April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month and a great opportunity for pet owners to brush up on tips from the American Red Cross to keep their animals safe and healthy as we head into spring and summer!

Red Cross pet mannequins used for Pet First Aid training.

Red Cross courses are available to teach people how to care for their pets.  Dog and Cat First Aid Guides are available with a DVD that teach basic responsibilities like the importance of spaying/neutering and how to give medications, to performing CPR, recognizing if your pet is sick and preparing for disasters.  The guides are available on the Red Cross Store.

 

What to be prepared for during this time of year?

 

 

HEAT STROKE

Heat stroke is one of the most common problems pets face in the warmer weather when they are not yet used to the warm temperatures. Pet owners should remember that the inside of a car can quickly reach 120 degrees in warm weather and should not leave their animals in the car, even during short trips. This can quickly lead to heat stroke. The signs of heat stroke include:

• Heavy panting and being unable to calm down, even when lying down.
• The pet’s gums may be brick red, they may have a fast pulse rate, or they may not be able to get up.

If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, you should take the pet’s temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, you should 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 the pet to the veterinarian immediately as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.

 

 

OTHER HAZARDS
Open doors and windows can be hazardous to a pet. The animal may try to get outside, increasing the risk of falling from windows or being hit by a vehicle. Some plants and flowers can be hazardous. For instance, many lilies are very poisonous to cats. Visit the ASPCA Poison Control web site to find out which plants and flowers are poisonous to animals. If someone thinks their animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, they should contact their veterinarian.

PET FIRST AID
Courses are available at many Red Cross chapters on how to care for your pet. The Red Cross has also developed Dog First Aid and Cat First Aid Guides with DVDs that teach basic responsibilities like spaying/neutering and giving medications, to performing CPR and preparing for disasters. Visit Redcross.org/training or call 1-800 RED CROSS to see when classes are available. The Guides are available through the Red Cross Store.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET HEALTHY
Pet owners can follow these important steps to help keep their pet healthy:

• Give pets plenty of exercise.
• Make sure they have plenty of fresh, cool water.
• Make sure they get regular yearly checkups with their veterinarian, and are up to date on vaccines, especially rabies.
• Get pets spayed or neutered.
• Keep dogs on leashes outside – another animal may be too much temptation
• Know how to perform CPR and provide basic first aid until veterinary care is available

Pet First Aid Awareness Month is a great time for people to learn how to protect their pet and keep them healthy. More information on how to keep pets in good health are located on the Red Cross Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist.

Upcoming Cat and Dog First Aid Course

Saturday, April 28, 2012

10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Price: $70

American Red Cross

 2751 Bull Street

Columbia, SC 29201

To register, please contact the American Red Cross Training Support Center 1-800RedCross (1-800-733-2767), option 3 or register online at www.redcross.org

Heathwood Hall Students Team up with Red Cross to Help Fight Germs

By Anna Wrice, Red Cross Volunteer

Heathwood Hall students demonstrate the importance of washing your hands through an interactive song.

Heathwood Hall High School students served their local Red Cross by teaching the American Red Cross Scrubby Bear Hand Washing Program to children of local elementary schools during the week of March 5– 9, 2012.

A group of nine high school students from Heathwood Hall taught the importance of personal hygiene to the K-5 and 1^st Grade students of A.C. Moore Elementary, Caughman Road Elementary and Carver-Lyons Elementary.  The personal hygiene lesson is taught through the fun and interactive Scrubby Bear Hand Washing Program.

The Scrubby Bear Hand Washing Program was chosen by the Red Cross as a way to teach children how germs are spread, how to prevent the spread of disease and how to properly wash their hands,” said Carol Morrett, volunteer coordinator, American Red Cross, Columbia Region. “Children love Scrubby and really respond to his message.”

The Scrubby Bear presentation lasts approximately 30 minutes. During the presentation the older students explain what germs are and where the kids contract them. To effectively communicate how to properly wash hands, the students read the Scubby Bear story and teach the song.  The older students say that their favorite part of the presentation is when they get to teach the steps and words of the song to the younger students. The elementary school students catch on quickly to the song once they recognize that it is set to the classic “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” tune.

“I loved seeing how much the students enjoyed getting in the classroom and performing the Scrubby Bear song as a tool to remind educators and children that infection can be fought through frequent hand washing,” Morret said.

After the presentation the younger students received a Scrubby Bear sticker and coloring sheet when they pledged to keep their hands clean and do their best to remember the Scrubby Bear motto, “Don’t get sick, wash up quick.”

Heathwood Hall offers their students a unique program, called “Winterim,” which is the chance for their students to perform community service for an entire week.  The students may choose to serve the public locally, nationally or abroad.  

This is the second year that the Red Cross has teamed up with Heathwood Hall during their “Winterim” to teach elementary students about personal hygiene. 

This program is most appropriate for children ages 4 through 7. Although the written and verbal materials are currently available in English only, they have been successfully used by schools, hospitals, health agencies and day care centers throughout the world.

 For more information about Red Cross programs and volunteer opportunities, please visit our website at www.columbiaregionredcross.org

Children Survive Storm that Landed Pet Horse in Grandparents’ Kitchen

contributed by Angela Nicholas, Red Cross Volunteer

When Barbara Green and her husband dug their way out of the rubble that was their home before the March 2 tornado ripped through West Liberty, Kentucky, they found their horse lying on the kitchen floor.  The couple rode out the storm in the hallway of their home and survived without injury.  “We got up and dug our way out.  I found the tornado had carried our horse through the roof and into our kitchen.  It was laying on its side but was okay,” she said.

Green brought her two granddaughters, Audrey Cole, 3 and Shelby Cole, 6, with her to Morgan Central Elementary School where the Red Cross had set up a Service Center to provide resources for tornado survivors.  The girls and their parents also lost their home to the storm. Green said the horse and the rest of the family’s animals except for one dog that was killed were okay and being tended by West Liberty veterinarian Dave Fugit.  They included a cat with a broken leg and a cat with a broken jaw, but otherwise, the injuries were not too severe.

Disaster through the eyes of a child: American Red Cross mental health professionals use art and other techniques to help small children work through the horror they experience during a major disaster. These drawings depict how a 6-year-old felt after a tornado destroyed her home. The picture to the left shows a fearful expression with the house torn into pieces at the bottom of the page. The drawing to the right shows how the child placed a smile back on her face after spending some time visiting with a Red Cross mental health worker. – Photo by Angela Nicholas

“Our animals were trapped,” said Shelby, who noted that the family has a donkey, chickens and ducks as well.  “It was sad and scary.”  Her little sister described what the storm did to their house, saying, “It flew everywhere.”

Volunteer Mental Health Professionals, Bruce Funk of York County, Pennsylvania, and Alex Weinstein of Charlotte, N.C greeted the children at the Service Center.  Funk spent some time talking to them and presented them with small Mickey Mouse toys to cheer them up.  Weinstein then chatted with the older child and used art to help her work through her fears.  Green received assistance to help the family get back on the road to recovery, and the little girls left the Center smiling.

Six-year-old Shelby Cole, who survived the March 2 Kentucky tornado, listens intently to American Red Cross Mental Health volunteer Alex Weinstein of the Greater Carolinas Chapter in Charlotte. Weinstein and other Red Cross mental health volunteers use artwork and other techniques to help children work through their fears. – Photo by Angela Nicholas

 

How You Can Help

You can help people affected by disasters by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief.  You may donate at www.redcross.org or call 1-800-733-2767.  Contributions may also be sent to your local chapter or American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.  On rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.

SC Saves Lives was a huge success!

Our first annual “SC Saves Lives” event on March 7th was a huge success!  We’re so excited about the 118 people that were trained in Citizen CPR and the 48 people who donated blood, giving us the total of 39 units of blood collected!  Thank you to the Colonial Life Arena for hosting our event and partnering with us in our efforts to help save lives.  We are also thankful to Colonial Life Accidental Insurance, WIS News 10, WXRY 99.3 FM and The State for sponsoring our free lifesaving event!

A proud donor hugs a Red Cross staff member after donating blood.

Participants practicing their technique and listening carefully to the Citizens CPR instructor, Stanley Dowling.

What is Citizen CPR?

In 2011, the Red Cross launched the new Citizen CPR lifesaving training.   Also referred to as “hands-only CPR,” the potentially lifesaving technique involves no mouth-to-mouth contact and is best used in emergencies where someone has seen another person suddenly collapse.  The hands-only technique increases the likelihood of surviving cardiac emergencies that occur outside medical settings.

We were able to provide this training free-of-charge through the generous support of Colonial Life Accidental Insurance.   Thank you Colonial Life for making our community a safer place!

A group of participants learn the Citizen CPR technique.

One of the 118 people that learned how to perform Citizen CPR.

“The mission of the Red Cross is simple—to help people in need, and during this year’s Red Cross month we hope to build awareness of our mission and ensure that our community is ready for emergency situations.”            

- Scott R. Salemme, regional chief executive officer, American Red Cross, Columbia Region

Our wonderful volunteers and staff working the Disaster Relief information booth.

For more information on the Red Cross, Citizens CPR or to make a blood donation appointment,  please visit Redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS.

SRR and URS become Lifesavers for the Red Cross!

contributed by Lindsay Findley, Aiken County Chapter Executive Director

The American Red Cross, with help from corporations like Savannah River Remediation (SRR) and URS Corporation, will help present the first annual Rachel Hodges Leadership Institute to be held May 19 – May 24, 2012 at Francis Marion University.

SRR and URS representatives present a $5,000 sponsorship check to support the Rachel Hodges Leadership Institute.

SRR and URS have graciously offered to become lifesavers with a $5,000 sponsorship.  With this gift, local staff and volunteers will be able to receive comprehensive leadership training to better serve the community when there is an emergency or other disaster.  This promises to be a unique and creative program for educating those who will be front-line caregivers in natural catastrophes. 

SRR and URS make meaningful contributions every year that strengthen the community.  This partnership is essential to our moving forward and strengthening the American Red Cross, and we are incredibly appreciative. 

The Institute is designed to ensure that Red Cross staff and volunteers have the opportunity to develop and become more prepared to respond to small and large-scale disasters down the street, across the country and around the world.  In total, over 300 Red Cross volunteers and staff will be trained from seven states, including South Carolina.

This six-day Institute will be broken into three tracks, including, Executive Leadership, Development and Disaster Services.  Attendees will receive advanced training in the following four core areas including Disaster Readiness, Chief Executive Officer Training, Disaster Fund Raising and Public Affairs .

The URS Global Management and Operations Services General Manager David Pethick says, “Safety is paramount in everything we do at URS and we are proud of our employees’ commitment to safety. In honor of their continued excellent safety performance, we are pleased to make this contribution to the Red Cross for this leadership institute.”

Dave Olson, SRR President and Project Manager, said the donation marks another opportunity for SRR to not just be a good neighbor, but to aid in the safety and health of others. “Our employees perform their high-hazard jobs safely every day,” Olson said. “SRR’s focus on safety is also important outside the boundaries of the Savannah River Site. For that reason, we wanted to help those who help others in the community, which we are pleased to do.”

For more information, about the Rachel Hodges Leadership Institute, please visit www.columbiarregionredcross.org/LeadershipInstitute.

Thank You to Hubbell Power System for Being a Super Hero!

Hubbell Power Systems Human Resources Manager, Larry Mathis, Red Cross Board Chairman, Don Cheeks, Red Cross Executive Director, Lindsay Findley, Hubbell Power Systems Technical Services Director, Jim Raines, and Hubbell Power Systems Business Unit Director, Jerry Goolsby, gather for the presentation of a $5,000 donation from Hubbell Power Systems to the Red Cross.

March is Red Cross Month and the official kick-off for the annual Heroes Campaign.  The Heroes Campaign is a grassroots fundraiser where individuals, corporations and organizations pledge to donate or raise $1,250 or more to support Red Cross disaster relief. 

We are pleased to announce that Hubbell Power Systems has chosen to become a Super Hero for the Red Cross with a $5,000 donation.  With this donation, Hubbell Power Systems will be recognized as one of the Presenting Sponsors for the 6^th Annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing on Memorial Day in Aiken, SC.   The Jr. Golf Outing, which is open to middle and high school-aged players, is coordinated every year by the Aiken County Chapter Board Chairman, Don Cheeks.   Everything for the event is graciously donated by local  businesses in Aiken County, so 100 percent of Hubbell Power Systems’ donation and other sponsorships can go directly to the local disaster relief. 

“Hubbell Power Systems has formed a partnership with the Red Cross, and this generous donation will empower the Red Cross to help minimize damage, calm fears, and provide hope in the wake of a disaster,” said Lindsay Findley,  Aiken County Chapter Executive Director.  “Red Cross disaster clients may not be able to thank Hubbell Power Systems and other supporters directly, but the Chapter staff and volunteers can attest to the fact that they are truly appreciative.”

The Red Cross Disaster Relief Program focuses on meeting disaster victims’ immediate needs following an emergency so they can focus on returning to their normal daily activities and on their long-term recovery plans.  Volunteers offer all clients a hand-knit blanket, a kit full of toiletries, temporary lodging for 3 nights, emotional counseling, and financial assistance to replace food, clothing, shoes, and medications that may have been lost in a house fire or other disaster.  On average, it costs the Aiken County Chapter $1,250 to assist a family of 4 following a local disaster.  In addition to those costs, the Chapter must maintain its disaster response vehicles, keep relief supplies in stock, and train its volunteers throughout the year.  The mission of theAmerican Red Cross could not be fulfilled if it was not for volunteers and financial supporters like Hubbell Power Systems.

“Hubbell Power Systems is honored to associate and support such a compassionate and generous organization as the American Red Cross,” said Jim Raines, Technical Services Director, Hubbell Power Systems.  “As a proud member of the Aiken community, Hubbell Power Systems commends the efforts of the Aiken County Chapter for their selfless and countless acts of service to our neighbors who are in need.”

Individuals who would like to learn more about making a financial contribution or about registering youth for the Heroes Jr. Golf Outing should contact the Aiken County Chapter at 803-641-4152 or at 1314 Pine Log Road, Aiken, SC 29803.

Red Cross volunteers acknowledged at the Heroes and Volunteer Recogniton Banquet

Contributed by Randy Burns

Nancy Cataldo, the executive director of the Sandhills Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the volunteer staff members at the Sumter office know all about treating people with respect.  No matter who the people are – clients, volunteers or donors – they do people right!

Janice Oden, Veronica Sharp, Larry Nettles, Larry Huff, Jackie Saddlemire, Jennie Geddings, DeEtte VanVechten, Ruth Heater, Sue FUller and Amamda Forke, Sandhill Chapter volunteers, get recogonized at the Heroes and Volunteer Recognition Banquet.

At Thursday night’s Heroes and Volunteer Recognition Banquet in the fellowship hall at St. James Lutheran Church in Sumter, Cataldo and the Red Cross acknowledged the contributions of the Sumter, Clarendon and Lee County community with plaques, certificates, pins, cups, barbecue and plenty of kind words.

The target audience was the donors – individual and corporations – that contributed money to Red Cross, and the volunteers who gave of their time and money to reach out to victims of disaster.

There’s been plenty of need in the tri-county community.  Since July 1, 2011, disaster action team volunteers have responded to 112 disasters – mostly fires.  The work of the nine Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers was recognized as they brought home the Jennie Geddings Humanitarian Award.

Typically, the award goes to one person who demonstrates his or her devotion to Red Cross by reaching out to others with their time and service.  This year Nancy decided to pay tribute to the entire team.

Nancy talked about how it is amazing to think that nine people have gone out to 112 disasters (all but one or two were fires).  These folks know if their name is up on the schedule, that they will go out no matter the time of day.

It’s important to remember that these people are not paid.  They are doing it because they care.

DAT volunteers, Debbie Kirven, Jennie Geddings, Larry Nettles, Jackie Saddlemire, Ron Smithwick, Sue Fuller and Gregory Haskins recieve the Jennie Geddings Humanitarian Award.

This year’s Jennie Geddings Humanitarian Award Winners are DAT volunteers Larry Nettles, Jennie Geddings, Sue Fuller, Jackie Saddlemire and Greg Haskins of Sumter County; Sue Blackwell, Ron Smithwick and Steven Hill of Clarendon County; and Debbie Kirven of Lee County.

Yep, one of the disaster action volunteers is Jennie Geddings herself.  She just can’t run away from awards even if she declared several years ago that “she didn’t want any more.”

The Geddings Humanitarian was first given in 2005 as a tribute to Geddings, who has been a Red Cross volunteer she retired from South Carolina Emergency Management in 1995.  Even today, Geddings volunteers more than 30 hours a week to Red Cross.

By 2005, Geddings had received about every volunteer award given out by Red Cross.

Jennie told Nancy and the advisory board to give the awards to someone else.  She didn’t want any more attention called to herself.

Jennie didn’t realize the advisory board would create the Humanitarian Award in her name and honor.  That was a surprise. And because she’s a DAT volunteer, she couldn’t turn down receiving part of the recognition this year.

It’s hard to find a volunteer more devoted and committed to Red Cross than Jennie Geddings.  Still, it’s hard to deny that Larry Nettles is one of a kind.  Always positive and upbeat and often funny and crazy when the occasion calls for it, Nettles received the Clara Barton Award, the highest volunteer award given by Red Cross.

At Thursday’s banquet, Nancy had her first chance to tell the tri-county area about Larry receiving the Clara Barton Award.

Larry’s credentials are really mind boggling.  He is a DAT member, and thus one of the recipients of this year’s Geddings Humanitarian Award.  He and Nancy work together in fundraising. Larry, who is passionate about the opportunity to help others, has no problem in asking people to give money so Red Cross can do its job.  He is the chairman of the Tri-County Red Cross Advisory Board.  He sells pecans to generate more revenue for Red Cross. He cooks barbecue, and hauls off the trash. He cracks jokes, and makes people laugh. Larry Nettles also makes referrals to other agencies so victims can receive additional help.  At their request, Larry will stand beside victims when they talk to insurance or agency representatives.  Larry Nettles is truly a Red Cross Volunteer Extraordinaire.  The bottom line is that Larry Nettles cares about people, and he is a true believer in the mission of Red Cross.

Nancy Cataldo, Executive Director, presents Heroes co-chairs, Eric McKnight and Jack Osteen with a Certificate of Appreciation for their service to the Red Cross.

Nancy also honored the 2012 Co-Chairmen of the Heroes Fundraising Campaign, Item Publisher, Jack Osteen and Miller Communications, Executive Eric McKnight.  The tri-county area has raised more than $100,000 so far with more than three months left in the fiscal year.  Nancy said she could not have better leaders on board than Jack and Eric.

Other community leaders recognized for their work on the Heroes campaign include Kay Farmer of Lee County and Ann Kirven of Clarendon County.  They were the chairpersons of their Heroes campaigns in their communities.  So many others in the tri-county area have played a role in fundraising, and many of them were recognized by Nancy, Jack and Eric.

Red Cross Volunteer Coordinator DeEtte VanVechten presented Volunteer Ruth Heater and Randy Burns with a special citation for exceptional volunteer service.

Ruth volunteers in the Sumter office two days a week, but gets about four days of work accomplished.  Randy has increased visibility for the Red Cross by continually telling the Red Cross story and helping make the community aware of what services the Red Cross provides.

Manning Mayor Julia Nelson and Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen were on hand to present proclamations to Cataldo recognizing March as Red Cross Month.

Firefighters, David White and Wayne Holmes received the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit for using the skills learned in Red Cross certification training to save the life of Danny Stokes. The Certificate of Merit is the highest lifesaving award issed by the American Red Cross and it is signed by the President of the United States.

Thursday night’s recognition banquet had many highlights, but the biggest of all in my opinion was the recognition of two Sumter firefighters, Wayne Holmes and David White.  These two gentlemen received the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit and the Gene Franklin Lifesaving Award.  The first is a national award, and the first to be given in the tri-county area since 1999.  The second is a local award, given to honor the late Gene Franklin, a chaplain and firefighter who was also a Red Cross volunteer.

In giving the awards to Wayne and David, Nancy told the story of Danny Stokes, and the events of Christmas Eve 2011 in a remote Sumter County field near Mayesville.

Danny Stokes, a member of the Sportsman Hunt Club, was deer hunting with friends and other members of the club when he was struck in the lower abdomen by a ricochet bullet.

Wayne and David, who were in the same area deer hunting themselves, were among the first to arrive on the scene.

While waiting for the arrival of EMS, Wayne removed some of Danny’s clothing to get a better understanding of his wounds.  He began to apply pressure low in his abdomen to help slow the blood flow. As he was doing this he kept talking to Danny in order to try to keep him conscious.

Other volunteer firefighters were on hand and were able to move Stokes to a back board and began administering oxygen.

David soon realized that they were going to need immediate action beyond EMS and the local hospital, and called for a life flight helicopter and arranged transportation toPalmettoRichlandHospital, where he faced surgery and hours of treatment.  Doctors credited the immediate attention Danny received on the scene as being an essential part of his survival.  Danny would be released, and less than three months later – able to walk to the podium on Thursday night to thank Wayne Holmes and David White, for what they did on that night.

The National Red Cross Certificate of Merit is given to those who save or sustain a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Health and safety Services course.  The award is the highest award given by Red Cross for lifesaving and exemplifies the highest degree of concern of one human being for another, Nancy told the audience.

One Year after Japan’s Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami, Generosity of the American Public helped Japan Transition from Relief to Recovery

American Red Cross helped provide relief and assistance to hundreds of thousands of families.

With help from donations that were made to the American Red Cross following Japan’s tragic earthquake and Pacific tsunami, the country is firmly on the path to recovery a year later. 

 “The donations of people in the Columbia Region and across the country to the American Red Cross has been critical in moving Japan from a state of disaster relief to recovery and rebuilding,” said Scott R. Salemme, regional chief executive officer, American Red Cross, Columbia Region.  “Whether it’s offering emotional support to someone struggling with trauma, building much needed healthcare facilities, or providing appliances to a family moving into a temporary home, those donations to the Red Cross are helping the Japanese people look to the future.”

 Donations to the American Red Cross have helped the Japanese Red Cross:

• Provide more than 316,000 survivors with necessary appliances for their temporary housing, including refrigerators, washing machines and rice cookers.
• Support construction of four temporary hospitals, one permanent hospital and a community health clinic.
• Rebuild a Red Cross nursing school that will train specialists in disaster medical care
• Provide more than 87,000 people with health services through Japanese Red Cross mobile teams and temporary clinics.
• Comfort 14,000 people by counselors trained to deal with disaster-related trauma.
• Provide transportation and vaccinations for the elderly and educational support, temporary school gyms and play areas for children.
• Improve the disaster response capacity of the Japanese Red, so critical to saving lives.

“Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has generously donated funds through the American Red Cross and national societies in many other countries,” said Tadateru Konoe, president of the Japanese Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross. “Through your support we have been able to help survivors regain their resilience and also increase our preparedness to face up to potential future disasters.”

 The American Red Cross was one of the largest private, international contributors to the Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami response, raising more than $312 million. One year later, virtually all of the funds have been spent. Because of these donations, the Japanese Red Cross was able to bring emergency comfort to those living in shelters and later able to provide the supplies and services needed to help them get back on their feet.

For more information on Red Cross relief and recovery efforts in Japan can be found in the one-year report.

March is Red Cross Month!

 

Volunteers from the Aiken County Chapter serve food in Raliegh, NC after a tornado outbreack devasted communities last spring.

President Barack Obama has proclaimed “March is American Red Cross Month,” upholding a tradition that began nearly 70 years ago.

During the very first March proclaimed as Red Cross Month, America was embattled in war abroad and fighting its way out of economic turmoil at home.   It was 1943 and many were struggling. Still, with mounting adversity, America came together in support of the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross.  This support continues today.

“After more than 130 years of providing humanitarian relief at home and abroad, the American Red Cross remains a reflection of the compassion and generosity central to our national identity,” states the 2012 Presidential Proclamation.  “As we celebrate American Red Cross Month, let us resolve to preserve and renew that humanitarian impulse to save, to serve, and to build, and carry it forward in the year to come.

Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami, March 11, 2011

It was just last March that an earthquake and tsunami struck without warning in Japan, causing tremendous loss and heartache.  In the aftermath, the American Red Cross provided hundreds of millions of dollars toward relief and recovery efforts to help those affected.  These efforts are helping to improve living conditions for families who lost their homes and to rebuild needed hospitals and a nursing school.

Read the one year update on Red Cross relief and recovery efforts in Japan here. 

Not long after the horrific disaster in Japan, tornadoes hit, floodwaters crept higher and wildfires ignited here at home in one of the busiest spring seasons the Red Cross experienced in decades.  Shelters were opened. Meals, water and supplies were delivered.  And comfort was found in the embrace of Red Cross workers.

Red Cross disaster workers serve warm meals to residents that were affected by a tornado.

To learn more about our disaster relief efforts across the country, read the one year report here.

These tragedies at home and abroad, often strike with little warning.  March is a reminder of the Red Cross mission to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.  While the Red Cross is most visible during times of disaster, the work continues year-round.

Every year, the Red Cross:

• Responds to nearly 70,000 disasters
• Teaches more than 4 million people how to prepare for disaster Engages more than half a million people as Red Cross volunteers
• Trains more than 9 million people in first aid, water safety and other skills to help save lives such as CPR and use of AEDs Collects 6.3 million units of blood from roughly 3.7 million volunteer donors
• Provides services to more than 400,000 military members, veterans and civilians
• Helps nearly 150 million people through disaster management and disease prevention activities
• Reconnects more than 1,000 families separated by war and disaster around the world

Since 1881, the Red Cross has provided lifesaving services across the country and around the world thanks to the generosity of the American public that has always reached into their own pocket to help their neighbor in need.

After President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared the month of March “Red Cross Month” in 1943, the Red Cross raised the largest amount ever aimed for in one campaign by any American organization. Roosevelt called it the “greatest single crusade of mercy in all of history.”  Today, the American Red Cross continues to be that symbol of mercy, providing help and hope down the street, across the country and around the world.

Pizza Hut and Pepsi help us launch the 2012 Heroes Campaign and National March is Red Cross Month!

We are so excited to announce our partnership with Pizza Hut and Pepsi!   We are launching the 2012 Heroes Campaign and National March is Red Cross Month at the “Heroes Kick-Off” event tonight 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Pizza Hut located at 9702 Two Notch Road in Columbia.

At the Kick-Off, local media personalities will be helping serve pizza, as well as Red Cross disaster volunteers.  In addition, representatives from Pizza Hut, Pepsi and the Red Cross will be in attendance to help launch this exciting campaign. 

Red Cross Month is a great time for people to support our mission.  We are grateful to our friends at Pizza Hut and Pepsi for giving their customers the opportunity to give back to the Red Cross.  Support from our community will enable us to continue preparing and responding to disasters that occur every eight hours in our region.

In multiple locations throughout South Carolina and online, Pizza Hut and Pepsi will be offering customers a “Meal Deal” for $19.99 that consists of one medium one-topping pizza, one medium specialty pizza, a five-count order of breadsticks and a two liter Pepsi product soft drink.  One dollar of the “Meal Deal” will be donated to the Red Cross.  If customers wish to purchase a different menu item they will be offered the opportunity to purchase a “Heroes” point-of-sale poster for a minimum $1 donation.  These posters will remain up in Pizza Hut’s across the state for the month of March.

In addition to the Heroes Kick-off event, throughout March a number of other local restaurants will be participating in “Restaurant-A-Day” in honor of Red Cross Month.  These restaurants will be donating a percentage of their sales to support the work of the Red Cross.  Click here for more information.

“Heroes for the American Red Cross” is a grassroots fundraising and awareness campaign that gives the public the chance to make a big, lasting difference and to be recognized for it, too.  Heroes pledges to raise a minimum of $1,000 for the Red Cross during the campaign period. Participating Heroes can raise the money personally, as an organization or by hosting a fundraising event.  Click here for more information on how to become a Hero. 

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 with Red Cross services.