A donation of $50 yields one raffle ticket; or $100 for three tickets. You can see the actual Hummer H3 by visiting the showroom between now and April 28 at #1 Cochran in Monroeville, 4520 William Penn Highway Monroeville, PA 15146. There will be a limited number of tickets sold.

Drawing for the Hummer H3 lease will be held during the local Red Cross annual Red Tie Affair---Saturday, April 28, 2007, at the Westin Convention Center Hotel, downtown. Winner need not be present to win. The Hummer raffle was created to help promote the Red Tie Affair, which is the annual local Red Cross fundraising event attracting nearly 400 individuals and grossing more than $200,000.

The mission of the American Red Cross is help our communities better prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter responds to a local disaster nearly once every 24 hours and we trained more than 45,500 individuals in life-saving skills such as CPR and First Aid last year. It is only through the generous donations of our community members and businesses that the Red Cross can continue to be there when people need us most.

To purchase a ticket, call 412-263-3112 or visit www.swpa.redcross.org.

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The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania serves more than 1.6 million people in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties. Locally, the Red Cross provides relief to the victims of more than 350 disasters each year, assists more than 1,000 military families by facilitating emergency messages between our deployed men and women in uniform and their loved ones here at home, as well as trains more than 50,000 individuals in vital lifesaving skills. The American Red Cross in Southwestern Pennsylvania is honored to support two senior volunteer programs, The Foster Grandparent Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, nor does it receive funding from its national headquarters except during times of large-scale disasters. It is only through the generosity of the people of southwestern Pennsylvania that the local Red Cross is able fulfill its mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other lifesaving emergencies. To make a donation of time or treasure, contact the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter by phone at 1-888-217-9599, by mail at 225 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 or online at swpa.redcross.org.

The National American Red Cross and HUMMER partnership, which will provide the American Red Cross with vehicles and cash totaling $4 million, through a donation from the GM Foundation, began in the fall of 2005 following devastating Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. American Red Cross chapters in the areas most affected by these storms received a total of four 2006 HUMMER H3s for use in hurricane relief efforts and on-going programs and services. Additionally, two 2006 HUMMER H1 Alphas were donated to the organization’s national Emergency Communication Response Vehicle (ECRV) fleet. The partnership, which will last through 2010, will include a total of 72 HUMMER donated vehicles (a combination of H1, H2 and H3 models).

Feb. 12, 2007 - With a winter storm expected to blow in over the next few days, now is the time to prepare yourself and your family. What you do today can make all the difference when extreme winter weather arrives on our doorsteps. Use these American Red Cross safety precautions to keep you safe against the snow and cold:

• Have extra blankets on hand.
• Ensure that each member of your household has a warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat, and water-resistant boots.
• Plan to use flashlights if your power goes out. Do not use candles.

• Bottled water (at least one gallon of water per person per day to last at least 3 days).
• First aid kit and essential medications.
• Battery-powered NOAA Weather radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
• Ready-to-eat food.

If travel is necessary during potentially dangerous winter weather, it's best to inform someone of the travel route, destination and expected arrival time. Travelers should also remember to keep their gas tanks near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. If you get stuck in slick conditions, the following actions should be taken: 

•  Stay with your car. Do not try to walk to safety.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) to the antenna for rescuers to see.
• Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen.
• As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and to stay warm.

When you prepare to go outside in severe cold weather, please remember the following:

• Most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
• Dressing in warm layers helps you retain heat. You can remove layers as you need to, if you become too warm.
• Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
• Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, waxy feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia that can be a serious medical condition: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Wear waterproof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm your core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup.

For more valuable information on preparing for cold weather, contact the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter at 888-217-9599 or visit www.swpa.redcross.org. Find detailed reports on the weather in your area at www.weather.com or find details on winter storms at www.noaa.gov or www.fema.gov.