Home Fires Destroy Memories Every 80 Seconds

The American Red Cross responds to fires more than any other disaster. More than hurricanes. Earthquakes. Tornadoes. Fires occur in the United States every 80 seconds.

In Chicago, disaster volunteers are called to home fires about three to four times a day on a normal day. They arrive on scene oftentimes while firefighters are still there, and they provide families with food, shelter, infant formula, teddy bears for the kids, access to medication… whatever the family needs to survive.

This relief is almost entirely delivered by volunteers and funded by donors.

When we arrive, more often than not, we encounter families who are grateful. Though they may have lost everything, they say “thank goodness” that their loved ones survived.

“Everything else can be replaced,” they say.

When a family survives a fire without deaths or injuries, they usually first think of their pictures – the memories that can’t be replaced. One of my most striking memories as a disaster volunteer was helping this family wipe away smoke damage from baby photos that we were relieved to find intact.

With a single click, you can capture a memory with your camera and keep it forever, but only, if your home is not one of the 70,000 that will burn this year.

Today, in a single click and in a matter of moments, you can join a movement on Facebook to honor those who aren’t so lucky.

Visit http://every80seconds.com/and get a glimpse of what it’s like to lose your most precious memories. At the end of your visit, all of your photos will be fully recovered.

At some point in your life, though, someone close you will lose their photos forever to a real fire and will not be able to recover them. Be a part of their relief, before they need it.

Share the every80seconds.com experience with the people you love most.

Pledge a donation for every photo you can’t imagine life without.

Feel grateful.

Here's how your donation will help if you take the extra step to help a family that has been devestated by fire:

- $3 provides a comfort kit with hygiene items that preserves a client's diginity
- $6 provides a wool blanket to keep them warm if they are displaced
- $10 provides one meal
- $20 provides two meals
- $25 provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to a shelter resident who lost their home in a fire
- $50 provides five blankets for a family
- $75 provides food and shelter for a cleint for one day in a shelter
- $100 provides ten hot meals
- $150 provides supplies, such as soy formula, wipes, diapers, etc, to shelter one infant
- $200 provides one month's worth of emergency supplies for two families
- $1,000 saves the day - covers a day's worth of disaster response in the Greater Chicago region.

The every80seconds.com experience requires a high speed browser and internet connection, as well as Facebook connect permissions.

Are you a messenger of hope? Will you protect humanity in the midst of war?

When was the last time you considered yourself a student? How about a messenger?

A few months ago, I took a class that was worth more than any course credit. That Saturday morning, the Red Cross introduced me to international humanitarian law (IHL). The class explores the “rules of war” and how to preserve dignity in the midst of conflict. One student in my class pointed out that the “rules of war” seemed to be an oxymoron, as he questioned why these laws exist in the first place.

Saudi Arabia, China, Pakistan, Iraq, and lately, Egypt have taken over international news channels. “Brutality” and “destruction” are words that come to mind, but what about “innocence” and “neutrality”? As the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, we are committed to serving victims in the center of armed conflict a dose of dignity. Built on the foundation of Red Cross values -- humanity, impartiality, and independence -- the “rules of war” are a commonality among people who may not share any other common beliefs.

A returned Peace Corps volunteer, an international relations graduate student and a professor of humanitarian action decided to be messengers of the movement, just as I have. One participant asked, “How can humanitarian law be used as part of a process for global change?”

It’s possible, but it starts with you discussing the essence of humanitarianism to others who are willing to do the same.

By helping the helpless, we – meaning you – are a part of the foundation of humanity. Is that something to risk? Do we settle for inaction when action could begin with something as simple as a conversation? We hope not.

The global part of the change is what intrigues us. By offering this class virtually in real-time to anyone, anywhere in the world with internet access, we’ll spark the conversation together.

Take the first step in making change happen. Take the class. Talk about change. Carry your message. Whoever and wherever you are.

*Light the conversation using the hashtag #RulesofWar on Twitter

By Katie Wilkes

Celebrate Christmas with Care

Jingle bells, Christmas trees and the smell of fresh snow really makes Christmas special. Unfortunately, not everyone gets to enjoy their Christmas laughing and celebrating with their family and friends. Fire raged late Sunday night at Barry Houser's home in McHenry County, where the family had gone to celebrate their Christmas weekend. Fortunately, no one was hurt but the home was completely destroyed and the decoration and festivities were all gone.

Around 12,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year during the 60 days surrounding the winter holiday season, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most of these injuries are preventable so at the risk of sounding like a party pooper, take the following precautions and protect yourself and your families from a holiday mishap.

• Keep Christmas trees fresh – Choose a fresh Christmas tree and secure it in a sturdy stand. Place the tree away from heat sources and exits, and water it daily. If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.

• Test tree trimmings – When decorating with lights, be sure to purchase only those labeled by a testing laboratory. Never use lit candles to decorate Christmas trees. For outside decorations, use only those lights labeled for outdoor use. Be careful not to overload electrical outlets, and always unplug all lights before leaving home or going to bed. Never put electrical light on metal Christmas trees.

• Beware of holiday lighting – Take care when burning candles. Be sure they are kept away from decorations and other combustible materials. Don’t leave children unattended in a room with lit candles, and always keep candles, as well as matches and lighters, out of the reach of children. Never display lit candles in windows or near exits.

• Cook with care – Wear fitted clothing when cooking; hot burners can ignite loose clothing. Always turn pot handles in. Don’t store items on the stovetop as they could catch fire. Keep kitchen appliances clean and in good condition, and turn off after use. Don’t overload electrical outlets and don’t use appliances with frayed or cracked wires.

• Be cautious with portable and space heaters – Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything combustible, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing, pets and people. Never leave space heaters operating when you are not in the room or when you go to bed. Don’t leave children or pets unattended with space heaters and be sure everyone knows that drying wet mittens or other clothing over space heaters is a fire danger.

• Keep alcohol away from kids and pets- Intake of alcoholic drinks by children and pets can cause alcohol poisoning. It’s good to be merry and drink and toast to each other, but just make sure all drinks are far away from children and pets.

Hope is the Universal Cure

I’ve never been one to preach about looking for signs in your life. I don’t analyze a relationship and declare that there are "clear signs that we are meant to be". I don’t feel a connection when I talk about buying a pair of shoes and then suddenly my roommate buys them. I don’t read my daily horoscope and wait for the prediction to come true. That’s just a coincidence. But today, when I needed to find hope in a horrible disaster, I received a sign like no other.

As I stepped out of the Red Cross van today into the biting cold, I was laced with sprinkles of snowflakes. At first glance, it was hard to tell which house had been affected by the fire; many of the houses on the block were already boarded up and abandoned. However, once I rounded the van, there was no questioning where the disaster had hit.


The living room had exploded out onto the front yard. A charcoaled pull-out couch was propped up on the wire fence that gated the property and it looked as if it was about to pull the entire fence to the ground. The remains of a once cushioned chair sat in the middle of the debris with the springs jarring out the middle of the seat. I couldn’t help but imagine what the living room probably looked like a week ago – full of family and friends celebrating what they were thankful for. Now what was left? I stared up at the grey sky and felt the snow hit my face. A piece of siding was swinging back and forth in the wind towards the top of the house. Everything was completely dark inside. I found myself searching for some sign of hope amidst the horror in front of me. As I griped the top of the fence with my exposed fingers and felt the cold metal, I looked down upon what I would consider a miracle.

A heart. Besides the rubble of the fire, a heart lay neatly on the ground as a reminder that there is always hope even when everything looks dark. I wanted to take my newly found hope and share it with the owner of the house but she was too distraught to come out of her neighbor’s home. I am sure if she saw the heart in her front yard, she would smile a little bit because she would know that she is not alone in her journey to recovery.

Helping out those in the need, whether it is in your own community or around the world, can be hard, especially now when money is tight. But did you know that a $25 donation will supply 5 blankets to disaster victims? Maybe a blanket doesn’t seem as important as food or shelter, but as everyone in Chicago knows, today, December 1st, brought Chicago’s first snowfall. A warm blanket means a lot to a disaster victim, particularly on a cold Chicago winter day or night. We are ready to respond to a lot of fires in the Chicagoland area this winter. We know that there will be more than usual (3 to 4 every single day is average) because, for whatever reason, the Holidays bring fire season. While the Red Cross will respond and offer relief to the people affected by these disasters, we need help. Please think about donating to the Chicago Red Cross this holiday season, even if it is just a blanket.

I found hope today in the last place I expected to find happiness. The next time you doubt that there is a sign of light in the midst of darkness, take a breath, step back, and take another look. You may be surprised at what you find.

Nothing But an Emblem to Protect You

"Red Cross workers don't need guns to protect them in hostile environments. They only use an emblem. And it works. So gangster. #rulesofwar"

For the first time, the Red Cross invited people to participate in our free International Humanitarian Law class from their home computers, and a virtual participant posted this tweet shortly after our Wednesday night class. She was alluding to a conversation from the class that basically went like this:

In-class participant: "So you're telling me that the Red Cross delegate goes into an enemy prison, tells them all of the ways that they're violating International Humanitarian Law and they have no army or court or means to enforce the law?"

Instructor: "Basically, yes. Humanitarian Law as laid out in the Geneva Conventions is largely enforced through the notion that we are neutral and enforce it for everyone, including 'their own.' The 'enemy,' is receiving the same benefit for their prisoners of war in another prison. Reciprocity, confidentiality and neutrality motivate detaining authorities to comply."

In-class participant: "Who protects the Red Cross delegate? The UN? Police? Security? Do they carry a gun?"

Instructor: "It is only the Red Cross or Red Crescent emblem that protects them."

Now, what you need to know about me is that I'm a marketer, by trade. The Red Cross emblem is my logo to protect. To hear a conversation like this imparts a tremendous sense of responsibility and pride for me as the Director of Marketing and Communications at the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. My logo keeps Red Cross delegates safe, here and abroad. The red cross logo communicates to people, regardless of the language they speak, that "relief is offered to everyone here" with the same level of recognition as men or women's bathroom sign. It evokes a deep emotional response in the people who've been touched by it. Occasionally, I get seated in exit rows on planes, perhaps because airline workers assume I'm comfortable in a disaster when they see my Red Cross lapel pin. There's a strange and mysterious power in our emblem.

I was a speaker at a Social Media Club of Chicago event last night. I discussed, "How has the Red Cross logo come to bear so much power and influence?" My opinion is that it is largely through a long history of action in place of words and shared values in place of rhetoric. But I don't know for sure. I told the social media experts in the room that I suspect people who encounter our emblem "feel heard and held when they need it most." I insinuated that our credibility may be helped by admitting to and learning from failures to better address the next disaster.

Prior to my speaking engagement at the Social Media Club, I attended a remarkable 2-day Cusp Conference that explores "the design of everything." I heard about innovative programs that are using design principles to make the world a better place. Projects like Design for America at Northwestern University are revolutionizing how we solve the world's most complex and gnarly problems.

So, in less than 48 hours, 1) I witnessed stellar examples of how better design can change our world at the Cusp Conference. 2) I discussed at the Social Media Club of Chicago how loyalty to an emblem or logo can play a part in preserving the dignity of humanity. And 3) I was reminded by our class Tweeter that in the hotbed of American violence -- communities governed by gang warfare -- Red Cross delegates might be understood by the people with whom they must negotiate for peace should the need ever arise.

And all of this got me thinking... What if the brilliant designers at Cusp applied their expertise to this goal: design a way to mobilize everyone who wants to help during a disaster in a way that makes the best possible use of their skills.

Here in Chicago, alone, the Red Cross respond to 3-4 home fires every day that require not only volunteers, but also greater awareness of fire risks. Before disasters like fires and floods occur, we need to motivate people to prepare for the unthinkable. People separated by war -- soldiers and refugees -- need to be connected through the Chicago Red Cross with their loved ones. We also need ambassadors who will help us explain that this response effort requires funding since we are not a govenment-funded entity.

Among the materials at your disposal in the design process:

• loyalty to a relief mission
• social media as an activation tool
• your design expertise
• an organization that might be willing to beta test your idea because we're used to dealing with the unexpected and disaster.

You'd also have something else at your disposal. Energy -- the remarkable energy that exists in the hearts and minds of people with an appetite for a better world.

Would you be willing to help with that? If so, let's talk.

@chicagoredcross

@your_mssunshine

Would You Know How To Save A Life?

My last semester at college I enrolled in a CPR course, not because I thought I could save a life, or because I thought that I it would be a useful tool. I needed two credit hours to fulfill my undergraduate degree and thought of no better way to fulfill them then by taking a “blow-off” course. What is easier than a two-hour CPR/ AED class, to finish up college? It wasn’t until half-way through the course when I realized the use that would come from this class, besides simply fulfilling class credit.

I remember distinctly the moment I realized this class should not only be mandatory for students, but a class that everyone should take at some point in their life. It was a Tuesday in class when we were told we were going to learn about Infant and Child CPR. I quickly remembered a day when my 18-month old nephew was eating a piece of candy and began to choke. His face looked panicked and he could not whisper even a sound. I had no idea what to do. I had never taken a CPR, First Aid, AED or similar course. My only nephew was choking and I could not help. This is a fear I hope no one has to ever feel. Luckily, he began coughing on his own and was able to cough up this candy. While my nephew was perfectly fine, walking away as nothing had ever happened, I felt a sense of terror. I was left wondering, if something had happened, would I have been able to help?

Thankfully, American Red Cross of Greater Chicago offers CPR, AED and First Aid classes that can help prepare you for these situations.

CPR is not a class that should be taken lightly. It is a class that may help you save a life. If I had taken a class sooner I may have been able to help my nephew, and I wouldn’t have been left wondering ‘what if something happened?’ Taking a CPR or AED class could help you save your father, sister, daughter, friend, neighbor, stranger or even your own life.


Irving Ibarez, a local Chicago hero, utilized the skills and knowledge he learned at an American Red Cross CPR class, and saved his co-worker, Chuck Wendt’s, life. Without Irving, the doctors said Chuck would not have survived. Read more about Irving’s story here.

This week (June 1 – 7) is second annual National CPR/AED Awareness Week, and the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago wants to provide the community with the knowledge and skills to respond to a life-threatening situation. Red Cross is offering the community FREE AED training with the purchase of any CPR class for the entire month of June. Read more about our CPR and AED classes to discover how you can learn the necessary skills to save someone’s life.

To learn more or sign up for a CPR course, contact the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago at (800) 33-SAFETY or visit http://www.chicagoredcross.org/.

~Megan Wallace~

Two easy ways to help the American Red Cross

We need your help! From May 10 – 25, Target is allowing its Facebook “friends” and store guests to chose which of 10 national charities and causes—including the American Red Cross—should receive a portion of $3 million in charitable giving from Target.
Please visit Target’s Bullsesye Gives page on Facebook and vote Red Cross. Visitors can vote once per day, every day, throughout the length of the contest.
As an additional bonus, Target will also use the contest to help to connect voters with volunteer opportunities in their local communities.
The winners will be are announced May 26, and all funds donated to the Red Cross will be used to support our lifesaving programs.
Please join me in spreading the word about this terrific contest.

Now..what about those ButterBurgers? Today, right here in Chicagoland, selected Culvers will donate 10% of all sales to the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago-so visit one today and know that the custard you are eating is going toward a good cause.

Martha Carlos has always loved Target but this contest makes her like them even more-especially if the American Red Cross wins! As a vegetarian, she's never had a ButterBurger but Culver's custard is gooood!

What's Good in Chicago

Hey Red Cross Readers!
How much do you love Chicago? My favorite thing about this remarkable Midwest metropolis is the seemingly limitless amount of entertainment. Especially so when the sun starts shining and the temperature is rising! That’s right, just because our focus is on safety and preparedness at the Red Cross doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate fun times. We just know how to do it right. So, if you’re looking to make the best of the time and space you occupy, here’s an update on the wonderful events that your city offers this month.

Thursday, May 16
Come out and experience a day of art, music, dance, and life at the grand opening of the Modern Wing at the The Art Institute of Chicago! Museum leaders, city officials, and the renowned architect of the Modern Wing, Renzo Piano, will be present for the brand new building’s civic dedication at 9 a.m. and ribbon cutting ceremony at 10. Performances by international and local artists will take place all day on an outdoor stage on Monroe Street as well as in galleries throughout the museum. Lecturers will be present to discuss the latest additions and interactive art programs will be available for kids and their families at the new Ryan Education Center. If you can’t make it for the event, be sure to stop by when you can and see the newest and most definitely the hottest cultural attraction in Chicago. Read about why it's so great!

Thursday, May 16 & Friday, May 17
The Chicago Green Festival, a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America, will showcase more than 350 diverse local and national green businesses at Navy Pier. More than 150 speakers will appear for insightful panel discussions and presentations on how Midwest neighbors, community nonprofits, and city departments are working together to make their cities a healthier place to live.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 14 – Oct 15
The Chicago Farmers Markets are a great place to find fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, and flowers from over 70 vendors at 20 locations throughout the city. My favorite is the Daley Plaza Farmers Market which takes place every Thursday from 11 a.m. – 3.

Sunday, May 24
Experience Chicago like never before – biking on a car-free Lake Shore Drive! The City of Chicago will open the eight lanes of Lake Shore Drive to bicyclists for the annual Bank of America Bike the Drive event. This is a benefit for the Active Transportation Alliance (formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation), a non-profit biking, walking and transit advocacy organization. Register Here to enjoy 15 miles of open road between the gorgeous Michigan Lake shore and the outstanding Chicago architecture.

But don’t forget to travel safely. Always bring a personal safety kit with you whenever you’re away from home. If you don’t have one, visit our store and find the right sized kit for you and your family. Planning on taking a dip in the lake after your bike ride? Sign up for swimming and CPR classes so you’re ready in case of emergencies.

I strongly encourage you to take full advantage of our lovely city this May and to enjoy the sunny seasons without regret. Be safe!

George J Hofmann II
Development Operations Intern at the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago

How can you be a hero? Watch some videos for inspiration

We talk a lot about heroes at the Red Cross. I think it’s because we are surrounded by them-our volunteers, the people we serve, the first responders we meet at disasters and the people we run across who do extraordinary things for each other.

Last Thursday we honored some local heroes for doing amazing things; watch their videos for some inspiration. Stories include those of people like Brian Otto, a Chicago firefighter who saved a child from drowning in Lake Michigan and Irving Ibarez, an office worker, who performed CPR on a coworker and effectively saved his life. It’s pretty inspirational stuff.

You can be our hero by signing up as our fan on Facebook and by following us on twitter. This week we’re even having a contest (with prizes, not that you need that type of incentive) to see who can recruit the most fans to our Facebook Causes page. We even have a poll you can fill out and let us know what type of information you want to hear about from us from us.

This is unrelated but I know it’s top of mind for many; if you’re looking for Swine Flu info visit the CDC web site they’ll have the most up to date info on this situation as it evolves.

Additionally here’s an ABC-7 press conference from yesterday about Swine Flu, featuring Dr. Damon Arnold, giving some other tips about how to avoid Swine Flu. (there’s a very loose connection here to today’s whole hero theme, Dr. Damon Arnold-now the state public health director who is speaking in the press conference news clip, received an American Red Cross of Greater Chicago hero award two years ago).

What do you do when your pet is sick?

Two Sundays ago, my dog Sanford wasn’t acting like himself. He was lethargic and vomited a few times. I wasn’t overly concerned at first. That changed several hours later when his condition worsened.

Because I took an American Red Cross pet first aid and CPR class last year I was able to recognize the signs of dehydration and also to realize when the situation had gotten to the point where he needed to see a vet right away.

After a series of X-rays and tests in the wee hours of Monday morning, we learned he had eaten something that caused an obstruction in his intestines. He required immediate emergency surgery and by 10 a.m. that morning, my 14 pound furry baby was draped, anesthetized and undergoing major abdominal surgery. A few days and two dozen or so metal staples later, Sanford was on his way to recovery. Oh and yes he did have to wear “that cone thing” on his head afterward but...he didn’t seem to mind.

A recent story on on WBBM 780 about online dog licenses says that Chicago is home to 500,000 dogs so there’s at least that many dog lovers here-likely more because some homes have more than one pet parent. Yet I don’t think that many of us have taken the time to take a class or read a book about to care for our furry family member in the event of an emergency. Have you?

Our web site sells books on cat and dog first aid and CPR as well as classes you can take. The class is great and the pet manikins are fun to learn on. They are used to show you the proper techniques to do things like splint injured limbs and perform CPR on your pet. The manikins you practice with in the class look like big stuffed animals but their lungs rise and fall when you blow into their snouts.

Here’s a video from the Daily Herald about how to perform pet CPR.

I have one more recommendation for all those pet lovers out there; look into pet insurance, see what’s out there and consider your options. Caring for your four legged best friend can be expensive. April is National Pet First Aid month; learn what to put in a pet first aid kit and more here.

Has your pet had an emergency? Tell us about it. Did you know what to do and most importantly was your pet OK?

Martha Carlos is admittedly a little obsessed with her pup, but then again what dog lover isn’t?

Se Habla Espanol?

Early Monday morning the Chicago DAT team responded to a unique two-alarm fire on the southside of Chicago.

The fire spread to five different buildings on the block, leaving three destroyed and two others in questionable condition. As our responders arrived on scene they were confronted by more than the usual difficulties of a large scale incident, the household members were Spanish speaking.

Here is a link to the article published in the Chicago Tribune about the incident:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-south-lawndale-fireapr06,0,2950642.story

Chicago is one of the more diverse cities in the United States, so language problems are not an unusual occurence when responding. Thankfully, we have found a few different ways to make the language barrier a non-issue when trying to help those in need. We have quite a few volunteers/DAT responders who can faciliate our services in multiple languages, and even more that have a working knowledge of a different tongue. Also, we have found that there are quite a few bi-lingual police officers working for the Chicago PD that are more than happy to lend a hand when on scene. Communities members, such as neighbors, have also been able to assist as translators.

BUT we could always use more!

Although Spanish is the most prevelant second language, it is not the only other one spoken in Chicago. We encounter many different languages while responding to incidents.

If you are reading this and know a second language help us avoid being lost in translation, come help!

During this specific incident we were able to send one of our volunteers who is fluent in Spanish to the scene, drastically improving our ability to help. When it was all finished we were able to service 29 people!

Be safe everyone,

Lily and Sam

Animals Inside!

Dearest Readers:

Today, we would like to take this opportunity to discuss something very near and dear to our hearts: pet safety.

Last Tuesday, the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago responded to a fire in the city of Chicago.

The client was sitting in the back of a police car because he had fled his home without shoes, but that was not his only concern: he had also left without his cats.

I, Lily, sat in the back of the car with him and tried to explain to him what assistance the Red Cross provides. He cut me off, only to ask if I could inquire about his cats. Having a cat myself, I could understand his anxiety and set off to find any information I could about his cats.

Several firemen told me that they had not seen any animals, but would continue looking. The police officer (who’s car we were sitting in) even offered to go look around the house with some treats after the fire department had gone – the client, however, knew that with the extensive damage to his home, the possibility of finding all three of his cats alive and well was not good.

Later that afternoon, the Chicago Tribune posted the picture seen above.

This site, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/pet_plan.shtml is a great resource for ways to keep your pet safe.

It breaks down what to do before, during and after a disaster in regards to your beloved animals. Here are a couple highlights:

BEFORE:
Have a current photograph.
Plan your evacuation strategy and don't forget your pet!

DURING:
Pet shelters will be filled on first come, first served basis.
As much as you love them, DO NOT reenter a home during a disaster to attempt a rescue. Instead, notify the firemen of the animal and let them go in after him/her.

AFTER:
Walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented to their home.
If pets cannot be found after a disaster, contact the local animal control office.

Also, the American Red Cross organizes classes that teach both Dog and Cat first-aid.
Links for these classes in Chicago can be found at http://www.chicagoredcross.org/ by browsing through the Traditional Course list.

Finally, the ASPCA (www.aspca.org) can provide you with a pet safety sticker which you can put on your house to alert the firemen of the type/number of animals you have in the home.

- Lily and Sam....... and Macchiato

Punxsutawney Prediction

It was a bright day in Punxsutawney, PA this morning and we all know what that means…. Phil saw his shadow. As the rest of the world sits and wonders if the prophesying groundhog will be correct about our future winter weather, we DAT members begin to worry about other things….

For example:
Exactly how many pairs of socks are we going to be wearing to our next fire?

The American Red Cross responds to disasters in all weather conditions: weather (get it, weather/whether?!) it’s a balmy 40 degrees like we had for Super Bowl Sunday or a blistering -16, we’ll be there.

Generally speaking, as the temperature drops our number of responses skyrocket. On a consistent basis we have seen incident numbers go from 0-2 a day in the summer months to around 4-6 a day during the chillier months of November through January. We even saw a spike in responses in the middle of December when there were 14 incidents in a 24 hour period (fires and pipe bursts causing flooding)!

Often times, when responding to fires clients will ask us how many fires we normally respond to and are usually shocked at our response.
In case you’re wondering, here’s some information to let you in on exactly how much the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago’s Disaster Services Team does in the Chicagoland area:

• Last week, we had 20 separate incidents. An incident can be a fire, flood, Carbon Monoxide leak…. Anything disastrous


• We opened 84 cases and assisted 88 individuals


• In the last six months, the ARCGC has assisted 3,338 people and have been to over 700 incidents.
  
  

Impressed?
Intrigued?
Give us a call.
Volunteer today!

Sam and Lily

President Obama Wants YOU!...... To Serve

Last week, we shared with you our contributions to “A Day On, Not A Day Off” in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Historically, MLK Day has been promoted as a day of service, a call for Americans just like you to get out into the community and make a difference.

Today, we join President Obama in challenging you to make a commitment to service – not just one day but an ongoing effort to better your community, your peers and as a result, yourself.

Looking for ways to help?

We’d like to take a moment to discuss our program, AmeriCorps,and then we’ll share with you a few other excellent volunteer opportunities. Remember, volunteers come from all walks of life, and every effort has an impact.

Upon graduation, we both took an opportunity with AmeriCorps to answer this call to service.
AmeriCorps is a volunteer program, similar to the Peace Corps, where members devote a year of their lives to serving the needs of a community here in the United States.

Our specific program works in conjunction with the American Red Cross Disaster Services.
At the start of the program, we were trained in Disaster Assessment, Client Casework, Defensive Driving, Psychological First Aide, Disaster Response Workshop, Introduction to Disaster Services to name a few.

Our primary responsiblities include responding to residential fires and other weather related incidents within the city of Chicago and seven surrounding counties.
When we are not responding to fires, we spend quite a bit of time on the phone following up with those who we have assisted, offering various resources to organizations that assist in long-term recovery.

During our time in AmeriCorps, we also complete a special project of our choice. Sam, for example, is very excited to be working with International Services helping to create and administer presentations about the American Red Cross’s role in International Humanitarian Law at local universities and colleges.

Not only are we out in our community directly assisting those in need, but we are also given many opportunities for personal and career development.

As promised, here are a few of the many organizations found on President Obama’s new website, http://www.usaservice.org/.

Volunteer Match
MLK 365
Change.org
My Good Deed
AmeriCorps
Citizen’s Corps
Hands On Network

This site details the importance of community service and the need for all Americans to particpate. It also provides links to local opportunities.

Visitors to http://www.usaservice.org/ can find volunteer events within their communities by following the“Find an Event” application.

No matter what you are passionate about, you can find a volunteer opportunity that suits your interests.

Get out there America!
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

- Lily and Sam

Help the Red Cross Help You

I am fortunate to say that I’ve never had a fire in my home, though one day I could. My home hasn’t been terribly flooded, but one day it could. I’ve never needed CPR, but one day I might. Even though I’ve never needed Red Cross help after an emergency, the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago has been there for me in more ways than one. It has helped my career.

I began as a Bilingual Public Relations intern, and then I became a volunteer for the Marketing and Communications department. Since I began my involvement with the Red Cross, I knew it was a place where I could learn, network and strengthen and develop new skills.

Helping out is not only fun and looks great on your resume, but it’s easy. Find something you like to do or something you’re good at, and the Red Cross will be able to benefit from your time. I expressed my interest and availability and next thing you know it I’m posting a blog once a week. When I tell people (old professors, colleagues, friends) that I continue to stay involved with the Red Cross, they are very impressed. Anything that you do to help the Red Cross (no matter what your major was in college) can be a learning experience and just as importantly, will going to help many others.

I hope I can motivate you to consider putting your gifts and talents to good use, I know it’s something I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to do, so should you! To learn more, visit www.chicagoredcross.org/volunteer.


Amerit Del Rio is a volunteer at the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago.

Be like Vicky and Briana…

If you don’t get the reference that’s OK... That just means you probably have more to do than watch reality TV like the Real Housewives of Orange County. You may want to tune in tomorrow though since two of the main cast members, Vicki Gunvalson and daughter Briana, will be saving lives! The pair will be shown tomorrow donating blood at the Red Cross Laguna Hills donor center. The episode is expected to air December 30 on the Bravo Network and will feature both ladies eagerly wanting to donate blood, only to find out that one is not eligible. The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. CT.

Closer to home…we’re holding blood drives today and tomorrow. During the holidays fewer people donate blood but the need doesn’t diminish. People need blood every day in our community and we need you to help! One blood donation can save up to three lives!

Upcoming Blood Drives
Romeoville: Dec. 30, 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Hillside: Dec. 29, 3 p.m.- 7 p.m.
Arlington Heights: Dec. 30, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (Presenting donors at Arlington Heights will receive a $10.00 Target gift card while supplies last.)
To sign up, visit www.givebloodgivelife.org

Facebook Members Like Us!

We Won! Facebook Members Chose the American Red Cross as Their Favorite Charity!
With 18,582 supporting votes, the American Red Cross placed first among eight non-profit organizations in the Western Union Foundation’s Our World Gives campaign. This means that the Western Union Foundation will award the American Red Cross $50,000 in support of our life-saving mission. For more information, westernunion.com/foundation.
This support is important but we need even more help to continue our work. We’re getting busy as the cold weather increases. Last month alone we helped nearly 450 people in Chicagoland after their homes were damaged by home fires. Yesterday in Chicagoland we helped 51 people.
We’re trying to raise $30 million in the next 30 days to reach our goal in our national Campaign for Disaster Relief. Watch a video about this
Click here to help today!

The cards are coming in. Want to see some?

Check out this cool image from www.redcrosschat.org. The first holiday cards for heroes are coming in! If you'd like to send a card here's the address Holiday Mail for Heroes PO Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. Just make sure you get it to us by 12/10 so we have time to get it to our friends in the military. Complete details are available here.

Nature Unleashed. Check it out!

Right now some of our disaster volunteers are standing inside a tornado, well a simulated tornado just off Lakeshore Drive….but it’s still VERY cool. We have partnered with the Field Museum to place trained Red Cross disaster relief workers inside the Nature Unleashed exhibit to guide people around the exhibit. Many of these people have actually been to the disasters featured in the exhibit. Check it out and while you are there ask the Red Cross volunteer helping out to share some of their adventures. Check it out on WGN with Tom Skilling
I was with the Red Cross at two of the disasters featured in the exhibit: Hurricane Katrina and Greensburg, Kansas and I have to tell you the Field Museum did a great job making you feel like you were there.
We’re all familiar with Hurricane Katrina. Greensburg got less media attention but was just as devastating to those affected. In 2007, a small Kansas town was hit by a EF5 tornado that was 1.7 miles wide. 95% of the city was destroyed. Seeing this part of the exhibit really brought me back to what it was like to be there as that town began its healing process. While it was a sobering experience it was also really inspiring to see how resilient that town was and how they all came together to help each other out.
Greensburg ultimately decided to rebuild as an entirely green city. Planet Green did a television series about it http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/greensburg/
There are webisodes online if you want to check it out.
Have you ever seen the devastation from a tornado or hurricane up close? Where were you and how you would describe it?
Interested in visiting the exhibit? www.fieldmuseum.org. for more information.


Martha Carlos is a member of the American Red Cross Disaster Public Affairs team. She occasionally travels outside of the Chicagoland area to help with disaster relief and recovery efforts.

We're movie stars...but do you really KNOW us?

Imbed video


We’re movie stars…well sort of. We’re going to be in a new movie (OK well not really in a movie-kind of hard to fit all of us in one place) but the Red Cross is mentioned in a scene in the new release “What Just Happened” from Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson and starring Robert DeNiro and Bruce Willis (more on the movie later) and that’s pretty cool in itself.
I am excited about our name being in the movie.
It’s just well… sometimes I feel like as often as they hear our name many people just don’t really know us.
I worry that the message about what we do every day gets lost a bit because we do so many high profile things. Yes we collect blood (lots of it, ½ the nation’s blood supply) and respond to large national disasters. We do those things and they are very important but we are also working in your neighborhood all the time doing things like teaching new parents infant CPR and little kids how to prevent fires.
Much of what we do in the Chicago area is help people who lost their possessions in a home fire. We get called (three to four times daily) frequently in the middle of a cold, dark night-and asked to go out and help people who lost everything in a fire. We get out of our beds and go out and make sure they have basic things like blankets, shoes, food and a place to sleep. Things that at that point suddenly stop seeming so basic and can really add up to replace.
I know that being mentioned in a movie doesn’t necessarily tell people what we’re about. I’m just kind of hoping if they hear our name enough it might lead them to investigate us more.
So back to where this started…the film. If you're still here you might want to know what it's about. The web site What Just Happened says that the film depicts two weeks in the life of a fading Hollywood producer (DeNiro) who is having a rough time trying to get his new picture made with a difficult actor (Willis).

Martha Carlos likes DeNiro (who doesn’t?) and will probably see the movie. She’s sure to jab her husband or whoever happens to be sitting next to her when the Red Cross part comes on because she’s geeky like that.