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.