New Items at MyRedCrossStore.org!

Well I just finished adding NEW products to MyRedCrossStore.org, and I have to say that I love the power of the internet!  Within hours I had orders from South Carolina and Hawaii!

If you haven’t checked out our store yet, be sure you do!  We’ve got everything you can think of, from Onesies for babies, to Lamps, Cuff Links, T-Shirts, Kits, and so much more!  Be sure to visit MyRedCrossStore.org!

Red Cross Roadblock Tomorrow at Noon Central – Video & Link

Tomorrow is our Red Cross Roadblock Tomorrow at noon central time to help let everyone know about the Red Cross and how people can help. WREX Channel 13 did story promoting it locally in the Rockford, Illinois area click here to watch it. Jason Broaddus, Marketing/Development Specialist of the Rock River Chapter was featured in the story.

You can also go on Red Cross Chat to find out more about the Roadblock and how you can get involved.

Social Networkers Please Help the Red Cross Friday September 19, 2008!

American Red Cross Asks Social Networkers to Help Disaster Victims

Participate by displaying Red Cross support online Friday, September 19, 2008

Washington, Thursday, September 18, 2008 – The American Red Cross is appealing to online communities to come together Friday, September 19th to promote its message and brand and help overcome critical funding shortages for the Disaster Relief Fund.

The Red Cross is currently supporting thousands of evacuees across the Gulf States affected by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, as it responds to thousands of disasters across the country every day, from home fires to tornadoes.

The National Association of Broadcasters has generously asked radio stations across the country to broadcast a Red Cross Public Service Announcement on Friday at 1:00 PM EST. These PSAs underscore the vital nature of the Red Cross mission and ask Americans to donate to the fund. To coincide with this coordinated PSA effort, The American Red Cross is asking everyone who has a blog, Twitter account, Facebook profile, and other online presence to display support for the victims of Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and hundreds of other disasters tomorrow with the goal of raising awareness and funds to provide relief.

Participants can:

• Change their profile pictures to a Red Cross Avatar for the day (or longer)
• Place a Red Cross Banner on their sites and share on social networks
• Embed Red Cross PSAs
• Embed Red Cross Relief Videos from Disaster Sites
• Embed Red Cross widgets
• Embed Red Cross audio clips from the field
• Promote the Text 2Help campaign
• Share Red Cross news items on social networks
• Be creative! Show support and encourage donations in their own way

On Friday, September 19, 2008, join the Red Cross on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or email your comments to socialmedia@usa.redcross.org.

Red Cross Service Delivery Kitchen Feeding During Hurricane Gustav – Video

How the Red Cross helps after a hurricane – Video

This is a video of a man who has been helped during Hurricane Gustav. He talks about what it’s like living in an area after a hurricane.

Go to the Hurricane Gustav Online Newsroom to find out more.

American Red Cross Position on Compression Only CPR

I’ve recently been fielding many calls in reference to Compression Only (also knows as hands only) CPR.  In an effort to clarify our position, here’s a link to our stance on Compression Only CPR

Additionally, if you would like to learn Compression Only CPR (aka Hands-Only CPR) click here.

What is a “Ready-to-eat meal”? – Video

American Red Cross Continues to Assist Displaced Dekalb Area Residents

Dekalb, September 17, 2008 – Due to excessive rain and flooding in the area, the American Red Cross continues to operate a shelter for displaced residents at St. John’s Evangelical Church at 26555 Brickville Road just west of Sycamore.

• This shelter is being manned by 15-20 Red Cross volunteers
• Last night, the Red Cross provided food and shelter to 75 people

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by donations of time and money from American people. To help the victims of this (and other) disaster, contributions can be made to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by calling: (815) 963-8471 or contributions to may also be sent to Rock River Chapter, American Red Cross, 727 N. Church St., Rockford, IL 61103 or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution by visiting http://rockriver.redcross.org.

Looking to Volunteer at the Red Cross?

We Depend on Volunteers like you! Volunteers constitute 96 percent of our total work force to carry on our humanitarian work:

• Every year the Red Cross responds to more than 74,000 disasters-including approximately 150 home fires every day.
• About 11 million Americans turn to us to learn first aid, CPR, swimming, and other health and safety skills. Last year, more than 158,000 people volunteered to teach those courses.
  Half the nation’s blood supply- six million pints annually-is collected by more than 155,000 Red Cross volunteers .
• Among our emergency services for the men and women of the armed forces is the delivery of urgent family messages-around the clock and around the globe.
• More than 30,900 volunteers serve as chairs, members of boards of directors, or on advisory boards for local Red Cross units – chapters, Blood Services regions, and military stations.
• As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Red Cross reconnects more than 8,000 families separated by conflicts and disasters around the world through international tracking services and Red Cross messages.

If you’d like to volunteer at the Rock River Chapter you can click this link we serve Winnebago, Boone, Lee and Ogle and partner with Dekalb and Stephenson counties in Illinois.

If you’re not located in these areas you can find local chapter here.

Gulf Coast Storms – Video

Looking for more information on how the Red Cross is responding to the Hurricanes go to the online newsrooms:

• Hurricane Gustav
• Hurricane Ike

If you like to volunteer at the Red Cross find your local chapter.