Show Your Love this Valentine's Day 💗 Learn CPR with the Red Cross 💕

By Rose Ellen O'Connor, Volunteer

February is National Heart Month❤, and the perfect time to learn how to save lives with your American Red Cross. Knowing how to perform CPR and being able to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) during a cardiac emergency are just a few of the many ways you can make a difference. 

Why not show your love this Valentine’s Day by learning how to save a heart-attack victim’s life? 💓

In response to the thousands who die every year in the U.S. from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, the American Red Cross offers CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) classes throughout the Washington area. Nationally, the American Red Cross trains 9 million people a year in life-saving skills.
The difference between a bystander and someone trained in CPR or AED can be the difference between life and death.

More than 356,000 people in the U.S. suffer out-of-hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrest or SCA and nine out of ten die, according to the American Heart Association. That means that one person every two minutes dies somewhere in the country from sudden cardiac arrest, notes AED.com, making SCA the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and killing more people than lung cancer, breast cancer and HIV/AIDs combined.

There are rarely symptoms and almost no warning when SCA strikes, says AED.com. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation explains that SCA occurs when the heart stops beating. It can happen to all sorts of people, including children and teens. The person suffering an SCA collapses and may gasp or shake as if having a seizure, according to the foundation. The victim’s heart is no longer pumping blood throughout the body or to the brain.

That’s when CPR and AED come into play. There are only a few minutes to spare. To administer CPR, a rescuer places one hand on top of the other in the middle of the chest and pushes hard and fast, using body weight to administer compressions that are at least two inches deep and at least 100 per minute. The victim’s head is tilted slightly back, chin lifted and nose pinched closed. The rescuer places his mouth over the person’s mouth to make a complete seal and blows two times into the mouth to make the chest rise. Compressions are then continued. CPR can buy time until an ambulance arrives. It’s even better if an AED, a padded device that analyzes the heart and may deliver a shock to restart the heart’s normal rhythm, is available.

CPR given within three to six minutes of the onset of cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival.

The American Red Cross, in conjunction with affiliates, offers a four-hour course in First Aid, CPR and AED. You can receive certification in each of the areas that is valid for two years. The classes are given throughout the region during the day and evening and on weekends. They start at $70 and free refreshers are offered online.

Red Cross also offers web-based training. It allows you to work at your own pace and requires only a short, in-person session to check your skills.

Below is a list of the courses we offer – with classroom, online + classroom, and online only options available:
• First AID
• CPR
• AED
• BLS/CPS for Healthcare
• Babysitting & Child Care
• Swimming + Water Safety
• Lifeguarding
• CNA Training
• CNA Testing
• Instructor Training

Register in seconds at www.redcross.org/take-a-class and start your journey to save a life.


You can also download the free Red Cross First Aid App for instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies, including sudden cardiac arrest, at your fingertips.

You Can’t Predict When Disasters Will Happen, But You Can Be Red Cross Ready Using Red Cross Emergency Apps

Written by: Rosalind SE Carney, volunteer

As we reach the end of National Preparedness Month (www.ready.gov), now is the time to finalize your family’s emergency response plan. This year, the theme for National Preparedness Month was “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.” Some disasters (fire, flooding) may require you to leave your home, whereas others (power outage, snow storm) may make staying at home necessary. The only commonality to these different scenarios is that advance preparation can help mitigate stress and keep your family safe. The Red Cross has developed free Mobile Apps that can be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.  Mobile Apps can also be obtained by texting the App name to 90999 (standard carrier charges apply). All Apps are also available in Spanish.

Here are some of the Apps, with brief descriptions, that will help you and your family become Red Cross Ready.

Teach Your Child Emergency Preparedness

• Monster Guard: help your child (ages 7-11) learn how to stay safe (text “MONSTER” to 90999)

Be Ready to Provide Emergency Medical Treatment

• First Aid: learn how to handle the most common first aid emergencies (text "GETFIRST" to 90999)
• Pet First Aid: learn how to provide emergency care for your dog or cat (text "GETPET" to 90999)

Be Aware of Local Conditions

• Emergency: monitor more than 35 different weather and emergency alerts (text "GETEMERGENCY" to 90999)
• Tornado: receive weather alerts whenever the NOAA issues a tornado watch or warning throughout the US (text “GETNADO” to 90999)
• Hurricane: monitor local conditions and let others know you are safe even if the power is out (text “GETCANE” to 90999)
• Earthquake: receive notification when an earthquake occurs and let others know you are safe even if the power is out (text “GETQUAKE” to 90999)
• Flood: prepare to evacuate your home in times of flooding (text “GETFLOOD” to 90999)

Learn More about Red Cross Emergency Mobile Apps

Honor National Heart Month

Let The American Red Cross Teach You How to Save a Life

By Clarice Nassif Ransom, Volunteer

Hundreds of thousands of people die each year in the U.S. due to a sudden heart attack. Heart disease, including coronary, hypertension, and stroke, remains the number one cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association.

February is National Heart Month, and a good time to learn a new skill that can help save a life. The American Red Cross is a perfect resource. Knowing how to perform CPR and being able to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) during a cardiac emergency are just a few of the many ways you can make a difference.

“Someone who knows how to respond to an emergency is an asset to every household, workplace, and community,” said Richard N. Bradley, MD, Chair of the Red Cross Scientific Council’s Resuscitation Sub-Council, in a 2016 news release.

What do we do?

• Teach CPR Red Cross provides expert and affordable CPR training and certification courses for mandated job requirements or personal use.
• Resource for AED’s Red Cross trains you on how to use an AED and partners with manufacturers to help you receive the devices you need for your workplace, schools, and facilities.
• Host online and classroom courses Red Cross instructs participants on how to identify and respond to cardiac, breathing, and first aid emergencies, including helping someone who is choking, controlling bleeding, and treating heat-and-cold related emergencies.
• Offer the Red Cross First Aid Mobile Application Red Cross enables you to have instant access to information on handling first aid emergencies.

There are also tips for lowering heart disease risk, which include:

• Watch your weight
• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke
• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation
• Get active and eat healthy

Freshmen 15? The flu? Blizzards? Don’t worry, we've got you covered!

Written by: Harsha Jha, volunteer

The time has come for all new university freshmen to say goodbye to their childhood bedrooms and head off to their dorms. The parents are probably trying to keep it together as their child is shopping for bedding, supplies, and the much-needed mini fridge; but deep inside they just want to hold on and never let go of their kid. So hey parents and college freshmen, as you prepare to start this new part of your life, here are some tips from the American Red Cross.

1. Have a fully stocked First Aid Kit. You will get sick in college and without mom and dad, there will be no one to get you medicine. So keep a first aid kit for all those small emergencies. Not sure what to take? Check out the one at the Red Cross Store!
2. Know your new environment. Is your college in a hurricane prone area? Or prone to flooding, tornadoes or blizzards? Know what kind of climate to prepare for and make sure you have the proper clothing and items. We highly recommend having the Emergency app downloaded to keep you prepared. Here is a list of all the apps available to keep you safe.
3. Seek help. If you are feeling very sick or just under the weather, know where the health center is on your campus. Also, remember to write down any medications you are allergic to, your insurance company, etc.
4. Eat healthy. There is going to be a lot of good food around, but try your hardest to stay fit too. Free gym? Try to go 2-3 times a week. Keep healthy snacks in your dorm for all those midnight snacks during finals week and most importantly, eat breakfast!
5. Be prepared to help peers. There will be many students who will not be ready for the new lifestyle, so why not be the hero on campus? Teach them about emergency preparedness or maybe even learn CPR or take a first aid class. College is all about trying new things, so why not start now? Check out some American Red Cross classes to get started.
6. Call your parents. In the moment, you will be so busy with welcome week, new friends and new classes, but remember at the end of the day to just send mom and dad a text or call them. It brightens their day and trust me it will have you feeling better too.

College is all about limitless opportunities; so don’t be afraid to seize them. With all of these tips, you are prepared to start your new life in at a college or university! Good luck from the American Red Cross!

Paraskevidekatriaphobia

My Fear-Day the 13th

By Squiggy the Squirrel

Just the other day, I looked at the calendar and saw that it was going to be Friday the 13th. Friday the 13th is one of the scariest days of the year for me, as I'm down right afraid of bad luck. Some would even say that I'm a bit nutty, but hey, a cautious squirrel is better than an unlucky one! Anyway, seeing that the 13th was coming up really fast, it got me thinking - what are some simple things I could do to make sure that even if a a black cat walked in front of me, or I spilled some salt, I'd be ready for anything!

First - I thought it would be a good idea to make sure my First Aid kit was updated with all of the essentials. I went to the Red Cross website and double checked everything in my kit and found that almost everything was in tip top shape! 

Next I made sure to download the First Aid app from the Red Cross. There are a lot of apps that put preparedness right in your palm!

Which brings us to today, the day I've been dreading! Turns out it's a good thing I was prepared before the 13th! 

Here's what happened... 

My morning started out like any other morning, but, unfortunately, as I was rolling out of my bed, I was unpleasantly surprised by the hard ground. "Ouch," I thought to myself, "what an unlucky start to my day! I think I may have sprained my tail bone!" I reached over to my phone and pulled up the First Aid app and was able to figure out how to support myself until the ambulance showed up with the squirrel rescue squad. 

After I was treated and left the ambulance with my new squirrel cast, I figured the day could only get better! On my way back to my tree house I mistakenly crossed under a ladder and instantly got stung by something! Oops! I wasn't entirely sure what it was but luckily enough, my handy-dandy First Aid app came to the rescue again! From the app I learned to:

• remove the stinger
• wash the wound
• and apply an ice pack

In no time I was back to feeling in tip-top shape... at least as best I can with a broken tail! 

Later, as I was on my way back from collecting acorns, a black cat crossed my way. And if that wasn't enough bad luck, the cat also happened to be hungry! I ran as fast as I could to escape the famished kitty and managed to make it back home safely.

By the time I got home I was sweating profusely. I haven't shed my winter coat quite yet so I was really overheated! I checked myself for signs of a heat stroke by following the simple steps on the First Aid app and hydrated myself while I searched my phone for the nearest squirrel salon for a fur trim!

What a day! Although I had a series of unfortunate events, the First Aid app really came to the rescue! While this morning wasn't a walk in the park, I can't imagine what my luck would've been like if it weren't for the Red Cross app and my First Aid kit. Don't let yourself take on Friday the 13th, or any other day, without them!

xo,
Squiggy