Five Stocking Stuffers to Save a Life

by Suzanne Wiley, volunteer contributor

They say it is better to give than to receive, especially if you are giving the gift of life. Among the chocolate, candy and trinkets, this year fill their stockings with life-saving gear. 

Extreme weather, accidents and heart disease are the top killers in America. From 1950 to 2010, there were 6,524 extreme weather events in the Dallas Fort Worth, Texas area. While nearly 30 million Americans were affected by natural disasters from 1980 to 2010. Storms, floods, and extreme temperatures are the top causes of death and injury when bad weather happens. As North Texas is experiencing its first severe winter weather of the season, we are reminded how important it is to have food, blankets and plenty of water on hand in preparation for a disaster.

Artist and healer, Mbali Creazzo said, “Giving of any kind…taking an action…begins the process of change, and moves us to remember that we are part of a much greater universe.” 

In the event of a major weather catastrophe or other disastrous event, make sure you, your loved ones and neighbors have a way to stay warm, procure clean drinking water and plenty of food. Give your loved ones small gifts that could save their lives. 

Fortunately, the American Red Cross provides numerous items online to help save lives. The following are my top five favorites that will fit in a stocking: 

Aspirin tablets 
Besides helping aches and pains and bringing down fever, aspiring helps prevent heart attack and stroke. 

Safety Tube 

The safety tube includes three survival essentials: drinking water pouch, emergency blanket and a location whistle, so you can be found. Keep one in your purse, backpack, car or briefcase. 

Scout Survival Kit
For hikers, campers and other outdoor adventures, the Scout kit includes a fire striker and tinder, emergency blanket and various ways to summon rescuers.

Emergency First Aid Guide
This compact guide provides instructions on how to treat potential life-threatening situations such as cardiac emergencies, choking and allergic reactions. 

Donate in Someone’s Name 

Via the Red Cross 2013 Holiday Giving Catalog, you may donate money to causes around the world that save people’s lives, such as emergency kits, water containers and vaccinations. 
  
This holiday season as you hit the mall and shop for gifts, remember a few extra items that you can order online from the Red Cross that could possibly save a life. 

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Perform a Random Act of Kindness in Memory of those Lost at Sandy Hook Elementary

by Melissa Lanier, volunteer contributor

This weekend marks the first anniversary of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, resulting in the loss of 20 children and six adults. While it might seem like there’s nothing we can do, that’s really not the case. Community members in Newtown, Connecticut are asking for support by way of random acts of kindness or time spent volunteering for a good cause. Here are a few ideas of how we can mark the day: 

• Buy the people behind you in the line at Starbucks a cup of coffee
• Walk dogs at your local animal shelter
• Go through your children’s closets and donate those coats that no longer fit them to an organization that can give them to those in need right now 
• Sign up to volunteer with a local nonprofit agency that could use a helping hand

You can sign up to volunteer for the American Red Cross. The agency dispatched more than

160 relief workers to Newtown who passed out meals, blankets and teddy bears in response to the December 14th tragedy last year.

The community gathers to remember Sandy Hook.

Members of the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Team, made up of psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, trauma nurses, school counselors and others specially trained to deal with emotional trauma, were also deployed to Newtown. The Red Cross worked with state government and local agencies to set up grief counseling there after the shootings. 

Large scale events like the Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and now Newtown have shown the importance of having a team of professional mental health volunteers to support those devastated by disaster. These services are also made available for victims in our community affected by house fires, the weather and other emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Saturday I’ll talk to my daughter again about what happened in Newtown, listen to her concerns and go over our family and school security preparedness plan. We’ll limit TV time in order to keep anxiety to a minimum, and we’ll be making a donation to American Red Cross to honor the victims at Sandy Hook. Then we’ll get out of the house and find something nice to do for somebody we don’t know. What are YOU doing this weekend?

Learn more about how licensed counselors support the American Red Cross. 

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Updated 12/10 9:15am: Winter Storm Shelter Information for DFW

9:15am update: All shelters in DFW have closed! Big thanks to the Red Cross shelter workers who have been working so hard to provide a warm place for people to go during this winter storm. They are part of more than 200 Red Crossers who have worked on this relief operation since Thursday. Thank you all so much for your service.

Please Give Blood

The winter weather across many parts of the U.S. has so far forced the cancellation of 115 Red Cross blood drives in 18 states and the District of Columbia, resulting in more than 4,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations since last Wednesday.

While the Red Cross blood supply is currently sufficient to meet hospital demand, winter is always a challenging time to ensure enough blood is on the shelves. While all blood types are needed, the Red Cross especially urges all eligible donors with blood types O positive, O negative, A negative and B negative to make a lifesaving appointment.

Donors in unaffected areas are encouraged to make and keep blood and platelet donation appointments to help offset the current shortfall. Donors in affected areas are urged to give blood or platelets once the storm has passed and travel is deemed safe. Appointments can be online at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

To give blood, someone must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them. Some states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.

More Information

• Winter Storm Safety Tips
• Preventing & Thawing Freezing Pipes
• Power Outage Safety Tips
• How to Use a Generator Safely

Follow us on Twitter @RedCrossDFW & Red Cross DFW on Facebook for the latest updates. Stay warm out there!

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A Message of Thanks and Cheer: Last Call for Holiday Mail For Heroes

by Amy Yen, Digital Communications Manager, American Red Cross North Texas Region

Every winter, the Red Cross puts the call out to Americans to make and sign holiday cards that we deliver veterans, military families and active-duty service members at hospitals and installations around the world as part of our Holiday Mail For Heroes campaign. This year, we put the call out to our community for a talented young artist to design the card we'd be having thousands of North Texans sign.

10 year old Larissa Cantu drew our winning card:

"I was so excited to win and it was really cool to see my drawing on the card and my name on the back of it," said Larissa.

Larissa's card was printed and sent to events across North Texas, thanks to the generosity of our program sponsor Wells Fargo. We collected thousands of personal notes, thanking troops for their service and letting them know they are in our thoughts this holiday season.

"We are a military family," explains Lisa Cantu, Larissa's mother. "My husband has been in the U.S. Navy for 17 years. So anytime we can spread some cheer to our troops, we always try."

10-year-old Larissa drew
this year's holiday card
for troops

And what would Lisa & Larissa say to the troops if they could?

"We would like to wish our troops and their families happy holidays. We would like them to know that we are always thinking of them and thank them for everything they do to protect our freedom."

If you want to sign one of Larissa's cards, or sign or make your own, just remember you have until this Thursday, December 5 to drop off cards at our Dallas chapter. Or you can mail them in yourself to this address...just make sure your cards are postmarked by December 6 to ensure delivery to our troops!

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Don't forget to check out the website for card guidelines.

PS: A special thank you for everyone who has already signed a card, including those who organized signings at our corporate partners, including Nationstar Mortgage, TXU Energy, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Texas Instruments, PepsiCo, Wells Fargo and more!

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Give Something That Means Something This Cyber Monday

by Melissa Lanier, volunteer contributor

This year I invite you to join me and do something different by taking part in “Tearful Tuesday,” which, if you didn’t know, is the day after ‘Cyber Monday.’ That’s the day when MOST people return to work from the Thanksgiving holiday and sneak-shop from their desks. Tuesday, however, is the day you get the bills and realize you’re broke now and Walmart owns the deed to your home. 

In fact, it’s a race to keep up with retailers cashing in on record sales that start over the week of Thanksgiving and last through Christmas. Powerhouses Walmart and Amazon came to play this year with ‘Pre-Black Friday’ sales that started almost a full week before the turkey even made it to our plates.

Today’s ‘new normal’ has store employees shuffling off to work earlier every year on a day that is now synonymous with shopping deals, but remember we didn’t meet ‘Black Friday’s’ little brother until 2005, when some savvy marketing agents looking to capitalize on the yearly spike in online sales introduced us to 'Cyber Monday,' who appears to be growing up and may soon overshadow his big brother.

In fact, online sales are expected to break last year’s records by 17 percent. Amazon alone reports over 26 million items sold that day were purchased at 306 items per second. Mobile sales are booming and here to stay with promotions like Walmart’s rollback of ‘Cyber Monday’ deals to start the Saturday after Thanksgiving this year.

So this Cyber Monday, when you're clicking away for something to put under the tree, consider this: the American Red Cross has released our 2013 Holiday Giving Catalog and it lays out the different ways to give this year. Sit down on Cyber Monday and look at how to really give a gift that makes a difference.

A $25 donation provides 25 children with lifesaving vaccinations against measles and Rubella. How about you organize a group project with your family and friends. $1,000 will vaccinate an entire village of people. This is just ONE way to give this year so take a couple minutes and check out the link here. If you’re tired of the hyped up sales drama: then HERE is where you’ll find true value this holiday season by giving to those who need your help. 

Happy shopping!

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Black Friday Survival Guide

by Micaela Rosinski, intern contributor

The shop doors open, an eager crowd sprints inside. If you have been out Thanksgiving night and Friday morning to try your hand at snagging deals, you have witnessed the madness that is Black Friday. The fun, friendly festivities of a celebration of thanks just hours before seem to disappear from minds as countless people flock to stores to buy the perfect gift or personal treat at the right price.

Before you take part in Black Friday, be prepared, and follow these safety tips so you are only paying for that new TV, not a hospital bill. 

Devise a plan. Before embarking on your Black Friday journey, decide which stores you want to go to. Account for weather, traffic and other obstacles that could impact your driving safety. Also create an exact list of the items you want to purchase. Make your Black Friday experience worth it, avoid purchasing that matching pajama set you will wear on Christmas then put away forever.

Prepare…for anything. Crazy events seem to occur every Black Friday. Keep a Red Cross first aid kit in your car, dress in layers and check the weather. Download the Red Cross first aid app on your smartphone for expert advice for everyday emergencies. 

Although you may still be full from the best Thanksgiving meal of your life, consider putting those leftovers to use and pack some turkey sandwiches for your group to snack on for however long your wait may be. Also pack plenty of water in order to stay hydrated.

Dress to shop. Save yourself from being the person that gets trampled at the front doors of Target. Do not wear slippers, sneakers or boots will protect your feet, keep you warm and will be comfy to run around your favorite stores to your heart’s content. Also, dress for the weather! In Texas, Thanksgiving Day could be a beautiful 65 degrees, and snow could hit later that night. If you are waiting outside, wear appropriate attire and stay warm.

Be aware of your surroundings. Thieves love the holiday season. Deter car break-ins, attacks and identity theft by keeping no personal items in the car, walking with a partner to the vehicle and keeping credit cards concealed in wallet until point of purchase. Alert a store employee if you see anything suspicious. Also, a security guard will gladly walk with you to your vehicle if you feel unsafe. 

Black Friday not your thing? Provide for others. Red Cross has devised a fabulous way to help others during the holidays in honor of someone you love. The annual Holiday Giving Catalog contains a variety of services you can support as a symbolic gift for people in your life. Holidays are a great time to reach out to others and make an impact in someone’s life!

While you are on the computer… Personally, I tend to avoid malls and shopping plazas on Black Friday. However, I find Cyber Monday to be a great invention. If you decide to partake in the virtual sale, always practice safe internet use and confirm you are purchasing from a safe and secure website (Red Cross Holiday Giving Catalog is a great safe website to do some shopping). Make the experience even better by snuggling up with your favorite blanket and a mug of hot chocolate. Now that sounds like good shopping!

Black Friday can be a thrilling experience to enjoy with family or friends. Do not get too sad if the store runs out of that camera or sweater you wanted. Remember the time you just spent being thankful for all you have! Be prepared, safe, and thoughtful of others as you set out to seize the deals. Happy shopping, and may the odds be ever in your favor! 

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Keep the Landline. It Could be Your Lifeline.

by Glenn Lovelace, guest blogger and CEO of Peñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative 

The landline telephone is increasingly being replaced by its younger, wireless sibling – the smartphone.  

A recent National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) revealed that nearly two in five American homes (38.2%) are wireless-only users.  And the number keeps growing. 

What about you?  Is it time to retire your home’s fixed-line relic?

Maybe not. 

Conventional phones may seem as vintage as your father’s eight-track player. Still, during emergencies, POTS (plain old telephone sets) are generally more reliable than wireless.  They are flexible, easy to use and always on.  

As American Red Cross disaster volunteers learned during the dark, powerless days of Hurricane Sandy, cell phones are often useless when they are most needed.  

In the North Texas region, tornado outbreaks frequently occur during the spring and summer months. A funnel’s path of destruction is generally more limited than a hurricane’s.  Still, during such extreme weather events, cell towers often jam with traffic as family and friends check on their loved ones.  

I was raised in Dallas but now live in New Mexico, where I serve as chief executive officer of Peñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative (PVT).  At PVT, our team provides telephone services to customers in both populated and remote regions of southeast New Mexico.  During the winter months, our customers often experience ice storms, which cause trees to freeze and fall, taking out power lines.  Though our customers may have to throw an extra log on the fire, their analog telephones - which don’t require AC power - will work.  

Concerning security, it’s hard to beat the landline phone. Suppose you hear someone breaking into your house? The time it takes to find your cell phone could complicate an already serious situation. And what if the cell phone’s battery is dead? 

When calling 911 with a cell phone, emergency dispatchers can’t always quickly pinpoint the call’s location.  Contrast this with the fixed-line phone. Once a user dials 911, the emergency dispatcher’s computer screen automatically displays the phone’s address.  This could be critical for children, babysitters, and even adults during an emergency.  Not knowing one’s address, or losing the ability to speak, could mean the loss of precious minutes -- or worse. 
In summary, think carefully about losing your lowly landline.  Fixed-line phones connect to the traditional, twisted-copper networks.  Built as public utilities, these networks are the workhorses of telecommunications.  They may be old-fashioned, but they’re tough and reliable.  
When the wind howls and the lights flicker, a landline phone will add to your peace of mind. 
For more tips on emergency preparedness, contact the American Red Cross website at www.redcross.org/prepare. Safety information is also available on Facebook.com/RedCrossDFW and Twitter @RedCrossDFW.

Glenn Lovelace is the chief executive officer of Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative (PVT), a company that provides telephone services to customers in Southeast New Mexico.   Born and raised in Dallas, Lovelace has contributed his vision and leadership to companies ranging from startups to Fortune 100s. He has been published in a number of publications and quoted in books and articles that include The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Red Herring.   Lovelace earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and an MBA from Harvard University.  He and his wife currently reside in Artesia, New Mexico.  For more information about PVT’s products and services, visit the company’s Website at www.pvt.com or contact a representative at 1.800.505.4844. 

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