10 Things You Can Do in 5 Minutes

I was recently reading an article in a magazine about things you could do if you had 5 minutes to spare. Included in the list were: brush and floss your teeth, write a thank you note, and call a loved one. The list included simple things to do but important tasks that sometimes get overlooked. What would you do with a 5 minute break?

I decided to create my own list of preparedness items you can do if you have an extra 5 minutes in your day. See I told you it was easy! Check it out!

1. Change the batteries in your smoke alarm
2. Make sure items in your food storage are not expired
3. Make a list of emergency contact information for you and your family members
4. Assemble a small emergency pack with items around your house like a flashlight, water, etc.
5. Read up on Red Cross earthquake safety information
6. Fill up your gas tank
7. Make a fire escape plan and discuss it with your kids and family
8. Put fresh batteries in a flashlight and put it next to your bed
9. Sign up for a CPR class
10. Order a first aid kit online

What else can you do to be prepared with just 5 minutes to spare?

Preparedness: It's Not That Hard!

Preparedness can be a scary word; it's true, it can be daunting. Many people I have talked to during preparedness presentations across the state are overwhelmed by what the word entails. Here in Utah, people have entire rooms in their homes dedicated to preparedness. Shelves full of canned foods and gallons of water! But if you think about the basics of being prepared, you shouldn't be daunted. It really can be easy if you start with the essentials.

My advice, start with a 72-hour kit! Either purchase one already made on our online store or gather the supplies and put them in an old backpack. Make sure your kit is readily available for use. This could mean near your bed, in your car, or by the front door.

Once you feel comfortable with your kit, start gathering other items that may be useful. These include, extra flashlights and batteries in case of a power outage, a few extra cans of food and some water containers after a trip to Costco and beefing up your first aid kit. Then check your fire alarms and make sure everyone in your house knows what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.

As soon as you have the basics down, you can rest assured that while you may not have everything but the kitchen sink in your earthquake, tornado, and atomic bomb proof chamber, you have essential items that will help in case of any type of emergency.

If this simple post doesn't do it for you, I suggest saving your money for this instead. 



Shout out to Jana Sweeny for bringing up the "preparedness is simple" topic and to the Oregon Trail Chapter for this awesome video.

Reality Show Partners With American Red Cross

Trina Polta is a guest blogger for the American Red Cross in Utah. Learn how one reality show speaks the truth about a serious subject.

The popular television dating show The Bachelor helps spread the word about National Blood Donor Month. January is National Blood Donor Month and the contestants put their acting skills to the test! Their task is to create public service announcements highlighting how important it is to give blood today.

• Learn why it is important to donate blood

• Review blood donation eligibility requirements

• Read about the blood donation process

Not a fan of the show, but want to check out this special episode? Click here to watch part 1 and part 2 

About "The Bachelor":
In the hit primetime reality series The Bachelor, one lucky man is offered the chance to find true love. The single and eligible Bachelor embarks on a romantic journey, getting to know a bevy of beautiful bachelorettes, gradually narrowing the field to the one woman to whom he may propose marriage in the dramatic season finale. Hosted by Chris Harrison, The Bachelor is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org 

Haiti-One Year Later

Tomorrow will mark the one year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. One year since hundreds of thousands of Haitians lost their homes, their loved ones and their livelihoods. One year since Haiti, an already ravaged country, crumbled.


A lot has happened in one year. I have been volunteering and now working for the Red Cross for over a year now. And I was forced into the fire of the happenings of Haiti right here in Utah. I was overwhelmed with work to do but even more so overwhelmed by the amount of people who came to the office with money in all amounts and with time to answer phones, take messages, and offer support.

The people from Utah are an extremely generous bunch; raising over $2 million for the American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. Donors came from large corporations, from small businesses, from elementary and high schools across the state and from ordinary citizens just trying to offer whatever help they could.

A lot has happened in one year. With the money that people across the United States donated (almost $475 million) the Red Cross has been able to provide food to over 1 million people with the help of the UN World Food Programme ; clean drinkable water to hundreds of thousands of people every day since the earthquake; after the Cholera outbreak, vaccinations for nearly 1 million people, and much more!

A lot still needs to happen. The American Red Cross is committed to helping the people of Haiti until every last donated dollar is spent. Long term recovery plans have been made over the next several years with permanent housing for Haitians a top priority.

It is absolutely incredible to me how vast the American Red Cross is. The work that has been done and is being done can and will move mountains but it will take some time, and patience is key to the recovery process. I often wish I could go over to Haiti and help pick up the pieces, lend my able body to the relief efforts and give hope to the country. But for now I will marvel at the work that the Red Cross is doing and patiently wait and hope that the work will continue and things will change for Haiti.

To read the One Year Report from the American Red Cross click here.

An Electrifying Red Cross Program

Trina Polta is a guest blogger for the American Red Cross in Utah. This time she is highlighting one of our seasonal programs.

Utility Assistance

Beyond the highly publicized American Red Cross disaster services there are many other aid programs, including our Utility Assistance program.  In 2010 American Red Cross assisted just over four thousand homes in Utah regarding utilities services.  The Utility Assistance program provides emergency monetary support to qualifying individuals.  Utahans experiencing hardship with paying their bills during the winter season may seek help for one or more of the following utilities Questar, Riverton City Water, Rocky Mountain Power, or Salt Lake City Water. 

Program Qualification

People seeking help, should know to qualify you must meet at least these specifications:

• Considered living on a low income wage AND also meet one of the listed items below.
• Item 1: Individuals must be 60 years or older
• Item 2: Or you must be on permanent disability

Steps To Getting Help

1. Contact the Home Energy Assistance Target 

   (HEAT) program at 801-521- 6107 first

2. If you have a shut off notice, you may go to the HEAT office in your area
3. Review program information on the HEAT website 
4. If you have already worked with HEAT AND still need Red Cross assistance call us at 801-323-7000
5. When leaving us a voice message at 801-323-7000 make sure to state your name and a daytime phone number 

Program Funding

Funding consists of various charitable gifts from these main sources:

• Utility employees and stockholders donations
• Local resident contributions made with their utility payments
• Direct donations given to the American Red Cross (Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter)

Other Program Details

Assistance is not intended to relieve individuals of their responsibilities, but is meant to assist them while they develop practical plans for meeting their own needs. 

365 Days: One American Red Cross Chapter

Trina Polta is a guest blogger for the American Red Cross in Utah. She's back to show her gratitude for her fellow Red Cross volunteers. 

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and now it is time to reflect on what a caring community can accomplish together in just one year.  Just over twelve hundred kind individuals made the choice to pledge their time toward helping their fellow man in need.  Together our American Red Cross Utah chapter volunteers and 33 staffers have indeed touched the lives of people during unexpected life altering events.  Thanks to your dedication these devastating and tender moments that individuals in our communities are confronted with are thankfully, not spent alone. In 2010, our Utah chapter responded to 139 disasters from fires to floods. 

Beyond responding to emergency situations, volunteers like you have given the gift of knowledge by teaching others various American Red Cross courses.  In one year an outstanding 34,092 men and women were trained in disaster preparedness.  Even more Utahans (42,307) completed first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. Thousands upon thousands also took advantage your expert instruction in swimming and babysitting courses. 

We also thank you for all your donations throughout this year because your contributions have helped maintain and sustain critical American Red Cross programs and services. 

When you reflect on your personal accomplishments as you ring in the New Year don't forget to celebrate the warmth of our considerate and compassionate volunteers who make an impact in their community.

10 More Things I Didn't Know About the Red Cross...

...Until I Started Volunteering Here

A while ago, in my Red Cross naïveté I posted 10 things I didn’t know about the Red Cross until I started volunteering here. Well it’s been almost a year now and I certainly have learned a plethora of things about the Red Cross and all of the services we provide. So I came up with 10 MORE things I didn’t know about the Red Cross. It was hard to narrow down the list, as it certainly could have been 20! Please read, enjoy, learn, and share with your friends and family!

1. Everyday Heroes in the community are honored annually by the American Red Cross. Do you know someone who has saved a life, or done something make the community a better and safer place to live? The Red Cross awards Heroes at annual events across the state. Submit your nominations here by December 31st! And check out our previous award recipients online.

2. The American Red Cross can unite family members separated due to war, armed conflict, and disasters. As part of the International Family Tracing Services, and thanks to the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the Red Cross can help unite local individuals with their family members.

Tracing cases occur when:

• Families have been separated as a result of either armed conflict or disaster.

• As much as possible, families should have tried normal channels of communication before requesting Red Cross tracing services.

• The family member making the inquiry provides essential information on the sought person.

• The family member making the inquiry is a close family relative, who has been in direct contact with the sought person before the conflict or disaster occurred.

Recently the Salt Lake Chapter has helped in one of these tracing cases. We were able to unite a refugee from Africa with his family members here in Utah.

3. The American Red Cross provides the curriculum for swim instructors. Taken a swim class? Then chances are that you were taught by a Red Cross certified instructor.

4. Heidi Klum and The Rock support the Red Cross. There are over 40 celebrities on the National Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet. These celebrities including tween heartthrobs Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato donate their time, skills, and energy to help promote Red Cross initiatives and response efforts. Here’s a full list of this year’s Red Cross celebrity cabinet members.

5. You can take Pet First Aid and CPR! The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter offers a pet first aid and CPR class. Make sure you know what to do if Fido stops breathing or Ted breaks a paw. Sign up for a class today.

6. The American Red Cross teaches life-saving skills to young Babysitters! Know someone between the ages of 11 and 14? If so, sign them up to become a Red Cross certified Babysitter. Young leaders are taught CPR and First Aid among other skills so they can be responsible babysitters. If you are interested in learning more about Red Cross courses check out www.utahredcross.org/takeaclass

7. The Red Cross in Utah has chapter offices in Provo, Ogden, St. George and Cache County! The Red Cross operates across Utah with offices in Provo, Ogden, St. George and Cache County. No matter where you live, the Red Cross is here to help when you need! For information about the Red Cross in your area check out www.utahredcross.org/acrossutah

8. The American Red Cross follows 7 Fundamental Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality. No matter who you are, what your background may be the American Red Cross can and will help you.

9. The American Red Cross in Utah responded to 139 disasters this year; But we don’t self deploy. If the fire department, police department, or individuals call for Red Cross help our Disaster trained volunteers are on the scene and can provide food, clothing, shelter and a listening ear.

10. We are the only organization to have a congressional mandate to perform and carry out our services and not receive any federal line-item funding. I know this was my last number 10, but I think it is incredible, so incredible I wanted to put it on this list too. The Red Cross relies on the generous donations of our community and community partners in order to be able to do all of the things I just mentioned. If you would like to donate to the American Red Cross in Utah or would like to volunteer your time and talents, click here.

Last Minute Giving And Gifting Made Easy

Trina Polta is a guest blogger for the American Red Cross in Utah. She's back to help you fill all your gift giving needs. 

Are you scrambling to complete your holiday shopping in the next 48 hours?  Want to avoid the crowded malls and inflated online shipping fees today and tomorrow?  Not to worry, because the American Red Cross has you covered in a few ways. 

Option A

Ease your stress level and give the gift of kindness by donating basic survival and educational items from our 2010 Holiday Giving Catalog.  Here is how it works, you choose to buy a gift like the blanket set ($18 for 3 blankets).  Proceed through the quick online check out process and your purchase is done in no time.  Now you can print a copy of your order immediately from the site or from your email.  Finally, write a little note in a holiday card (to your special someone) saying you just donated 3 blankets on their behalf.  Congratulations!  You've just accomplished a great deed by giving a gift to your loved one as well as giving a gift to a deserving family.

I personally love this option because most of my family lives out of state.  The American Red Cross 2010 Holiday Giving Catalog is a great seasonal giving option, because I'm avoiding shipping costs, and extra baggage fees at the airport.  Plus, I really feel great knowing that my donation is going to help another person when they really need it. Another added bonus, not that you need another reason, but in case you were wondering, your gifts are tax-deductible. 

Option B 

Are you still losing sleep on what gift you are going to get your relative that happens to have everything?  Or, do you still need a hostess gift for an upcoming party?  The second option the American Red Cross is offering can be found in their online Red Cross Store.  Right now you can snag 10% off the top ten favorite survival gear items.  You can never be too prepared and either can your relative who has everything.  Just purchase and print out a copy of your order to put in any holiday card.  There is also a holiday gift shop where you can buy presents for everyone including babies, adults and pets.  You'll find emergency preparedness supplies, first aid kits, educational materials (books and videos), clothing and other accessories that are great for any household.  You will also find easy to shop categories by price, recipient or purpose. 

Bonus Buys

So, really if you are not a last minute holiday shopper this is for you.  Really this BONUS BUY is for everyone who loves a great deal!  Currently, there are four discounted deals that will save you 20% off beach towels, fall apparel, and the popular 100 Year Anniversary First Aid Kit.  You can also get 50% off holiday cards.  When you shop the Red Cross Store, you support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross. 

• Access 2010 Holiday Giving Catalog
• Access the Red Cross Store 
• Access the Holiday Gift Shop 
• Access the Red Cross Store Specials (Bonus Buys)  

I'm wishing you a Happy and Safe Holiday. And, please don't forget to pamper yourself now that you have taken care of everyone else. 

Proud to Be a Part of the Red Cross

In the past year that I have been working with the American Red Cross in Salt Lake I have seen amazing things happen. I have witnessed inspiring people drop everything they were doing to to respond when a fire destroyed a family's home. I have seen volunteers like Evelyn Halstead from Utah travel across the country to help in National Disasters. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most extraordinary volunteers. And I have been witness to the comfort given after an individual's livlihood is destroyed by flames or flood.

As an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Red Cross I have preached preparedness on this blog and to the community with disaster presentations and fun facts to keep my friends and fellow Utahns prepared. I have learned so much about the Red Cross and all of the programs the organization can offer.

All of this is why giving to the Red Cross this holiday season with the Holiday Giving Campaign comes so easy. I urge all of you to make the choice to give gifts this season that save the day! A donation to the American Red Cross means blankets to families who may lose their home this winter due to a disaster, calling cards to soldiers overseas or water supplies to those affected by International Disasters.

Make your holiday dollars count with a donation to the incredible work of the Red Cross!

A Heartfelt Partnership

Trina Polta is a guest blogger for the American Red Cross in Utah. This is just one of many things she's learned about the American Red Cross. 

Last month, I decided I would make a change in my life and try to give more to my community.  This thought led me to volunteering my time at the local American Red Cross chapter. I quickly found out the American Red Cross is more than a disaster relief service. In fact, they are much more!  

I now know the American Red Cross supports military members, and their families.  There is a program called Coping with Deployments, which helps put the focus on military families after their loved one is called to service. Here are a few quick facts about the program:

• Military families who reach out to the Red Cross can receive free information and resources to help cope with deployments. 
• Coping with Deployments trains mental health professionals. After certification professionals help assist military families with coping mechanisms when life becomes too stressful.  
• Families can also get help with emergency communication.  
• The program also assists veterans with referrals.

To find out more about the partnership between the military and the Red Cross click here. 

Check out Coping with Deployments frequently asked questions. 

Watch America Ferrera's PSA 

Is your company looking for a way to give back?!

Trina Polta is a guest blogger for the American Red Cross in Utah. Here is her story of giving back.

I used to work for a Fortune 500 company. This was my first large corporate experience which in the end reminded of many things I had forgotten, including the importance of giving back to my community. The company was and is well versed in connecting their employees to volunteer opportunities. Working for a company that valued community service helped me realize, I can make a difference. Yes, little old me, who is not wealthy. We all bring something to the table, and during my two plus years working there, I started donating can foods. My helping hand quickly evolved to organizing site events like blood drives and giving trees.

Maybe, you have never thought of approaching your company to see if they have some corporate dollars set aside for each business quarter or business year?

Asking could make the difference in many ways:

Help Others: You help those in need by helping your company donate

Help Expand Your Work Goals: You could fulfill a work goal by getting your company involved in community service

Help Your Team Morale: You could organize a team builder exercise and volunteer your lunch hour once a month to help your local American Red Cross Chapter

Help Expand Your Knowledge: You could organize a team builder exercise to become CPR certified

Help Create A Sense Of Community: You could partner with surrounding businesses and start a blood drive in your business park

Learn how you and your company can partner with the American Red Cross by calling (801) 323-7015 or emailing jballard@utahredcross.org

These are a few of my favorite things...

Oprah has her favorite things; cars, sweaters, watches, diamonds, and lots of food! I wanted to take a minute to list a few of my favorite things, or Red Cross favorites at least...

Blankets: Purchase 3 of them for $18 and help keep disaster victims warm this winter when a fire or flood forces them outside in the cold.

Calling cards: Purchase 3 of them for $60 and soldiers over seas can talk to their loved ones to make their service time more bearable.

Shelter: $50 buys one full day of emergency shelter for a disaster victim including a cot, three meals, two blankets, personal supplies and the emotional support from Red Cross volunteers 

Food: $100 provides hot meals for ten disaster victims who need the energy to last another day without the comforts of their own home.

Water: For $50 you can buy water containers for 10 families affected by natural disasters abroad to collect and store clean water.

Safety Tube: For just $9.95 you can give your friends and family members the gift of safety with the persoanl safety tube. It comes with a poncho, emergency blanket, a mini first aid kit and many other items.

72-hour kit: Purchase a 72-hour Kit for yourself or your loved ones for just $49.95 in case of an emergency. They will thank you later!

You Don't Have to be a Superhero to Save a Life

Every year the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross honors ordinary people in the community who do extraordinary things. Ordinary people like Brady Johnson, an army medic who was on his way up American Fork Canyon to picnic with his family when he witnessed a horrible bicycle crash. Without hesitating he jumped out of the car to help and along with other responders on the scene saved the life of the injured cyclist. Read his story here.

Last year the Salt Lake event honored eleven heroes, including a group of teens who witnessed their friend have a seizure in the pool and immediately sprang into action to help rescue her. You can read all of their powerful stories on our website.

This year the Red Cross is looking for nominations from the community for 2011 Hero events across the state in Salt Lake, Provo, Ogden, St. George and Logan.

If you know someone who saved a life or worked to make the community a better and safer place to live, fill out a nomination form online or send your nomination to heroes@utahredcross.org. The deadline is December 31st so get your nominations in soon!!

It's a Sandwich in a Can!

I just stumbled upon a piece of preparedness gold! In this month's Utah Business Magazine there is an article about the Utah based company, Mark One Foods. The company sells the Candwich; a sandwich in a can! The company's website says, "the Candwich has a long shelf life that is perfect for emergency food storage needs in the event of natural disasters." In other words the Candwich will make a perfect addition to your 72-hour kit. Thank you Utah for again showing me the goodness of being prepared! Canned PBJ here I come!

A Safe Cook is a Happy Cook!



Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Pie



This Thanksgiving, I am going to be baking pie after pie after pie. As an aspiring chef or maybe just a Food Network junkie I have been gathering recipes and doing some pre-Holiday research. Research that includes baking, testing, and tasting; starting with a pumpkin cheesecake I made this weekend with every intention of giving away. I caved in and decided I needed to make sure it tasted good before giving as a gift. I'm not sure why I thought it would taste bad what with all the cream cheese, sour cream, butter and graham crackers. It was delicious and I highly recommend it as an addition to your Holiday feast. Click here for Paula Deen's recipe. 

My research will continue this week as I decide which recipe/concotion to bring to my family's Thanksgiving dinner. Next on the agenda is Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Pie with cinnamon crunch and bourbon maple whipped cream. This recipe will put my baking skills to the test, but if you are familiar with Bobby Flay and his show on the Food Network called Throwdown, you know that this recipe is a winner. If you care to try it out, click here.

While I will not be cooking the turkey this year, I have been reading about and watching all the ways to cook your bird. Paula Deen reccomends frying it; Alton Brown says to roast it, and Anne Burrell brines her turkey.

Which ever way you decide to cook your turkey this year and whatever pie you decide to bake, the American Red Cross wants you to stay safe in the kitchen. Thanksgiving is the peak day for home fires; 90% of those fires are caused by unattended cooking. So stay in the kitchen, avoid loose fitted clothing, and keep kids away from the stove and oven. For more tips for safe cooking click here.

Happy cooking!

Youth Council Raises $4,000 for the Measles Initiative

Yesterday the American Red Cross Youth Council concluded their fundraising efforts for the Measles Initiative. The Youth Council learned about the Measles Initiative and the combined efforts of the Red Cross, the CDC, UNICEF, UN, and WHO. They knew they had to help children all over the world dying from this preventable disease. The youth volunteers sold pins for $1 each to their friends, family, and classmates. For each pin purchased, a child in a developing country will be vaccinated for measles. Measles is a terrible illness that kills an estimated 450 people each day.

Over the past two weeks Youth Council members have been selling pins like crazy! About $4,000 pins were sold which means that many young children will have the chance to live another day and receive such an important vaccination.

The youth members had a great time counting money last night and celebrated their success with ice cream sundaes. Check out these photos from their celebration last night!

Holiday Time Already??

This weekend at the Gateway, store fronts had been decorated with Christmas trees, and red and green were prominent colors in every window. Holiday music was playing over the loud speakers, and holiday sales were posted on big signs to draw consumers in. It's hard not to get sucked in to the gift buying/gift giving that is the Holiday season. Pretty sweaters draw you to their cashmere softness. Fifty percent off is just too hard to say no to. And the smell of fresh pine, mixed with "Jingle Bell Rock" makes using that plastic card on shirts, shoes, and holiday trinkets easy as pumpkin pie.

However, as I walked the streets looking in every window, seeing men, women and children walk out with their arms full of bags, I decided to make myself a little promise. (I'm always making promises on this blog, promises to update my 72-hour kit, to make sure I change the batteries in my smoke alarm, etc. And so far I have held my word!) I have been working with the Development team a lot lately with our upcoming Heroes event (more info to come!) last month's Gala in Ogden, and more recently the Holiday Giving Campaign.

With the Red Cross Holiday Giving Campaign, your gifts this Holiday can take the form of many things to support the mission of the Red Cross. For example for $50 you can purchase a full day of emergency shelter for a victim of a disaster in the name of a family member, friend, or loved one. Or for $18 you can purchase 3 blankets to keep disaster victims warm in the middle of the night. Or for $30 you can provide water containers for 6 families in International Disasters.

So next time you brave the winter weather to take a Holiday shopping excursion, keep in mind that while sweaters go out of style and wreathes wither, blankets and water for disaster victims, can go a long way.

Use your Extra Hour to Prepare!!

This weekend we will mysteriously go back in time... That's right the weird phenomenon of Daylight Savings, practiced in every state but Arizona and Hawaii, occurs this Sunday morning. How will you use your extra hour? Will you sleep the hour away? Will you finally have time to clean house? Or will you take that hour and prepare?

The Red Cross recommends that you take this time to update your 72-hour kit. Check the food in your kit, is it about to expire? Does it look a little sketchy? Do the batteries in your flashlight still work? Do you have all important documents and some extra cash? Use your extra hour to check. Here's a list of items we recommend you have.

And while you're at it, check the batteries in your smoke alarms and make sure there is one on every floor of your house and in every bedroom. If you decide to replace your smoke alarms all together, make sure you don't put the old ones in your attic like Phil Dunphy did on Modern Family last night. Because when you hear that chirp, not only is it highly annoying, it also means you could be in danger if there is a fire in your house. For more preparedness tips check out www.utahredcross.org/prepare