Blood Donors are needed NOW!

The American Red Cross has an emergency need for blood and platelet donors of all blood types. Every two seconds, a patient in the United States needs a blood transfusion. All eligible blood donors are asked to give blood now! Upcoming blood drives include TODAY at Olean General Hospital 10a-4p, June 29 Eastside YMCA- Jamestown 10a-4p, June 30 Olean Center Mall 10a-3p, Harley Davidson of Jamestown 10a-3p, July 2 at Catt. Co Little Valley 1-4p, July 3 Olean Center Mall 10a-4p, July 5 Jamestown Red Cross 12:30p-5:30p, July 8 Conewango Fire Hall 3p-9p, July 9 Eason Hall-Westfield 11:30a-4:30p. To donate call 1800-REDCROSS. Thank you!

Red Cross Blood Supply Drops to Emergency Levels

Red Cross Blood Supply Drops to Emergency Levels

Blood and platelet donors of all types needed

WASHINGTON, Monday, June 25, 2012 — The American Red Cross is calling on all eligible donors to step up, roll up a sleeve and give blood or platelets as soon as possible.

The Red Cross says its blood supply has reached emergency levels, with 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June. This shortfall leaves about half the readily available blood products on hand today than at this time last year.

“There is always the chance that a physician could postpone an elective surgery if the needed blood products aren’t readily available,” said Dr. Richard Benjamin, chief medical officer for the American Red Cross. “In a worst case scenario, a physician may have to forego performing a more serious procedure for a patient because of a shortage of blood. We need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t get to that point.”

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. All blood types are currently needed -- especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet patient demand this summer. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. It’s the blood type doctors turn to first in an emergency situation when there is no time to match a patient’s blood type.

An unseasonably early start to summer weather may be a contributing factor to this year’s decrease in donations. Many regular donors got an early start on summer activities and aren’t taking time to give blood or platelets. In addition, this year’s mid-week Independence Day holiday has reduced the number of scheduled Red Cross blood drives. Many sponsors, especially businesses, are unable to host drives because employees are taking extended vacations.

Every day, the Red Cross must collect more than 17,000 pints of blood for patients at more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Donors are encouraged to make appointments in the coming days and weeks to help ensure that all patient blood needs can be met. Each pint of whole blood can help save more than one life.

How to Donate Blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.  Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Ride for the Red

The Southwestern NY Chapter of the American Red Cross held the annual Ride for the Red bike tour on Saturday, June 16^th.  The ride featured 10, 25 and 50 miles routes along picturesque routes 5 and 20.  There were 43 participants in this year’s tour.

“We couldn’t have asked for better weather this year,” stated Chapter Executive Bill Tucker.  “Everyone had a great time helping the Red Cross, and the proceeds allow us to continue to provide programs and services here in Chautauqua County.”  Judy Langworthy, board member for the local chapter stated, “We want to thank all the participants, and especially the volunteers who helped out at registration, at the rest areas, and those who drove chase vehicles.” 

The Chapter would also like to thank the sponsors of the event:  Wegmans, Blackstone Business Enterprises, Shults Auto Group, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union and Gary’s Carstar. Several local businesses donated items to the event.  Cookies were provided by Petri Baking Products in Silver Creek, bananas by Tops Dunkirk and water was provided by Tops on Washington St. in Jamestown.

“The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies, and thanks to the generosity of the participants today, we will be able to continue to provide disaster assistance to families, emergency communications to our military members, and continue to support the blood and health and safety programs in our county,” stated Mr. Tucker.

Swim a Lap Day- Be Careful!

According to some, June 24^th is Swim-a-Lap Day. A Made-up holiday? Perhaps. But it’s a good excuse to enjoy the water—as long as you do it safely.

Learning to swim is one of the best steps you can take to be safe around water. Almost two million people of all ages learn to swim each year through Red Cross programs. You can contact your local aquatic facility to find out when Red Cross Water Safety programs are offered.

Here are some steps you should follow to stay safe around the water:

·        ~~ Swim only in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.

·        ~~ Prevent unsupervised access to the water. Install and use barriers around your home pool or hot tub.

·        ~~ Maintain constant supervision. Always stay within arm’s reach of young children even when lifeguards are present.

·         ~~Know what to do in an emergency. If a child is missing, check the water first. Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

·      ~~  Have the appropriate rescue equipment, a phone, life jackets and a first aid kit near the pool.

It is important to constantly supervise children when they are near water. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.

·        ~~~ Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.

·         ~~~Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.

·         ~~If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.

The Red Cross and the National Swimming Pool Foundation have developed an online safety course for pool and hot tub owners. Home Pool Essentials help people understand the risks of pool ownership, how to maintain a safer and cleaner pool, what safety equipment is appropriate, how to prevent pool and hot tub entrapment hazards, and how to respond to an emergency.

Read more on swimming and water safety and learn where you can take a course on www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS. The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York is a United Way Agency.  

Disaster Can Strike Anytime- Anywhere

It is 1:00am and the phone beside her bed rings. Janice may be deep in sleep by that time, but once she hears that tone she knows what is going on. There is a family in Allegany County who just lost their home to a fire or other disaster.

This time for Janice it was too close to home-literally. Just a few houses down the road she could see exactly what the dispatcher was talking about to her just moments before. As she pulled on her boots and slung on the American Red Cross vest she could see from her living room window the smoke in the dark, clear sky and the reds and white lights that was still flashing as the last bit of fire was coming under their control.

As she walked down the street to meet her neighbors, she thought she would never have to actually help someone that she knows. But that’s the thing with house fires- then can happen to anyone at any time.

She handed the families of the apartment building a Red Cross blanket-they were only in their night clothes- and talked with them to see what happened. She just shook her head when she heard it had to do with the electrical system in the building. As her neighbors talked, words like ‘destroyed,’ ‘lost everything,’ and ‘gone memories’ hung in the air like the stale smoke.

After a little while of just talking, Janice opened up her bag and talked with the families individually. She was able to provide them with the basics- food, clothing, and shelter for three days. She also gave them the basics in a comfort kit filled with a toothbrush, soap, washcloth, and other personal needs. She even had a stuffed animal if any of the children just needed a little friend. Janice was there giving them hope.

The next day, Janice met with the families again to go over a plan of what to do next. During the shock of the night, they were not thinking about what is going to happen next, just what is happening right now. Janice provided the family with a list of resources of where to look for a new home, how to contact insurance companies, how to recreate important documents like a birth certificate, and other information to get their life back to normal as it could.

Janice is a volunteer that takes time out of her day to help those in need at their most vulnerable time. The American Red Cross provides everything else to the families who are affected by a house fire or any disaster in Allegany County.

Each disaster averages $1000.00 per family to provide them with food, clothing, and shelter for three days. All of the services provided by the American Red Cross is an outright gift. This is made possible by the generous people in Allegany who give to the Allegany County United Way and the American Red Cross. Through donations and grants made possible by the Allegany County United Way we can provide assistance to the smallest family of one or two people, to the largest of eight or ten people without any trouble.

People like Janice go through several classes and spend countless hours in training to provide assistance to families when they need the Red Cross. Whether it is because of a house fire to a large blizzard that has Interstate 86 shut down forcing a shelter to be opened, Red Cross volunteers can and will be able to handle anything that Mother Nature throws at them.

The Red Cross is grateful for all of the respect that the community gives to them; from the local fire departments, to the hotels and motels willing to work with the Red Cross and of course the community members willing to support the Red Cross.  

Extremely High Temperatures Expected

            

The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures way above normal this week across much of the country. High humidity paired with high temperatures makes extreme temperatures dangerous.

            The extreme temperatures can feel like walking into a wall of heat when venturing outside. The American Red Cross encourages people to take steps to safely endure the soaring temps. People should prepare now for the impending heat.

            Follow these steps to stay safe during the heat:

• Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
• Eat small meals and eat more often.
• Avoid extreme temperature change.
• Wear loose-fitting, light weight, light colored clothing.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
• Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
• Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spends much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
• Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Ensure they have water and a shady place to rest.

Excessive heat can lead to sunburns, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To help avoid problems, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and limit drinks with caffeine of alcohol.

If someone is experiencing heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, get them to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle, and replenish their fluids with a half a glass (about 4 ounces) of cool water every 15 minutes.

When you notice a person exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion (cool moist, pale, or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness exhaustion), move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the person with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 9-1-1.

            Heat stroke is life-threatening. Signs include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting; and high body temperature. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately if someone shows signs of a heat stroke. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person’s body by immersing them up to their neck in cold water if possibly. Otherwise, douse or spray the person with cold water, or cover the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice.

For more information on what to do during a heat wave, you can visit www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York is a United Way Agency.

Today is World Blood Donor Day

In 2012 alone, nearly 6 million people across American may require a blood transfusion. With no substitute for human blood, those in need rely on the kindness of donors. Through their generous actions, these blood donors prove how one person can make a difference in the lives of many, as one blood donation can help save more than one life.

To raise awareness about this critical issue, the American Red Cross Blood Services is partnering with Nexcare TM Bandages on the Give campaign. This nationwide initiative thanks blood donors and encourages other to give. The campaign kicks off June 14^th –World Blood Donor Day, and runs through the end of the month at Red Cross blood drives and donor centers across the county.

New for 2012, Nexcare Brand will be giving away limited edition bandages inspired by iconic trends from decades past, adorned with the word “give” to demonstrate that “Giving Blood is Timeless.” This collection features six eye-catching designs ranging from retro polka dots and tie-dye to grunge plaid and is a nostalgic nod to the time-honored tradition of giving back by donating blood.

To pledge your support for blood donation, request free Nexcare give bandages and enter for a chance to win a trip for two to New York City visit www.nexcaregive.com or text “give” to 34426. Standard data rates may apply.

The Red Cross must collect 20,000 units of blood each weekday and another 12000 each weekend in order to help save lives of patients, so please give today! 

American Red Cross Continues to Help States Hit by Wildfires and Floods

The American Red Cross is running multiple disaster relief operations after last weekend brought wildfires to Colorado and New Mexico, and on the other extreme, more than a foot of rain to parts of Florida.

            In Pensacola, Fla., the Red Cross continues to operate a shelter after major flooding caused the evacuation of hundreds of residents in Escambia County. The Red Cross is also distributing relief supplies to people forced from their homes.

Meanwhile, a fast-growing wildfire in Colorado-still 0 percent uncontained- has burned thousands of acres and led to extensive evacuations in Larimer County. The Red Cross opened a shelter for residents on Saturday in Laporte, Colo., which remained open as of Tuesday morning.

The Shelter gives affected residents a safe place to spend the night and also serves as an

Evacuation center, where people can check in and get news. The Red Cross is providing health and mental health services at this shelter and has partnered with the Salvation Army to provide hot meals.  

            New Mexico is fighting its own wildfires, including the Little Bear fire burning in Lincoln County, near the community of Ruidoso, the Whitewater Baldy fire in Catron and Grant counties. Preliminary assessments indicate that dozens of structures have been destroyed. The Little Bear fire has forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes and the Red Cross has shelters open for affected residents.

            Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. This gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1800-REDCROSS. Contributions may also be sent to the local Red Cross offices in Jamestown at 325 East 4^th Street or call 716-664-5115, in Olean at 452 N. Barry Street or call 716-372-5800, or in Wellsville at 112 N. Main Street, or call 585-593-1531.

Tips on Successful Blood Donation

Have you ever tried to give blood but for some reason or another you have been denied? Try these helpful tips before you donate to ensure that you can give. Maintain a healthy diet of iron; eating fish, red meat, chicken, spinach and beans will help. Get a good night’s sleep. Drink an extra 16 oz of water before you donate, and try to eat a healthy meal before you donate; not a meal full of fats.  If you follow these tips, you might be more successful in donating blood. To sign up for the next blood drive call 1-800-REDCROSS.

The Southwestern NY American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) responded to provide disaster relief following a house fire on Pope Road in Randolph Friday, June 8^th, 2012.

DAT volunteers Mike Johnson of Great Valley and Sue Shearer of Westfield provided the initial disaster assistance. Temporary housing, clothing, and meals are services typically offered to address emergency needs. The local Red Cross chapter will continue working with the family and their recovery process if additional services or referrals are necessary.

All disaster assistance offered by the American Red Cross is complimentary and made possible by generous contributions from the American people and residents of Cattaraugus County. The United Way organizations of Cattaraugus County also provide financial support to the local Red Cross mission.

Be Red Cross Ready!

You never know when disaster will strike so Be Red Cross Ready! Make a plan for when a disaster happens- create a meeting place for your family so you know everyone is safe. Build a kit with at least three day’s worth of nonperishable food and water, medicines, and batteries. And finally, get trained in first aid, CPR, and take preparedness classes. Preparedness classes are offered by the Red Cross to help educate on how to prepare for earthquakes, tornadoes, blizzards, hot/cold weather and many others. For more safety tips visit www.redcross.org.

National CPR/AED Week June 1-7

If you were one of the 25 percent of Americans who have been in a situation where someone needed CPR, would you know what to do? During National CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) Awareness Week (June 1-7) and throughout the year, the American Red Cross encourages people to take CPR/AED training to learn how to save a life.

The ability to perform CPR can make a lifesaving difference when someone suffers a cardiac or breathing emergency. The Red Cross has a vision of one person in every household being trained in First Aid and CPR lifesaving skills, and all Americans being within four minutes of an AED with someone trained to use it in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.

The Red Cross trains millions of people each year in CPR and AED and offers several training options, including a 30 minute Citizen CPR class which teaches Hands-Only CPR and full CPR training. All First Aid, Full CPR and AED training carry a 2-year certification. You can find more information and register for a class by visiting the CPR and AED page on the Red Cross website.

Studies have shown that being trained in hands-only CPR can make more the lifesaving difference when someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest. Become one of the millions of people the Red Cross trains each year by taking a Citizen CPR class that teaches you how the hands only technique can save a life.

Hands-only CPR is a potentially lifesaving technique involving no mouth to mouth contact. It is best used in emergencies where someone has seen another person suddenly collapse. The hands-only technique increases the likelihood of surviving cardiac emergencies that occur outside medical settings.

Hands-only CPR is different from full CPR because full CPR combines rescue breaths with chest compressions and is the best option in some emergencies, including those involving infants and children, drowning victims, or people who collapse due to breathing problems.

During a full CPR training, participants learn how to perform CPR and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, infants, and children. Using the combination of breaths and compressions, full CPR can save a life in a cardiac emergency.

Statistics show that over 300,000 Americans die due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest every year. Up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if someone on scene had initiated the Cardiac Chain of Survival and an AED had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency. All American Red Cross Adult and Child CPR courses contain defibrillation skills and information.

Taking a course is easy. Courses are offered online with the textbook learning taking place online with a classroom hands-on portion or full classroom course. Visit www.redcross.org  to see the courses taking place near you. If you would rather, you can call 1-800-REDCROSS to find out about courses over the phone. 

Red Cross To Hold Annual Meeting Notice

            The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York will be holding its annual meeting on June 27, 2012 at Allegany Community Center in Allegany, NY. A light dinner will be served at 6:00pm for $12.00 with the Annual Meeting to follow from 6:30-7:30pm. The Annual Meeting is open to all who have supported the Red Cross throughout the past year by donating time, blood, or money.

If you would like to attend please contact your local Red Cross Office in Jamestown at 716-664-5115, Olean at 716-372-5800 or in Wellsville at 585-593-1531 by June 22, 2012. The American Red Cross of Southwestern NY is a United Way Agency.

Welcome!

Welcome to the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York’s blog. Using this blog we will keep followers up to date on Disasters, blood drives, and other services that the Red Cross of Southwestern NY provides in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties.

                The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

                The Red Cross will provide disaster relief to community members in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties in Southwestern New York area. The Red Cross also collects blood, provides preparedness education and health and safety courses for all ages. 

 The American Red Cross, through a strong network of volunteers, donors and partners are always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that all people affected by disaster across the county and around the world receive care; our communities are ready and prepared for disasters, everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives.