Red Cross Safety for WI Summer Heat

It took a while but Northeast Wisconsin is happy to say summer has begun. Before we have even had a chance to get used to the warm weather we must remember to be prepared for increased heat and humidity that can be dangerous for all; especially the elderly and very young.

According to Wisconsin Emergency Management, summer heatwaves have been the biggest weather-related killers in Wisconsin for the past 50 years, far exceeding tornadoes and severe storms. In 1995 two major killer heat waves affected most of Wisconsin, resulting in 154 heat-related deaths and over 300 heat-related illnesses.

Red Cross Heat Safety Tips:

• Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella.
• Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.
• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m.
• Stay indoors when possible. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine.  Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air.
• Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.
• Learn Red Cross first aid and CPR. While the above tips can help prevent emergencies, it is crucial to know what to do if an emergency situation arises.

Wisconsin Emergency Management also suggests taking a cool shower or bath if you need to cool down quickly. A shower or bath will actually work faster than an air conditioner.

Enjoy the best of the Wisconsin summer by being prepared for increased heat and humidity. Listen for weather updates and discuss safety measures with your family.  For more info on Heatwave Safety visit www.redcross.org.

Creative Fundraising by Dickinson Elementary Students and Staff

Melinda Lamers of Dickinson Elementary School, in DePere, led a fundraising effort for a penny drive for the Red Cross to help local disasters.  The students raised over $300!  The faculty got in the act with incentives like a dressing like Justin Bieber and having pies thrown in their faces!  The celebration was the last hour of the last day of school.   

Thank you faculty and students for your support of the American Red Cross!

American Red Cross Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers and Contributors

GREEN BAY – The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter held its Volunteer Awards Banquet June 21, 2011 at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay. We were pleased to have 216 volunteers and guests attend the event sponsored by the Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance and Lyndahl Funeral Home.

The evening kicked off with a welcome and organizational update presented by Steve Maricque, Executive Director for the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter. Outgoing board awards were presented to Jim Gagnon, Gagnon Clay Products and Gerald Henley, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, for their nine years of service to the board. The following board members and staff were also recognized for their inclusion in the Clara Barton Giving Society: Sharla Baenen, Jeff Bassindale, Pat Beimborn, Jim Gagnon, Michael Gallagher, Gerald Henley, Steve Maricque and Eric Witczak.

Following the welcome and dinner, individuals and groups were recognized for their outstanding volunteer support.

(l-r) Debra Harrington, Judy Gregory, Emergency Services and Bonny Chapman. Debra and Bonny were both awarded the Kerrie Forster Emergency Services Award.

Bonny Chapman and Debra Harrington, Kerrie Forster Emergency Services Award for exceptional work in preparing for and responding to disasters in our community.

Richard Jerry, Earl and Viola Nelson Health and Safety Award for outstanding commitment and dedication as an instructor for Health and Safety Services.

Elton Petersen, Andrew Janssen Transportation Award for exceptional work in assisting the aging population and those with disabilities by providing quality transportation that helps individuals maintain a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Dawn Miller, Community Volunteer Services Award for displaying exceptional dedication to the spirit and growth of promoting the American Red Cross and volunteerism in the community.

WBAY-TV 2, Corporate Benefactor Award presented to a business who has attained an exceptional level of commitment and support of the American Red Cross.

 Kurt VandenHouten, Individual Benefactor Award presented to the individual who has personally attained an exceptional level of commitment and support financially for the American Red Cross.

Gerald Henley, Mrs.Crane (Mary) Murphy Award for exceptional contributions by a board member for the advancement of the American Red Cross.

(l-r) Dave Liethen, Patsy Nuttall, Jody Weyers. Patsy was awarded the Ed McHugh Worker of the Year Award.

Patsy Nuttall, Ed McHugh Worker of the Year Award for exceptional reliability and dedication to the blood program

 Austin Arts, Preble High School, Teen Lifeline Award designed to recognize outstanding leadership among the Teen Lifeline Representatives of the ten area high schools.

 Green Bay Public Schools, Business, Group or Organization of the Year Award presented to the group of volunteer workers or business for years of dedication to the American Red Cross Blood Services program.

 American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 337-Pulaski, Hillary Lesperance Blood Services Award for demonstrating extraordinary support and significant impact on the Blood Services Program

Barbara Vanden Langenberg, Volunteer of the Year Award for demonstrating commitment and exceptional work to multiple programs of the American Red Cross.

(l-r) Steve Maricque, Executive Director, American Red Cross, Barbara Vanden Langenberg, Volunteer of the Year, Jody Weyers, Volunteer Director and Mauree Childress, Director of Development. Photo by: Kimberly Carroll/American Red Cross

 About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Selling of Sweet Treats by Little Hands Offer Big Relief

Six 2^nd and 3^rd grade girls from Aldo Leopld School in Green Bay had a bake sale and raffle to raise $225 for the American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti, Japan and Joplin, Missouri. Lot of people baked cookies and brownies which were sold at the conference on June 2.  All the proceeds were donated to the Red Cross.

Here are the enterprising and philanthropic girls (L to R):

Grace Moen, Rachel Heaster, Olivia Mazzariello, Savana Stieglitz, Annika Robishaw and Michaela Jelinsky.

St. Norbert Students “Stop” the Music to Raise Funds for Red Cross

St. Norbert’s “Groups on Campus” raised funds to help the American Red Cross’s relief effort in Japan.  Participating groups included:  Beyond Borders, Peace and Justice Center, Japan Club and the Chinese Student Association. 

 There was competition between offices on the St. Norbert campus.  Funds were raised “door to door,”  and people paid to have the song “Friday” stop. This effort raised more than $2,000.  Troy Wiesner (pictured above), who graduated in May, presented the Red Cross with the proceeds from the fundraiser.

Happy Birthday to our 24 Manikins!

Happy 1 year Birthday to our 24 Manikins donated by the Wisconsin Public Services Foundation. We want to say thank you again to WPS for your continued support in the community and helping us with the tools we need to provide quality lifesaving training!

(l-r) Dawn Krull, Kim Carroll and Carla Lee, Health and Safety Staff Celebrating with the Manikins

Press Release – July 6, 2010

The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter has received a donation from the Wisconsin Public Services Foundationto purchase lightweight manikins to be used for community safety training programs. 

“We are proud to be able to provide the Red Cross with this donation to support the health and safety initiatives, specifically to purchase 24 lightweight manikins for training in CPR courses,” said Karmen Lemke. Manager – Community Relations/Contributions, Wisconsin Public Service Corp.

With contributions from businesses and community members, we are given the opportunity to provide the highest quality training available today.  Thanks to the generous gift from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation the Lakeland Chapter will be able to update its manikins by purchasing 24 Prestan manikins.

The Prestan manikins each have a CPR Rate Monitor that provides instant feedback to both students and instructors about the rate of chest compressions to better your training experience.  Student will have a realistic experience that will provide for the best “real life” CPR outcomes.  In addition, the manikins are light-weight and easy to set up at training sites.  These features will allow instructors to easily access workplaces to provide convenient training options.  Overall, the Prestan manikins will award students confidence in their life-saving skills and be a great asset to the chapter!

 The Wisconsin Public Service Foundation, incorporated in 1964, is a private, charitable foundation that supports charities and organizations that need financial assistance.  Wisconsin Public Service Foundation is funded by stockholders of the corporation, not by its electric and gas customers.  Through direct grants, scholarships and an employee Matching Gifts and Dollars for Doers program, the Foundation actively supports improvements in the quality of life in the communities served by Wisconsin Public Service.   

NWTC Service Learning Group Uses their Creativity to Raise Funds for Japan

The Service Learning group of NWTC raised funding for the American Red Cross effort for relief from the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami by having a “Jeans for Japan” effort!  They raised $1,909.31!  As a part of their effort they created an artwork piece.  People who donated could draw and paint on the canvas.  The triptych now hangs in the NWTC ArtisanCenter off of Main Street.

In the picture: Mauree Childress, Allen Voelker, Suzanne Ritter, Erika Bradley, Zoe Yeumand and Steve Maricque. Other leaders of the effort included Sienna, Andy Smits, Lacy Freward and Kat Gettleman.

 

Door County Students Give Gift that Warms Hearts and those Served by American Red Cross

Nikki Pease's fifth-grade class present Diane Knutson, far left, a disaster volunteer for the Lakeland Chapter of the American Red Cross, with blankets that they made as part of Sunrise Serves the Community service project.

 Sturgeon Bay: Students have warm gift for homeless children

Written by Samantha Hernandez, Door County Advocate

The student service learning group at Sunrise Elementary School ended the academic year on a warm and fuzzy note with the donation of 27 fleece blankets and 15 fleece pillows to HELP of Door County and the local Red Cross.

The Sunrise Serves the Community student group works with guidance counselor Belinda Richard during the school year learning about leadership and working on service projects that benefit the community.

The student consensus early on was that they wanted to learn about homelessness, Richard said. The group contacted local organizations to learn all they could about subject.

Christine Salmon, then from the United Way of Door County; Joanne Ator, the county’s Economic Support supervisor; Judy Gregory from the Lakeland Chapter of the American Red Cross; and HELP of Door County youth advocate Jessica Holland all came to talk with the students.

From there, students brainstormed about how they could use what they learned to help others and what they would miss most if they lost their homes, Richard said.

The students decided that kids their age would want something to snuggle or something comfy.

“We decided we should make blankets for homeless children in our area,” student Allison Bridenhagen said. Allison was a fifth-grader at the time.

To raise money for the material, Sunrise Serves the Community hosted an after-school fun event to raise money for the fleece and the school’s Destination ImagiNation team, Richard said.

Walmart donated $50, several staff members donated fabric and Elementary Principal Ann Smejkal also chipped in more than $25 for the project.

The service group also created a short DVD presentation of what they learned from their research and what they would like each third-, fourth- and fifth-grade class in the school to do to help them meet their goal of 12 blankets.

Each class was asked to make one blanket. The group’s goal was exceeded when one class made an additional 10 blankets that they requested be sent to the tornado ravaged Joplin, Mo.

Seeing the entire school get involved with the project “was amazing,” Allison said.

The students also held a bake sale for Japan earthquake relief and raised about $300 that they donated to the Red Cross.

To see the digital story that Sunrise Serves the Community created as part of its service learning project check out the digital story at http://youtu.be/4j2uFmk_xJ4

American Red Cross Super Donor Days in Green Bay set for June 30, July 1

Public encouraged to give blood

Written by: Kelcie C. McCrae, kmccrae@greenbaypressgazette.com  Green Bay Press Gazette

As plans for vacations, cookouts and fireworks displays take shape, the American Red Cross wants people to remember to donate blood in the summer.

The American Red Cross in Green Bay will host the 25th annual Super Donor Days blood drive June 30 and July 1.

“Experience a Green Bay area tradition and help boost the blood supply before heading out this holiday weekend,” Dave Liethen, American Red Cross donor recruitment representative said in a written statement. “We’re hoping more than 500 people come out to donate blood during the two-day event.”

Donors at Shopko Hall in Ashwaubenon will be able to enjoy music and refreshments as they give blood. Free child care and free parking in the area will be available.

“We like to make sure that the donors coming in that give their time and blood are having a good experience,” said Jody Weyers, volunteer and communications director for the Red Cross chapter. “We rely on hundreds of volunteers to come out and help support us.”

To Donate:

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go online to redcrossblood.org. Appointments prefered, walk-ins welcome.

  

Culver’s raises $200K for tornado, flood efforts

Culver’s restaurants’ Day of Giving event generated more than $200,000 in donations for victims of spring tornadoes and floods throughout the country.

Participating restaurants in 19 states donated 10 percent of their sales on June 14 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

“Culver’s has made such an important gift,” said Michael J. Brown, vice president of corporate and foundation partnerships at the American Red Cross. “Support from our corporate partners is critical as we help the survivors rebuild lives shattered by these destructive storms.”