Kadena Crossroads. A publication of the American Red Cross at Kadena Air Base Winter 2017

Transcription

1 Kadena Crossroads A publication of the American Red Cross at Kadena Air Base Winter 2017 In This Issue Calendar & Courses Holiday Safety Volunteer Spotlight Hero Care App Quarter in Review Station Advisory Council Station Chair: Laura Ewing Chair of Volunteers: Peggy Vinyard PR & Marketing Chair: Hannah Wilkes Disaster Services Chair: Rachel Murtagh Medical Clinic Chair: Lyn Singletary Health & Safety Chair: Hailey Shabazz Special Events Chair: Patti Underwood Records Chair: Janet Martinez Youth Chair: Ricshara Knight Recognition Chair: Erin Boling Chair of Blood Services: Marie Gibbs Senior Advisors: Missy Cornish & Cathy Amrhein Station Staff Regional Program Manager: Nalan Miles Regional Program Specialist: Lakeisha Simms Field Office Coordinator: Cristina McDonald Youth Program Presents Scrubby Bear By, Shelley Jersey (Youth Program Volunteer) In January, the Red Cross Youth Program volunteers traveled to the Shima No Ko School Age Care center to perform a short skit for the kids. Scrubby Bear is a story about a family of bears and a very unhealthy pig, Pigletta. Pigletta had a cold and she spread her germs all over the bears home. The bears taught little Pigletta how to keep herself and others healthy. After the skit was over, it was time for the volunteers to ask some questions. The kids were eager to participate. At least half of them raised their hands every time we asked a question. The kids learned that the small tasks we do every day, such as brushing our teeth and covering our sneezes, have a great impact on our health. Everybody learned about the importance of good hygiene. Finally, the highlight of the lesson was the song. Sung to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat, this short and simple song provided an easy way to help kids remember how to properly wash their hands. Whenever it was time to sing, the kids eagerly jumped to their feet. When it was all over, kids and volunteers alike left the room humming the catchy tune. Overall, the performance was very enjoyable, and the Red Cross Youth Program volunteers cannot wait to do it again next year! Contact Us The American Red Cross at Kadena Station is located in building 6800, near Gate 1 and Jack s Place. DSN Kadena@redcross.org wwww.american RedCross Kadena Station AmericanRedCrossKadenaStation KadenaRedCross RedCrossKadena

2 American Red Cross at Kadena Air Base Page 2 Message from the Regional Program Specialist: Ms. Lakeisha Simms Where did the time go? January has come and gone and now we are in our 2nd month of 2017! Did you make any New Year s resolutions? Have you stuck with them? If one of your resolutions was to become First Aid/CPR/AED certified, we have several classes scheduled and we look forward to helping you become certified. If you made a resolution to be more active in the community, stop by the office and let us tell you about our volunteer opportunities. Can t volunteer during the week? Don t worry-- we have weekend opportunities as well. We look forward to seeing you soon! Lakeisha Simms, Regional Program Specialist -Lakeisha Simms, Regional Program Specialist Find the Volunteer Connection App in itunes or Google Play Don t Forget to Log Your Hours! Our amazing volunteers have donated 7,722 hours of their time this fiscal year! The contributions of volunteers are invaluable to the success of the American Red Cross, both locally and at the organizational level. The staff at the Kadena Station sincerely appreciates all that you do! Submitting your volunteer hours is critical. It demonstrates the value of your time in service to the Red Cross mission, allowing the Red Cross to dedicate a higher percentage of expenses to services and programs; it demonstrates the power of our volunteers to donors, communities, and the general public; and it shows how your service contributes to local communities.

3 American Red Cross at Kadena Air Base Page 3 Feburary 4- Adult & Pediatric CPR/ First Aid/AED (blended course) 6:00pm-8:00pm 8- Adult & Pediatric CPR/ First Aid/AED (blended course) 6:00pm- 8:00pm 10- Babysitter s Training Part 1 (Ped. CPR/ First Aid) 6:00pm- 8:00pm 11- Babysitter s Training Course Part 2 (Babysitting Basics) 9:00am - 3:00pm 18- Adult & Pediatric CPR/ First Aid/AED 8:00am - 10:00am Courses & Calendar In a classroom setting: Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED ($55) Babysitter s Training & Pediatric First Aid/CPR ($70) CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers & Healthcare Providers ($55) First Aid/CPR/AED Instructors Course ($250, scholarships available) Wilderness and Remote First Aid ($55) Basic Life Support ($55) Online courses: Coping with Deployments (Free) Babysitting Basics ($25) Family First Aid & CPR-this course does not provide certification. ($35) First Aid, Health and Safety for Coaches ($50) What is Blended Learning? Our Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED courses are offered in two formats: the traditional classroom setting, and a combination of classroom and online coursework. Blended learning combines the hands-on approach of classroom learning, with the convenience of online course modules that can be worked at your own pace. 22- Adult & Pediatric CPR/ First Aid/AED (blended course) 6:00pm- 8:00pm 25- Babysitting Training (Parts 1 & 2) 8:00am - 3:00pm The Red Cross helps military members, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to the challenges of military service. Emergency communications, training, support to wounded warriors and veterans, and access to community resources help an average of 150,000 military families and veterans annually.

4 American Red Cross at Kadena Air Base Page 4 Blood Donation: Facts versus Myths By, Arron C. Greene In January, the American Red Cross recognizes National Blood Donor Awareness Month. Every year, millions of people across the U.S. need immediate access to lifesaving blood made possible by our donors around the world. Over time, many myths have managed to make their way to the public, deterring many eligible candidates from donating and making it even more challenging to aid those in need. This year we would like to debunk some of these myths to encourage everyone to come down and help do their part. Myth: If I don t donate, someone else will! Fact: Emergency services are constantly in short supply for blood donations. Out of the almost 319 million people in the U.S., only 5 percent of the population donates blood annually, which leaves 100 percent of the burden on a very small group of donators. Myth: I have a medical condition that prevents me from donating. Fact: Unless you ve been screened, there s no way to know for sure. The American Red Cross performs extensive testing on every unit of blood donated and has a prescreening process to help identify possible issues Myth: Donating blood will hurt or affect my overall health. Fact: Other than a slight pinch when the needle is inserted, donating blood is painless. Once the blood is drawn, the body replaces any shortage of blood in only a few hours and the donor suffer no adverse affects. For more detailed information about donor eligibility, visit: For more questions or to become a volunteer, please visit the American Red Cross- Kadena Station, located in building Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 07:30-16:30. It s with volunteers and donors that make the Red Cross mission possible. It is an honor to serve our community, and we look forward to working for you.

5 American Red Cross at Kadena Air Base Page 5 Volunteer Spotlight: Betty Patrick By, Hannah Wilkes Wilderness and Remote First Aid: Available upon Request! The Wilderness and Remote First Aid course is a two-day advanced first aid class that provides a two-year certification in the skills you need to respond to an emergency when help may be delayed. Perfect for Boy Scouts and out door enthusiasts! Minimum class size: 6 students

6 American Red Cross at Kadena Air Base Page 6 Volunteers Make a Difference The Kadena Station makes it easy to become a volunteer! To sign up, head over to www. americanredcrosskadena.com, click on the Volunteer tab, and follow the prompts to get started. Our volunteer opportunities are not one size fits all - we offer positions ranging from marketing and leadership, to health and safety instructors, to special event help and more. In fact, there are positions available for anyone looking to make a difference in both small and large ways. Below are just some of the ways you can become involved and make a difference as a Red Crosser. Join the Diaster Action Team: Be a first responder! The DAT is recruiting new members and spouses are highly encouraged to join. Through monthly trainings and meetings, DAT members are equipped to provide immediate relief in the event of any man-made or natural disaster, supplying those affected with shelter, clothing, food, water, and other necessities. Teach Health & Safety Classes: CPR and Babysitter courses are a fundamental part of what our office provides as a service to the armed forces. We are currently in need of instructors to teach our Adult CPR/First Aid/AED classes, as well as our Babysitter Training courses to include pediatric CPR and First Aid certification. Share your skills: We want to help you utilize your special skills and talents! Opportunities are available in areas such as graphic design, videography, event planning, and more. We are always in search of writers, photographers, and volunteers interested in public speaking to join our Publicity & Marketing team. Contact our station for more information. Welcome to our New Leadership Volunteers!

7 American Red Cross at Kadena Air Base Page 7 Your Red Cross, Your Story By, Arron C. Greene In 1990, after 23 years of service in the United Stated Marine Corps, Mr. Chuck Miller retired from active duty. Only months after his retirement, Chuck again answered the call to service and began serving as an employee of the American Red Cross. After 22 years of employment in various positions, Chuck retired again, but his dedication to the Red Cross mission continues to this day. Now going on his sixth year, Chuck is a volunteer instructor for several classes offered by the Red Cross, helping equip and train the next generation of instructors, employees, and volunteers alike. On average, Chuck teaches classes per year. These classes include Basic Life Support, CPR Pro, First Aid/CPR/AED, Babysitting, and Wilderness/Remote First Aid. In addition, Chuck lends his 26 years of experience to the annual CPR Saturday event on Kadena Air Base. This powerhouse event provides instruction and certification to approximately 70 individuals with the help of 20 other American Red Cross instructors. Mr. Chuck Miller is a shining example of the American Red Cross mission, and we are always looking to add more members to our team or dedicated volunteers. Do you have a story to share? Kadena Station wants to hear from you! Sharing your story with us, and allowing us to share it with others, enables us to describe the positive impact our organization has on people all around the world in real-life, relatable terms. Whether you ve volunteered with a local Red Cross, received assistance after a disaster, taken any of our life-saving classes, or been the recipient of blood donation, your story is unique and valuable. Submissions to the Kadena Station must be true and accurate to the best of your knowledge, and will become property of the American Red Cross at Kadena Station, with permission to use, publish and republish in any form or media, with or without identification of you by name. At a minimum, accepted stories will be shared via our website and Facebook page. Visit and choose the Your Stories tab to get started.

8 Quarter in Review From top: Youth members spreading the word about Disaster Preparedness in September; FOC Cristina McDonald and volunteers shared emergency kit information at the BX on Oct. 1st; Youth volunteers help out at the Zombie Walk; Kadena Station s winning car decoration at Trunk-or-Treat.