Summer plans include water fun, camping, grilling? Then these tips are for you.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to the summer season and a time when many of us make plans to make the most of the longer days and warmer weather. Whether your plans include fun in the water, camping or grilling your favorites, the American Red Cross of Western New York has some resources you can use to help you have a safe summer. And don’t forget your furry friends — there are even some safety tips to follow to help protect your pets as the weather warms up! 

WATER SAFETY

Every day, an average of 11 people die in the U.S. from unintentional drowning — and one in five of those are children 14 or younger according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Red Cross wants everyone to know critical safety knowledge and skills that could save your life in and around the water. We encourage families to build confidence in the water by learning to be safe, making good choices, learning how to swim and how to handle emergencies. 

·         Preventing unsupervised access to water, providing constant, active adult supervision and knowing how to swim are critical layers of protection to help prevent drowning.

·         Classes to learn how to swim are available for both children and adults. Check the map for Learn-to-Swim providers in your community. Everyone should learn first aid and CPR too, so they know what to do in an emergency.

·         Download the Red Cross Swim app, sponsored by The ZAC Foundation, for safety tips, kid-friendly videos and activities, and take the free Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers online course in English or in Spanish.

·         It’s best to swim in a lifeguarded area. Always designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.

·         Drowning behavior is typically fast and silent. Unless rescued, a drowning person will last only 20 to 60 seconds before submerging. Reach or throw, don't go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble. Don’t go in! You could become a victim yourself.

CAMPING SAFETY

If a camping trip is in your plans, know the level of ability of the people in your group and the environment around you. Plan accordingly.

·         Pack a first aid kit to handle insect stings, sprains, cuts and bruises and other injuries that could happen to someone in your group. Take a Red Cross First Aid and CPR course and download the First Aid app so that you will know what to do in case help is delayed. You’ll learn how to treat severe wounds, broken bones, bites and stings and more.

·         Sprains and falls are some of the most common misfortunes travelers may face. Falls are the biggest threat, many due to poor decision-making, lack of skill or not being properly prepared. Dehydration is also a danger. Plan ahead for these dangers.

·         Share your travel plans and locations with a family member, neighbor or friend.

·         Bring nutritious food items and water, light-weight clothing to layer and supplies for any pets. 

GRILLING SAFETY

More than three-quarters of U.S. adults have used a grill — yet, grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year. To avoid this, the Red Cross offers these grilling safety tips:

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
• Never grill indoors — not in the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
• Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire. 
• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.

PET SAFETY

Summer’s heat can be dangerous for your family pets. Follow these steps to take to help ensure your pet stays safe this summer.

• Don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees even with the windows cracked open.
• Animals can suffer heat stroke, a common problem for pets in the warmer weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are especially prone to heat stroke, along with overweight pets, those with extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems such as laryngeal paralysis or collapsing trachea.
• Some of the signs of heat stroke in your pet are heavy panting and being unable to calm down, even when lying down, brick red gum color, fast pulse rate and being unable to get up.
• If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees.

·     Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage. Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for instant access on how to treat heat stroke, other emergencies and general care for cats and dogs and take the Cat and Dog First Aid Online Training course.

 

Extraordinary Personal Action Saves a Life

"I saw an elderly lady hunched over and I knew it didn't look right," Caitlin McKinnon said as she recounted her actions.

Greater Rochester Chapter
Executive Director  James Love Presents the 
Certificate of  Extraordinary Personal Action
to Caitlin McKinnon

Caitlin was shopping at Trader Joe's in Pittsford, NY, when she heard a woman yelling, "Mom, Mom! Someone help!!" Caitlin saw an elderly lady clutching onto a cart. Caitlin, a registered nurse, carefully brought the woman to the floor and felt for a pulse. The woman did not have a pulse, so Caitlin asked the woman's daughter if she could give her mom CPR. Caitlin immediately began CPR, and within about 30 seconds, the woman woman took a breath. When the ambulance arrived, the elderly had a pulse and was able to speak.

"Caitlin in my mind has always been a hero because of the career she is in," said her sister, Lindsay. "But during an ordinary day at the grocery store, she continues to help others when in need."

Last month at the Greater Rochester Chapter, the Red Cross was proud to present Caitlin the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action. This certificate is awarded to individuals who save or sustain a life by action that exemplifies the mission of American Red Cross Preparedness, Health and Safety Services. 

Due to Caitlin's quick thinking, she was able to revive this woman and help save her life. Emergencies can strike anytime, anywhere, and every second counts. Having the skills to be able to save or help a life is very important, and we encourage everyone learn and get CPR/AED/First Aid certification from us here at the American Red Cross.


~Emma Reeve, Communications Intern

Recognizing Extraordinary Personal Actions

RED Rochester employee Gene Bernardo (center top) helped
save the live of co-worker Ed Szozda (far right in jacket), along
with Kodak Park Fire Department Members Rod Spreer
(white shirt), Mike Defendorf (far left), Patrick Doerrer
(bottom left) and Ryan Clair(bottom right)

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. Every second counts in those situations, and the skills taught at Red Cross Health & Safety Classes can prove vital while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.

RED Rochester Refrigeration/Water employee Gene Bernardo learned that lesson first hand on February 11^th, 2015.

Shortly after his team started their shift that morning, Gene found his coworker, Ed Szozda, unresponsive. He immediately started CPR, directed another coworker to call 911 and deployed their Department’s new automated external defibrillator (AED).

Ryan Clair, Mike Defendorf, Patrick Doerrer and Rod Speer of the Kodak Park Fire Department (KPFD) took it from there, applying medical attention until Ed could be transported to the local hospital, where successful heart surgery was completed that morning.  

Medical professionals credit Gene and the Kodak Park Fire Department with saving Ed’s life, as the first minutes of this type of situation are the most critical.

On January 15, the American Red Cross was proud to present Certificates of Extraordinary Personal Action to Gene Bernardo, Ryan Clair, Mike Defendorf, Patrick Doerrer and Rod Speer. The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is awarded to individuals who save or sustain a life by action that exemplifies the mission of Red Cross Preparedness and Health & Safety Services.

If you'd like to learn how to perform CPR, use an AED, or other skills that may help save the life of someone you love, visit www.redcross.org/take-a-class, or contact Cristi at 716-878-2392 or cristi.oczek@redcross.org to schedule a training at your school, business or organization.

The Importance of Being Prepared

Unfortunately, between fires, drownings and even a possible tornado, we've had several recent incidents across the Western New York/Finger Lakes Region that remind us that disaster can strike anywhere, anytime. These tragedies are why we preach emergency preparedness and encourage everyone to take steps now to keep their family safe.

The most recent incident occurred late Tuesday evening, when a storm tore the roof off at least one home and knocked out power for hundreds in the Chemung County town of Baldwin. As the National Weather Service investigates to see if the damage was caused by a possible tornado, (UPDATE: The National Weather Service has since confirmed that a tornado did touch down in Baldwin) Red Cross Disaster Assessment volunteers are also on the ground, gathering the information we'll need to help the community recover from this storm.

Unfortunately, Upstate New York is become all too familiar with tornadoes this summer, and one way to prepare is to download the FREE Red Cross Tornado App. In addition to severe weather alerts that will let your family know when to take cover, the app also provides safety tips so you're family will know what to do if a storm rolls into your area.

The long holiday weekend also provided a tragic reminder of the importance of water safety after three drownings in Erie County. The summer may be coming to a close, but pools are still open, and natural bodies of water never close. Please, do whatever you can to help prevent these unthinkable tragedies. Make sure that you and your family learn to swim and take the proper safety precautions. Take a CPR/First Aid class and download the free First Aid app to help help you respond if an emergency does occur.

And the Labor Day weekend provided no break for our volunteers, who have responded to eight fires in Erie, Niagara and Orleans Counties alone since Saturday, providing food, clothing, comfort and support for 32 people, including four Tuesday evening in Lyndonville.

The American Red Cross is currently partnering with New York State to offer Governor Andrew Cuomo's Citizen Preparedness Corps training program, "Prepare, Respond, Recover: What to do When Disaster Strikes." The program provides residents with the tools and knowledge to prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond accordingly and recover to pre-disaster conditions as quickly as possible. If you'd like to help your community stay safe by scheduling a Citizen Preparedness Corps training at your school, business or other organization, please email Justin Pitts or call (716) 878-2238.

Volunteers Needed for Ombudsman Program

Training scheduled for April 29-May 2

The American Red Cross, Serving Erie and Niagara Counties is currently seeking volunteers for its Ombudsman Program.  The Ombudsman Program provides advocacy services responsive to the complaints and problems of residents living in long term care facilities.

An Ombudsman is a dedicated volunteer certified to receive, investigate, and solve complaints made by, or on behalf of, residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and certified housing in the community.  Ombudsmen are assigned to a facility on a weekly basis to discuss problems, concerns, or to simply lend an ear when residents have something on their minds.  They monitor the quality of care, help protect residents’ rights, provide information to the residents and their families to ensure proper treatment, and encourage residents to express their opinions. Volunteers will experience a wide range of satisfactions as they handle advocacy issues and increase community concern and interest for the institutionalized elderly.

Ombudsmen must be at least 21 years of age with an interest and capacity to fulfill the advocate’s role, as well as having strong verbal and written communication skills. Volunteers will receive a minimum of 36 hours of training, consisting of pre, post, and in-classroom instruction. Volunteers MUST complete all 4-days of in-classroom instruction.

Regularly scheduled training is provided.  The next scheduled training program will be held April 29-May 2.  Prospective Ombudsmen must successfully complete the full 36 hours of training.

Interested parties should contact (716) 878-2385 or melanie.keem@redcross.org for more information.

Disaster Preparedness in Nepal

Photo courtesy of Rob Few/ IFRC
and www.redcross.org

The American Red Cross is there for people down the street, across the country, and around the world, and that’s evident in central Nepal where 30 years ago a series of violent earthquakes struck the village of Kalikahalde.   

Since 2009, the American Red Cross has been working with the Nepal Red Cross and the National Society for Earthquake Technology to establish a disaster preparedness program in 220 schools in Nepal.  More than 16,000 people have benefited. 

“I don’t feel fear of earthquakes while sleeping at night because I have kept heavy things on the floor, identified safe places at home, prepared how to go out safely in a safe place after earthquake, packed some ready-made food and safe water and learnt how to communicate,” said Janardhan K.C. of Changu Narayan in the Bhaktapur district. 

The disaster preparedness programs educate students, teachers and parents about designing and implementing disaster preparedness and response plans which details each school’s vulnerabilities, such as identifying existing cracks in walls or close proximity to a riverbank, and ways that the risks can be reduced.

“We have now learnt how a school building should be constructed and we are applying building codes in the newly constructed block for disaster safety, leaving enough space for rescue and evacuation,” said Purendra Prasad Dhakal, headmaster of Ganesh Secondary School in Nuwakot, one of the participating schools in the program.

In addition to this education, trainings in first aid, basic disaster management, and light search and rescue techniques are also being taught, as well as disaster drills and simulations to ensure that students, teachers and community members feel prepared for future disasters. 

To learn more about the efforts to prepare Nepal, click here to visit the National Red Cross Chapter.

To learn more about disaster preparedness, click here to visit your local Red Cross Chapter.

Train Our Everyday Heroes

Melissa Lambert used her CPR training to save her fiancé’s life when he collapsed on an exercise treadmill.

When Kevin Laubengayer’s two-year-old son fell into a pond, Laubengayer applied CPR and had the toddler breathing again by the time the ambulance arrived.

Abdominal thrusts from Judy Farrell dislodged a piece of a sandwich from her husband’s throat, saving his life when, according to the emergency crew, that life was down to seconds.

Scenes such as these—ordinary people performing extraordinary acts—repeat day in and day out across America because someone has been trained in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).

Heroes Behind the Scenes

For every life saved, there are really two heroes—the person administering the CPR and the volunteer instructor who taught that person how to do it. More than 18,000 American Red Cross volunteer instructors freely give both time and talent to teach CPR.

Sandy An is a volunteer instructor with the Preparedness and Health and Safety Department at American Red Cross national headquarters. She is also an emergency responder, firefighter and college student majoring in emergency health services. Like Mekonnen, An has witnessed first-hand the lifesaving qualities of CPR.

“The saddest experience you could have,” she says, “is to have a family member or loved one need CPR and you not being able to give it.”

An says volunteering with the Red Cross “just felt right.” She has always been interested in humanitarian work, and finds that the Red Cross mission and Fundamental Principles are similar to the values she follows in her everyday life.

This is why at the American Red Cross College Club Conference, we offered a free Citizen CPR training, as seen above,  to all attendees.  Although it's recommended that everyone gets fully certified in CPR/AED, giving all attendees the courage and know how to make a difference in a life threatening situation was an empowering moment to see. 

Join the Next Generation of Red Cross Training

American Red Cross volunteers teach hundreds of thousands of people to be lifesavers: to give a combination of chest compressions and breaths to maintain some blood flow to the heart and brain until advanced medical care can arrive on the scene; to administer abdominal thrusts if someone is choking; to use an AED (automatic external defibrillator); and more.

Get trained so you can be ready to “buy extra time” for someone whose life depends on how quickly help arrives.

CPR classes are taking place at your local Red Cross. To sign up for a class today, visit us online or call us here at the Chapter 716.886.7500.

Article courtesy of www.redcross.org

Have you thought about becoming a SAF volunteer as part of your New Year’s resolution?

Some people don’t realize that the American Red Cross is still closely connected to its roots in terms of working alongside the military.  Through our Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) program, we help connect families here in the States with their family member in the service, stateside or across the world.  This is a great opportunity to get involved and give back to Service Members and their families, and great way to incorporate benevolence into your New Year’s resolution! 

SAF volunteers work directly with family members during major events, such as a birth or the death or illness of a close relative,  to verify their emergency, and then follow the correct avenues in order to get their message delivered to their family member in the service.  Depending on the type of emergency, where the service member is located, and if it is during a time of war or peace, the Service Member may be granted leave to come home or an opportunity to call home.

If you would like to become involved in this great service, you will need to complete the Services to Armed Forces- Emergency Communication Message Training through the Chapter.  This course is a basic introductory class that gives an overview of how to receive and process a case in the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services program, and also has an online course component that provides more hands on training. 

To schedule training, please call us at 716.878.2387 or visit us online.

Make becoming CPR certified your New Year's resolution!

If your significant other or another family member were to choke on something or stop breathing, would you know what to do? Make it your New Year’s resolution to learn!

We all normally eat at least 3 times a day, which means all of us run the risk of ourselves choking or being in the room with someone that is choking more than 20 times a week!  This is why we here at the Chapter think that everyone should be prepared for these types of situations by becoming certified in CPR/AED! So breathe a little easier this 2011 and make getting certified in CPR/AED a part of your New Year’s resolution!

Already certified? Individuals need to be recertified yearly to make sure that they are up-to-date on all of the new techniques and qualifications, so, if you can’t remember if it’s 30 to 2, 50 to 3 or you don’t even know what that means… it’s time to come back in for a refresher course!

To register for a CPR/AED course through the Chapter, visit us online or call us at 716.878.2387.