For us here in SW Washington, it could range from a disaster that affects only you and your family – like a home fire or medical emergency; to a disaster that  affects your entire community – like an earthquake, flood or volcanic eruption.

How to prepare for a disaster

For the Red Cross, this is a busy season, too.

We’re preparing for the upcoming hurricane season, flooding season, tornado season and fire season.

We’re collecting blood, preparing supplies, and holding classes so you know how to care for yourself and your neighbors should a disaster occur locally.

We depend on you for help. Most people know about the Red Cross through blood drives and disasters. But did you realize that you could also help the Red Cross by teaching, taking or simply hosting one of the many Red Cross classes?

More than 9 million people will learn lifesaving skills through the Red Cross this year. Regardless of age or occupation, our health and safety courses offer peace of mind to all who participate. No one expects to be faced with an emergency situation. The Red Cross can help you to be prepared with the right knowledge and skills to respond when the time comes.

The American Red Cross also educates the American public about the principles of international humanitarian law. We promote Exploring Humanitarian Law curriculum for high schools and universities. Its adaptable resources give teachers easy-to-use information to bring alive lessons about human life and dignity.

Take a Class

Get involved with your local Red Cross by taking a class. From First AID and CPR to Disaster Preparedness and International Humanitarian Law, the local Red Cross can help you learn new skills and get prepared. And in the process, you’ll get a first-hand opportunity to see how the Red Cross is engaged within your community. Click here to find classes that are available in your area.

Become an Instructor

Red Cross Health and Safety instructors are a quality group of professionals who teach valuable lifesaving skills to more than 9 million people each year in businesses, schools and communities. American Red Cross Disaster Response instructors train volunteers to respond to disasters in a variety of specialized roles. And American Red Cross International Humanitarian Law instructors deliver presentations about the Geneva Conventions and their connections to current events. Click here to learn more about the types of classes for which we need instructors.

Provide Training

With full service training, community classes, authorized provider training or classroom and online options, the American Red Cross is the most trusted training provider of health and safety training that meets OSHA guidelines and many other professional and regulatory standards. Click here to learn more about training options.

Offer Disaster Safety Lesson Plans

The American Red Cross Masters of Disaster®curriculum is centered on a series of ready-to-go lesson plans that help organizations educate youth about important disaster safety and preparedness information. Masters of Disaster contains lessons, activities, and demonstrations on disaster-related topics that organizations can incorporate into daily or thematic programming. Click here to learn more about the Masters of Disaster coursework.

We know you’re busy but we could really use your help. If you’ve got an hour to spare, we encourage you to share it with us during this busy Spring season. And in doing so, you’ll be helping your family, your friends and your neighbors.

Clark County Commissioners signed and presented a proclamation to Pete Capell of the SW Washington Region of the American Red Cross. Capell is a board member for the SW Washington Region. The proclamation names March as American Red Cross Month in Clark County.

Our thanks to the Commissioners and the citizens of the Clark County for their support of and commitment to the SW Washington Region of the Red Cross throughout the year.

Clark County Commissioners signed a petition naming March as American Red Cross Month. The Commission presented the signed petition to Red Cross Board Member Pete Capell.

Kelso Mayor David Futcher signed and presented a proclamation to Suzanne Arnits of the SW Washington Region of the American Red Cross.  The proclamation names March as American Red Cross Month in the City of Kelso.

Our thanks to Mayor Futcher and the citizens of the Kelso area for their support of and commitment to the SW Washington Region of the Red Cross throughout the year.

Kelso Mayor David Futcher presents the signed proclamation to Suzanne Arnits.

Battle Ground Mayor Lisa Walters signed and presented a proclamation to Dennis Rugg of the SW Washington Region of the American Red Cross. Rugg is the past board chairman for the SW Washington Region. The proclamation names March as American Red Cross Month in the City of Battle Ground.

Our thanks to Mayor Walters and the citizens of the Battle Ground area for their support of and commitment to the SW Washington Region of the Red Cross throughout the year.

Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt signed and presented a proclamation to Owen Boe and Scott Hogan of the SW Washington Region of the American Red Cross. Boe is a past board member and Hogan is the incoming board chairman for the SW Washington Region. The proclamation names March as American Red Cross Month in the City of Vancouver.

Our thanks to Mayor Leavitt and the citizens of the Vancouver area for their support of and commitment to the SW Washington Region of the Red Cross throughout the year.

Owen Boe (left) and Scott Hogan (right) accepted the March 2013 is American Red Cross Month proclamation from Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt on March 4 in the Vancouver City Council chambers.

Woodland Mayor Grover Laseke presented a proclamation to Paul Cline, a board member for the SW Washington Region of the American Red Cross. The proclamation names March as American Red Cross Month in the City of Woodland.

Our thanks to Mayor Laseke and the citizens of the Woodland area for their support of and commitment to the SW Washington Region of the Red Cross throughout the year.

Some of the activities are focused on helping others; some are focused on ensuring your home and family are safe should a disaster happen locally; all are focused on building a safer and better world.

To learn more about any of the activities available through the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org or call the SW Washington Region office at 360-693-5821.

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If you’re reading this post, thank you.

We hope it means you’re interested in becoming a volunteer with the Southwest Washington Region of the American Red Cross. Our region is comprised of six counties: Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Skamania and Klickitat. We need volunteers in each county so we can respond quickly to local disasters and local needs.

Following are just a few of the ways you can help. Over the next few weeks, we’ll expand on the associated tasks for these and other volunteer activities with your local Red Cross. That doesn’t mean, however, that you have to wait until the end of the month to start your volunteering career with the American Red Cross!

• Disaster Services: Assist in providing food, shelter, comfort and home for families affected by major disasters such as fire, hurricanes and tornadoes.
• Blood Services: Greet and register blood donors; work with local companies, communities and groups to recruit blood donors and promote blood drives.
• Volunteer Management: Assist with volunteer recruitment, placement, record keeping and recognition.
• Disaster Action Team: Team members respond to single-family fires with a disaster action team supervisor.
• Armed Forces Caseworker: Ensure delivery of emergency communications for members for the military and their families.
• Course Instructor: Teach community classes such as CPR, First Air, babysitting and water safety to children and adults.
• Board Member: Serve on local boards and help with fundraising and marketing programs. Be the face of the Red Cross in your community.

Are you ready to join us?

There are so many different ways to help on the local level but the first step is to complete and submit volunteer application. Applications are available here.

Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll schedule an Introduction to the American Red Cross meeting, and we’ll discuss the various volunteering tasks available locally and nationally.

If you’re ready to make a difference in people’s lives, join our mission to help relieve suffering by preventing, preparing for and responding to local emergencies.

Without their continued support, the Red Cross would be unable to provide assistance when needed.

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“During this month – and every day – please remember those who help all of us by giving their time to help their neighbor,” said Sheryl Beauchaine, CEO for the Southwest Washington Region of the American Red Cross.

“We want to thank our all of our Everyday Heroes during Red Cross Month – our volunteers, blood donors, class takers and financial supporters who help us assist those in need,” Beauchaine continued.

During the last year, the American Red Cross responded to nearly 70,000 disasters in this country alone. It provided shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected.

Every year, the Red Cross 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. It 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.

Locally, the numbers are just as impressive. There are  over 3,000 volunteers in SW Washington region, and over the past year, those volunteers:

• responded to 107 fires, 10 floods and three storm-related incidents
• provided relief for 149 families affected by local disasters
• trained over 16,000 people in lifesaving and disaster-preparedness skills
• provided outreach programs to 302 members of the Armed Forces and their families
  

  Volunteer Jan Riske helps blood donors register to give the gift of life.

In addition, residents from our area donated approximately 25,000 units of blood through sponsored blood drives and at the Clark County Blood Donor Center.

“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,” Beauchaine explained. “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; it 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.

For more information, click here to go to the American Red Cross website, or call the SW Washington regional office at 360-693-5821.

Join Us!

Nominations for Real Heroes are received by the SW Washington Red Cross from people throughout the region. The 2013 Real Heroes were announced during a reception this week and will be honored March 8 at a breakfast in downtown Vancouver. For more information, or to reserve seating at the breakfast, contact the Red Cross offices at 360-693-5821.

Please note that while there is no charge for the breakfast, donations to the SW Washington Region of the American Red Cross will be requested at the end of the meal.

Our next honoree receives the Emergency Response Rescue Hero award that is sponsored by Rehrig Pacific.

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Nathan Cook

Nathan Cook, an off-duty firefighter and EMT, was at home with his family when he heard gun shots outside.

Without regard for his own safety, he ran outside toward the screaming he heard down the street.

A young neighbor who had been shot multiple times at close range was lying on the sidewalk with his hysterical sister standing over him.

Nathan began to provide Basic Life Support while scanning his surroundings for the shooter.

Nathan struggled with the victim, telling him he must lie still so his injuries could be assessed.

Of the seven bullet holes he found, two could have hit the spine, and two were so grave that had Nathan not provided the necessary first aid, the victim would have bled out.

Police arrived on the scene and protected Nathan; then, authorized Nathan’s own Fire Department to approach the scene and transport the patient.

Aaron Kraft of Rehrig Pacific introduces
2013 Emergency Response Rescue Hero Nathan Cook

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 A Red Cross thank-you to:

• Nathan for risking his own life to save another
• Fred Meyer (Presenting Sponsor)
• Rehrig Pacific (Emergency Response Rescue Hero Award Sponsor)
• iQ Credit Union (Real Heroes Reception Sponsor)
• The Grant House and co-owner/Red Cross Board Member Lynn Rullman for providing appetizers during the Real Heroes reception

About the Real Heroes Breakfast

The Annual Real Heroes breakfast began 16 years ago to recognize those whose actions resulted in saving the lives of others. In addition, it serves as a signature fundraising event for Southwest Washington American Red Cross.

The Real Heroes Breakfast grew out of the desire to develop an event that closely aligns to the Red Cross mission: Saving lives through prevention, preparedness and response.

The program honors ordinary people and animals who have performed extraordinary heroic actions with the communities of Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania, Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties.