This morning, there are two big developments in the spread of swine flu. First, there are reports that “probable swine flu” is being reported in Illinois. The state health department says more than one case is being sent to federal health officials for confirmation. According to the Associated Press, “probable” means the Illinois Department of Public health has conducted tests on patients showing swine flu symptoms. One “probable” case is at a Chicago-area school. The school is being closed today.

The second big development is the U.S. is reporting its first swine flu-related death. This morning, the CDC confirmed a 23-month-old child...

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A virus can spread fast -- but hopefully, we can spread information even faster. Here are some common questions I've heard today in relation to the swine flu outbreak:

1. What is a “Health Emergency?”

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters and monitoring and assessing health trends among other things. 

In response to the recent cases of swine influenza, the WHO has reviewed available data on the current situation and advised that many questions are still unanswered. Nevertheless, the WHO believes that the current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. This means that the WHO is recommending that all countries...

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I am an Aquatic Volunteer for the American Red Cross Saint Louis Area Chapter. Watching my students achieve what they thought was “the impossible” has brought me great joy. When teaching there is nothing that pleases me more than to hear “I did it!” and seeing the students strive for more. I believe that the Red Cross Aquatics Programs teach far more than the details of how to swim and the basics of water safety; they contains the dreams of an athlete unaware of their potential, the building blocks for heightened self-esteem, gifts of lifesaving skills, compassion and empathy, courage and hope. Teaching aquatics for the Red Cross has allowed me to make my passion for water and teaching contagious and still lets me be a student; taking in knowledge from each experience I have. I am ever grateful for the opportunities Kathy, Ryan, Laurie, Joyce and all of my students have given me over the years.

 

Kelly is an Aquatics volunteer for the St. Louis Area Chapter.

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Although the swine flu virus has been an issue in Mexico for several weeks, now cases of the disease have made their way into the U.S., and therefore, the news. In case you haven’t heard, here is what is happening:

I joined the American Red Cross when my husband accepted a job at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois in September 1997.  My children were in school but I wanted the flexibility to not work when they were off for holidays and teacher days.  I started working in Armed Forces Emergency Communications (now called Emergency Communications Services).  I would help active duty servicemen and their families keep in touch and verify emergencies to allow the serviceman to return for medical emergencies and funerals.  Before cell phones, the American Red Cross message could be the first notification of events from births to deaths.

My Red Cross story began with a First Aid/CPR/AED course I took after moving to St. Louis. I had been practicing medicine for 34 years and decided to retire. I determined that I needed some activities to keep busy in St. Louis, and while I was already involved in Boy Scouting, it didn't quite fill the void. Because of my job, I was accustomed to dispensing preventative medicine and I saw teaching Red Cross courses as a way to continue helping the public. I was also attracted to their programs since they were an extension of what I was already aware of and practicing. In this way, I would be able to remain in contact with the general public and add to their wellbeing. And as an added bonus, my connection with Scouting gave me the opportunity to teach first aid to the young boys and hopefully give them an understanding of what they were learning. With my training, I was able to present the material in a well organized way and hope that much of the material would remain with the student. 

I started volunteering at the West County donor center in December, 2008. Blood donors are very dear to my heart because I am a blood recipient. I am a 16-year Leukemia survivor who has received 33 blood transfusions, equaling 66 units of blood. All of the blood came through the American Red Cross.

Imagine you are an 8-year-old girl spending the day at your grandmother’s house in Austria. It’s May of 1940 and you have come to say goodbye to your cousins. Tomorrow you are leaving your home and life behind in an attempt to escape Nazi persecution. You know your goodbyes are only temporary, though. You will be reunited with your cousins and be back to playing make-believe before you know it. Or at least that’s what you think…

When I was anticipating retirement, I knew that I wanted to use my time in service to others.  I called several organizations to see what we had to offer each other.  The Red Cross was one of the few to return my call. I had training courses all lined up to fit my schedule and along came Hurricane Katrina.  I called the Red Cross and said "I have no training, but could you use a warm body?"  I was told to come in the next day to begin one day's worth of on the job training as a case worker. I spent the next three weeks doing case work and financial assistance paperwork here in St. Louis and THEN got my official training. I better understood the classroom training with my first hand knowledge! 

“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I love this quote! It’s so simple and yet so obvious, “anyone can volunteer” and it’s true…anyone can make a difference in the lives of others. The volunteers here at the St. Louis Area Chapter, without a doubt, have “hearts full of grace” and souls “generated by love.” I have never met a more giving, caring, and committed group of people, not to mention intelligent, funny, resourceful, good-humored and creative! We definitely have some who could explain the second theory of thermodynamics in their sleep, and others who can not only make subject and verb agree, they can get cats and dogs to agree!

I don’t think there is any way I can say “Thank You” enough to all of our volunteers. Words seem so inadequate when you’ve seen a DAT volunteer sit down with a fire victim and help them find a safe place to stay for the night, or when you see a Water Safety Instructor finally get a child who was afraid to put more than their foot in the pool to put their entire face in the water. Moment like these (and many, many more!) are what makes volunteers so vital to our mission here at the Red Cross and valuable to our community.

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Mark your calendars! On Thursday, April 30, over 130 St. Louis area restaurants will be participating in the annual Dining Out for Life event. Restaurants will donate 25-100% of their proceeds to benefit St. Louis Effort for AIDS.

Founded in 1985 by a group of concerned volunteers, Saint Louis Effort for AIDS (EFA) began with the purpose of making a difference in the lives of individuals dying from complications due to AIDS.  Today, EFA is one of the leading AIDS Service Organizations in the metropolitan area, offering prevention education, care referral, case management, free testing by appointment, volunteer opportunities and a variety of support programs.  Their mission is to provide education on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and comprehensive support services for individuals affected by the disease, much like what the American Red Cross does with its own messages about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

We hit a milestone this week! We now have over 100 members in the Red Cross Ready Rating Program. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company was officially our 100^th member. Our friends at Enterprise are excited to be part of this program because they care about the safety of their employees and they want to be prepared for emergencies because, let’s face it, emergencies are inevitable.

What is the Ready Rating Program? It’s a new web-based preparedness program developed right here in St. Louis that helps businesses, organizations and schools prepare for emergencies.

Webster defines a hero as “a person of valor, nobility, etc.”  Most of us would agree that policemen and women, firefighters, and our servicemen and women are great examples of heroes.  I happen to know 107 heroes because I met them last Saturday, April 4 at the St. Charles County Community Hero event hosted by the City of O’Fallon, MO.  What did these everyday people do to qualify as heroes?  Did they rescue someone from a burning building?  Did they provide a tip that helped police nab a suspect?  Did they send care packages to the military?  No, they did none of these things.  Instead, 69 of them spent a beautiful spring Saturday learning Adult CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator.  Another 38 of them volunteered to donate blood.  What did they get in return?  A t-shirt and the satisfaction of knowing...

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The St. Charles County Service Center honored and celebrated our Volunteers and Community Partners on Friday, March 20th. During the event, we highlighted community outreach made possible by outstanding community support.

We would like to thank Mary Jo Blackwood- Board of Directors, Cindy Erickson- CEO of the St. Louis Area Chapter, David A. Chumley- CEO-Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region, Shelby Shire of the Board’s Volunteer Committee and Kelly Loepker-Volunteer Manager. We appreciate very much their making the time to participate in this event that celebrates our Volunteers and Community Partners.

Our Luncheon was made possible through the hard work and dedication of the Special Events Committee Volunteers. Thank you Jean and all your Committee members who were involved in making this happen.

Check out pictures from the event below.

 

 

 



Volunteers…the...

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According to news reports this morning, an earthquake hit central Italy, severely damaging a historic city and surrounding villages. More than 90 people are reported dead, and more than 1,500 are injured.

Here in St. Louis, the threat of an earthquake is very real. The New Madrid Fault is in the Missouri Bootheel, just a few hours drive away. You may remember last April, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit in Illinois – shaking homes here in the St. Louis area. Here are some important tips to remember about earthquakes:

During an earthquake



DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON! Move only a few steps to a nearby safe place. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to exit....

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In St. Louis, the American Red Cross has a volunteer-driven Disaster Field Supply Center Warehouse that assists in the delivery of goods in any declared national disaster relief operation.  Last week, we loaded up numerous semi-trailers with supplies. Here's a quick tour of the warehouse:



In 2008 we assisted the MO Ice Storms, Southern California Wildfires, Hurricane Ike, Tropical Storm Hanna, Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Dolly, Central US Floods & Tornadoes, Mother’s Day Tornadoes, Arkansas Tornadoes, Midwest Floods, and February Tornadoes. 

Our Service delivery plan has reached as far as the Oregon floods and New England States.   We ensure that any disaster relief operation is successful by meeting their needs; whether it is chairs and tables to set up a command center or assist in the recovery of a flood by distributing clean up kits.  In addition, we make sure that clients have enough cots, blankets, and food by distributing shelter and kitchen support trailers. 

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Chances are if you aren’t already using Twitter – you’ve probably heard of it. The micro-blogging service seems to be everywhere these days and has exploded in popularity in the last year.  Now even Google is in talks to buy Twitter. How’s that for a mega-merger?

Here at the St. Louis Area Chapter, I’ve been trying my hand at “tweeting” for a few months. I think I am hooked. I love the fact that it is one giant, world-wide chatroom, but you can be as specific as you want. While I usually tweet about Red Cross topics like being ready for a disaster or learning CPR, I love that I can also “follow” the tweets of people I wouldn’t normally have any interaction with. For example, Senator Claire McCaskill...

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Dear Family and Friends,

...and the snow is falling once again in Fargo. Because of that, my Red Cross Shelter Supervisor has decided that we will be staying at the shelter until the roads are less dangerous. I'm on the 7pm-7am shift so once I get out there tonight, there's no telling when I'll get back to the hotel.  Wouldn't you know, my scheduled day off is Tuesday but I'll be sleeping during the day in some far off classroom of the high school so it won't make much difference! My cell does not work at the shelter, so I won't be in contact while I'm there unless I can talk someone in to letting me use their computer. Yesterday, many of our original clients moved out to other shelters that better suited their needs. I hated to see some of them go. I'm pretty tired, feeling like I'm in a fog, but since I just started this late shift, I'm hoping my body will adjust to the change. Last night I walked around the high school shelter and could hear the soft sound of breathing and snoring coming from various nooks and crannies of the high school as the Red Cross volunteers, soldiers, fire fighters, paramedics and law enforcement office rested their tired bodies on any available surface they could find a spot to sleep after a hard and full day's work. Again, I can say I am so honored to be a part of such an effort here in Fargo, ND. Thank you so much for your supportive emails. When I don't have a cell that works in Casselton, I feel so out of touch then when I get back to the hotel, it is so heart warming to find your messages. Believe me, it makes such a difference.

After months of planning, the annual Girl Scouts Junior First Aid Workshop in Collinsville went off without a hitch. Despite the cold and rain on Saturday, almost 150 girls came to take part in 7 sessions of First Aid and Disaster Preparedness activities. Although some activities were planned for fair weather, our friends at the Collinsville Fire Department and Scott Air Force Base came prepared with a plan to make sure the girls still had a blast. Throughout the day, I heard how “awesome” practicing CPR had been, or how the Tornado Scavenger Hunt was “so cool”. So at the end of the day, the girls had earned their First Aid badges and learned a little something about how “awesome” the Red Cross really is. 

 Kelly Briggs in the health & safety associate for the Metro East Service Center.

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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