Sarah in leaf pile. Photo credit: Sarah’s mom.While I may think the piles of leaves in my yard are super festive fall decor on a grandiose scale, I understand some people out there collect leaves from their yards and dispose of them. (So many leaf pile jumping missed opportunities. But I digress). If your household is serious about leaf collection, here’s how you can also be serious about fire hazards when you dispose of them:

Use caution when burning leaves – Clear leaves away from the home and other buildings. Burn leaves only when permitted and in accordance with local laws and guidelines. Use extreme caution to ensure safety and control of the fire.

Prepare your home – Select building materials and plants that resist fire. Regularly clean your roof and gutters to remove flammable debris. Identify and maintain an adequate water source outside your home.

Gather firefighting tools – Set aside household items that can be used as firefighting tools: rake, ax, bucket, shovel, etc. You may need to fight a fire before emergency responders arrive.

ROASTING YOUR DECOR

Raise your hand if the pumpkins and gourds scattered strategically around your home are soon to be chopped up for roasted fall treats. I didn’t even carve my pumpkin this year, so it’s a perfect candidate for yummy toasted seeds. Knowing the majority of home fires start in the kitchen, I always have the Red Cross cooking safety tips in mind:

Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

Stay in the home while simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food. Check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that food is cooking.

Keep anything that can catch fire—like pot holders, towels, plastic and clothing— away from the stove.

Keep pets off cooking surfaces and countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.

Remember, we have plenty of other fire safety tips on redcross.org, as part of the Home Fire Campaign. Stay tuned for more holiday, cooking and heat-related information to keep your family safe this fall and winter!

2nd Anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan – The Red Cross Response

September 3, 2015. Tolosa, Leyte, Philippines. Children in Tolosa wash their hands at San Vicente Elementary School. The American Red Cross and Spanish Red Cross installed this running water in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, which damaged and destroyed houses, schools, and infrastructure in its path. Photo by Niki Clark/American Red Cross

September 3, 2015. Tolosa, Leyte, Philippines Children from Tanghas Elementary School show off their new Red Cross backpacks. The students continue to enjoy their school, repaired with funds from the American Red Cross in 2014 in partnership with the Spanish Red Cross. Children received backpacks full of supplies to start the school year. The Red Cross installed hand water pumps, constructed six new latrines, and repaired classrooms that were badly damaged by Typhoon Haiyan. Even though it was ravaged by high winds and fallen coconut trees, about 20 families used the school as a shelter in the aftermath of the typhoon. One hundred and thirty-two students, from kindergarten to sixth grade, attend Tanghas Elementary School. The schools five teachers all survived the storm and returned to teach this year. All the surrounding schools are full, so if this one wasnt able to reopen, theyd have nowhere else to get their education. The Red Cross trains local people on carpentry, plumping, electrical and construction skills and then pays them to repair schools like Tanghas Elementary. Without the Red Cross repairing the school, I dont know what would happen to our children, said school official, Noresita A. Go. This project is in collaboration with the Spanish Red Cross. Photo by Niki Clark/American Red Cross

September 1, 2015. Dulag, Leyte, Philippines Reynan Cayubit, 29, and Francisco Latoja, 27, work as carpenters at a Red Cross workshop that build houses for Typhoon Haiyan survivors. Both of their houses were destroyed by the typhoon and they have both since rebuilt them using the money they earn at the workshop. Francisco is now paying for his wife to go to school to become a teacher with the money he earns. In an effort to put people back to work after the storm, the American Red Cross trains local carpenters and pays them to construct the houses from start to finish. This project is in collaboration with the German Red Cross. Photo by Philippines Red Cross/ Thyjiacinth Ylla Mavourneen Dyde Ocampo 2015

Two years after Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines, families are rebuilding their lives, livelihoods, and communities thanks, in part, to generous donations to the American Red Cross.

By addressing a wide range of communities’ needs, we were able to help them recover in a way that is sustainable in the long-term, such as investing in water and sanitation, school repair, and small businesses.

Here in the Gold Country Region we were able to raise $1.055M in a day-long telethon that aired on KCRA3, which always shows how great and giving our community is. That was just what was raised locally; but overall, the American Red Cross received $88 million for Haiyan’s relief and recovery efforts. As of September 30, 2015, 98% of these funds have been spent or committed.

Donors would be proud to see what their donations have accomplished in typhoon-affected communities: beyond lifesaving supplies in the storm’s immediate aftermath, donors would see repaired schools, sturdier homes, healthier water infrastructure, new business, and neighborhoods that are better prepared for future disasters.

Besides raising funds, our board members, volunteers and staff were able to do a lot of outreach with Asian Pacific Islander community groups in our region by providing information and helping them connect with family members that were still in the Philippines. Additionally, our volunteer Kathy Pascoe was helping with the relief efforts remotely by providing Client Case Work support.

This was one of the strongest storms ever recorded and it damaged more than one million homes, so the American Red Cross is helping people repair and rebuild homes made of materials that are more able to withstand strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding.

With American Red Cross support, 10,000 families are now living in safer shelter. This includes more than 3,200 families who are now living in new homes and more than 6,600 who received cash, materials, and technical support to reconstruct their houses to better withstand future disasters.

The Red Cross moved quickly to address people’s immediate needs after the typhoon. After two years, we are still in the Philippines, ensuring that families’ recovery is sustainable and helping people prepare for future disasters that may come their way.

For more information on this relief effort, pictures and video click here.