What happened last night?

Throughout the past day and a half the American Red Cross has been helping people in 19 states offering food and shelter to those who have been displaced due to the massive winter storm. We opened 73 shelters yesterday nationwide to help people affected by this large-scale storm which buried the country in ice and snow from the Rocky Mountains to Maine. In the Chicago area alone, more than 360 people spent the night in 10 Red Cross shelters throughout our region.

Hundreds of people were stranded in their cars on Lake Share Drive in Chicago last night, when the road was closed due to unsafe driving conditions, blinding snow and large waves splashing out of Lake Michigan and spilling onto the roadway.

Chicago Police and Fire personnel and National Guard members went car to car to get stranded motorists on warming buses and to take them to a nearby Red Cross shelter at Malcolm X College in Chicago. Many had been stranded in their cars for several hours. The Chicago Tribune released a crowd sourcing tool to help people solve blizzard related problems and we did our best to aid in this effort through our twitter feed, @chicagoredcross.

American Red Cross workers greeted the 340 weary motorists, many arriving in the middle of the night by ambulance, bus or fire truck and provided them with hot coffee and snacks. In a large open room with rows of Red Cross blanket covered cots, the motorists-a doctor, a teacher and a cab driver among them, gathered to tell their stories, get warm and discuss ways to get their abandoned cars back and how to best reunite with their families. Red Cross workers provided warm clothing and toiletries to the shelter residents and diapers and teddy bears for families with small children. The most commonly fulfilled request of the evening? Socks.

Barbie, a preschool teacher from Wrigleyville was stranded in her car for several hours. Upon arrival at the shelter she was offered water, coffee, blankets, food and a cot by the Red Cross volunteers. "I cannot tell you how thankful I am that the Red Cross was there. I am still in awe about this whole experience, but the Red Cross support was the shining moment in my night."

At last the group was able to wind down from their ordeal and get some rest on the cots in the shelter. Many stayed for a breakfast served by the Red Cross the next morning. As of mid-day today there were still a few dozen people there enjoying lunch provided by Red Cross volunteers and staying safe from the hazardous conditions outside. As for the Red Cross? We'll be at shelters today with blankets, food, hugs and comfort for people who need us. Visit the American Red Cross web site and click on “find a shelter” call 1 800 RED CROSS (1 800 733 2767) to find a location near you. Follow the Red Cross on twitter at @redcross and @chicagoredcross locally for up to date information on our response to the blizzard.

Here's some information we think you may need in the next few days. It focuses on power outage safety and how to minimize food spoilage etc. Stay safe and warm everyone.

Martha Carlos and Kendall Knysch

Space Heaters: Recalled for a Reason

“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of "Flow Pro," "Airtech," "Aloha Breeze" and "Comfort Essentials" heaters sold at Walmart stores nationwide from December 2001 to October 2009.” – KTLA News

Is it just me or does “Aloha Breeze” and “Comfort Essentials” sound enticing? A few hours before this recall, my roommate called me from Target with the intention of purchasing a space heater for our small apartment. The windows in our high-rise are hardly suitable for Chicago winters and continuously keep our rooms at a chilling temperature of around 45 degrees.

“Lauren, I’m buying this space heater for our apartment so we don’t have to wear our winter coats to bed. You can thank me later,” said my roommate under the impression that I would be grateful.

“If you bring a space heater into our place, I will make sure it ‘disappears’ in the middle of the night and that the keys are changed while you are in Cincinnati so you cannot enter our apartment. You do know that space heaters are involved in 74 percent of fire-related deaths, right?”

This was my reaction before the huge recall on space heaters. And yes, I knew that statistic on hand.

When 2.2 million heaters go on recall due to “reports of burn injuries and property damage from fire”, you know there is a major problem. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found that “heating equipment - primarily space heaters and fireplaces - caused an estimated 66,100 home structure fires resulting in 480 civilian deaths, 1,660 injuries and $1.1 billion in direct property damage in 2008.”

As a Red Crosser, I know that space heaters pose a danger to my friends and community and these numbers reinforce my fears. Not only has my house burned down before, but last Thursday, the other Marketing and Communication intern, Zach, also lost his home in a fire. I bet you can’t guess what caused his fire.

A space heater.

And the scary part of his story is that his mother had absolutely no control over the fire. She watched the spark jump from the space heater. Within seconds, it was clear that there was nothing she could do to stop the flames from taking over and she hurried out of the house to call 911. She was just sitting there in her living room. And then it was gone.

Now, I would like to consider myself a reasonable person. I understand that for one reason or another, getting rid of your space heater might not be something you are willing to do. Here are some safety tips which I hope you follow so I can sleep without worrying about receiving another call in the middle of the night. Trust me, it’s not the kind of call you want to hear during the holidays.

• Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.
• Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
• If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over as another safety measure.
• Obviously, don’t buy any of the space heater brands that were put on recall.

Chicago, please be careful this winter season. Every day I come into work and receive an incident sheet from Disaster Services from the day before. Every day I see the numbers of fires increase as the weather gets colder. Every day I count the number of individuals who are displaced from their homes.

Be safe Chicago.

My day with the Fergus’s

This past Monday, I had the fortunate opportunity to meet with a warm and amazingly strong family in Crystal Lake.

Saved by an American Red Cross Heartland Chapter Hero, Brent Fergus, an 18-year-old Crystal Lake Central Tiger, was diagnosed with leukemia at a very young age. After relapsing three times, his family made the difficult decision to try a stem cell transplant. More than five years after the successful transplant, Brent and his family shared their experience with the Red Cross.

While I heard stories about Brent and his fight with leukemia, it was hard for me at times to fight tears. Too often you hear about one person who struggled with and overcame a disease, but in talking with the Fergus’s, it became so clear that disease and sickness does not effect just one person, but entire families and communities.

Seeking support through his brother’s illness, Brent’s sister found herself participating in an amazing organization called SuperSibs!, an organization that supports the siblings of children with cancer.

What was most meaningful for me, however, was listening to the way Brent and his family talked about their donor and Red Cross Hero, Jeff Wilke of Omaha, Neb. Like he was part of the family, Brent’s mom joked about their awkward first meeting, remembering the thought – “What if they’re weird?” – Then mentioned that Jeff made a surprise visit to Brent’s five-years-in-remission party.

Today, Brent looks to Jeff as his mentor. They keep in touch through the Internet and confide in each other through life’s toughest days. Now connected through blood (and Facebook), Jeff truly is Brent’s hero.

This was the most meaningful part of my Monday. What was yours?

- This post was written by Christine Heim, marketing and communications volunteer.

Do you know your Chicago fire trivia?!

Think you’re a trivia buff? Well we’re challenging you to test your knowledge about Chicagoland and its history with fire! Plus, learn a little more about what the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago does!

The Great Chicago Fire burned during October of _____ destroying about 4 square miles of Chicago and killing hundreds in its path.
a. 1892 b. 1871 c. 1902 d. 1805

What Chicago building was NOT spared during the blaze of the Great Chicago Fire?
a. Old St. Patrick’s Church b. The O’Leary’s home c. Chicago Water Tower d. Palmer House

Which of these is the higher ranking official in the Chicago Fire Department?
a. Battalion Chief b. Lieutenant c. Fire Engineer d. Captain

In the Chicagoland region, the American Red Cross responds to approximately how many residential fires a year?
a. 100 b. 500 c. 1,000 d. 5,000

At which school in the city of Chicago did a fire occur and spur reform of fire codes for school fire safety regulations around the U.S.?
a. Walter Payton b. Our Lady of Angels School c. New London School d. UIC

What month is typically celebrated as Fire Prevention Month?
a. January b. March c. November d. October

What is the name of the fire prevention program ran by the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago?

a. Team Firestopper b. Stop Fires Chicago c. The Extinguishers

Answers: 1: b; 2: d; 3: a; 4: c; 5: b; 6: d; 7: a

Fire Safety Tip of the Week: Practice a fire escape plan with the members of your household. Remember to find at least two exits out of every room and create a meeting place for all household members to go if a fire does threaten your home!

Fire safety tips are brought to you by Team Firestopper! We’re working to stop fires before they start in your community! For more information or fire tips, visit www.chicagoredcross.org/tfs or www.redcross.org/homefires!

Sources: Chicago Fire Department, American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, Wikipedia

Red Cross Instruction Car No. 1

Fun fact: 99 years ago, this month, the Pullmans donated a wooden sleeper car that would serve as a mobile first aid training facility.

The Pullman Palace Car Company's donation enabled the Red Cross to launch Red Cross Instruction Car No. 1, a railroad car that would travel across the country serving as a classroom for first aid instruction. In 1911, during its first full year of service, this mobile first aid classroom traveled more than 25,000 miles delivering first aid instruction to over 15,000 individuals. The success of the Red Cross instruction car prompted the Red Cross to expand its program to include an additional two railroad cars.

Can you imagine receiving first aid instruction on a train car?

Click Here - for more interesting facts about the Red Cross.


Submitted by Rachael Garcia, Resource Development

Mena Tornadoes

Hello Readers -

We just wanted to give you a little information about how far the efforts of the American Red Cross Disaster Servies team stretches.

Two weeks ago, Sam had the opportunity to particiapte in the tornado recovery efforts in Mena, Arkansas. He would like to spend some time to discuss his experience:

When I arrived in the small town near the Oklahoma border I didn't know what to expect. It was my first national deployment, so all the information I had acquired was from stories told by my co-workers and volunteers. I was so excited to be able to have a deployment experience of my own and to make a difference in a new community.

It didn't take long for me to get into the action. The same day I flew into Little Rock and made the drive to Mena I was entering disaster data into the computers at our headquarters. Volunteers from around Arkansas had already met with clients before I had arrived and someone was needed to enter all the data. It wasn't the most thrilling work, but due to my training in Chicago I knew its importance.

The most rewarding part of my 6 day deployment was the opportunity to participate in the outreach efforts. This entailed driving through the community and speaking with people about how the Red Cross would be able to assist them. We also explained where we could be found and how long we would be there. Outreach allowed me to really feel like I was connecting and helping people on a personal level.

It was amazing to see, amidst all the destruction from the tornadoes, the incredibly supportive attitue of the entire Mena community. I wish everyone the best of luck and I was happy to do my part in helping with your recovery.

We encourage you to get involved with your local Red Cross chapter so you too can learn how to help in a national disaster.

- Lily and Sam