Earthquake in Japan, Tsunami Readiness in the Pacific Northwest: We Stand Ready to Assist

The Red Cross of WNC is on standby for deployment to Japan and the Pacific Northwest. For information on what our fellow Red Crossers around the world are doing in response, please follow the National Red Cross, the Oregon Trail Red Cross, the Hawaii Red Cross or the Red Cross of Asheville on Twitter for updates in response to the earthquake in Japan and tsunami readiness in the Pacific Northwest.

Looking for family/travelers in Japan? Go here.

Update: 2:00 PM: The military has reported that all their personnel are accounted for, and all Red Cross staff on military bases are also fine. As is the normal practice for a disaster, Red Cross station managers are currently in the military Emergency Operations Centers for their respective installations and assisting as needed.

Update: 1:28 PM: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Northwest Disaster Relief, Shelter Operations, etc. Or click here to make a secure online donation.

Update: 12:34 PM: The American Red Cross "Safe and Well" website has been updated to include the Japanese Earthquake in our drop down menu. Members of the public and military can register themselves on the site as being safe and well, allowing family members to search on their status. Click here to register or search.

Txt REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to #Japan EQ & Pacific #tsunami relief. http://bit.ly/eZJDoJ 3/11/11 1:26 PM via twitter Red Cross Asheville
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Yokota Air Base, Japan: 175 RC volunteers assisting w/ shelter operations, 2 flights have landed & they currently have 600 in the shelter.3/11/11 12:45 PM via twitterRed Cross Asheville
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Members of the public and military can register themselves as being safe and well in Japan. http://bit.ly/9ZwlyY 3/11/11/12:30PM via twitterRed Cross Asheville
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Disaster Relief in #Japan. How to Help: Text REDCROSS to 90999 #tsunami #redcross 3/11/11 12:05 PM via twitterRed Cross Asheville
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RT @RedCross: Contact the US State Department 1-888-407-4747 / 202-647-5225 for inquiries on US citizens living/traveling in #japan #tsunami 3/11/11 12:01 PM via twitterRed Cross Asheville
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RT @RedCross: Japan #RedCross sent 11 response teams to help assess earthquake/tsunami damage, provide first aid for injured #tsunami #japan 3/11/11 11:40 AM via twitterRed Cross Asheville
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We stand ready to assist our fellow Red Crossers in Japan, Hawaii, Washington & Oregon #tsunami #japan #redcross Our thoughts are with you! 3/11/11 11:30 AM via twitterRed Cross Asheville
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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…

LIBYA: ICRC teams have joined forces with Libyan doctors and nurses in east of country to treat people wounded in the fighting while other members of the global Red Cross/Red Crescent network coordinate to help those displaced by the fighting.

GAMBIA: The ICRC and Gambia Red Cross Society are providing more than 400 Senegalese refugees with three-month food rations, sleeping mats, clothing, soap and hygiene kits.

Côte d’Ivoire: The ICRC and the Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire are distributing medical and other supplies to hundreds of people who have fled fighting.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Survivors of sexual violence often face further suffering through social exclusion. Using theater, dance and other methods, community members trained to provide psycho-social support by the ICRC encourage relatives and society to accept the survivors.

GLOSSARY:

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

Working Woman Looking for a Few Good Men!

The men must be 16 or older, over 110 pounds and in reasonably good health. Want to be pampered? Will offer movies, cookies and a warm blanket!

WNC Red Cross's platelet recruiter is seeking male donors to give platelets in support of treatment of cancer patients and other life-threatening diseases.

The decision to collect platelets primarily from male donors reflects an effort to reduce the risk of TRALI, or Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury, one of the most common reactions for a patient to have to a blood transfusion.

TRALI reactions are most often associated with blood transfusions that have come from female donors who have had one or more pregnancies. Woman who have been pregnant are more likely to carry the antibodies associated with TRALI as a result of exposure to fetal antigens during pregnancy.

While current female platelet apheresis donors are continuing to donate platelets, there is a serious need to recruit male platelet donors. Could that be you?

One platelet donation can be worth 12 - 18 whole blood donations. See how.

Platelet transfusions are needed each year for thousands of patients:
Bone Marrow Transplant Pations may require 120+ units of platelets
Organ Transplant Patients may require 30+ units of platelets
Cancer Patients may require 20+ units of platelets
Heart Surgery may require 6+ units of platelets

Please consider a donation! Make one platelet recruiter a happy woman while possibly saving lives and answering the hopes of patients and family members, alike.

Our Blood Donation center is located at 100 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC, 28804. Click here for more information or to set up an appointment.

Click here to learn more about these valuable, possibly life-saving platelet donations.

You can be an Apheresis Warrior, too!

Shedding Some Light on Power Outage To-Do's

In high winds, wintry mixes and even hard driving rain, power outages can occur suddenly, without warning and can create a risk for all kinds of safety hazards from stubbed toes to spoiled food. Please read up on how you can prepare your family in the event of a power outage.

Let's prepare now to keep from worrying later.

Before An Outage:

• Check flashlights and battery-powered portable radios to ensure that they are working, and you have extra batteries. A radio is an important source of weather and emergency information during a storm. Don't have one? We do! Call 828-258-3888 ext. 212 to order one!
• Make sure your home is properly insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows to keep cold air out.
• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide insulation.
• Know how to shut off water valves.
• If your water supply could be affected (a well-water pump system), stock your home with a 2 week suppy of water. (One gallon/per day for each person in the household - and save some for pets too!)
• Stock home with batteries, non perishable food (2 week supply), sanitation/personal hygiene items and an extra stash of cash.

During an Outage:

• Dress for the season, wearing several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing, rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Wear a hat; most body heat is lost through the top of the head.
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
• In order to protect against possible voltage irregularities that can occur when power is restored, you should unplug all sensitive electronic equipment, including TVs, stereo, VCR, microwave oven, computer, cordless telephone, answering machine and garage door opener.
• Do not open the refrigerator or freezer door. Read our Food Safety Checklist

After an Outage:

• Be extra cautious if you go outside to inspect for damage after a storm. Downed or hanging electrical wires can be hidden by snowdrifts, trees or debris, and could be live. Never attempt to touch or moved downed lines. Keep children and pets away from them.
• Check with/help neighbors.
• Continue to stay off streets.
• Do not touch anything power lines are touching, such as tree branches or fences. Always assume a downed line is a live line. Call your utility company to report any outage-related problem.

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…

MEXICO: The Mexican Red Cross, with ICRC support, opened a new mobile clinic providing medical care for migrants near the border with the United States.

LIBYA: In response to medical needs, Libyan Red Crescent staff and volunteers have been collecting blood, evacuating the wounded and working in the hospitals. The global Red Cross and Red Crescent network is working together to coordinate humanitarian response to the crisis.

Côte d’Ivoire: A month after inter-community clashes erupted, ICRC and Ivorian Red Cross volunteers are maintaining their assistance – providing emergency supplies, medical aid, and safe drinking water for thousands.

ARMENIA: Last month, theICRC and the Fuller Centre for Housing Armenia launched a joint program in Tavush province aimed at helping improve living conditions for the families of persons who went missing in connection with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

NEW ZEALAND: Among many ongoing earthquake relief efforts, sixty Red Cross welfare volunteers are working with the Christchurch City Council, going door to door in teams of two, to check in on affected people in the Eastern suburbs of Christchurch.

GLOSSARY:

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

Look Who's on "Who Knew?"

Yahoo News' Who Knew features a video about the American Red Cross for the first day of Red Cross Month!

Speaking of... Do you know who declares March as Red Cross month every year? The President of the United State issues an annual proclamation to denote March as Red Cross Month.

Pretty cool, huh?

Celebrate Red Cross Month!

Red Cross Month is officially here! It's an exciting time of the year for us Red Crossers. Want to celebrate with us? Here are some ways you can!

Become A Hero!


As Red Cross Month, March is also the month of our Heroes Fundraising Campaign. Through this grassroots community driven campaign we hope to raise money to fund our humanitarian efforts in Western North Carolina.

You can be a Hero, too! We invite any and everyone to sign up as a Hero with the Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the Red Cross.


Show Your Support in Cyber Style!

Avatars and badges are available for use on your Facebook and other social media outlets!


Donate Your Tweets and Status Updates!

Thanks to Helpattack.com, you can now use your tweets and Facebook updates to spread the word about the Red Cross during the month of March! Or simply use #RedCrossMonth in all your tweets!




Write (or Read) for the Red Cross!

"During the month of March, Writers for the Red Cross will be raising awareness and money for the American Red Cross by highlighting over 170 writers, agents, editors, book bloggers, and independent bookstores. Learn more here!

Donate blood, learn CPR, save a life!

Find a blood drive, sign up for a class or learn CPR for FREE on CPR Saturday!

Dance!