Sunday, March 29, 2009 — The American Red Cross is now focusing its operations in North Dakota and Minnesota on sheltering families displaced by the Red River’s record rise and offering around-the-clock feeding to volunteers who are still filling sandbags.  Though the river appears to have crested, fears remain that waters could rise again later in the week as additional snowfall melts.  Breaches in the levels are also possible, and Red Cross mobile feeding units are supporting the teams who are inspecting the walls of sandbags protecting the area.  The National Weather Service reports water levels could remain high for at least eight more days.

Want a FREE t-shirt? Well, the American Red Cross has several upcoming opportunities for you to get one. All you have to do is 1 of 2 things: Donate Blood or Learn CPR. Or, better yet, do both!

 

The first opportunity is coming up this Saturday, April 4 at the St. Charles County Community Hero event in O’Fallon, Missouri. There’s still some spots available for the CPR class, so don’t waste another second and register today. Thanks to our sponsors, Community Hero CPR training is only $10 – a $46 value. And if you want to donate blood, visit www.givelife.org and enter the code communityheroes or just stop by the O’Fallon Municipal...

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Although Red Cross month and Women’s History month are coming to a close for 2009, everyday women across the nation continue to help the Red Cross fulfill the mission of providing relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

One woman leading the efforts is Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. Since coming on board last year, Gail’s experience in running large organizations and track record for improving service delivery to the public have helped her guide the Red Cross in just a few short months.

Gail’s leadership and the time and dedication of hundreds of employees and volunteers enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food and comfort to those affected by disasters like the Red River flooding; connect military service personnel with their loved ones during an emergency; teach...

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Dear Family and Friends,

Oh my gosh, the word has just been passed around that the Red River has begun to recede. Yesterday, we Red Cross volunteers at the hotel)thought we might be evacuating our hotel; I was even told to get waders instead of boots to navigate through the snow and ice, but now it seems the news is beginning to turn around. However, we were told that things could change any time so we shouldn't get too complacent. The sun is out, the skies are blue and life looks so much better.

As a member of the Red Cross Disaster Team, I am one of many Red Cross volunteers from all over the country helping clients from southern Fargo in a shelter of 120 folks. I was a part of a team of four who were responsible for registering each person who came into the shelter. The folks we are serving are we special needs adults of all ages in wheel chairs and those with...

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It’s about 10 a.m. and I find myself in an airport in Denver. I’ve been here for at least 2 hours and won’t leave for another hour or so. I’ve been awake and traveling since 3 a.m. I am tired and still shocked by the fact I am even here at all.

No, I am not on a highly anticipated spring break getaway I’ve been planning for months. Just yesterday at this time I was enjoying my day off and planning a trip of different sorts: to the mall. Instead I ended up with a trip to Fargo, North Dakota. I’ve been deployed. It’s my first disaster and it’s a big one. The Red River is near its crest- levels that haven’t been seen in over 112 years. I’ve read the news, seen the blogs, and yet I still have no idea what to expect. MSN is reporting that thousands are fleeing the city, so it only seems fitting...

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It’s that time of the year….the big “B” word for budgeting.  As many departments, service centers and chapters start to prepare for the process, they know they will have exceptional support and customer service from Mike Dale and Deborah Jackson…and that is exactly what makes them “kudo worthy”.  Mike and Deborah are nominated by Nancy Bates and a cheering section which includes Dale Chambers, Sandy Vaughn, Brad Farber, Nicole Holtgrefe, Michael Braeuninger, Deane Adame and Tom Ette.  Just look at some of their comments that will be posted soon.

So what makes one of our talented staff “kudo worthy”? Living the American Red Cross values, leadership at 150% and extreme random acts of kindness.

Nominations are welcome and can be submitted to Eve at emosblech@redcrossstl.org.



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Check out this video from a Red Crosser in Fargo, from this morning. These folks are up early and working very hard!

The St. Louis Area Chapter currently has four volunteers in Fargo, but we could be called upon to send more.

You can keep up to date on what's happening in several ways, including:

• Red Cross Online Disaster Newsroom
• Red Cross Twitter stream
• Red Cross Youtube channel 

Dear Family and Friends,

As most of you know, I'm in Fargo, ND, with the Red Cross. I was sent here to help set up and work in a shelter for the evacuees who are being affected by the flooding on the Red and other rivers. If you've watched any TV at all today, you may have noticed that not only is there a severe flooding situation here, but it's also been snowing since the early hours of the morning. I finally got the snow fall I've been wanting for so long.

I'm not even sure how deep it is by now, but I had to buy a pair of boots because it was way too deep to walk in and avoid. I didn't bring my boots from home because my suitcase was already too heavy to carry with all the winter clothes I had to pack. Now, I guess I'll have to sling those monsters over my shoulder when I finally get out of her in...

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Rosalie and I took part in what turned out to be a very interesting and rewarding event on Saturday at The VA Medical Center at Jefferson Barracks. The Red Cross, in partnership with Boeing, hosted a Bingo party for the veterans that are patients at VAMC.

The volunteers set up the VA gymnasium where the event was held and then went to the rooms of the patients and transported them to the gymnasium location.

We then socialized with the patients and assisted them in a 2 hour session of Bingo, with drinks and snacks being served to them as they played.  The patients had a broad range of medical problems, but all seemed to appreciate the personal attention and the entertainment of socializing with the volunteers.

Due to the rising flood waters in North Dakota, the Red Cross is mobilizing manpower and supplies from all over the country. Here in St. Louis, four volunteers are heading north. Two left today, and two more are leaving tomorrow. I caught up with volunteer Patty Lee as she was checking in at the Delta counter.



I don't know if Patty will have access to a computer, but if she does, she's planning to e-mail us updates. In the meantime, you can stay up to date on what's happening with the Red Cross by visiting the Online Disaster Newsroom.

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Without spending an extra dime, I've given the Red Cross $180.

Want to know how I did it?  Easy. You can do it too.

Every week when I shop for my groceries at Schnucks, I swipe my Schnucks charity card (they call it the "eScrip card") and Schnucks gives anywhere from one to three percent (depending on how much I spend) to the Red Cross. Simple. I spend the same amount on groceries that I would have spent anyway, Schnucks gets a faithful shopper (who thinks they're cool for giving back to the community), and Red Cross gets lots of nickels and dimes from my family. Those nickels and dimes add up over time, and here I am today with a grand total of 180 bucks.

Last month, my husband Jim and I volunteered to respond to a widespread power outage in southern Missouri.   The outage was caused by an ice storm that spanned five states. After two-days of freezing-rain, a thick coating of ice formed on trees and power lines. The weight of the ice snapped thousands of electrical poles and caused entire electrical systems in that part of the state to crash. Tens of thousands of people found themselves with no heat in the middle of winter. It was an enormous disaster for these folks. I think we were all surprised by just how bad it was when we arrived. Jim and I have been on numerous disaster assignments for the Red Cross and this assignment was definitely a tough one. We were in Missouri’s boot heel for almost two weeks and we took dozens of photos along the way. Here are just a few.  

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It’s World War I. You are a wounded soldier at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. You have no family or friends nearby and will be in the hospital for weeks recuperating from your injuries. You keep seeing women and men dressed in gray uniforms with large red crosses reading books to other soldiers, shopping for them and writing letters for soldiers to their loved ones back home.

When one of the women in gray stops by your bedside to see if you need anything, you ask her “Who are you?”

With a smile on her face and a tender touch to your hand, she identifies herself as a Red Cross volunteer. “Some call us the Gray Ladies. Well, except for the men you see in gray. We call them the Gray Men.” You immediately feel comfortable with her and ask if she would help you write a letter to your parents back home, letting them know you are in good hands.

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Laurie, Kathy and I are excited to announce the release on the recently Updated Swimming and Water Safety program. The new program was released on February 27, 2009! There have been some great changes made to the program this year and we can’t wait to start teaching the new curriculum. All Water Safety Instructors are required to update by December 31st 2009 to keep their certification current. When signing up for Water Safety Instructor Group Orientations, pick between "basic" and "complete."

We are also excited to say that our very own Kathy Ray was on the sounding board with American National Red Cross to help re-write the program. Yea Kathy! We are so proud to have you on our team! We at the St. Louis Area Chapter are proud of our...

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Glued to the Scrubby Bear video, no one moved until the dancing germs began their kid mesmerizing rap. Most of the sixty first graders wiggled and kept beat with the music all the while learning how to stop germs in their tracks. One little guy asked me “Why are germs so small?” Then another asked “Do germs really dance?” I was as serious with my answer as they were when they asked their very important question.

Next, looking in my little green bag, I pulled out a fork and a cup, toothbrush, Kleenex, baseball cap and many more treasures. They all decided in one loud voice that these aren’t things they should share because they would spread germs. Wow! They listened and they learned!

The joy of watching children having fun yet learning at the same time is such a rewarding experience. Their eyes and minds are wide-open and ready to drink up any knowledge we have...

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What do Eleanor Roosevelt and St. Patrick’s Day have in common?

So, my coworker Lindsey has inspired me to try a little trivia of my own (She does a Tuesday Trivia blog - check it out!). Good news is we won’t make you wait all day for this answer.

On St. Patrick’s Day, 1905, Eleanor married Franklin D. Roosevelt. You might think this would be enough to get into the history books, but Eleanor made sure to make her own mark in American history. Eleanor was by her husband’s side while he served as the assistant secretary in the Navy. And when World War I broke out in 1917, Eleanor was right there volunteering with the American Red Cross to canteen to the armed forces going through Union Station.

When her husband was elected...

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Every 2 minutes Sudden Cardiac Arrest takes a life in the United States. Each day it claims nearly 1,000 individuals and at least 325,000 lives a year. These are people in your own communities: parents, siblings, co-workers, and friends. But it isn’t a lost cause.

• December 15, 2008-a life saved at downtown manufacturing plant
• December 30, 2008-a life saved in Collinsville, IL
• January 3, 2009 a life saved at a fitness facility in West County
• February 2009-a life saved at a major employer in St. Charles County

• Food/Clothing/short-term Housing for one adult affected by a house fire: $185.00
• 1 Blanket, 1 “After the Fire” Booklet and 1 comfort kit (toiletries): $7.50
• Providing relief to a victim of disaster ….Priceless.

It’s Wednesday – and I’m still feeling the effects of Daylight Savings Time. It’s only an hour difference. But it really takes a full week for me to feel caught up on my missed sleep.  

Now I understand why. Scientists say the change really wreaks havoc on our bodies. Our friends at the Oregon Trail Chapter blogged this week about the link between Daylight Savings and the risk of heart attacks:

“According to this study, the risk of heart attack goes up for the three days following spring DST, possibly because of sleep deprivation. Conversely, the risk declines in the fall when people get an extra hour of rest. What's particularly scary about this is that women who are under the age of 65 appear to be the most vulnerable. Yikes.”

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Hurling winds, hail storms, fires, torrential downpours. Do you know what to do before, during and after one of these? The possibility of something happening in our neck of the woods is stronger than you think. According to the National Weather Service, severe weather killed 28 and injured 271 people in Missouri last year. Not to mention that just this weekend, tornadoes caused damage in Illinois and Indiana. Guess what? Getting prepared for severe weather is as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Make a Plan: Pick a place where your family can gather if a tornado is headed your way. It can be a basement or a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest floor. Keep this place uncluttered. It’s always good to practice your plan, and there’s no better time than today at 1:30 p.m. during the Missouri Severe Weather Drill. If you happen to be working during this time, ask your employer about...

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The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter welcomes Cindy Erickson as its new chief executive officer. Before joining the Red Cross, Cindy worked as vice president of client services for Innolect Inc., an organizational development and coaching firm in South Carolina. Prior to that, she spent 18 years in the nonprofit industry with the American Lung Association in St. Louis, New York City and Jacksonville, Fla. and the United Way of Greater St. Louis. Cindy originally hails from St. Louis. Growing up she attended Parkway West High School (in case you had to ask) and graduated from Southwest Missouri State University. Welcome, Cindy!

Favorite TV Show: While she prefers movies to television, Cindy says her favorite TV show is (still) "Little House on the Prairie." Currently, she watches "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC.

I have worked for the American Red Cross for a little over 9 years in the Health & Safety Department (9 years, 2 months and 3 days, to be exact!).  My job entails providing CPR/AED, First Aid, Pet First Aid, Babysitter’s Training, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider and other training programs to businesses, organizations, schools and the community in general.  I do this by deploying (that’s a disaster term) my team of instructors out to spread lifesaving skills and knowledge.  I have a wonderful crew of people:  a nurse, a single-mom who has returned to school, a grad student, 2 firefighters, a cab driver, a minister and a computer genius.  They do a great job and take care of each other.

 

Last summer I got the bug to branch out and volunteer with the Emergency Services Department.  I began my training and did my first DAT...

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Are you a woman or do you know one? Do you have an interest in the Red Cross? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a part of history? Well, even if you only answered yes to one of these questions, this post is for you. (Oh, and if you are a woman, happy International Women’s Day.)

 

Over the past few days, I’ve come to a conclusion: Clara Barton was an amazing woman. I delved into Clara’s life because I was recently asked to write about women in Red Cross history to celebrate both Red Cross and Women’s History month. Sounds simple enough, but the more I read, the more I wondered how to keep the entry short and do Clara justice. So, here goes my take—but feel free to leave your thoughts too:

 

Clara always had her sights set on helping others. At the age of 17, she began teaching at a time when teachers were mostly men. At the age of 40, she fearlessly drove much needed medical supplies to servicemen on the battlefield, earning her the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield”. A few years later, she offered to find missing prisoners of war – she received over 63,000 inquiries and helped 22,000 mothers and fathers identify their missing sons.

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10. A sense of satisfaction and knowing that I helped someone each day.

9. The people are great, warm, helpful and understanding.

8. I love helping people.

7. It is great to give back to your community and make it a better place to live.

6. Quotes from clients like, “I don’t know what I would have done without you!” make me feel warm and fuzzy.

5. It is fun.

4. Did I mention the people are great?

3. It is wonderful to know that when I go to work, I help save lives.

2. There is never a lack of work.

1. It is easy to get involved!

If any of these sound interesting to you, fill out our online volunteer application and get started helping today!

Nicole Holtgrefe is the director of preparedness and client services...

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While I am looking forward to spring, I am not excited about “springing forward.” The idea of losing a precious hour of sleep is not a particularly pleasant one, although Daylight Savings Time gives me the perfect opportunity to remember to change the batteries in the smoke alarms in my house! The batteries in smoke alarms should be changed at least once a year, although lots of people will do it twice a year- when they spring forward and fall back- which makes it easier to remember. On Saturday night when I am setting the clocks in my house an hour later, I can stop at each smoke alarms and put in a new battery.

To make sure smoke alarms are working properly, remember to test the batteries once a month by pushing the button and make sure to vacuum them once...

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Photo courtesy of KMOV.com

Today the Red Cross is helping a Metro East family after a fire destroyed their trailer early this morning. Red Cross is providing two adults with shelter, food and clothing.

According to KMOV.com, a dog barking woke the family up. A good reminder that not everyone can depend on man's best friend to be their smoke detector. Have you checked yours lately?

On January 27^th I had the opportunity to go with six other Saint Louis Red Cross volunteers to Southeastern Missouri to help in the disaster relief operation (DR) following the ice storm. I rode in the chapter ERV (emergency response vehicle) to the disaster affected area with Mike Wood, another Red Cross volunteer from the Metro East service center. I could not have asked for a better partner to learn from. This was only my second time to go out for a disaster relief operation, and it was my first time to be assigned full time to the ERV.

Kathy, Laurie and I are excited to announce that swim lessons are up and running. Through the months of February and March we are teaching swim lessons for Special School District. Some of these special boys and girls will go on to compete in the Special Olympics Area Meet. I am so excited to be able to participate in this program for the first time this year. It is amazing to see these kids in action and to enjoy the excitement they get from coming to the pool.

Mark your calendars for regular swim lessons to start all over the St. Louis area June 8th.

I would like to take a moment to send out a BIG THANK YOU to my staff and volunteers for making these lessons possible, and for helping train our youth to be safer...

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It’s March 1st, which means it is the start of Red Cross Month! President Barack Obama, who is the Honorary Chairman of the Red Cross, signed a proclamation last week marking the designation. This is the 66th year for March to be named Red Cross Month.

As part of the festivities, the Red Cross is hosting a contest, called “Change a Life.” Starting tomorrow, visit RedCross.org and tell how a Red Cross experience has changed your life or someone else’s. The winner gets a trip to Washington D.C. to see and meet!) Keith Urban. How cool is THAT?!

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• Shelters opened: 30
• Shetler overnight stays: 6,686
• Meals & snacks served: 331,599
• Staff & volunteers: 226

Pop Quiz.

1. Have you ever used the Internet? (Obviously)
2. Have you ever searched for something on the Internet using a Search Engine? (Half of Internet users do it on a daily basis)
3. Have you ever purchased something online? (I know I have)
4. Have you ever searched for something in an online mall that donates a percentage of your purchase straight to the charity of your choice, and even a couple of cents just for using the search engine itself? (Can’t say I have)

Thanks to the Red Cross and many partner organizations, individuals and families affected by the recent ice storms and snow have a safe place to stay and meals to eat. Over 115 Red Cross volunteers have worked around-the-clock, managing 36 shelters and serving over 3,934 meals and snacks in southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois.

As a Boy Scout Leader for my son’s troop, I enjoy watching these boys develop skills they’ll use the rest of their lives. But nothing could have taught them a better life lesson than an incident at Boy Scout camp this July.