4th of July Blood Drive

Still interested in that ticket to summer fun? Good news! You can get one step closer by scheduling an appointment for our 4th of July Week Blood Drive.

In the spirit of the patriots who offered their “…lives, fortunes, and sacred honor…,” the American Red Cross is providing an opportunity on July 2, 2012 for Salt Lake City area residents to give blood at a special Fourth of July week blood drive. Blood supply inventories are at critically low levels, almost half the amount of readily available blood compared to last year. Donations are down in the first five months of 2012. The declining inventory of available blood products is most significant for types O+, O-, A- and B-.

Radio station “The Cowboy” FM104.3 (KSOP) will broadcast live from 8:00 – 10:00 AM at the Salt Lake Donor Center on July 2 during the first two hours of the blood drive which runs until 5:00 PM. All presenting donors will be eligible to enter the Ticket to Summer Fun drawing for a chance to win a $100 Ticketmaster gift certificate. Donors will also be entered in a drawing for a chance to win tickets to Thanksgiving Point or a package of fireworks.

Location

Salt Lake Donor Center

6616 South 900 East

Salt Lake City, UT, 84121

 

Visit http://tinyurl.com/7yfwcrw to make your appointment today.

Summer Fires of 2012

With the high number of uncontrollable wildfires Utah has been facing in recent weeks, the American Red Cross Utah Region has opened several evacuation centers for families in danger. The most recent information is below:

Active Red Cross Shelters and Reception Centers in Utah

as of: Thursday, June 28, 2012—12:08 a.m.

Oak City Wildfire: Red Cross reception center for evacuees open in Delta in an LDS meetinghouse located at 130 White Sage Avenue. It is no longer housed in the Palladium at Delta High School.

New Harmony Wildfire: Reception center in Cedar City currently closed, but may re-open, if needed.

Seeley Wildfire: Red Cross shelter for evacuees open in Wellington in an LDS meetinghouse located at 930 east Main Street.

Wood Hollow Fire: Red Cross Shelter in Mt. Pleasant at North Sanpete High School remains open.

*Reception centers, which typically provide snacks, water and information to evacuees, will transition into full-service Red Cross shelters if overnight stays are needed. All shelters and reception centers will remain open as long as they are needed.

The Red Cross Emblem - A Symbol of Hope for Over a Century

Seen in nearly 200 countries and at almost every tragedy in the world, the Red Cross emblem has become a symbol of neutrality and protection during war and conflict. Homelands, backgrounds and beliefs aside, when people see the red cross, a union is formed.

In 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross was established. Today, Red Cross and Red Crescent societies operate in more than 185 countries and provide humanitarian aid to people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. However, before the ICRC was formed, it was a different story…

Imagine a battlefield where medical personnel and soldiers are undistinguishable from one another - a combat zone where injured fighters lay unattended while field hospitals and medical vehicles are under attack. That is the world that existed until one man recognized a need for change.

While travelling through Solferino, Italy in 1859, Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman, witnessed the aftermath of a bloody battle between the French and Austrian armies. Providing as much relief as he could, he watched the death and suffering of thousands of wounded men, which led him to take action.

In 1862, Dunant published a small book entitled A Memory of Solferino, which depicts three themes: The first tells of the battle itself, the second portrays the aftershock of the fighting, and the third proposes a plan. He wrote, “Would it not be possible, in time of peace and quiet, to form relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in wartime by zealous, devoted, and thoroughly qualified volunteers?” Not long after the release of his book, he met with a committee of five to determine the answer to that question was yes.

On August 22, 1864, a conference was held with several nations, military medical services and humanitarian societies in attendance. It was on this date that an international treaty known as the Geneva Convention was signed. The treaty granted neutrality and protection to medical personnel and facilities bearing an identifiable emblem – the symbol of a red cross on a white background. The symbol needed to be simple, recognizable from a distance and universal. The committee chose a design that was the reverse of the Swiss flag because of the country’s constant neutral standing and because variations in color and shape would not change the status of the cross.

 Since then, many revisions have been made to the Geneva Convention, extending protection to other individuals and entities marked with the emblem, including civilians. More than a century later, Red Cross workers rely solely on the protection of their symbol, carrying no other weapons, and trusting the emblem as their shield conveying humanity, impartiality and neutrality.

Salt Lake City Welcomes Gail McGovern, President and CEO of American Red Cross

The American Red Cross Utah Region welcomes President and CEO of American Red Cross Gail J. McGovern to Salt Lake City! She is here to announce a strengthened Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the LDS Church. Follow the link to her lovely op-ed that was published in the Deseret News on June 17.

http://tinyurl.com/bu8wcc5

World Blood Donor Day

In 2012 alone, nearly 6 million people across America may require a blood transfusion. With no substitute for human blood, those in need rely on the kindness of donors. Today, June 14, 2012 is World Blood Donor Day. To support the Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering, we are urging everyone to take action and become a hero by donating blood.  To raise awareness about blood shortages in the U.S. the American Red Cross Blood Services is partnering with Nexcare TM Bandages. Beginning today and running through the end of June, Nexcare Brand will be giving away limited edition bandages that say "give" to demonstrate that "Giving Blood is Timeless" at Red Cross blood drives and donation centers.

The American Red Cross Utah Region would like to thank the donors who have helped save lives and encourage those who haven't to do so! Please pledge your support for blood donation, request free "give" bandages and enter for a chance to win a trip for two to New York City, visit Nexcaregive.com or text “give” to 34426.

Ticket to Summer Fun

Planning a summer vacation or
 looking for a relaxing getaway?

The American Red Cross Ticket to Summer Fun
could make life a little easier, and a lot more fun.

The American Red Cross Ticket to Summer Fun is a 15-week promotion to encourage blood donation during the summer months. The need is constant and summer is typically a difficult time to recruit blood donors.

When you present to donate blood or platelets at an American Red Cross blood drive this summer, complete and submit your Ticket to Summer Fun entry form for a chance to win a variety of prizes including airline tickets, hotel stays, concert tickets, music downloads, or movie tickets.

May 24 through June 30, 2012

 Come in to donate at a participating American Red Cross blood drive
in the Lewis and Clark Blood Services Region and
enter for your chance to win

A $500 Airline/Hotel Gift Certificate

Make your blood donation appointment today by visiting

http://www.redcrossblood.org/promotions/lewisclark/ticket-summer-fun

or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
to find a blood drive near you.

PLUS, every completed entry form will also be entered into the drawing
for the $2,500 Dream Vacation Grand Prize
to be awarded after September 5, 2011.

*Drawing and notification of winners will take place between 3 and 10 working days after June 30, 2012.
See Official Rules for more information and odds of winning.

Moab House Fire

Utah Red Cross responded to a house fire yesterday, which reportedly displaced three people. A volunteer Disaster Action Team is providing food and clothing to victims of the fire. The family was able to find shelter with family and friends; the Red Cross remains prepared to provide further assistance, if needed, to make this family as comfortable as possible at this time.

CPR- Know it when you need it!

Teri used her training to save her grandson’s life.

“Andrew was seven years old when he tried to catch a grape in his mouth. He caught it and we all clapped, but he didn’t reply,” Teri said. “He dropped to the ground and I jumped up and rolled him over. His lips were turning blue and he had the most terrifying look on his face. I was scared, but because of my training I didn’t panic.



“I checked his air way and there was no way to reach in and grab it, so I rolled him over and gave him two sharp blows between his shoulder blades. The grape didn’t budge so I gave him some abdominal thrusts and that grape shot out like a bullet. He gasped for air, grabbed me and held on so tightly, tears ran down both our faces. Thank you for teaching me all I know because it allowed me to hear my grandson say afterward ‘Grandma I couldn't breathe. I love you grandma’. He is alive today because of the knowledge I learned in your CPR/First Aid training class. God Bless the American Red Cross.”

Teri stays prepared to protect her family; why do you?