Buying Gifts that Save the Day for the Red Cross

I love my family and buying them presents for the holidays. But I hate buying things that end up thrown onto a bookshelf or into a closet, like the many well-intentioned gifts that are now scattered like so many misfit toys around my parents’ house. So I’m really pumped about the Red Cross holiday gift catalog! This is the perfect year to give meaningful presents, and I’ve vowed to do most of my shopping online. In fact, I’m going to do shop the catalog as I write this post. Here goes:

The online catalog is PRETTY! I peruse the options and decide to pick a gift from each category. Here’s what I’m choosing:

Dad: I’ll leave it to Mom to buy him socks. I select a set of three blankets in his honor. Those blankets will wrap up a scared, cold person who’s living through a disaster and needs some rest and comfort. Dad’s snuggly, it’s a good fit.

Mom: Instead of buying mom more tschotskes (those little trinkets that adorn every corner of the house), I picked a phone card for our troops in her honor. Mom appreciates the importance of chatting with family, and now a man or woman who’s serving our country will be able to call home for the holidays.

Brother: He’s a trendy guy, but he appreciates practical people. I gave $25 in his honor to vaccinate kids against Measles. That was a pretty powerful and humbling click of the mouse—I hope he appreciates it!


At the end, they gave me the option to send an e-card that will be delivered whenever I want (I chose Christmas). The Red Cross will also send me cards I can personalize and hand to my family as their presents. That was fast, easy and super gratifying. So are you up for giving the gift that saves the day? Do you think your family would like this? Check out all the ways you can help at www.chicagoredcross.org/holiday.

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

Startin’um off young!

Team Firestopper is working to prevent fires from sparking in the first place! On November 15th we canvassed the city of Waukegan with fire safety information, tips, and lots of volunteers!!! The broad awareness campaign is a wonderful volunteer opportunity that people of all ages can participate in. But, what do I mean by “all ages”? Well. . . As we found out at the Team Firestopper event this past Sunday, even someone who is 4 years old can make a difference with Team Firestopper!

A few weeks ago my friend, Oliver, asked if I needed him to help out and volunteer for any of the Team Firestopper events. Obviously, I said “sure!” We discussed what type of events that were available for him to volunteer and agreed that the community canvassing in Waukegan would be the best fit. A few days later he called to ask if his 4 year old son, Josh, could also attend. Again, I said “sure, and if you think he would be o.k. walking a few blocks, he could also volunteer.”

That was exactly what Oliver hoped to hear. He told me that he and his wife, Christine, were teaching Josh the importance of giving and that they also wanted to teach him about getting involved and helping others. They believe it is essential to teach their son early on the importance of volunteering and what better place then with his “Uncle Adam” at the American Red Cross.

On Sunday, the entire Fajardo family participated in hanging door hangers in Waukegan and Josh had a great time! Josh raced from house to house, with his parents looking on, and helped cover 8 blocks with door hangers! Oliver stated that they brought a stroller for Josh in case he got tired. Josh did end up using the stroller, for a 30 second water break, and then it was back to hanging door hangers! Josh is on a great path to becoming an active member in his community and I am sure the American Red Cross will continue to see Josh for many years to come!

Fire Safety Tip of the Week: Keep blankets, curtains, furniture and other flammable items away from space heaters. How far away? At least 3 feet!

Submitted on behalf of Adam McGriffin- Mitigation VISTA

A birdbrained solution?

Everything old is new again “V” and Melrose Place are back, calling people rather than emailing is the new way to communicate and people are looking to history for solutions to today’s problems. As part of a school competition to figure out a way to communicate during a disaster when technology is down my nephews turned to the past. Their solution? Homing pigeons-yes, like the ones used in WW1. They even met with a pigeon specialist to inform their decision. Apparently pigeons can not only carry information (on zip drives etc.) and deliver medicine they can also do so in blinding rain, wind and snow and with amazing accuracy. Some countries still rely on pigeons today for daily communication because it’s more reliable than their postal service. Their team came up with a real solution that’s environmentally friendly not to mention cost effective-as pigeons are known to work relatively cheaply. I applaud their school system for bringing real life issues to kids and asking them to provide solutions. I think they’ve come up with a pretty good one. It gets me thinking…what other ways might we recycle and retool old ideas to serve us today-not just as relates to disaster but to anything? Reasonable solutions to whatever is concerning us may very well be right in front of us-and in some cases even pecking at our feet eating popcorn or crackers.
Here’s what Wikipedia had to say about pigeons

Have you changed your smoke detector batteries?

Did you know that the American Red Cross responded to more than 74,000 disasters in communities across the United States last year, and 93 percent of these were fire related? It is no different here in Chicagoland; in 2007 the Greater Chicago chapter responded to 1,200 local disasters and 90% of those were residential fires.

But, preventing home fires doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment or training, and the American Red Cross is here to help! Join our battle fighting fires with the Team Firestopper program, and help stop a fire from sparking in your own home.

How you may ask?!? Start by taking a look at your smoke alarms!

• Place a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas.


• Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries replaced yearly, or as soon as you hear a low-battery warning which usually sounds like a "chirping" noise.


• Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear it.


• And, smoke alarms wear out, so remember to replace your smoke alarm every 10 years!

Want more tips about how to be fire safe? Check out our website at www.chicagoredcross.org/tfs!

Make a Change This Winter!

Don't let the cold weather keep you indoors...come out and volunteer! There are plenty of volunteer opportunites available this season.

Volunteering this winter is a great way to spend time with friends and family.

Here are some tips on how to find a volunteer opportunity that is right for you!

1) Search the web. Look at websites like http://www.volunteermatch.org/ and http://www.idealist.org/. This will give you an idea of what opportunites are out there and how you can use your skills, knowledge and abilities.

2) Start with organizations you know and find out more about them. For example at the American Red Cross, not only do we need volunteers to respond to disasters we also look for people to do disaster education, general office work, special events and all sorts of things. Visit http://www.chicagoredcross.org/ for more information.

3) Talk to your family, friends and co-workers. They might already volunteer somewhere or know of a place that could use your help.

4) Remember that you want to do something you love. This should be a fun experience that makes you feel great about helping others!

Fort Hood Update

Our thoughts are with all of the families affected by yesterday's shooting at Fort Hood. You can find a lot of information on http://blog.redcross.org including directions for how to check if your friends and loved ones have registered as Safe and Well with the Red Cross.

Many stories are coming out today about the heroism of people who acted in the moment to help their friends and co-workers. Many used their first aid skills, and undoubtedly these skills saved lives. There was also a great need for blood donation, and people stepped up to give.

If you'd like to learn more about helping people during emergencies, I urge you to take a first aid course or to give blood. We never know when people might need our help. I hope you all have a safe weekend.

Team Firestopper - Reaching the whole family!

Megan McCarthy is an AmeriCorps Safe Families member and is a regular volunteer for the Team Firestopper program! She is part of the team that is working to stop fires before they spark! Our Firestopper programs work to educate adults and children. Sometimes we even get both at once! Here is Megan’s story…

“As AmeriCorps members in the Safe Families program, we are nomadic; our goal is to reach as many people as possible in one short year with our preparedness programs. On any given day, we can meet hundreds of children in a school, a handful of seniors in a church, or dozens of teenagers at a safety fair. We change the lives of people every day, which is incredibly rewarding.

However, on rare occasions, we are given the opportunity to see the impact of our work. I had the privilege of teaching a young boy named Andre at his school, Lynn Thigpen Elementary, last week. I remember Andre was really excited about learning how to stop, drop, and roll during our fire safety class. He was full of energy and had an answer for every question I asked. He was simply one of those kids that a program instructor remembers.

That weekend, while volunteering with Team Firestopper, I was surprised to see Andre again! My team was doing in-home fire safety visits in Joliet, IL and I walked right into Andre’s house. He stood up, walked toward me and smiled. “I know you,” he said happily. Now, one of the many things we teach our students is how to identify fire safety hazards in their own home. Andre wanted to show me just how hard he’d worked on his “Hazard Hunt.” He walked me through every room in his house, telling me about the candles that he had his parents move away from the curtains and the lint trap in the dryer that he cleans out (just in case). Andre was so proud of how hard he worked and I was proud of him, too. As I went to leave, Andre handed me a copy of his class picture. He only had a few left… one for his grandma, and one for me.

Sometimes as program instructors we begin to wonder if what we teach really sticks with any of our students. Well, Andre was proof to me that the American Red Cross’ Safe Families Program is making a difference. So, thank you Andre, and thank you to all of the students, schools, and communities that are helping us save lives!” - Megan McCarthy

Fire safety tip of the week: Check the batteries in your smoke alarm! Almost 2/3 of home fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms.

AmeriCorps members teaching Kid Firestopper! photo by Gerry Holmes

I challenge YOUth!

It's that time! November is National Youth Involvement Month! During the month of November, the American Red Cross celebrates the wonderful work that youth volunteers do – teaching Kid Safety programs, coordinating blood drives at their schools, raise funds for disaster relief, collect toiletry items for those affected by disaster and MORE!

The National Youth Council and I challenge YOUth volunteers and Chicago high school & college Red Cross Clubs to get involved this month and take service projects to a new level!

Let’s show everyone why YOUth rock!!!!!

Any great service project ideas? Let’s hear em!
Looking for ideas? Check out www.redcrossyouth.org
Want to do a Red Cross service project at your school? Contact Eboni at ChicagoVR@usa.redcross.org!

BTW...check out this promo video for National Youth Involvement Month on You Tube!

Two, Four, Six, 700 Teddy Bears!

In the midst of chilly autumn weather, kindergarten through sixth grade students, teachers and staff from Clissold Elementary and La Salle Academy found a way to stay warm and fuzzy on Wednesday.

Between the two schools, a total of about 700 teddy bears were collected for the Teddy Bear Drive for the Red Cross.

At both schools the sixth graders were in charge of directing the five-day collection of teddy bears. Some sixth graders sported Red Cross gear such as t-shirts and vests. Dominick, a new sixth grade student at Clissold Elementary, was feeling glum the morning of, because he forgot to wear his Red Cross accessory. A little later, a Red Crosser gave him a hard hat with the Red Cross symbol on it, that happened to be in the truck. Dominick was ecstatic and told me, “I am so lucky I get to look this cool!”

At Clissold, the students started the drive with a celebratory ceremony in the auditorium, complete with a Red Cross banner, microphone, and hundreds of teddy bears on the stage. To kick this off, a form of "roll call" was taken; a few designated sixth grade students, each exclaiming loudly into the microphone, "Are the first graders here?" for each grade, teachers, staff and teddy bears. The audience burst out loud in response with excited cheers, when their group was called upon. Then a coulor guard flag ceremony accompanied with a drum performance took place.

As the children patiently anticipated the “stuffing” of vehicle, Red Cross Volunteer and coordinator of the drive, Bob Bushwaller, took the microphone and said a big thank you to everyone who participated in the drive and told a touching story of how children who have lost everything in a home fire, will find comfort in the donated bears.

Suddenly, the “teddy bear song” streamed out of the auditorium speakers. The energy and excitement from the kids was so powerful that it made my heart race. After distributing the bears, every student clutched a fuzzy friend and assembled in a long line leading out to the mobile disaster truck. I noticed Kelsey, a second grade student at Clissold, was crying. I asked her what was wrong. She answered with a quivering lip, "I'm just so happy we are doing this for the kids."

Students exclaimed left and right, “I’m ready for the teddy bear march!” Katie, a La Salle Academy third grader, asked me with hopeful eyes, “Does this mean that we are part of the Red Cross now?”

Student Volunteers Are Ready

Saturday, October 24th a group of Loyola University students became part of our Red Cross Reserve Corps. They completed a day of training in basic Mass Care which highlights s
heltering, feeding and bulk distribution.

The objective of this training is to have students on reserve to volunteer if a large scale disaster happens in the Chicagoland area.

Historically, college students have been among the first group of people who step up to help during a disaster.

The Red Cross Reserve Corps program ensures that we have trained and committed volunteers on hand when we need them.

All of the students who participated in the training were very enthusiastic about learning how they can be prepared to aid in disaster response.

Team Firestopper - Reaching the whole family!

Last week the Team Firestopper program held a fire safety fair in Aurora. We worked with Oak Park Elementary School and the 21st Century after-school program to educate both kids and parents on how to keep their home safe from fires!

First, our AmeriCorps members educated 60 1st through 4th graders on small things they can do around their home to help stop fires from starting. This includes cleaning the lint out of the dryer, not playing with matches, and to remind their parents to change the batteries in their smoke detectors!



Then, we held our Team Firestopper program for the parents of the children in the after-school program. Parents went through seven stations which included interactive stations such as a smoke trailer - where individuals got to practice escaping from a home, and a station on how to use a fire extinguisher – and they even got to try putting out a digital fire!

After the fair, the 40 households that attended received a kit free of charge that included a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher, disaster supply kit, surge protector, window film insulation kit, and CPR for Everyone kit!

We're doing out best to stop fires before they spark in your community!

Want to get involved or learn more about the Team Firestopper program? Visit www.chicagoredcross.org/tfs!

Fire safety tip of the week: According to the NFPA, space heaters accounted for 1/3 of home heating fires - so give your space heaters some space!!! Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that could catch fire! - This includes blankets, clothes, towels, newspapers and furniture!

photos by Gerry Holmes

Would You Give Mouth to Snout?

Pet owners, you love your furry friends, but are you ready to protect them? A new survey up says that about half of you are at least willing:

More than half of pet owners -- 58 percent -- said they would be at least somewhat likely to perform CPR on an injured pet, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll. (from a longer story on NBC)

The Red Cross offers Pet CPR and First Aid--the critical skills you'll need to save Fluffy or Spike. Check out the course listings, (it's under Caregiving Courses). You can also watch Pam, who saved her pup:

Team Firestopper - Our volunteers!!!

What’s it like to volunteer for Team Firestopper? Michael Lopez is an intern at the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, and a volunteer for the Team Firestopper program. We thought we’d let him share his story!

"Our team (team 5), along with many of the other teams were assigned four houses in which we were supposed to complete safety checks to search out any potential fire hazards such as overloaded sockets, dangerous space heaters, or inappropriately placed candles. The team also showed the residents how to appropriately apply window film to insulate the windows of their home. While this was being completed I personally sat down the residents of the home and went over the kit they would receive. It included many important items such as a fire extinguisher, smoke detectors with a ten year lithium battery, a disaster kit, surge protector and a carbon monoxide detector. As we went over the items we also discussed the importance of creating a disaster plan and the items that would be needed to do so, many of the clients described never having thought about the importance of having one.

Overall, TFS reached their goal of 35 homes and it was a wonderful experience. The residents were very grateful to have the ARCGC in their neighborhood and it was apparent that the experience was well received by both the residents of the community and the volunteers; I personally met many wonderful people and am thankful to have been a part of this event. The resident of the last home we visited even gave us all a hug and thanked us for our compassion and interest in the well-being of her and her loved ones. Being a future social worker I have been involved in many activities involving the community but my involvement with the TFS has given me the chance to make a real difference in the lives of others. I would recommend participation with TFS to anyone interested in improving the lives of others.”

Want to volunteer or learn more about Team Firestopper? Visit www.chicagoredcross.org/tfs!

That's a Pretty Sweet Job...

I have been working with two AmeriCorps members at our chapter so I decided to learn a little bit more about what they do.

Here is my interview with Caitlin Gould and Carolyn Kraker.

Q: How would you describe what you do?
Caitlin: I say I’m a Client Caseworker which involves going to different disasters. At the disasters I do a damage assessment and meet the clients’ needs with food, shelter and clothing.
Carolyn: We also prepare for and provide assistance to large groups of people. This includes sheltering and feeding.

Q: How has this job changed your attitudes towards disasters and being prepared?
Carolyn: I am definitely more concerned with being prepared. I make sure that my electrical cords are safe, I don’t use space heaters and next time I move I don’t want to live in a garden apartment.
Caitlin: I have told all my friends to get renters insurance.

Q: What is one of your favorite things about your job?
Caitlin: I really love seeing the communities pulling together to help each other out when there is a disaster. Also Firefighters will come up to me and say ‘You do such great work’ and they are FIREFIGHTERS!! They are really the ones doing the all the hard work!
Carolyn: We get to see a different side of Chicago, people coming together for someone who is in need.
Caitlin: We are able to come in just when people need us the most, in their hour of darkness, to help them start getting back on their feet.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face?
Carolyn: People who have not been affected by a disaster trying to take advantage of our services.
Caitlin: Not being able to do more to help sometimes.

Q: What did your friends say when you told them what your job is?
Carolyn: ‘Why are you going to fires?!’ ‘What’s wrong with you?!’
Caitlin: Everyone thinks I’m a Firefighter.
Carolyn: They all think my job is more dramatic than it really is, but I don’t try to correct them :).

Flashback: Red Cross Volunteers during Flu Epidemic, 1919

Just to share a little bit about Chicago’s epidemic history…

In the nineteenth century, the city of Chicago underwent frightening epidemics of disease which also infected many American and European cities. One in specific was the influenza epidemic of 1918–19. In the span of about 30 days, 10,249 Chicagoans died of flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia and around 20,000 perished in 1918 and 1919 combined. It also caused at least 675,000 U.S. deaths and up to 50 million deaths worldwide. Back then, unfortunately no one knew what a virus was, how to stop it, or that it caused the flu.

Coinciding with this outbreak, many paid and volunteer opportunities arose as a result of World War I. One of the most popular volunteer organizations was the American Red Cross. In the photo above, Red Cross volunteers are shown attending to the domestic influenza virus by putting together the masks worn by hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans to avoid the spread of the deadly disease.

Although we have come a long way from this kind of widespread pandemic, and have advanced considerably by becoming educated on symptoms and causes, learning prevention methods, and the development of antibiotics and other medications, it still important to take care of yourself this fall. By taking care of yourself, you are taking care of others! Flu season is here, so wash your hands and cover your cough!

For more information on the pandemic flu or tips on how to prepare and prevent it, visit http://su.pr/2f2ToC

Did You Know?

4 out of 5 Americans are unaware that home fires are the most common disaster threat. But, it’s true… 90% of the disasters that the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago responds to are residential fires.

Instead of focusing on recovery alone, Team Firestopper works on preventing fires before they start. The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago Team Firestopper program educates people about fire safety and prevention. The Team Firestopper program is unique: it teaches life saving skills and equips individuals with fire safety products so they can be ready in the case of a fire. The benefits are tremendous for both recipients and volunteers touched by the program.

This year Team Firestopper will be in 6 communities, including the suburban communities of Joliet, Aurora, and Waukegan, and the Chicago communities of North Lawndale, Englewood, and Roseland.

Last week alone the Team Firestopper program provided 36 households with fire safety information and equipment through in-home fire safety visits.

So, join forces with us; work to eradicate home fires by spreading the word about the Team Firestopper program!

Want more information? Check out our website at www.chicagoredcross.org/tfs.

Team Firestopper volunteers preparing for in-home fire safety visits in Englewood on Oct. 10th

The Deadline is Hours Away but You Still Have Time to Make Your Digital Footprint Today!

October 9th, October 9th, October 9th- it's here!

The deadline to create your digital footprint is just hours away, but don't worry you still have until midnight tonight! Many of you have already supported us through Bank of America, and we thank you so much. But if you want to help make an even greater impact, spread the word! Tell your friends, family and co-workers! But hurry!

The video, "One Click for the Red Cross" and or our message has already reached 66,464 people via "tweets" as of this morning! It is also circulating on blogs, facebook, and other social media outlets we have reached out to! It is also featured on The Chicagoist, so if you haven't already, check it out!

We really want to win this thing, so let's rack up those footprints and finish strong together! Through the power of networking, we can make a difference in the lives of people who need us because they’ve lost their home in a fire, been separated from a loved one, or been the victim of a terrible disaster. This is your chance to make a difference. Can you help?

Visit footprint.chicagomarathon.com to make a digital footprint and click "The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago" at the bottom so that Bank of America will donate $1 to us! Thank you!!!

Questions about the Flu? Nurse Sharon has Answers!

Flu’s on my mind today for a bunch of reasons. On the bus this morning I saw a bunch of people coughing (and then, of course, grabbing the hand rails). Yikes. May I begin by imploring: Cough into the crook of your elbow, people!

In seriousness, wouldn't it be great if we could call people out on their bad hygiene? If it were socially acceptable for me to tug on the sleeve of the sniffling girl on the Damen bus and say “Please, use this tissue to wipe your nose. You might be giving the next person on the bus your sniffles.” Any thoughts on this, dear readers? How do you gently influence the people around you (kids, too) to be more germ-conscious?

And how about those vaccines? The Chicago Tribune reports today that the H1N1 vaccine is trickling into the area, but is not yet widely available here. I think that means hold tight for most of us, but there’s more on the way. However, the seasonal flu vaccine IS ready now. Sharon Stanley, American Red Cross Chief Nurse, encourages us to become better informed and offers insights about seasonal and H1N1 flu in this video. Sharon explains how to avoid getting the flu and dispels some myths about vaccination (it can’t give you the flu!) You can find more on the Red Cross Blog.

Loyola Communication Students = Awesome Volunteers

Some of our student volunteers: (from left to right) Zach Zimmerman, Karis Hustad,
Ashley Morgan and Richard Parra.

Last week we opened a free photo exhibit called Our World at War: Photojournalism Beyond the Frontlines at the Loyola University School of Communication.

The photo exhibit features pictures and stories of people living in eight different countries that are currently conflict zones. Through this artwork, faces and names are given to the masses of people who are affected by conflict across the globe. It also highlights the work that the International Committee of the Red Cross is doing to help these people.

At our Preview Event on the opening night of the exhibit, we had volunteers giving tours to guests. Many of these volunteers are Loyola communication students.

I was really impressed with the students’ dedication and interest in the exhibit. They each learned something about the photographs, countries or photographers that was important to them and were able to provoke thought and reflection from our guests.

Last night, some of those students came back to give tours of the exhibit at another event. I asked one student what his favorite part of the exhibit is. He said that the photos give a raw look at what people go through in these different conflict areas around the world, it opens people’s eyes to what is really going on.

Another student said that she notices guests’ reactions to the photos. She said, at first most people are shocked that the things portrayed in the images and stories are actually happening around the world. She said that most people then start to say that something has to be done to help and they really commend the International Committee of the Red Cross for all the work that they do.

Our World at War: Photojournalism Beyond the Frontlines continues through November 20, 2009 at 51 E Pearson Street Foyer Chicago, IL. The exhibit is FREE and the hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 7p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - 5p.m.

To learn more about this exhibit and other events that explore humanitarian issues click here!