Red Cross Helps Allegheny County Libraries Prepare Patrons for Flu Season
PITTSBURGH – With extensive reference materials, computers and class offerings, Allegheny County libraries provide a wealth of information to the community. Amid flu season, however, the America
PITTSBURGH – The holidays are a time for excitement, celebration and laughter. With this holiday season quickly approaching, people throughout the region are decorating homes; while the American
Red Cross Urges Local Residents to Use Fire Alarms
PITTSBURGH - The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter wants you to be safe and ready in the case of a fire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) release
October 20, 2006 American Red Cross Offers Tips for Halloween Safety
PITTSBURGH, Pa. --- As costumes are being chosen and parties are being planned, the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter wants to ensure that the families and communities in southwestern Pennsylvania are safe and cautious during upcoming Halloween festivities.
The following safety tips are for children and adults to help prevent injuries at Halloween:
Plan your trick-or-treating route and share it with your family. Whenever possible, have an adult accompany children.
Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards and scooters.)
Use face paint rather than masks or things that will obstruct your vision.
Cross the street only at corners.
Look both ways before crossing a street to make sure it is clear.
Do not hide or cross the street between parked cars.
Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
Carry a flashlight to light your way.
Visit homes that have the porch light on.
Keep away from open fires and candles. (Keep in mind that costumes can be extremely flammable.)
Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger’s house.
Be cautious of strangers and stray animals.
Inspect treats before eating. And do not eat candy if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.
For more information or additional safety tips from the American Red Cross, visit our Web site at swpa.redcross.org.
October 19, 2006 Local Red Cross Volunteers Assisting People in Need after NY Snow Storm--More Deployments Possible
PITTSBURGH, Pa. --- Disasters can happen quickly and often without warning. But when an area is affected by disaster and the scope becomes too large for the local American Red Cross chapter staff and volunteers to efficiently provide assistance, the Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) system of the Red Cross is activated and the call for volunteers is heard nationwide.
There are more than 800 chapters in the national Red Cross. Personnel at each chapter maintain its local volunteers’ availability in a database accessible to national DSHR administrators who can begin contacting chapters at a moment’s notice to deploy volunteers to assist in national disasters.
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter deployed a total of 10 volunteers---including two that drove its Emergency Response Vehicle---to assist people in upstate New York after a severe snow storm and more volunteers could be needed.
The 10 volunteers were sent primarily to perform the sheltering and feeding duties and to provide health services, but will be available to assist in various other ways should they be needed such as distributing bulk goods, assessing damage and providing financial assistance.
To continue to be able to support other chapters’ disasters as well as those that occur locally, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter is contacting its team of volunteers to determine their availability to help.
To respond to national disasters requires Red Cross training, and it is important to complete the training prior to instances such as the New York snow storm so that volunteers are able to be deployed when they are called.
For more information regarding volunteering for the American Red Cross, visit our Web site at www.swpa.redcross.org or call 412-263-3181. For volunteers who have completed the required training, contact the chapter if available to deploy for a minimum of two weeks.
October 9, 2006 Be Prepared for Fire Prevention Week: Oct. 8-14
Pittsburgh, Pa.,– Oct. 9, 2006 – Last year, the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter responded to 393 emergencies in its four-county area---96 percent of them were due to fires.
Disasters can happen quickly and often without any warning. Fires are preventable disasters. Sunday marked the beginning of the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week and the local Red Cross wants to ensure that families in southwestern Pennsylvania are aware of important fire prevention tools for their safety.
"As the colder temperatures move into the forecast, often families will begin using alternative heating sources to heat their homes," said Ryan Miller, Director of Social Services for the Red Cross. "It is essential for families to be responsible when using these heating sources and be sure to turn off kerosene heaters, electric blankets, or the stove when they’re not in use. It’s important for families to take precautions to prevent fires."
Because fires can strike quickly, it is important for people to know what to do and where to go in the event of a disaster. In an effort to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to fires, the Red Cross offers the following fire prevention tips:
Install smoke alarms outside of each sleeping area, outside of the kitchen and on every level of the home. Proper maintenance of smoke alarms requires monthly tests, replacing batteries annually and replacing the actual alarm every 10 years.
Post local emergency services phone numbers (usually 9-1-1) and the Poison Control Center near every telephone in the home.
Run extension cords only on top of floors and carpets not under them.
Keep combustible/flammable items and materials, such as curtains, chairs and firewood at least 3 feet away from stoves, portable space heaters, furnaces, clothes dryers, etc.
Do not leave burning candles unattended and keep them away from combustible materials.
Contact your heating and cooling professionals to inspect your chimney and heating system annually.
Use flashlights for emergency lighting if you lose power, do not use candles and have one or more working fire extinguishers in your home.
Have an evacuation route planned for your family; know two ways out of every room and practice the plan.
For more detailed instructions on fire prevention and developing a family disaster plan, visit the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter Web site at www.swpa.redcross.org.
October 6, 2006 Local Red Cross Inducts Six New Board Members at 89th Annual Board of Directors Meeting
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Oct. 6, 2006 – The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, which serves the more than 1.6 million residents in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, inducted six new members to its board of directors Sept. 28. Each will serve for a term of three years and a new slate of officers was also elected.
Officers:
First Vice Chair, Joseph Kennedy, office leader, Mercer Human Resources Consulting
Second Vice Chair, Matthew Wagle, financial consultant, A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc.
Secretary, Carolyn Kerr, corporate communications consultant, Communications Academy
Treasurer, Dean Owrey, audit partner, Ernst & Young LLP
General Counsel, Michael Wessell, Esquire, attorney at law, Keevican Weiss Bauerle & Hirsch LLC
New members:
Jan Caldwell, executive director, Corner Cupboard Food Bank, Waynesburg
Mary Beth Dougherty, senior vice president, Marsh USA Inc.
Mary Frances Gargotta, executive vice president, Marc USA
John Gatesman, executive vice president of brand management, GatesmanMarmionDrake Inc.
Patricia Lang, vice president of human resources, CONSOL Energy
Laura Tatko, full-time student at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science while working for Cieslak & Tatko Funeral Home Inc.
