Expert advise on staying cool

American Red Cross Expert's Advise on Staying Cool in Record-Breaking Heat

In recent years, excessive heat has caused more deaths than all other weather events, including floods. As temperatures and humidity levels soar in many parts of the country, protecting yourself and others from overheating is critical to avoid a potential heat-related illness. Here are some easy tips for staying safe during heat waves, courtesy of Dr. David Markenson, char, American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.

Never leave a child or pet in a parked car - even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of a car can quickly reach 120 degrees.

Stay Hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day - even if you don't feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol that dehydrate the body.

Dress for the heat. Wear loose-fiting, lightweight, light-colored clothing in layers. Avoid dark colors that absorb the sun's rays.

If you must work outdoors, take frequent breaks to hydrate and cool yourself. Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.

Protect yourself from sun exposure even on cloudy or hazy days. In addition to dressing for heat, apply a broad-spectrum (protection against both UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen and reapply as indicated, wear eye protection (wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection) and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

Be a good neighbor. Check on the elderly, young childern and pets to make sure they are not suffering from the heat.
Additional heat safety tips are available on redcross.org. Learn how to prevent and treat heat-related illnesses by attending a Red Cross First Aid course. Contact your local Red Cross or visit redcross.org/training for details or to register.

Red Cross Month

Imagine you are out for a walk with your father, when suddenly, he collapses. Imagine you are enjoying a day at the park with your kids, when one of them falls off the monkey bars and begins bleeding badly. Imagine you are in a traffic accident, and your wife is badly injured and in need of a blood transfusion. Imagine your son is serving in the military in Afghanistan when your mother falls very ill and you need him to come home on leave. Imagine you are at an event to meet your Congresswoman, when suddenly a gunman begins to wreck havoc and people on all sides of you are in need of help.

All of these events are our worst nightmares, but they all could happen. The American Red Cross is here to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies of all kinds. March is a month to celebrate the services of the American Red Cross but also to further educate the public on these services and what they can do in an emergency.

Throughout the month of March, the St. Joseph County Chapter will be holding a number of free events to help train people in basic emergency response for things such as heart attacks, bleeding, and shock. We will also be out in the community to share information on our services, and we will be having blood drives to ensure that an ample supply of blood is on hand for those who need it.

Below is a list of events. Keep checking back as this event is not yet finalized.

Saturday, March 5
Resource Fair at IUSB
We will be at the Resource Fair at IUSB from 9am-1pm presenting on the services available through the Red Cross.

Friday, March 11
Blood Drive at New Prairie High School
7:30am-1:30pm
5333 N. Cougar Rd
New Carlisle, IN

Monday, March 14
Military Day at National College
We will be taking part in Military Day at National College from 12-2, presenting on the Services to the Armed Forces offered by the American Red Cross.

Saturday, March 19
Gabrielle Giffords Honorary Save-a-Life Saturday
This free event will help people learn Citizen CPR as well as bleeding and shock control. Sessions will be held at the Chapter on the hour from 9am-12pm.

Wednesday, March 23
Citizen CPR at Notre Dame's Geddes Hall
Learn Citizen CPR in just 30 minutes. Sessions will run every 45 minutes starting at 4pm until 7 pm.

Thursday, March 24
Citizen CPR at Notre Dame's Geddes Hall
Learn Citizen CPR in just 30 minutes. Sessions will run every 45 minutes starting at 4pm until 7 pm.

Thursday, March 24
Blood Drive at Granger Missionary Church
2pm-7pm
50841 Birch Rd
Granger, IN

Saturday, March 26
Citizen CPR in the Community
Learn hands-only or Citizen CPR in just 30 minutes. Location is TBA at this time.

Monday, March 28
Citizen CPR at IUSB
Learn Citizen CPR in just 30 minutes. Sessions will run every hour starting at 9:30am until 1pm and will be held in the Quiet Room in the Administration Building.

Kids Fire Safety

A recent USA Today article reported that half of children killed in fires are under the age of 5. These are the children least likely to be able to make their way to safety on their own. In many of these cases of fatalities, the home lacks a working smoke detector, though just 3% of homes don't have a smoke detector at all.

Coming in February - How to Save a Life

Here is our class list for the month of February. All classes unless otherwise indicated are located at the Chapter Office at 3220 East Jefferson. You can register online through our website or by calling or dropping by the office.

• February 1, 6pm-10pm, CPR- Adult, $40
• February 5, 9am-1pm, CPR - Adult/Child, $45
• February 8, 6pm-10pm, First Aid, $35
• February 12, 9am-4pm, CPR- Adult, Child andInfant with First Aid & Blood Borne Pathogens, $60
• February 19, Babysitting Class @ Parks Dept, contact: Karen Meyers (574) 299-4768 ext. 236
• February 21, 6pm-10pm, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, (Part I) , February 28, 6pm-10pm, (Part II) $70
• February 25, 9am-4pm, CPR- Adult, Child, Infant with First Aid & Blood Borne Pathogens, $60

All of these classes teach crucial skills that can save a life. Emergencies occur when you least expect them. Be ready.

Practice Makes Perfect

On Saturday, January 15, an emergency shelther was opened at Evangel Heights United Methodist Church on Ironwood in South Bend. FBCI volunteers from Evangel Heights and a few other churches, in partnership with the American Red Cross, set up cots, manned registration tables and welcomed nearly 40 residents who had been displaced by a devestating apartment fire. The shelter volunteers faced a number of challenges as they helped the distraught residents cope with the situation. One resident was blind, another spoke no English, another was sick, some spread false rumors about the cause of the fire, and tensions ran high as residents were overcome with the emotions of losing everything they owned.

Luckily, this was just a drill. There wasn't really a fire, and the "residents" of the shelter were in fact Red Cross volunteers playing assigned roles. They were having a lot of fun playing their parts and trying to stump the FBCI volunteers with each new, seemingly more difficult scenario. With only a few bumps along the way, the church members, with the support of the Red Cross shelther manager found ways to successfully handle each situation.

When the drill ended, "residents" and shelter volunteers alike gathered for pizza and discussed the mock disaster. By analyzing mistakes as well as recounting what worked well, these volunteers will be better prepared to serve their clients should they ever have to open a real shelter. In many ways, the number of difficult scenarios introduced at the mock disaster are highly unlikely to all occur at the same shelter at the same time in real life, so the volunteers should feel confident and well prepared after their practice run.

These FBCI partners are crucial for the American Red Cross to fulfill its mission in St. Joseph County and beyond. Thanks to all the church volunteers as well as Red Cross volunteers who came out early on a Saturday morning. We couldn't do it without you!