Spring Safety Tips

Starting with the annual spring cleaning- try to go green this year.  Not only will it be safer for the environment, but it could also be safer for your family and your cleaning surfaces. Often ‘green’ cleaners are non-toxic, so it will be safer for children and pets. Some of the most common green cleaners include using vinegar and water with other household ingredients. So why is it so great to go green? Not only is it easy, it has less waste, it can be less expensive and less harmful than store made cleaners. It also can leave a fresher scent.

Even though the snow is not quite off the ground yet, spring is right around the corner. The snow will melt, the birds will chirp, and all of those spring projects that you have been thinking about all winter will soon become a reality and a weekend project. 

Next, if you need to touch up some paint inside or out of your house only use lead-free, non-VOC paint throughout your home. Use precaution while painting by making sure that the area is ventilated. Paints and paint thinners can have extremely harmful effects on you and your family. Potentially dangerous fumes can stay in the home for at least a month, so take time to ventilate.  Use window fans to help exhaust vapors from work areas. Do not forget to take frequent fresh-air breaks to get away from the painting fumes.

Finally, when it comes time to start mowing and trimming your yard, take a walk around the yard to pick up debris that may have been left by the winter storms. Pick up branches, stones,  toys, and other items that could become a hazard if it is mowed over. Next, look over the mower for frayed belts, flat tires, and frayed wires. Check oil, gas, and other fluids. Check your owner’s manual for other safety tips and operating instructions.

Springs is an exciting time of the year, but stay safe. The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York wishes you a prosperous and safe spring season.

100 Years of U.S. Presidents Serving Honorary Red Cross Role

On March 19, 1913, Woodrow Wilson was named the first honorary president of the American Red Cross, establishing a precedent for all chief executives who have followed. A century later, the Red Cross continues to uphold this tradition with President Barack Obama currently serving in this honorary role.That title was changed to honorary chairman in 1947.

Honorary chairman duties include appointing the chairman of the Board of Governors and designating members of his Administration to serve on the Red Cross Cabinet Council. As honorary chair, the President’s signature is on the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit National Lifesaving Award, the organization’s highest award for people who have used the skills they learned in Red Cross courses to help save or sustain a life.
“I summon you to comradeship in the Red Cross,” said Woodrow Wilson that now decorates one of the most famous Red Cross posters of a young woman clutching an American flag with the Red Cross symbol and U.S. Capitol in the background.

Amid World War I in 1917, President Wilson appointed a War Council to guide operations of the Red Cross during the war. The Red Cross held its first War Fund drive that year, surpassing its goal of raising $100 million in one week. As part of the war effort, the Red Cross began service to blinded war veterans in Baltimore, Md., started its Canteen Service to provide refreshments to the military, introduced medical social work in servicemen’s hospitals and began the Nurses’ Aide program to make up for nurse shortages during wartime.

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson also called on youth across the country to join the newly formed Junior Red Cross, igniting seeds of compassion and humanity in generations to come.

“(T)he Red Cross will bring you opportunities of service to your community and to other communities all over the world,” Wilson stated in a September 15, 1917, letter to the school children of the United States. “And best of all, more perfectly than through any of your other school lessons, you will learn by doing those kind things under your teacher’s direction to be future good citizens of this great country.”

Support from U.S. presidents serving in this honorary Red Cross role would follow in the footsteps of President Wilson.

Thirty years after President Woodrow Wilson served as the first honorary president of the Red Cross, in 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt would declare March as Red Cross Month to help raise money for the War Fund campaign during World War II. President Roosevelt called it, “the greatest single campaign of mercy in all history.” In fact, President Roosevelt’s last radio address to the nation is in support of the Red Cross.
Today this tradition continues as well. On February 28, 2013, President Barack Obama, the honorary chairman of the Red Cross, proclaimed, “March is Red Cross Month,”

“As we reflect on the ties that bind us together, let us pay tribute to humanitarian organizations working here at home and around the world, and let us rededicate ourselves to service in the months ahead,” the proclamation states.

With one hundred years of support from U.S. presidents, the Red Cross continues to deliver its mission, preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies across the country and around the world.

During Red Cross Month, help people in need by supporting the American Red Cross

    During March, the American Red Cross is asking everyone to help people in need by supporting the lifesaving services it provides.

     “Please remember those who need our help and support the Red Cross by making a donation, becoming a volunteer, taking a class, or giving blood,” said Bill Tucker, Chapter Executive Officer of the Southwestern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We want to thank everyone for their generosity, which has enabled us to help people here at home, across the United States, and around the world.”

    March is Red Cross Month, first proclaimed in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since that time, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.

    The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It 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.

    Here in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties, the Southwestern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to nearly 100 local emergencies, assisted over 100 military families and people from this area donated close to 14,000 units of blood.

    “Red Cross Month is a great time for people to support our mission,” Tucker said. “Their kindness will enable us to continue our work, both here at home and across the globe.”

    The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping the people through Red Cross services.

The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York is a United Way Agency.  

Red Cross Disaster Services Began in 1881

The American Red Cross has been helping people during times of disaster since its inception and today responds to nearly 70,000 disasters every year.

Red Cross disaster response goes all the way back to Clara Barton and the beginning of the American Red Cross. The first disaster response was in 1881 when a forest fire in Michigan burned through a million acres in 24 hours. The fire claimed almost 300 lives and left thousands homeless. Red Cross chapters collected food and supplies which were shipped to Michigan to assist the 14,000 people in need of help.

Disaster responses today are both large and small, ranging from a fire damaging a single home to tornadoes, hurricanes and floods which impact entire communities. In 2012, thousands of Red Cross disaster workers responded to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy, a response which continues today.
Before the Red Cross existed, the U.S. War Department was the main responder to disaster in the country. After the fire in Michigan, the Red Cross proved it could respond to large disasters and President Chester Arthur and the U.S. Senate officially recognized the American Red Cross by signing the Treaty of Geneva on March 16, 1882.

During the years, Red Cross disaster workers have responded to emergencies like the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco which left more than 200,000 people homeless and the flu epidemic in 1918 during which millions succumbed to influenza.

In 1912, Red Cross workers provided relief for the survivors of the Titanic. In 1915, the Red Cross responded when the S.S. Eastland capsized in the Chicago River with 2,000 people aboard, killing 800. In 1923, the Red Cross responded in Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan after a disastrous earthquake. Other responses included flooding along the Mississippi in 1927 and helping victims of the Dust Bowl in 1932. Disaster workers were on the scene after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the fire at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston in 1942 which killed 494, a massive earthquake in Alaska in 1964 and the destruction in the northeast by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. And on September 11, 2001, disaster workers responded to the terrorist attacks in New York, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The largest single disaster relief effort ever undertaken by the American Red Cross was the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm killed nearly 2,000 people and left millions homeless. Hurricanes Rita and Wilma followed soon after, worsening the devastation and leaving behind more than $81 billion in damage.

In the largest sheltering operation in its history, the Red Cross opened nearly 1,400 evacuation shelters in 27 states and the District of Columbia. More than 3.8 million overnight shelter stays were provided. More than 90 kitchens were set up to prepare meals. Five days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Red Cross served nearly one million meals in a single day. More than 68 million meals were served during the response.

More than 244,000 disaster workers, 95 percent of them volunteers, responded to help the hurricane survivors. The Red Cross deployed thousands of health and mental health professionals to help the victims of Katrina. Truckload after truckload of food and supplies were shipped into the area. More than 4 million people received emergency assistance.

Today, the Red Cross continues its response to help those who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. More than 17,000 disaster workers have served more than 13 million meals, distributed more than seven million relief items and made more than 112,000 health and mental health contacts.

Red Cross Supporting Nation’s Military Since 1898

The American Red Cross provides services to military members, veterans and civilians every year, a support for members of the Armed Forces that began in 1898.

The American Red Cross began providing services for America’s military during the Spanish-American War when Red Cross President Clara Barton recruited nurses across the country to help the Army at medical camps in Florida and Cuba.

During World War I, Red Cross employees and volunteers provided medical and recreational services for the military at home and abroad and established a Home Service Program to help military families. Eighteen thousand Red Cross nurses provided much of the medical care for the American military during World War I, and 4,800 Red Cross ambulance drivers provided first aid on the front lines. During World War I, 296 American Red Cross nurses and 127 American Red Cross ambulance drivers died in service to humanity.

In World War II, more than 104,000 nurses recruited by the American Red Cross served in military hospitals at home and overseas. Red Cross employees and volunteers provided emergency message services. Twenty-seven million Red Cross packages were distributed to American and Allied prisoners of war, and staff and volunteers helped out in rest and recreation areas in the field and at military hospitals, hospital ships and trains. The Red Cross blood donor project added a new dimension to Red Cross services and collected 13.3 million units of blood for American servicemen. 78 Red Cross workers died while serving overseas during World War II.

During the Korean Conflict, Red Cross services grew. The blood program for the military was expanded. The emergency mobile recreation service served not only American troops, but all United Nations forces. Red Cross provided emergency communications from family members, a “first call home” program for the wounded and stationery so wounded service members could write home. When the 1953 armistice was signed, the American and Korean Red Cross ensured the transfer of nearly 90,000 prisoners of war. Two Red Cross workers gave their lives in service during the Korean Conflict. Red Cross staff has been assigned in South Korea continuously since 1953 providing emergency communications to members of the military and their families. They are there today. If hostilities were to break out on the Korean peninsula, these staff members would remain to support the wartime emergency communications needs of the service members and their families.

In 1962, the Red Cross sent its first field staff to Vietnam to assist the growing number of service members at various bases and hospitals. At the height of its involvement, 480 American Red Cross field directors, hospital personnel and recreation workers served throughout Southeast Asia. Red Cross workers brought recreation to an average of 280,500 service members each month. They logged more than 2 million miles in jeeps, trucks and helicopters during the program's seven-year history. Five Red Cross staff members gave their lives and many others were injured as they helped service members in Vietnam.

During Operation Desert Shield, Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) staff carried 215,000 emergency messages to and from the troops. Back home, American Red Cross employees and volunteers aided more than 4,700 service members and their families with $1.72 million in emergency financial assistance and other services. In fulfilling their duties in the Persian Gulf area, seven American Red Cross workers received the Bronze Star for meritorious service.

Red Cross staff were also on the ground in Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, Hungary, Bosnia, Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo when they were needed to support American troops in those areas, as well as Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Krygyzstan. They serve side by side with the nation’s military, handling emergency messages, distributing comfort kits, calling cards, blank greeting cards, quality of life items, and providing canteen services.

During Red Cross Month, help people in need by supporting the American Red Cross

During March, the American Red Cross is asking everyone to help people in need by supporting the lifesaving services it provides.

     “Please remember those who need our help and support the Red Cross by making a donation, becoming a volunteer, taking a class, or giving blood,” said Bill Tucker, Chapter Executive Officer of the Southwestern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We want to thank everyone for their generosity, which has enabled us to help people here at home, across the United States, and around the world.”

    March is Red Cross Month, first proclaimed in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since that time, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.

    The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It 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.

    Here in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties, the Southwestern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to nearly 100 local emergencies, assisted over 100 military families and people from this area donated close to 14,000 units of blood.

    “Red Cross Month is a great time for people to support our mission,” Tucker said. “Their kindness will enable us to continue our work, both here at home and across the globe.”

    The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping the people through Red Cross services.

    The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York has a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month, including the annual fundraising event Savor the Flavor taking place in each county. This is an exciting opportunity for our local restaurateurs to show off their culinary specialties to members of our community. The American Red Cross of Southwestern New York is a United Way Agency.  

A Volunteer- The Red Cross Everyday Hero

With March is Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York would like to take this  time to thank the Everyday Heroes who make the Red Cross run so smoothly in Southwestern New York - the volunteers. Red Cross volunteers take time out of their day or night to help their neighbors in need. Whether it is spending a Thursday afternoon at the local church passing out cookies and juice at a blood drive or spending their Christmas morning with a family who lost their entire home to a house fire, volunteers make up the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York.  Red Cross volunteers are a dedicated group of individuals who love to help.

Without these great people, it would be hard to help the community. The Southwestern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross covers Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties with only eight staff members. The approximate 500 volunteers throughout over 3,800 square miles help us cover even the most remote parts of Southwestern New York.

Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers will take time out of their busy weekend to help practice a disaster drill or to take classes to improve their skills so that when a disaster strikes in the Southwestern New York area, they will know exactly what to do and how to help their neighbors. Volunteers are able to prepare food for the masses, open a shelter for those not able to be in their homes and assess the damage after a storm has affected a community.  These are just a few of the talents of our DAT volunteers.

Nearly every week you will find a sign on the street corner for a local Red Cross blood drive. Volunteers are there before the first needle is in an arm, and do not leave until the last blood unit is on the truck. Often these volunteers make phone calls to remind the regular donors of the blood drive to ensure that the blood drive can reach its highest potential. Once the drive is up and running, volunteers help donors register, and after the donation, keep the donor calm and safe.

Some of the hardest working volunteers are often overlooked. These volunteers are the voice you hear when you call the local Red Cross office or the faces you see at the fairs, festivals and fundraisers throughout the counties. ‘Behind-the-scene’ volunteers shine the brightest - especially in March. Each Savor the Flavor has a great committee that puts a spectacular event together. Volunteers spend countless hours making sure each detail is to the highest quality. Volunteers in the office help fold, stuff and seal numerous envelopes, address cards, ask for silent auction donations, make countless phone calls, and so much more.

The Red Cross would also like to thank all of our financial supporters, Board Members and United Way organizations in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties.  No matter how large or small the gift may be, we greatly appreciate it and those funds will be used help our neighbors in need. 

As the Red Cross recognizes the everyday heroes, we want to thank each and every volunteer and donor that helps make the Southwestern New York area a great place to live, work, and play. Without them, the Red Cross would not be able to provide vital services to our community.  If you would like to become a volunteer, contact your local chapter office: Jamestown 716-664-5115, Olean 716-372-5800 or Wellsville 585-593-1531.

March Blood Drives

National Severe Weather Preparedness Week 2013

National Severe Storm Preparedness Week is an opportunity for the American Red Cross to urge everyone to Be a Force of Nature and know what actions you should take if severe weather threatens your community.

National Severe Weather Preparedness Week – March 3-9 - is a time set aside by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) to emphasize the need for individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits to get prepared and know what to do before severe weather strikes.

A great way to get started is to download the Red Cross Preparedness Apps that are relevant to where you or your loved ones live. The apps contain simple steps and checklists you can use to create an emergency plan and share it with household members plus a variety of other safety features.

During Red Cross Month, Honor the Everyday Heroes

During March is Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross recognizes the nation’s Everyday Heroes who give of themselves and in some way help their community.

“Please remember those who help all of us here in Southwestern New York by giving their time to help their neighbor,” said Bill Tucker, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York.  “We want to thank our heroes during Red Cross Month – our volunteers, blood donors, class takers and financial supporters who help us assist those in need.”

March was first proclaimed as Red Cross Month 70 years ago by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since 1943, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It 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 about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains more than seven million people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills every year.

Here in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties, the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York responded to over 60 local emergencies, assisted over 100 military families and trained over 500 people disaster education. And, people from this area donated over 8,500 units of blood from July 2012 through January 2013.

“Red Cross Month is a great time for people to become part of the Red Cross and there are many different ways to do it,” Tucker said. “They can develop a preparedness plan for their household, become a Red Cross volunteer, give blood, or take a Red Cross class, just to name a few.”

The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping people in need.

The Southwestern NY Chapter has a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month, including Savor the Flavor Events on March 3^rd from 12p-3p at the Cuba VFW, March 10^th from 12p-3p at the Olean Elks Lodge, and March 17^th from 12p-3p at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena. The American Red Cross of Southwestern NY is a United Way Agency.