Battle of the Badges!

Give the gift of life with the American Red Cross and at the same time, honor the men and women who keep our community healthy and safe! Members of the Asheville community are asked to roll up their sleeves February 29, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in downtown Asheville for the 2^nd annual “Battle of the Badges” campaign. Those who come out to donate can cast their vote for their favorite local first responder agency. The Red Cross will honor the department earning the most votes.


Last year, Asheville’s “Battle of the Badges” drive collected 124 pints of lifesaving blood, and the Red Cross honored the North Carolina Highway Patrol for receiving the most votes. This year, the drive is aiming to collect even more units. Participating agencies:

North Carolina Highway Patrol

Buncombe County Sheriff's Office

Asheville Fire Department

Asheville Police Department

Buncombe County EMS

“The Battle of the Badges campaign is a wonderful opportunity to partner with our first responders and collect those lifesaving units of blood we so desperately need during the winter months,” said Joyce Brendel, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region. “We are so excited to honor the heroes who put their lives on the line for us every day, and we are also looking forward to the fun competition!”

People who come out to donate will receive an American Red Cross “Lifesaver” t-shirt and will be eligible to win a pair of roundtrip Delta Air Lines tickets. They will also be entered to win one of three, three-day oceanfront vacation rentals at The Islander Inn and Suites on Emerald Isle, North Carolina, courtesy of Bluewater Real Estate and Vacation Rentals.

American Red Cross Rolls Out New Logo!

The American Red Cross officially unveiled its new logo last Thursday, featuring the iconic Red Cross in a button, to symbolize the personal investment of volunteers, employees and supporters in the Red Cross mission. The Red Cross, one of the world’s most recognized and trusted brands, has historically represented hope, safety on the battlefield, and care in crisis.

This new look is designed to reflect the organization as it is today: modern, authentic and innovative. The updated identity is meant to appeal to both long-time Red Cross supporters and an entirely new generation of volunteers and donors, eager to show their affiliation with the organization. This presentation of the Red Cross logo is similar to the lapel pins and buttons worn by Red Cross supporters in the early part of the 20th century.

While most people think of disaster relief and blood donation when they think of the Red Cross, the updated brand identity is meant to invite people to learn more about the organization and its mission.”We want to show more people how they can be part of a Red Cross that intersects with their lives in many ways,” said Peggy Dyer, chief marketing officer of the Red Cross. “We’re proud of both our history and our future. We look forward to telling our story to a wider audience and the new brand identity is an important step in that process.”

The American Red Cross will continue to roll out its new look when it debuts a redesigned corporate website later this year. The new site will feature the logo button, updated graphics and an enhanced use of photography. It will also feature user-generated content to allow individuals to share their Red Cross experiences.

The American Red Cross is currently developing a public-service ad campaign that will feature stories of people whose lives have been touched by the Red Cross mission.

Show Your Love with a Red Cross this Valentine's Day!

Do you have a Red Crosser as a Valentine this year? Well, we dug up some true finds on ETSY to make any dedicated Red Cross blood donor, disaster volunteer or instructor smile. Click on the images to visit the ETSY stores.

First up, an authentic vintage World War II American Red Cross first aid kit, complete with supplies and literature. Perfect for the vintage collector and Red Cross instructor alike:



Check out this retro ringer tee, featuring the old American Red Cross bloodhound mascot. A stylish option for the blood donor on your Valentine's Day list.



And here we have an inspired update to a vintage Red Cross ad from the early 1900's. This wonderful vinyl graphic will make a statement on any Red Crosser's wall!


Upcycled vintage Red Cross pins turned into lovely earrings! A perfect way to show off your Red Cross pride!


And finally, a vintage American Red Cross nurse's silver pocket watch! Just think of where it's been - maybe in Clara Barton's pocket!



And spend some time drooling over all of the Red Cross Love items on Pinterest here.

Note: The American Red Cross does not have any affiliation with Etsy or the Etsy sellers listed above.

Superbowl Ad features New CPR Techniques?

We wouldn't recommend this as an actual life-saving technique but we did enjoy a hearty chuckle.

Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…

ITALY: 250 Italian Red Cross staff and volunteers are taking part in the rescue and relief operation at the site of capsized liner Costa Concordia. The cruise ship hit rocks off Italy’s west coast on Friday night, killing at least 12 people and injuring 70. Volunteers have supplied more than 800 people with clothes, shoes, hygiene kits, transport to nearby hospitals, medicine and other materials.

NIGERIA: The ICRC is providing support for the Nigerian Red Cross to treat those injured in a recent wave of protests. A nationwide strike was called for January 9th by labor organizations to protest the withdrawal of fuel subsidies. Since the strike began, Nigerian Red Cross volunteers have provided first aid all over the country to more than 600 injured persons.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Heavy fighting has been raging in Shabunda territory of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since January 5th, 27 injured people, including eight children, have been evacuated to various hospitals in Bukavu with support from the ICRC. The ICRC is continuing to supply medical supplies and is pressing the authorities and weapon bearers to respect and protect civilians.

SOMALIA: The ICRC has decided to temporarily suspend distribution of food and seed relief intended for 1.1 million people in urgent need after having been blocked by local authorities in parts of central and southern Somalia. Since a drought started in late 2010 the ICRC has distributed food rations to more than a million people and has provided agricultural support for over 100,000 farmers.

CHILE: On the first day of the new year hundreds in Chile were evacuated from dozens of forest fires that burned at least 57,000 acres. The Chilean Red Cross is currently assisting more that 50 families in shelters located in the communes of Quillon and Chillan.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The "Other" Winter Preparedness Tips

With Old Man Winter finally hitting parts of the United States, ski resorts are doing their best snow dances, while everyone else is starting to buckle down for a long haul inside. And even though Western North Carolina might not be getting any snow for awhile yet, it's still a good idea to use the cold weather as an excuse for some indoor fun.

Although, the American Red Cross has been at the leading edge of preparedness for decades, and every year has brought you our Winter Storm Safety Checklist which is chock full of information to keep you and you loved ones safe before, during and after a storm, today, we would like to provide you with a few “other” Winter preparedness items to include.

Indoor Fort Supplies

This will include blankets, sheets, chairs, and some other sturdy furniture. However, your indoor fort building skills may have diminished over the years. Don’t fret, Apartment Therapy has some very easy to follow instruction, design ideas and decor inspirations for the young and mature.

Movies

Having a family movie night is an idea that’s an oldie but still a goodie. Either go rent a variety of movies, or turn on your favorite movie streaming service. Be sure to buy popcorn and candy for a full movie night experience. You can even combine fort building with movie night!

Games

Board games are a great way to avoid getting bored! Other games can include Charades, tick-tack-toe, Texas Hold ‘em, or you can get creative and come up with a karaoke/dance competition (be sure to have your First Aid Kit on hand in case this game goes awry). Maybe buy a few small prizes or allow the winner to get out of doing the dishes that day.

Sleds

Depending on how adventurous you’re feeling, you can go sledding during or after a snowstorm. Sometimes going down a hill isn’t enough, so you might want to build a Sled Mountain - in which case, go ahead and grab that First Aid Kit again.

So enjoy Old Man Winter as much as you can, and don’t forget to check out our more “traditional” winter preparedness tips so you and your family will be able to tackle the season with confidence!

“It’s devastation...You have buildings that are no longer there. People were sucked out of their homes and wound up in fields.”

Dan McCurry spoke to the Asheville-Citizen Times about the tornadoes that ripped through Rutherford County this week.

Read more here.