Public Welcome To “Red Hot Soiree”

Have Fun and Help Support Your Local Red Cross in Ogden on June 12^th

The public is invited to a very important and fun American Red Cross event in Ogden. The Red Cross of Northern Utah is hosting its annual fundraiser “Red Hot Soiree” on June 12^th at 6:30 pm at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center. The event, generously sponsored by Big-D Construction, has a Latin theme and offers a live mariachi band. This year some of the items in the live auction include: tickets to the Jonas Brothers 4^th of July “Stadium of Fire” concert, a 3-hour private flight to Wendover, a golf outing for four with cart and caddy at Park City’s exclusive Glenwild course, pheasant hunting and fly fishing excursions at White’s Ranch, and a five-course dinner for you and seven of your friends at Ogden’s new restaurant Zucca Trattoria. There will also be a silent auction. Reservations may be made for $50 per person or $500 for a table of ten by calling Jennifer 801-625-0851 or emailing jenniferc@redcrossutah.org by June 5th. Half of your payment is a tax deductable donation. Funds raised support the American Red Cross and its mission to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. In Northern Utah, since July 1, 2008, the American Red Cross, Northern Utah Chapter performed these important services and could not have done it without generous donations from the public:

•Helped 131 people affected by disasters. The Red Cross has provided emergency shelter, food, clothing, and needed prescription medicines.
•Helped with 258 military messages. Service to Armed Forces caseworkers communicated vital information from families in our community to their loved ones stationed far from home.
• Trained 33,560 people to save a life. Red Cross Health and Safety instructors taught classes in CPR, first aid, lifeguarding, emergency response and babysitter's training.

Statewide, Red Cross Chapters in Utah respond to about 200 incidents each year; some of them render multiple families homeless. Nationwide, the American Red Cross’s local chapters help victims of major and minor disasters by offering immediate comfort, which may include food, a warm place to stay, clothing and other life necessities. Volunteers give comfort kits to victims of fire, flood or other disasters. The kits include helpful items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and a toy for children.

About the American Red Cross in Utah: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving skills; supplies blood to 30 area hospitals; and supports military members and their families. The organization also provides emergency utility assistance and international family tracing services. The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization, not a government funded agency, which depends entirely upon volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. Donate your time or resources to your local Chapter. Salt Lake Area 801-323-7000 or visit www.utahredcross.org, Provo Area (801) 373-8580 www.redcrossut.org, Ogden Area (801) 627-0000, www.redcrossutah.org.

Water Safety Tips

Water Safety Tips from the American Red Cross

The Outdoor Pools are Opening & Summer is Around the Corner!

For immediate release

The American Red Cross in Utah (Friday, May 22, 2009) — Many outdoor swimming pools open this Memorial Day weekend and summer is right around the corner. If you’re like most people, when the temperature starts to soar, you’ll be looking for the coolest place in town, the pool or the beach. But before you go, the American Red Cross in Utah wants to remind you that cool dip could leave you in hot water if you don’t practice water safety.

• Learn to swim and swim well. One of the best things anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is learn to swim. No one, including adults should ever swim alone. Adults should practice “reach supervision” which means to be within arm’s length of a child in case an emergency occurs.
• Outfit everyone with the proper gear. Kids – and even adults – who are not strong swimmers or who appear to rely on inflatable toys for safety should use U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) whenever they are in or around the water. Everyone, including strong swimmers, should use an approved PFD when boating. When used properly, this lightweight plastic equipment can help save lives.
• Always keep basic lifesaving equipment by the residential pool and know how to use it. A first aid kit, cordless phone, phone list with emergency contact information, reaching pole and ring buoy with a line attached are recommended. First aid kits should contain plastic face shields, which can help prevent disease transmission In addition, the Red Cross recommends that pools be surrounded on all sides by a fence that is at least four feet high
• Swim in supervised areas only.
• Obey "No Diving" signs.
• Watch out for the "dangerous too's." Take a break at the point of being too tired, too cold, or too far from safety, too much sun, too little hydration, too much strenuous activity.
• Don’t mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills and reduces your body's ability to stay warm.
• Pack a “safety” bag for a day at the beach or lake. Water-proof sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher, water shoes to keep feet safe from the heat and sharp objects on land and plenty of water are musts. All containers should be plastic to prevent injuries from breaking glass. Also, a hat and sunglasses keep eyes safe from dangerous UV rays.
• Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
• Learn Red Cross first aid and CPR. While the above tips can help prevent emergencies, it is important to know what to do if a situation arises. And all caregivers, including grandparents, older siblings and babysitters should have these lifesaving skills.

For photos, interviews and more information call Susan Thomas 801-323-7013

About the American Red Cross in Utah: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving skills; supplies blood to 30 area hospitals; and supports military members and their families. The organization also provides emergency utility assistance and international family tracing services. The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization, not a government funded agency, which depends entirely upon volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. Donate your time or resources to your local Chapter. Salt Lake Area 801-323-7000 or visit www.utahredcross.org, Provo Area (801) 373-8580 www.redcrossut.org, Ogden Area (801) 627-0000, www.redcrossutah.org.

Vote for the American Red Cross

Please vote for the American Red Cross on the Target Facebook page.

This is your friendly reminder to vote today. There are 5 days left in Target's Bullseye Gives Campaign.

The American Red Cross has 25% of the vote and St. Jude has 26%. Every vote increases our share of the $3 million charitable contribution, so please remind your friends and family to vote once every 24 hours through May 25.

Here's why your vote is so important.

Every 24 hours:
American Red Cross volunteers help 200 families who lost everything in a house fire or other disaster
American Red Cross connects deployed service members with their families 475 times
19,000 people outside the United States receive urgent care from the Red Cross following a disaster
21,000 people receive a blood transfusion from a Red Cross donor
43,000 people receive life-saving Red Cross health, safety and preparedness training
290,000 children receive a measles vaccination from the Red Cross and partners

Login or signup to Facebook and go to http://www.facebook.com/target.

If you're unfamiliar with Facebook and need a bit more instruction for voting, please visit http://www.redcross.org/facebook.

Your Vote = Your Gift

Thank you for helping your American Red Cross!

While you are on Facebook, feel free to search for the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter Facebook page and click to become a fan of your local Red Cross Facebook page.

Target Supports Your Favorite Charity

We need your help! From May 10 - 25, Target is allowing its Facebook "friends" and store guests to chose which of 10 national charities and causes-including the American Red Cross-should receive a portion of $3 million in charitable giving from Target.

We need you to ask your own Facebook friends to help us out by voting for Red Cross every day through May 25th. Go to Target's Bullseye Gives page on Facebook and vote Red Cross! "Your vote = your gift."



Instructions:



1. Login or Sign Up on Facebook

Visit http://www.facebook.com/target

Click "Submit Vote" button next to Red Cross



2. If this is your first time voting, a box will appear that asks you to "Accept" this application. Please accept it.



3. In subsequent voting, this step will be skipped and you'll be navigated directly to step 6.



4. A box will appear that allows you to type a message to your Facebook friends telling them why you chose to vote for the Red Cross and encouraging them to do the same.



5. What you type in this box will appear in your friends' news streams.



6. That's it! Congratulations!

World Red Cross Day Celebration

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH ( May 6, 2009)— The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is celebrating World Red Cross Day on May 8th from 3 pm – 6 pm with a presentation on Red Cross services available for local refugees and people in Utah seeking links to loved ones around the world.

Emergency Services Director, Logan Sisam said, “This is a great opportunity to bring some key leaders in the community together to share information on how the Red Cross can help people in Utah who need our services.” Regional Chapter CEO, Maxine Margaritis added, “Utah has an extensive refugee population and we want these individuals and families to know that we offer International Tracing Services to help them connect with families separated through crisis such as war or famine. The American Red Cross has links with Red Cross societies all around the globe and works with the International Red Cross to help restore family links.”

One of the participants in this event is a man who knows what it is like to flee a country and land in Utah first-hand. Muridi says he gave his trust to the Red Cross and acknowledged how it has helped his family. He fled a refugee camp in Africa, came to America and landed in Utah. His wife wanted to open a day care and took Red Cross classes, like First Aid and CPR, to be able to run her business. Muridi since learned the Red Cross can try to help people re establish contact and link with loved ones in other countries. He is currently requesting a Red Cross link and is excited that he may be able to reconnect with lost loved ones. Muridi plans to participate from the Somali Community of Salt Lake, at the World Red Cross Day on Friday May 8th.



Event agenda available upon request/ interviews available before or after the event as well.

Open to the media

Open to the public but RSVP to lsisam@utahredcross.org is required

Preparedness Tips for A-H1N1 Virus

Learn how to be prepared for the A-H1N1 Virus at: http://209.18.123.141/general.asp?SN=3010&OP=5543&IDCapitulo=I2OD6QV708