As Winter Hits, Prevent Fires in Your Home

As winter approaches and the weather turns colder, people will be turning up their thermostats to stay warm or resorting to alternate heating methods to cut down on costs. These different methods of heating can be dangerous if not used properly and the American Red Cross urges everyone to be cautious when putting them to use.

Home fires are the biggest disaster threat to people in this country – worse than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. Every day, the Red Cross responds to as many as 170 home fires – that’s one fire every eight minutes.

The Red Cross offers the following safety tips on how to prevent fires:

• Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and furnaces professionally inspected once a year.
• Never use a stove or oven to heat the home.
• Never leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended. 
• Turn off space heaters or extinguish the fireplace before going to bed or leaving home. 
• Place a space heater on a hard, level, nonflammable surface. Do not put space heaters on rugs or carpets, near bedding or drapes, and keep children and pets away. Look for a space heater model that shuts off automatically if the heater falls over.
• When using a fireplace, use a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks or rolling logs and keep the fire in the fireplace.
• Keep all flammable materials such as newspapers, matches, bedding, clothing, carpets and rugs at least three feet away from heat sources such as space heaters, fireplaces and stoves. 

Smoke alarms save lives. People should:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of their home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. 
• Check monthly that smoke alarms are working properly by pushing the test button. 
• Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. 
• Replace smoke alarms every ten years. 
• Planning for fire emergencies is important. Make sure all household members know two ways to escape from every room of the home, and set up a meeting place outside in case of fire. Practice escaping from the home at least twice a year and at different times of the day. Teach household members to stop, drop and roll if their clothing should catch on fire. 

For more information on what you can do to keep you and your loved ones safe, visit the “Home Fires” section of www.redcross.org/swny. 

Know What To Do During a Winter Storm

Do you know what to do if snow is predicted for your area, or what the difference is between a winter storm watch and warning? The American Red Cross wants you to be ready when those white flakes start falling.

A winter storm watch means a winter storm is possible in your area. A winter storm warning means the winter storm is on its way. A blizzard warning means your area is headed for blinding, wind-driven snow, heavy winds, and dangerous wind chills and you should seek shelter immediately.

If a storm watch is issued, watch for changing weather conditions and avoid unnecessary travel. When a storm warning is issued, stay indoors. Follow these tips to stay safe and warm during the storm:

Protect Yourself at Home:

• Do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out. Use flashlights only.
•  Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves yearly - use a sturdy fire screen with lit fires. Burn only wood - never burn paper or pine boughs. 
• Use generators correctly –never operate a generator inside your home, including the basement or garage. Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. 
•  Prevent frozen pipes - when the weather is very cold outside, open cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around water pipes. Let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing. 
•  Keep the thermostat set to a consistent temperature. 
•  Check smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button and replace batteries as necessary. 
• Don’t overload your electrical outlets. 
• Don’t forget your pets – bring them indoors. If you can’t bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they can get to unfrozen water. 
• If you plan on using an alternate heating source, never use a stove or oven to heat your home. Keep a glass or metal fire screen around the fireplace and never leave a fireplace fire unattended. If using a space heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to safely use the heater. Place it on a level, hard, nonflammable surface. Turn the space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from your space heater and do not use it to dry wet clothing. 

If You Venture Outside:

•  If you must go outside, layered lightweight clothing will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Gloves (or mittens) and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs. 
•  Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow. 
•  Understand the hazards of wind chill, which combines the cooling effect of wind and cold temperatures on exposed skin. 
• Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. 
• Also seek immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin. 
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy, sidewalks. 
• After the storm, if you shovel snow, be extremely careful. Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. Avoid overexertion. 
• Avoid traveling by car in a storm, but if you must ... 

• Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk.
•  Keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
•  Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.

Busy 2012 for Red Cross with 113 Large Responses in 42 States

In a busy year filled with hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods and deadly windstorms, the American Red Cross responded to 113 large-scale disasters in 42 states and territories from Alaska to Florida between January 1 and December 1.

“Hurricane Sandy was the biggest U.S. response in five years, but it wasn’t the only disaster that disrupted lives in 2012,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president for Red Cross Disaster Services. “Devastating tornadoes and raging wildfires wiped out entire neighborhoods while Hurricane Isaac affected communities all along the Gulf Coast. The Red Cross responded to each of these disasters, offering shelter, food and comfort to people on their darkest days.”

Disasters struck across the country, from the East Coast to the West, and few regions were spared. Throughout the year, the Red Cross opened a total of 907 shelters and provided more than 109,000 overnight stays to help people forced from their homes. In total, more than 29,000 trained disaster workers served 9.9 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 6.8 million relief items. Health and mental health workers provided more than 141,000 consultations to help people on the road to recovery.

The Red Cross also responded to tragic events that impacted people’s lives in the last year, most recently the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, as well as the mass shootings at the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado in July and at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin in August. In all three responses, the Red Cross provided emotional and mental health support, as well as food and drinks for first responders.

In June, Tropical Storm Debby marked the start of hurricane season by causing widespread flooding across much of Florida. Then in late August, Hurricane Isaac came ashore bringing with it strong winds and drenching rain that impacted Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In response to Isaac, the Red Cross mobilized thousands of disaster workers to help people by opening 157 shelters, providing thousands of overnight stays. Volunteers served hundreds of thousands of meals, distributed more than 140,000 relief items and provided thousands of health and mental health contacts.

Hurricane Sandy made landfall along the Atlantic seaboard in late October, leaving massive devastation in its wake. In all, eleven states and Puerto Rico felt the impact with New York and New Jersey seeing the most devastation. The large Red Cross relief effort continues today, weeks after the storm’s landfall. As of December 1, more than 15,300 trained disaster workers mobilized to provide help. The Red Cross has handed out millions of relief items and meals, provided tens of thousands of health and emotional support contacts to people whose lives have been turned upside down. Even as relief work continues, the Red Cross will be on the ground supporting recovery efforts for some time.

In early March, as many as 95 confirmed tornadoes touched down, destroying communities across the Midwest and Southeast. Tornadoes slammed through the Dallas-Fort Worth area in early April and in mid-April, dozens of tornadoes ripped across the Midwest for a second time.

In all, severe spring weather affected communities in 16 states, including Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Texas. The Red Cross launched responses to provide safe shelter, warm meals and relief supplies to people forced from their homes. Disaster workers served nearly a quarter of a million meals and snacks and handed out more than 112,000 relief items like cleaning supplies and comfort kits.

A string of storms with winds up to 90 miles per hour swept across Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio and the District of Columbia in June, bringing with them hundreds of reports of impact from devastating winds. Millions were without power in sweltering areas as high temperatures broke records. The Red Cross provided thousands of overnight stays in more than 70 shelters, served more than 246,000 meals and snacks, and distributed about 128,000 relief items.

Dry conditions fueled devastating wildfires across the western part of the country, forcing evacuations and destroying homes. In response, the Red Cross launched wildfire relief operations in nine states including Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and California. The Red Cross provided nearly 4,000 overnight stays in shelters, served more than 159,000 meals and snacks, and handed out tens of thousands of relief items to people in need.

The American Red Cross helped almost 3 million people around the world in 2012, responding to 13 disasters in more than 20 countries. These included floods in Bolivia, Peru, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Panama. Assistance was also sent to Senegal, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Mali and Malawi to help people affected by food shortages, as well as a drought in Paraguay. Red Cross workers are also responding to help people affected by civil unrest in Syria and a cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone. The American Red Cross responded in Jamaica and Haiti after Hurricane Sandy made landfall in those countries.

The Red Cross thanks everyone who has supported disaster relief operations this year. Every nine minutes the Red Cross responds to a disaster in communities across the country, and whether it’s a hurricane or a fire in someone’s home, the Red Cross is there. Click here to view a photo slideshow of disaster responses you supported this year.

The Red Cross also provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families – in war zones, military hospitals and on military installations around the world; collects and distributes more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains more than 9 million people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills every year. If someone would like to support the Red Cross mission and help those in need, they can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Western New York Couple Spend Holiday Together In NYC -Working on Sandy Relief

Robert Shook of Cuba, NY will be deploying to New York City on Saturday to assist in the Superstorm Sandy relief efforts of the American Red Cross. Shook will be working on an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV), helping deliver food, water and relief items including clean-up supplies and cold weather items such as blankets directly to people in the areas hardest hit by Sandy.

Robert Shook

When he arrives in New York City, Shook will reunite with his wife, Beth, who has been deployed as part of the relief efforts since Sandy hit in late October. Beth Shook has already spent Thanksgiving away from her husband, and Bob took a long-planned vacation to visit their children and grandchildren alone while Beth worked on the Sandy relief operation in Staff Services.

Beth Shook

The Shook’s have been volunteering with the Red Cross since 1972, after Hurricane Agnes flooded their apartment and they received shelter, food and cleaning equipment from the organization. They currently serve as Disaster Action Team (DAT) Captains and Disaster Training Instructors. Beth has responded to disasters in over 40 states, Guam and Puerto Rico, and Bob is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York.

“I can think of no better way to celebrate Christmas than helping those who need it,” Bob Shook said. “Some folks are still without electricity and I will be delivering food and supplies to them.”

Robert and Beth Shook are just two of the nearly 50 staff and volunteers from Western New York that have deployed to assist in the Sandy relief efforts of the Red Cross since the storm hit. Several of these dedicated volunteers sacrificed spending Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas and/or New Year’s with loved ones at home to help our downstate neighbors who have been devastated by Superstorm Sandy, including Steven Schwartz of Buffalo and Peter Swales of Springville, who each returned to Manhattan this week for a second deployment. 

Thanks to the public’s generous support, the American Red Cross has provided food, shelter, relief supplies and comfort to thousands of people impacted by Sandy. More than 1,400 Red Cross workers are still on the ground supporting survivors through our relief work even as we begin our longer-term recovery efforts. The Red Cross is working with government and community partners as part of a comprehensive response to help survivors recover. For more on the Red Cross response to Sandy, please click here.

Gardner Donates Birthday Gifts for Hurricane Sandy

When Claire Gardner of Wellsville wanted to have a birthday party, she did not want her friends to bring gifts. Gardner decided that instead of gifts she would collect donations for the American Red Cross to help those in need in New York and New Jersey. Together, Claire and her 11 friends raised $130 for Hurricane Sandy Relief.

Thanks to the generous support like that from Claire and her friends, the American Red Cross has provided food, shelter, relief supplies, and comfort to thousands of people impacted by Sandy. The Red Cross has served more than 8.8 million meals and snacks and handing out more than 6.6 million relief items, including cold weather items and clean-up supplies. The Red Cross also provided more than 101,000 health services and emotional support contacts for people who have been living in very tough conditions. Over 15,800 trained workers have been mobilized to help people affected by Sandy.

Over a month has passed since Hurricane Sandy came to shore, but residents are still staying in shelters and looking to clean-up and start their lives over again. Any funds donated for Hurricane Sandy beyond what is needed for emergency relief will be put to use service the long-term needs of communities and individuals affected by this disaster.

To make a financial donation to Hurricane Sandy visit www.redcross.org/swny , text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation; or mail or hand deliver a donation to  your local Red Cross office at 542 North Barry St. in Olean, 325 East 4^th St. in Jamestown, or at 112 North Main Street, Wellsville. The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York is a United Way Agency.

12 Days of Holiday Safety Tips

Having a busy time getting ready for the holidays? While you are shopping, baking, gift wrapping, decorating and going to parties, the American Red Cross has 12 Days of Holiday Safety tips to help keep the season safe, happy and bright.

1. Prepare your vehicle for traveling to grandmother’s house. Build an emergency kit and include items such as blankets or sleeping bags, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, compass and road maps, shovel, tire repair kit and pump, extra clothing, flares, and a tow rope.

2. Drive your sleigh and reindeer safely. Avoid driving in a storm. If you must travel, let someone know where you are going, the route you’re taking to get there, and when you expect to arrive. If the car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along their predetermined route.

3. Help prevent the spread of the flu. Stay home if you’re sick. Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible, or use an alcohol-based hand rub. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue away after use. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

 4. Follow Santa’s fashion lead – dress in layers. When it is cold outside, layered lightweight clothing will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Gloves and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs.

5. Use a Red Cross-trained babysitter when attending holiday festivities. Red Cross-certified babysitters learn to administer basic first aid; properly hold and feed a child; take emergency action when needed and monitor safe play. Some may be certified in Infant and Child CPR.

6. Avoid danger while roasting chestnuts on an open fire. Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove. Remember, unattended cooking causes nearly 90 percent of all kitchen fires

7. Be a lifesaver during the holidays. The Red Cross recommends at least one person in every household should take first aid and CPR/AED training. Visit www.redcross.org/training for details and to register.

8. Designate a driver or skip the holiday cheer. Buckle up, slow down and don’t drive impaired. If you plan on drinking, designate a driver who won’t drink.

9. When the weather outside is frightful, heat your home safely. Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. Never leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended. Install smoke alarms.

10. Cut down on your heating bills without being a Grinch. Get your furnace cleaned and change the filters. Make sure your furniture isn’t blocking the heat vents. Close off any rooms not in use and turn off the heat in those rooms. Turn down the thermostat and put on a sweater.

11. Home for the holidays? Travel safely. Check the air pressure in your tires and make sure you have windshield fluid. Be well rested and alert. Give your full attention to the road – avoid distractions such as cell phones. If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.

12. Resolve to Be Red Cross Ready in the New Year. Get ready now in case you or a member of your household faces an emergency in 2012.Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

For more safety tips visit www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York is a United Way agency.

Red Cross provides Support in CT

The American Red Cross extends its deepest condolences to those affected by the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

ON THE GROUND At the request of local authorities, the Red Cross is providing food, water and emotional support for affected families and first responders in Newtown. At this time, several emergency response vehicles are on the ground and more than 100 Red Cross trained workers, including mental health professionals, are helping to comfort and care for this community amid tragedy. The Red Cross is also supporting grief counseling centers that are available for Newton residents.

The Red Cross will continue to work in close coordination with local authorities to determine how best to support affected families and first responders over the next few days.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT A heartbreaking event like this affects not only the family and friends of the victims, but the entire community. During this difficult time, it’s important for people affected to connect with and support each other.

Parents should let children talk about their fears and then reassure them about their safety. This is a time where people should take care of themselves and their families. For example, reach out to others to offer and receive support. People should also be careful not to overexpose themselves to media reports about the tragedy. For more information, read tips from the Red Cross on caring for your emotional health.

The Red Cross joins all in keeping the families and community in our thoughts and prayers. Right now, the Red Cross has what it needs to support response efforts. If people want to make a donation to support the affected families, the United Way of Western Connecticut has created a Sandy Hook School Support Fund. For more information, visit https://newtown.uwwesternct.org/.

Stay Safe this Holliday Season

December is a special time of the year. All of the lights, food, parties, gifts, and magic of the holiday season can bring a smile to faces young and old. Not every Holiday season is happy for everyone, however.  During December and the holiday season, house fires are more frequent than at any other time of the year. The extra load of holiday lights and decorations can push home electrical boxes to the max. Overloaded circuits can lead to shorts in wires, sparks and fires. So before you plug in, remember to check all outlets for overload, and to check wires, light fixtures and inspect extension cords for fraying.

When it comes time to deck the halls, check to see all ornaments and decorations are shatter resistant for the safety of pets and small children. Also keep wire and strings out of reach of small children to prevent them pulling it down on them or getting tangled in it.

As nice as it is to have a candle lit for the season, it is important to always keep it in eye distance; never leave them unattended. If you want to have a candle in the window, make sure to keep all window curtains away and tied back. If it is resting on a table, make sure that it is away from the edge so if it is bumped it does not fall.

If you have a real tree, be sure to keep it watered. A wet tree is a happy tree! Once a pine tree becomes dry, it can easily ignite and be fully engulfed in flames in less than five seconds. Not only will it destroy the tree and all of the family ornaments and gifts underneath, but more importantly, the room the tree is in, and possibly the whole home could be destroyed. So be sure to give your tree a drink and prevent a fire.

Finally, when it comes to the gifts, why not give a gift that will last more than a few days? Give someone you care about a disaster preparedness kit. A plastic storage box would work great - just fill it with items such as a flashlight, extra batteries, activity books for kids and adults, blankets, dry socks, gallons of water and a container to keep medicines in, just to name a few items. This gift could possibly help save someone when the unexpected arises.

Have a safe and joyous holiday season from the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York.

The American Red Cross of SWNY is a United Way agency.

Red Cross Volunteers Honored For Sandy Work

On December 5^th, American Red Cross Volunteers that were deployed to Hurricane Sandy gathered at the Red Cross office in Jamestown to share their stories, experiences, and memories of giving back to the residents of New York City and the New Jersey area.

Over 14,000 trained volunteers throughout the country were deployed to affected areas working in shelters, providing mental and physical care to victims, and delivering food and supplies in an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV). Volunteers spent anywhere from a few days to three weeks serving their neighbors on the east coast.  

Sitting L to R: Tina Jones, Emergency Services Director; Nancy Pickut; Jeanie Shiffer.

Standing – L to R: Sarah and Bruce Swanson; Walt Pickut; Mary Walker; Charlie Meder; Mary Ritchie; Phil Baker; Bill Tucker.

Volunteers were recognized with a lunch of pizza, wings, and desserts. Volunteers in attendance included Sarah and Bruce Swanson of Bemus Point, who drove the Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) on Staten Island to deliver food and supplies needed for cleanup; Janice Davis of Friendship, who worked in shelter operations in New York City; Mary Walker of Dunkirk provided Client Casework in New Jersey as well as helping locally for shelter operations in Silver Creek; Phil Baker of Jamestown, who drove an ERV in NYC and Long Island, and worked with Bulk Distribution in New Jersey; and Bill Tucker of Jamestown, who worked in shelter operations on Long Island. Other volunteers present that helped locally included Jeanie Shiffer of Jamestown, who helped to staff the Silver Creek shelter, and Charlie Meder of Stockton, who drove an American Red Cross disaster trailer to the shelter in Silver Creek.   

Other volunteers and community members honoring the volunteers were American Red Cross of Southwestern New York Board Members Vince Horrigan and John Plumb; Bill Price from the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, and fellow Disaster Team Members Walt and Nancy Picket and Mary Ritchie. 

December Blood Drives

Salamanca Area Kiwanis Club Donates to Sandy

On November 20, 2012, the Salamanca Area Kiwanis Club donated $100 for Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief.  The members of the Salamanca Area Kiwanis Club voted to dedicate a portion of their annual fundraising effort to help the families and children who lost everything during the recent disaster caused by Hurricane Sandy.

The American public and generous organizations have been very supportive of the Red Cross relief response to Superstorm Sandy and we thank them for their generosity. Their donations are making a difference, enabling us to spend tens of millions of donated dollars providing food, shelter, relief supplies and comfort to people affected by Sandy.

If you would like to donate visit your local Red Cross Office in Jamestown, Olean or Wellsville; visit www.redcross.org/swny or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. 

Salamanca Area Kiwanis Club President Ned Fenton presented a $100 donation for Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief to Bill Tucker, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York.

Purchase the Gift of the Month to Support the Red Cross to Make a Difference All Yearlong

Over the past year, disasters large and small forced families from their homes and many lost everything they owned. Through it all, the American Red Cross was there, offering people a safe place to stay, food to eat and a shoulder to lean on. This holiday season remember those in their time of need by purchasing the Gift of the Month.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year. With the Gift of the Month, you can be there every month to give people help and hope. Your impact will be constant and unforgettable.

• January - Emergency shelter
• February - Hot meals
• March – Blankets
• April – Vaccinations
• May - Physical and emotional care
• June – Bicycles
• July - Reconnecting families
• August - Emergency family kits
• September - Infant care supplies and cribs
• October - Support for first responders
• November - Where needed most
• December - Emergency water containers

The Gift of the Month is only $500 for yearlong support for those in need.Purchase the Red Cross Gift of the Month today.

The past few months have been extremely busy for the Red Cross from disaster responses to Hurricane Isaac along the Gulf to Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast.

“There is no way I can express my gratitude to the Red Cross, it is the best thing I have ever seen and one of the best organizations I have ever come across in my whole life,” said Manny Dinunzio who had no one where else to go, but a Red Cross shelter after his home was badly damaged by a tidal surge in Seaside Heights, N.J. during Hurricane Sandy.

In addition to these headline disasters, the Red Cross has also responded to home fires, floods, tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters throughout the past year. Meanwhile, the Red Cross continued to provide emergency services and assistance to members of the military, collect and distribute lifesaving blood, and train people across the country in first aid and CPR, aquatics and water safety.

 Honor friends and family with meaningful gifts. With the Red Cross 2012 Holiday Giving Catalog, shoppers can purchase something that means something and spread hope to those in need.
Choose gifts to donate in honor of the special people in your life
Send free holiday greeting cards to announce your gifts or send a Red cross eCard
Know your gift will help people when they need it most

This year, resolve to help yourself and someone else. Your donations are tax deductible. Items are symbolic of the work of the Red Cross, not a donation to a specific project or item.

World Aids Day December 1

World AIDS Day on December 1 is an opportunity for people and organizations worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for those living with the disease and commemorate friends and loved ones who have lost the battle.

It is estimated that about 34 million people are living with HIV and every 18 seconds someone in the world dies of an AIDS related death. Despite progress in slowing the spread of the virus, many of those infected don’t even know they are carriers. The Red Cross is engaged in the global fight against this disease, working to reduce transmission and to support those living with it.

Doan Thi Khuyen was infected in 2003 by her husband and was unaware of his HIV positive status or his drug use. As a result, she was devastated when she found out that both she and her 4 month old son were infected.

But Doan decided not to be a victim of this disease and instead formed a support group for others who had been diagnosed and stigmatized. Now, with the support of the Red Cross, she is a peer counselor educating others about disease prevention and ensuring those suffering from the disease in her community have access to resources such as home health care.

Into the Light is an intimate look at the impact that Red Cross HIV awareness and counseling programs are having in Vietnam and Cambodia. HIV is becoming an ever increasing struggle for people in Asia and in many countries repressive laws fuel the transmission of HIV by denying drug users and others access to health and social services.

While many advances have been made in HIV treatment and laws protecting those diagnosed with the disease, stigma and discrimination still remain a reality for many people living with HIV. Last year, the American Red Cross reached 335,000 people across the world with increased access to health care, support groups, prevention education and stigma reduction programs.

World AIDS Day reminds the public and governments that HIV has not gone away, that there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.

Help A Young Person By Giving the Gift of Babysitters Training

When a young person ages 11-15 needs money, babysitting is often their first job.Babysitter’s Training is a gift in this year’s American Red Cross Holiday Catalog and provides the knowledge and skills, and builds the confidence necessary to safely and responsibly give care to children and infants. This one-day class teaches basic child care, basic first aid and infant CPR.

Babysitter’s Training has been newly revised by the American Red Cross with input from youth. The course is fun and fast-paced with hands-on activities, exciting video, role-plays and lively discussions.

Students learn how to—

• Supervise children and infants.
• Perform basic child-care skills such as diapering and feeding.
• Choose safe, age-appropriate games and toys.
• Handle bedtime and discipline issues.
• Identify safety hazards and prevent injuries.
• Care for common injuries and emergencies such as choking, burns, cuts and bee stings.
• Communicate effectively with parents.
• Find and interview for babysitting jobs

A 2012 Red Cross poll found that parents want to entrust their children to babysitters trained in first aid, CPR and childcare. More than 80 percent of parents believe that teenage babysitters should be paid more if they have these skills. And parents say that good babysitters are hard to find. In fact, roughly one third of parents had rejected a sitter because of safety concerns, and more than half had ended up staying home because they could not find a babysitter.

There is a market for well-trained teen babysitters, and most parents believe teenage babysitters with childcare training should be paid more. Your gift of Infant CPR and Babysitting Classes will provide an underprivileged youth with the confidence to make smart decisions and stay safe in any babysitting situation, and the credentials to be the best babysitter on the block. To take a class visit www.redcross.org/swny or call 1800-REDCROSS.

Genesee Valley Students Collect for Sandy

Miss Burger and Mr. Oldham’s Sixth graders from Genesee Valley Central School collected over $680 for Hurricane Sandy Relief. Members of the Student Council Emily Daciw, Madison Herdman, Hunter Jones, and Ethan Weston went classroom to classroom on November 2^nd-just days after Hurricane Sandy- to do their part to help New York City and New Jersey.

“I had family in New Jersey that had their house wiped out by the storm,” said Emily, “I wanted to help all I could.”

The students took turns in pairs walking around the school and collecting donations from teachers, students and staff to raise $684.58.The donation will go directly to the relief efforts that could be used to help purchase food and items needed in shelters  and cleaning up the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Front Row: Genesee Valley Students Emily Daciw, Madison Herdman, Hunter Jones, and Ethan Weston (not pictured) hold comfort kits and food that could be used in a shelter in NY and NJ. Back row: Darlene Wells; American Red Cross of Southwestern NY– Allegany County District Manager and Erin Cornell; American Red Cross of Southwestern NY- Communications Coordinator

Happy Thanksgiving, Travel Safe

Many people will travel to visit loved ones for the Thanksgiving holiday and the American Red Cross has travel tips holiday travelers can follow to arrive safely at their destination.

Most holiday travelers get to where they are going by car. To arrive safely, the Red Cross recommends these safety steps for travelers who will drive to visit their loved ones this Thanksgiving:

· Make sure the vehicle is in good working order.

· Start out with a full tank of gas, check the tire air pressure and make sure the windshield fluid is full.

· Buckle up, slow down and don’t drive impaired. Designate a driver who won’t drink.

· Be well rested and alert.

· Use caution in work zones.

· Give one’s full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.

· Observe speed limits – driving too fast or too slow can increase the chance of being in a collision.

· Make frequent stops. During long trips, rotate drivers. If the driver is tired, stop and get some rest.

· Be respectful of other motorists and follow the rules of the road.

· Don’t follow another vehicle too closely.

· Clean the vehicle’s headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows.

· Turn the headlights on as dusk approaches, or if using windshield wipers due to inclement weather.

· Don’t overdrive the headlights.

· If car trouble develops, pull off the road as far as possible.

It’s also recommended to keep an emergency preparedness kit in the vehicle. Useful items include water, snacks, a flashlight, first aid kit, extra cash and blankets. Red Cross Emergency Preparedness kits are available in the Red Cross Store.

For people traveling by air, bus or train, the Red Cross reminds them that the seasonal flu can occur as early as October. If people have come in contact with someone who is sick, perhaps the trip should be postponed as they may be contagious for a week before symptoms appear.

Other safety tips to avoid the flu while traveling include the following:

· Remember that everything someone touches has to be touched by someone else – luggage handlers, etc. Handle one’s own belongings as much as possible. Wash hands often with soap and water.

· Carry hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes and use them to wash hands or wipe down surfaces such as armrests.

· Bring one’s own pillows and blankets – they can act as a shield against the seat itself.

· If someone has to cough or sneeze, do so into a tissue or sleeve.

· Avoid touching the face or eyes.

For more information on how to remain safe while traveling this Thanksgiving, visit the Red Cross web site.

Red Will Continue to Help As Long as Needed

The lights are coming back on for many people whose neighborhoods were slammed by Superstorm Sandy, but millions of people still need assistance rebuilding their lives after the storm.
“We recognize that many people affected by Sandy still need our help –a safe place to stay and a warm meal to eat - and we haven’t forgotten them,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. “Our focus is on serving those in need.”

The Red Cross still has shelters open for people unable to return home and an extensive feeding operation in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention is ongoing. Tuesday night about 2,700 people stayed in shelters. Since Sandy made landfall, responding organizations have provided more than 139,000 shelter stays. The Red Cross has provided 73,000 of those stays and served 5.6 million meals and snacks since Sandy made landfall.

More than 5,800 Red Cross workers are supporting this massive relief operation; 90 percent of them volunteers. Most of the Red Cross emergency fleet – more than 300 vehicles – are mobilized and Red Cross volunteers are also driving through neighborhoods to hand out water, food and relief supplies. We also have rental cars, trucks and other vehicles helping get assistance to where it is needed. Visit http://newsroom.redcross.org for more information.

The Red Cross has also provided more than 57,000 health services and emotional support contacts, and distributed more than 1.7 million relief items.

“People will need help for weeks to come, and the Red Cross will be there,” Shimanski said.

Red Cross Opens Shelter for Victims following an Apartment explosion

At approximately 9:30pm Sunday, November 11, 2012 volunteers from the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York volunteers opened a shelter at Alfred State College following an apartment explosion in Alfred, NY at the request of emergency managers from Alleghany County. The shelter will remain open through the night to accommodate residents of the Rose Apartment Building. The Red Cross will continue to provide the victims with temporary shelter, food and clothing, and will work with the families to provide support during their recovery process.

All disaster assistance offered by the American Red Cross is complementary and made possible by generous contributions from the American people and residents of Allegany County. The United Way organization of Allegany County also provides financial support to the local Red Cross mission.

News From the Front Lines of Hurricane Sandy

From Chautauqua to Suffolk, the Red Cross Responds

The American Red Cross has joined with national and state partners to undertake a massive response to Hurricane Sandy, with a mission to prevent further human suffering and to alleviate any suffering that is still occurring.  For the Southwestern New York Chapter this response began the Wednesday prior to the storm, when we began coordinating with local government and community partners to prepare shelters in the event that flooding should occur anywhere in the north, central, or southern parts of our county.  We identified 10 standby shelters, alerted our local volunteers, and pre-positioned equipment.  On the night of the storm we opened and staffed a shelter at Silver Creek Central School as the creek began to rise.  Local volunteers Charlie Meder, Mary Walker, Patty Hartinger, Jeanie Shiffer, and Fran Heath were on hand throughout the night to provide shelter, food, and other support to anyone who might need it.  Fortunately, no evacuations were required and, locally at least, we began to breathe a sigh of relief.

By the next day, however, we had begun to see the impact of this storm on the coast.  The mobilization and deployment of our volunteers, which had begun before the storm, kicked into high gear again.  Our local and regional Chapter organizations worked tirelessly to move over 30 volunteers from Western New York (11 from right here in SWNY) to the affected areas.  I was one of those who volunteered to help, and was immediately told to depart for the Greater New York area.  By the afternoon of November 1^st I found myself hard at work in a shelter in Deer Park, Long Island, where we had over 120 clients residing.  I spent six days there, and then moved with our clients and staff to a larger shelter about 20 miles away.  This shelter now has nearly 200 clients and the staff members required to support them, and we are also providing meals, snacks, water and other drinks, health services, and mental health services to those affected, many of whom have lost everything.

The stories our clients tell are all different, yet in some ways they are all the same.  They all involve loss; in some cases the loss of cherished routines and a sense of security, in others the loss of all material possessions and any sense of connection to the community, or even to the world.  The best thing that we as Red Cross volunteers do is listen to people, hear their stories, talk to them, provide what additional support we can, and in the end, just lend a shoulder to lean on.

Getting supplies, meals, and water to those affected by this storm is the top priority, and the numbers tell an amazing story about this effort.  As of November 8^th we have deployed 5800 trained Red Cross disaster responders to operations from Virginia to Rhode Island, with the majority in Greater New York and New Jersey.  We have provided over 61,000 overnight stays in more than 250 shelters, served over 3.3 million meals and snacks, and distributed more than 124,000 clean-up kits and hygiene kits.  Your help is urgently needed to ensure we can continue our relief efforts.  If you can, I ask that you do just two things:

1.  Donate money to your local Chapter (325 East Fourth Street, Jamestown, NY), or to www.redcross.org, or to 1-800-redcross, or text the word “redcross” to 90999.  Your money will support our disaster relief operations, both locally and during national response events.

2.  Donate blood.  Hurricane Sandy has caused the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives throughout the northeast, and this has had an impact on our national blood supply.  Whether it is here in Chautauqua County, at your grandchild’s college in the Midwest, or at your favorite vacation spot in the South, you never know when you may need Red Cross blood should you or your loved ones encounter a medical emergency.  Help us keep the nation’s blood supply at the required levels by donating today.  To find the nearest blood drive, please call us at 664-5115, or go to www.redcross.org and click on “give blood.”

Bill Tucker is the Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York, a trained Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer, and a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) instructor.  He deployed to the Greater New York area on October 31^st as part of the Hurricane Sandy relief effort, and is currently working in a mass care shelter in the Greater New York area.

Red Cross Continues to Support Service Members

The American Red Cross has helped to provide assistance to members of America’s military and their families since the 1860s when Clara Barton was given the title of “Angel of the Battlefield” as she provided care to servicemen. Then, after the Civil War, Barton was authorized by President Lincoln to write letters to the family members to identify the fate of the missing soldiers to provide closure to the grieving parents, family, and friends. Ever since then, the Red Cross has provided emergency services to the Armed Forces.

Included in the services offered is providing an objective, timely, confidential, factual, complete and verified report on emergency situations between members of the armed forces and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Family members can send a message through the Red Cross to their relatives whether deployed or in training, anywhere around the world. These emergency messages can include but are not limited to birth of a child, death in the family, or notification of a fatal illness of a family member.

Along with delivering emergency messages to military personnel, the Red Cross, in partnership with military aid societies, offers financial aid to eligible applicants to help with costs for emergency travel, burials or other financial emergencies. Financial aid is available to family members when emergency circumstances limit funds due to their serviceperson being away on active duty, and veterans. Financial aid could include travel, lodging and food costs and could be used for travel expenses of a service member’s immediate family to funeral services of a service member killed on duty, utility assistance, and for emergency loans.

During the holidays, the Red Cross acknowledges that many service men and women are stationed away from their families. Every year the Red Cross organizes the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. For the past six years the Red Cross has partnered with Pitney Bowes, a mail-stream technology company, to continue this holiday tradition that allows Americans to send their best wishes to members of the armed forces.

“Sending a card to a member of our military forces is a simple but powerful gesture that anyone can do to show their support for those in the armed forces who are far from home and possibly in harm's way during this holiday season,” said Kevin Connolly, Vice President and General Manager of North American Service Delivery, Pitney Bowes Management Services and Vice President, Strategic Transformation for Pitney Bowes. “The Holiday Mail for Heroes program allows anyone to easily say ‘thank you’ to members of our military forces at this time of year.” All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to: Holiday Mail for Heroes P.O. Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Cards must be postmarked no later than December 7; cards received after this date will be returned to senders.  For reasons of processing and safety, participants are asked to refrain from sending “care packages,” monetary gifts, using glitter or including any inserts with the cards.

The Red Cross aims to be of service to all members of the armed services: active members, veterans, reserves, the National Guard and their family members. These Red Cross services are available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. For more information on American Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces please visit redcross.org/swny or visit your local American Red Cross of Southwestern NY office in Jamestown, Olean, or Wellsville. The American Red Cross of SWNY is a proud United Way Agency. 

Red Cross offers 'Safe and Well' to find loved ones

When disasters strike, loved ones can become separated, or lose contact with relatives affected by the disaster. If you have been affected by a disaster you can register yourself or search for others on the Safe and Well website where your loved ones can search for information.

Safe and Well is always available. During large-scale disasters like Hurricane Sandy, when internet and phone lines may be compromised, trained Red Cross volunteers can help you register using a paper form.  Your privacy is preserved. No specific location or contact information is displayed unless you choose to do so in your custom message. People will need to know your name and address or phone number in order to see your post.

If you are having trouble reaching your loved ones in a disaster area, try searching on Safe and Well.

1. Visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click “Search Registrants.”

2. Enter your loved one’s full name and then choose Option 1 (search by phone number) or Option 2 (search by complete home address).

3. Click “Search Entries.”

4. Results will only show your loved one’s name, the date and time of registration, and the messages they chose to share—just enough info to provide peace of mind until normal communications can be restored.

5. If your loved one is not listed, and if he or she had a serious, pre-existing health or mental health condition, contact your local Red Cross to initiate an Emergency Welfare Inquiry.

If you are ever in a situation to register yourself in Safe and Well follow these steps:

1. Visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell

2. Click “List Myself as Safe and Well” and enter information into all required fields.

3. Select at least one of the standard messages for posting (i.e., “I am safe and well,” “Family and I are safe and well,” “I am at a shelter,” “I am currently at home”).

4. Enter a custom message, of up to 255 characters, to further tell your story.

5. Click “Submit.” Your registration will now be available to those who search. They will only see your name, the date and time of your registration, and the messages you chose to share. Your registration will automatically drop from the system after 1 year.

For more information on Safe and Well visit www.redcross.org/swny. The American Red Cross of Southwestern NY is a United Way agency. 

Blood Drive Schedule for November

Volunteers Track Feeding Trucks for Latest Locations

In the days after Superstorm Sandy, the American Red Cross has activated a process that tracks the location of their feeding trucks so residents in hard-hit neighborhoods in New York city, parts of New Jersey and parts of West Virginia know where to get the food they need.

A cadre of Red Cross volunteers is making sure the latest information about Red Cross emergency response vehicles – mobile feeding trucks - is easily accessible and available for those in need.

Volunteers Gary Brandel (left) of Long Island and Holly Ann Woloszyn (right) from the Southwestern New York Chapter at work providing client services at the Red Cross shelter in Deer Park, Long Island.

Each hour, dedicated volunteers are individually calling response vehicles to verify their location as they drive through impacted New York and New Jersey communities distributing food and water. The same is done for vehicles in West Virginia hard-hit by snow.

The information they gather is then delivered, in a standardized format, to a centrally-located email box. From this box, one volunteer – a virtual human app – copies and pastes the locations in a blog post featured in the Red Cross Disaster Online Newsroom.

In the wake of the storm, the Red Cross relief operation is growing each day in order to provide the necessary food, shelter, supplies and comfort to more and more people affected by Superstorm Sandy. The Red Cross also has fixed feeding sites in New York and New Jersey.

While there are formal Red Cross feeding trucks in all the boroughs of New York City, including Staten Island, there are also rental cars, trucks and other vehicles distributing supplies and food in neighborhoods.

The response to Sandy is large and very costly and is likely to be the biggest in Red Cross history in the past five years. To date, the Red Cross has helped people in ten states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico affected by Sandy.

To donate, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. People can also use the “donate” feature on the free Red Cross Apps to support the Red Cross relief response.

Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected.

Cattaraugus Volunteer of the Year Named

On October 17, 2012, the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York, Cattaraugus County District held their annual Volunteer Recognition luncheon at the Red Cross office in Olean, NY. Nearly 25 volunteers were thanked with a beef on weck luncheon provided by the Red Cross.

Red Cross volunteers give countless hours helping with all services of the Red Cross by volunteering at local blood drives, teaching Health and Safety classes, helping others during a natural or man-made disaster, and providing services to the Armed Forces.

Chris Mosher of Richburg was named Volunteer of the Year for her dedication to the Red Cross. A volunteer for three years; Mosher first started answering phones and providing referrals to other agencies and helped at blood drives at the canteen and registration areas. It was not long after Mosher became involved in all of the Red Cross services. She became a CPR/AED/First Aid instructor, a Service to the Armed Forces caseworker, and Cattaraugus County Coordinator of Volunteers. She also helps with anything that is asked of her including serving food at the County Savor the Flavor event in March, and representing the Red Cross at the Olean Mall Health Fair.

“Volunteers like Chris are what keep the Red Cross so strong in Cattaraugus County,” said Rosanna Bonfilio, Cattaraugus County District Manager of the Red Cross. “Without our volunteers, we would not be able to provide the services we do to the people of the county.”

To volunteer with the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York contact your local Red Cross in Jamestown at 716-664-5115, in Olean at 716-372-5800 or in Wellsville at 585-593-1531. The American Red Cross of SWNY is a United Way Agency.

Time to Fall Back- Check those Smoke Alarms

This Sunday, remember to turn your clocks back one hour and get back that hour of sleep you lost in the spring!
The end of Daylight Saving Time is also a great time to make sure you’re prepared for emergencies.
Check the batteries in your smoke alarms, and make sure the alarms work by pushing the test button. It’s also a good time for check carbon monoxide detectors. You should replace the batteries in both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a year.
Make sure your emergency preparedness supplies are ready for the fall and winter. Your kit should include, at the minimum:

• Three-day supply of non-perishable food items and water (one gallon per person per day)
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or crank radio
• Can opener
• First aid kit
• Copies of important documents
• Special items such as medications, diapers and infant formula

If you already have an emergency preparedness kit, check it for expired food items, and refresh staples such as water, food and batteries. If there have been changes in prescriptions or dietary needs, add new foods and medications as needed.
Update the emergency contact information in your family communications plan. Choose an out-of-area emergency contact that each person in the household can call if he/she becomes separated during a disaster situation.
Taking simple actions like these can help you be better prepared for emergencies. You can find more information on preparedness on redcross.org.

Red Cross Helping People After Sandy Affects Lives in Multiple States

The American Red Cross has a huge relief response underway to Sandy, providing people across a number of states with a safe place to stay, food to eat and comfort during this difficult time.

Thousands of people have spent the night in hundreds of Red Cross shelters since the storm began its onslaught on the country. The Red Cross has already served more than 100,800 meals and snacks and mobilized more than 2,300 disaster workers and almost 200 emergency vehicles so far and more are being deployed.

“This response to Sandy is just getting started. The storm has left devastation in its wake and we will be helping people for weeks to come,” said Assistant Chapter Executive Kathy Burch.  “This will be very costly and the Red Cross needs help now. We ask everyone to support us as we help people recover from this massive storm.”

The response to Sandy is very large and very costly and the Red Cross needs the public’s help now. People can make a financial donation by visiting www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to the local Red Cross Offices in Jamestown at 325 East 4^th Street, in Olean at 452 North Barry Street, and in Wellsville at 112 North Main Street.

The storm has also caused the cancellation of hundreds of Red Cross blood drives, resulting in a loss of as many as 11,000 blood products and people are eligible are asked to especially if they live outside the areas impacted by the storm.

To schedule a donation time or get more information about giving blood, people can visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To give blood, someone must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them.  Some states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.

More Volunteers to Deploy for Hurricane Sandy

The American Red Cross is continuing a major relief operation throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to shelter and assist people affected by Superstorm Sandy. Millions awoke this morning to power outages, fallen trees, scattered debris, and flooded neighborhoods and the Red Cross is working hard to get help where it is needed.  Nine volunteers from the Western New York region will be deploying downstate Wednesday morning to assist the relief efforts in some of the areas hardest hit by the storm.

The volunteers will be driving to the operational headquarters in White Plains, NY, where they will then be assigned to the affected areas. Nine additional volunteers were deployed in advance of the storm, bringing the total number of Western New Yorkers assisting in the Red Cross response to 18, and it is expected several more will be deployed in the coming days. Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) from Niagara Falls and Jamestown remain on alert, and are expected to be deployed with additional volunteers within the next 48 hours.

Below is a current list of Western New York volunteers who have been deployed to assist in the Red Cross response, with those deploying Wednesday listed in bold:

NAME, HOMETOWN                      FUNCTION                           

James Collingwood, Amherst           External Relations/Government Operations

Tom Daley, Tonawanda                             Mass Care/Sheltering

Janice Davis, Friendship                           Disaster Health Services

Marianne Evans, Ransomville                 Mass Care/Sheltering

Allison Hall, Buffalo                                   Disaster Mental Health

Michael Hoplight, Niagara Falls             Mass Care/Shelter Supervisor

Tara Hughes, Amherst                              Disaster Mental Health Chief

Norman Kehl, Strykersville                    Mass Care/Sheltering

Jose Latalladi, Buffalo                              Financial & Statistical Information

Rosalind Lind, Medina                             Mass Care/Sheltering

Margaret McGee-Smith, Kenmore        Disaster Mental Health

Diane Sargent, Lockport                         Disaster Assessment

Beth Shook, Cuba                                      Staff Services

Katherine Story, West Seneca             Disaster Health Services

Peter Swales, Springville                      Disaster Assessment

Terry Sweet, P0rtageville                     Mass Care/Sheltering

Noel Varela, Orchard Park                  Mass Care/Sheltering

Dawn Zaker, Niagara Falls                   Mass Care/Sheltering

In the Greater New York region, more than 2,000 residents sought shelter with the Red Cross Monday after Sandy caused widespread power outages, damaged homes and flooded neighborhoods, and those numbers are expected to increase. Nationwide, nearly 11,000 people spent Monday night in more than 250 Red Cross shelters across 16 states. The Red Cross has mobilized 1,700 disaster workers from all over the country who have served more than 25,000 meals and snacks so far. We have also activated 167 response vehicles and shipped in more than 230,000 ready-to-eat meals. This is a huge disaster, bigger than any one organization can handle and the Red Cross is working closely with multiple partners including a variety of civic groups, advocacy organizations, professional organizations and houses of worship to share their expertise and volunteers.

People can let their loved ones know how they are by using the “I’m Safe” button on the Red Cross Hurricane App which can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. People can also register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website to let loved ones know they are okay. To register, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

 This is a large disaster with an even larger footprint. Financial donations help the Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters like Hurricane Sandy. To donate, people can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Approximately 300 Red Cross blood drives have already been cancelled due to the storm, and more are expected. The Red Cross is urging immediate blood and platelet donations in areas unaffected by this storm and asks that people in the affected areas consider donating blood once the storm passes through and it’s safe to do so.

Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet height and weight requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height), and who are generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood. To schedule an appointment, please go to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.