Red Cross Stays Busy in Sumter

Written by: Nancy Cataldo, Executive Director, American Red Cross, Sandhills Chapter

Yesterday, the Sandhills Chapter of the American Red Cross was very busy helping members of the community recover after a home fire, as well as practicing for future hurricane responses.

Red Cross volunteer, Steve Shumake, responded to a fire that completely destroyed a home in Sumter.  In total, he assisted a family of four including a nine year-old child. He provided the family financial assistance to purchase food and clothing lost in the fire, as well as temporary lodging and referrals to local agencies.

One adult suffered severe burns and was flown to the August Burn Center in Georgia.  We have been in contact with the Augusta Chapter of the Red Cross to check on the client in the hospital and get updates on his condition. We will continue to be there for this family on their road to recovery.

Yesterday we were also busy participating in a State Hurricane Exercise in Clarendon County.  The exercise involved a shelter opening at Manning High School as a result of a hurricane evacuation. Red Cross staff and volunteers partnered with South Carolina Emergency Management and the Department of Social Services (DSS) to open the shelter and provide services to the individuals that registered. We also had a volunteer that staffed the Clarendon Emergency Operations Center.

As part of the day, the Red Cross trained 42 DSS workers in Shelter Operations and 12 people participated in our Shelter Simulation class. Our partners at McDonald’s in Manning provided the lunch and Clarendon School District 2 provided snacks and drinks to all participants.

As you can see yesterday was a busy day.  We were able to help a family in their darkest hour and also prepare to help our community in the event of a large disaster because of you. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers for giving their time and to our financial donors for supporting our mission each and every day.

Tognum America helps make 7th annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing a huge success!

The American Red Cross Aiken Area Chapter would like to thank Tognum America for becoming a Super Hero for the American Red Cross.  For the second year in a row, Tognum America graciously offered to be a Presenting Sponsor of the 7^th annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing that was held at Houndslake Country Club on Memorial Day.

With the help of Tognum America, the Aiken Area Chapter raised $41,825 to support Red Cross programs and services!

The annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing, open to middle and high school-aged players, was coordinated by the local Red Cross Board Chairman, Don Cheeks, and board member, Annie Reagan. During the Outing, kids enjoyed a round of golf, lunch, dinner, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and an awards ceremony with prizes.

The Red Cross relies on financial donations to support important programs in our community like disaster relief.  After a disaster, the Red Cross meets the immediate needs that families have for temporary shelter, food, clothing and mental health services. Since the beginning of its fiscal year, the Aiken Area Chapter alone has responded to the needs of 95 families, helping 334 adults and children.  On average, it costs $1,250 to assist a family of four following a disaster.

The mission of the Red Cross is made possible through the generosity of our volunteers and financial supporters like Tognum America.  To learn more about how you can support the Red Cross, please visit Redcross.org/Aiken-Area or call the Aiken Area Chapter at (803) 641-4152.

Wishing You a Safe Memorial Day Weekend!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer fun and we want everyone to have a safe holiday.  Whether the weekend will involve travel, grilling or swimming, we have safety tips everyone can follow. Have fun and be safe!

SWIMMING SAFETY Learning to swim is one of the best steps someone can take to be safe around water. People can contact their local Red Cross chapter and learn how to swim as well as get the facts about water safety, home pool safety, first aid and CPR classes. Other swimming safety tips include:

• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
• Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
• Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

POOL SAFETY It’s important to constantly supervise children when they are near water. 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 National Swimming Pool Foundation® (NSPF) have developed an online safety course for pool and hot tub owners. Home Pool Essentials helps 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.

DOWNLOAD FIRST AID APP Another thing people can do is download the free Red Cross first aid app which puts expert advice for everyday emergency at someone’s fingertips. The free app is available for direct download from the Apple or Google Play for Android app stores.

DRIVE SAFELY With more people on the roads, it’s important to drive safely. Be well rested and alert, use seat belts, observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road. If plans include drinking alcohol, designate a driver who won’t drink. Other tips for a safe trip include:

• Give one’s full attention to the road.  Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
• Don’t follow another vehicle too closely.
• Use caution in work zones.
•  Make frequent stops.
• Clean the vehicle’s lights and windows to help the driver see, especially at night.
• Turn the headlights on as dusk approaches, or during inclement weather. Don’t overdrive the headlights.

GRILLING SAFETY The Red Cross offers these tips to stay safe while cooking those tasty cookout treats:

• Never grill indoors – not in the house, camper, tent, or any enclosed area.
• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use, and make sure everyone, including the 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.
• Keep the chef safe by using the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
• Be ready to close the lid and turn off the grill to cut off the fuel if necessary.
• Keep a fireproof pan under the grill to catch any falling ash or grease.
• Trim excess fat from meat to avoid flare-ups.
• Wash one’s hands in hot soapy water before preparing food, after touching raw meat and after any interruptions such as using the bathroom, handling pets, stopping to do something with children.

Your help is needed – A message from our Regional CEO

Red Cross volunteer, Angela Clemins, hugs Moore resident, Donna Giedrocz.  Giedrocz has spent the day clearing debris from her home and expresses gratitude at the warm meal Clemins has brought her. Photo by Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

On Monday the severe weather that has been ravaging the United States throughout the spring took a turn for the worse and brought heartbreaking devastation across the Midwest and the South, including Oklahoma, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Iowa. The damage is profound, widespread and the full impact still has yet to be realized.

American Red Cross disaster relief workers are on the ground as I write this, providing urgently needed assistance including food, water, shelter, cleanup supplies and emotional support to those who were affected. Our local volunteers have jumped into action and our helping. Just yesterday, we deployed three volunteers from the Palmetto SC Region to help with Oklahoma tornado relief efforts, and we anticipate that number to continue to increase. And we need your help.

The Red Cross is there for families in need and you can make a difference. We will be opening up additional shelters and delivering thousands of meals and water in the coming hours, days and possibly weeks ahead. But we can’t do any of this without the generosity of individuals like you. You can help people affected by disasters like tornadoes, floods and other crises by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

I hate to say it, but it isn’t over yet – the National Weather Service warns that the threat of severe weather continues from Texas to the Great Lakes. Be sure that you and your loved ones are prepared and stay safe. View Tornado Safety Tips or download the free Red Cross Tornado App.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the families impacted by the incredible damage. If you or a loved one need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for helping families affected by disasters.

Warmest regards,

Louise Welch Williams
Regional Chief Executive Officer
American Red Cross
Palmetto SC Region

P.S. –  Click here to see more photos from our response in Oklahoma.

Hubbell Power Systems Becomes a Red Cross Super Hero

The American Red Cross Aiken Area Chapter would like to thank Hubbell Power Systems for donating $5,000 and becoming a Super Hero for the American Red Cross. With this generous donation, Hubbell Power Systems will be recognized as one of the Presenting Sponsors for the 7th Annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing that will take place this Memorial Day on Monday, May 27th.

The annual Jr. Golf Outing, open to middle and high school-aged players, is coordinated every year by the local Red Cross Board Chairman, Don Cheeks. During the Outing, kids enjoy a round of golf, lunch, dinner, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and an award ceremony with prizes. The Outing will take place at Houndslake Country Club in Aiken. Everything for the event is graciously donated by local businesses in the Aiken area, so 100 percent of Hubbell Power Systems’ donation and other sponsorships will go directly to support local Red Cross programs and services.

The American Red Cross relies on financial donations to support important programs in our community like disaster relief. After a disaster, the Red Cross meets the immediate needs that families have for temporary shelter, food, clothing and mental health services. Since the beginning of its fiscal year, the Aiken Area Chapter alone has responded to the needs of 70 families, helping 264 adults and children. On average, it costs $1,250 to assist a family of four following a disaster.

The mission of the Red Cross is made possible through the generosity of our volunteers and financial supporters like Hubbell Power Systems. Individuals and businesses who would like to learn more about making a financial contribution or registering youth for the Heroes Jr. Golf Outing, should contact the Aiken Area Chapter at (803) 641-4152 or at 1314 Pine Log Road, Aiken, SC 29803.

Red Cross Can Help You Be Prepared For Next Emergency

Recent events in Boston and Texas emphasize the importance of knowing what to do when an emergency occurs. Even as first responders rushed into help at both scenes, much of the initial care to the injured was provided by friends, neighbors and bystanders who were trained in CPR and first aid. Whether the emergency is community-wide and involves numerous injuries, or involves a single individual being hurt at home, it is vital that someone close by knows what to do when such an emergency occurs.

Getting yourself and your family more prepared for disasters can bring peace of mind during trying times and can help save someone’s life during future emergencies. Taking an action like downloading our first aid app, taking a first aid class or building a disaster supply kit can help people feel empowered to act when disaster strikes.

The American Red Cross has numerous ways people can get the information and training they need to be able to help when an emergency occurs.  The Red Cross urges everyone to be better prepared by taking advantage of training and mobile apps available to teach them what to do when someone needs assistance.

FIRST AID/CPR CLASSES The Red Cross has classes available that emphasize hands-on-learning of First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The courses teach someone the skills they need to help save a life. Participants learn how to respond to common first aid emergencies, how to respond to cardiac and breathing emergencies in adults and how to use AEDs. There are also options available to learn how to help infants and children. People can register for these classes at redcross.org/takeaclass or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

ONLINE TRAINING Family and household members can learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies by taking the new Red Cross Family First Aid and CPR online course. The cost is $30. Family First Aid and CPR teaches you how to:

• Identify signals of medical emergencies.
• Give appropriate care for common first aid emergencies.
• Know when to call 9-1-1 and what to do until help arrives for critical cardiac and first aid emergencies.

This course is for people who do not require OSHA-compliant certification. It takes about 2 hours to go through the Adult CPR and First Aid content. Pediatric modules are also available.

DOWNLOAD FIRST AID APP People can also download the free Red Cross First Aid App for iPhone and Android mobile devices which puts simple lifesaving information at someone’s fingertips. Features include step-by-step instructions to guide someone through everyday first aid scenarios, full integration with 9-1-1 to call emergency services from the app and preloaded content to have instant access to information even without device reception or internet connectivity. The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store by searching for American Red Cross.

 

 

Windsor Green Fire Response: One Month Report

Pizza Hut Partners with the Red Cross during April

Red Cross month may be over, but April marks the exciting launch of our Heroes Campaign for 2013. “Heroes for the American Red Cross” is a grassroots fundraising and awareness campaign that gives YOU the chance to make a real impact on the community. Heroes pledge to raise a minimum of $1,250 for the Red Cross during the campaign period. Participating Heroes can raise the money personally, as an organization or by hosting a fundraising event.

To help us celebrate this campaign, Pizza Hut will be offering a special meal deal through the entire month of April. A percentage of sales from this deal will go directly to the Red Cross to support disaster relief, health services and education, services to the armed forces and more! If you’d like to contribute to the cause but don’t want the special deal, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a “Heroes” point-of-sale poster for a minimum $1 donation. This poster will be displayed all month to commemorate your generosity.

Be sure to come out to Pizza Hut this month to support your local Red Cross. You can also click here to order online.  If you or your organization is interested in joining the Heroes campaign, please contact Paula Thayer at Paula.Thayer@redcross.org or (803) 540-1219.

Rachel Hodges takes on National Red Cross Leadership Role

Local American Red Cross Board Chairwoman and former First Lady of South Carolina (1999-2003), Rachel Hodges, has been named a member of the National Council for the Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders.

The Tiffany Circle is a society of women leaders and philanthropists from across the country that commit a minimum of $10,000 a year to support the important work of the Red Cross. As a National Council Member, Hodges will help ensure the future success of the Tiffany Circle program as the group embarks upon their eighth year in 2013-14. Since its inception just seven short years ago, the Tiffany Circle has grown from eight to 60 regional chapters throughout the country and is also expanding internationally into countries such as Canada, Mexico, France, Great Britain and Australia.

“The Tiffany Circle reflects a growing movement across the United States that women are leading the way when it comes to philanthropy,” said Rachel Hodges. “Women are the economic powerhouse of the 21st century and will be the primary holders of the wealth in America in just a few years. I am proud to serve on the National Council of the Tiffany Circle and continue mobilizing the power of women in philanthropy.”

Rachel Hodges welcomes Red Cross volunteers and staff at the Rachel Hodges Leadership Institute that was held in May 2012 at Francis Marion University.

Rachel Hodges is a Pee Dee native and currently serves as the Chairwoman for the American Red Cross, Central South Carolina Chapter and the Chairwoman of the American Red Cross, Palmetto SC Region’s Advisory Council. In 2012, Hodges was instrumental in bringing the Rachel Hodges Leadership Institute to the campus of Francis Marion University. The six-day institute gave over 300 Red Cross staff and volunteers the opportunity to develop the necessary leadership skills to respond to small and large scale disasters throughout South Carolina and along the East Coast.

Hodges is a founding Bonnie McElveen-Hunter Lifetime Member of the Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders. Additionally, she and her husband, former Governor James H. Hodges, are members of the Clara Barton Society. In 2010, Hodges was presented the Clara Barton Society Award in recognition of her outstanding commitment to the Red Cross as a volunteer and philanthropist.

For more information on becoming a Tiffany Circle member, please call (803) 540-1220 or email Adrienne.Bellinger@redcross.org.

Come out FORE the Red Cross on April 29th!

Join us for the Second Annual SERVPRO and American Red Cross “Partners in Disaster Relief Golf Classic” on Monday, April 29th. The tournament will be held at Golden Hills Golf and Country Club in Lexington with an 11:00 a.m. shotgun start. Breakfast will be provided to all players prior to the shotgun start. 

Last year, the Cacye/West Columbia/Lexington, Dutch Fork and Richland County franchises of SERVPRO helped raise $7,000 for Red Cross programs and services through the golf classic. We’re proud to partner with SERVPRO again this year to support disaster relief in the Midlands.

The tournament has a $60 entry fee for individuals and a $240 entry fee for teams. All participants will be served a boxed lunch before tee-off. Teams can also purchase basic sponsorship and mulligan packages for the event. Spots are filling up fast, so be sure to register before the April 22nd deadline!

If you’re looking for a different way to get involved, a few sponsorship options are still available at this time. April 15th is the last day sponsorship submission will be accepted.

To register for the tournament or learn more about becoming a sponsor, please contact Tia Williams at 803-755-9774 or Tia@servproeasternsc.com.