The American Red Cross of Union County is proud to announce the addition of an Instructor Training Class to its list of available courses. The Lay Responder First Aid and CPR/AED Instructor class is a fun, three day session, where interested individuals will learn how to become First Aid, CPR, and AED instructors, gaining the skills necessary to teach other people how to save a life.

“This class is the perfect opportunity for anyone wanting to become an instructor, and will cover topics such as teaching to large groups and ensuring that everyone stays interested and engaged, and choosing the appropriate materials based on the specific needs of the participants,” explains Cecilia Dessingue, Preparedness Program Associate for the Union County chapter. “You will learn how to teach first aid and other health and safety skills to church groups, scouts, or other community organizations, and it’s great for companies who would like to have one or more employees trained as certified instructors, thereby doing their own in-house training sessions. I’m very excited to be able to bring this opportunity to the community, but space is limited, so be sure to sign up today!”

The class runs from 8:30am to 5:30pm on February 21st, 22nd and 23rd, and you must attend all three sessions in order to become certified. They will take place at the Stallings location, on 323 Stallings Road, and cost $125. All books and handouts will be provided. In order to take the class you must hold current certifications in Adult/Infant/Child CPR, AED, and First Aid Basics, and must provide proof of your certifications. Last day to register is 5:00pm on Friday, February 15th.

If you would like to sign up for the instructor course or gain more information on this or other health and safety classes, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.

Two weeks into the New Year, the American Red Cross faces a severe shortage of several blood types. We typically see a drastic decline in blood donations at the end of the year, which causes a serious blood shortage at the beginning of January. Locally, supplies of type O negative, B negative and A negative blood are at less than a day’s supply. Eligible donors are needed immediately to give blood to prevent supply levels from dropping even further in the coming days and weeks, and to avert a crisis for patients in need of lifesaving transfusions.

For those that already donate regularly, we thank you, and ask you to keep it up! For first time donors or those who haven’t donated in a while, you are encouraged to come out to one of the multiple blood drives the Union County Chapter holds each month. Just one pint can help save up to three lives.

While all blood types are needed, the low supply of type O blood is of particular concern. Type O is the most commonly used blood type, and can be used for all patients. However, it is often essential to the treatment of trauma patients, newborns and women who are pregnant. Please spread the word to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers about the blood shortage and the high importance of giving blood.

The Carolinas Blood Services Region needs 1,600 blood donations a day in order to adequately supply the 103 hospitals it serves. Donors must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. Below is a list of upcoming blood drives across Union and Anson Counties.

• Friday January 18 – The Union County Sheriff’s Department is holding a drive at the Agricultural Conference Center on Presson Road. The drive will be open to the public from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

• Wednesday January 23rd – First Presbyterian Church in Wadesboro will host the Wadesboro Community drive from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm. The church is located at 208 South Green Street in downtown Wadesboro.

• Saturday January 26th – Bonds Grove United Methodist Church will host a drive at the church on Bonds Grove Church Road in Waxhaw. The drive is from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm.

• Monday January 28th – Zion United Methodist on Old Fish Road will host a drive from 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

For more information on the American Red Cross of Union County, donating blood, or a complete listing of blood drives, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.

For the last 37 years, January has been set aside as the time of year to honor volunteer blood donors. During National Blood Donor Month, the American Red Cross would like to thank everyone who gives blood and helps patients in about 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.

National Blood Donor Month not only honors those who give blood each year, but is also a time to educate and encourage new donors about the importance of giving blood. Blood has a shelf life of only 42 days, and therefore constantly needs to be replenished. Donors can give every 56 days, or up to six times a year.

January is historically a time of year when the number of people giving blood drops dramatically. Bad weather and illness keep many from being able to donate. Yet, despite these and other factors, the need for blood donations continues. Donating is a great way to support the community, and helps to ensure that a stable inventory is available for premature babies, cancer patients, sickle cell anemia treatments, or the many accidents and other illnesses which may require transfusions. This year, make a difference, and give blood.

In December, the Union County Chapter held 10 blood drives, including 2 in Anson County, which resulted in a combination of 232 units, 165 in Union County and 67 units in Anson County. We appreciate the generosity of our sponsors and donors, and hope to increase these numbers in January. Below is a list of the upcoming blood drives in Union and Anson counties.

UNION COUNTY
Wednesday, January 9th – 10:30am to 3:00pm
Sponsored by: City of Monroe
Aquatic Center – 2325 Hanover - Monroe

Wednesday, January 9th – 2:30pm to 7:00pm
Sponsored by: Unionville Baptist Church
Unionville Community Building
1004 Unionville-Indian Trail Road - Monroe

Sunday, January 13th– 10:00am to 3:00pm
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
725 Deese Street – Monroe

Friday, January 18th – 3:00pm to 7:30pm
Union County Sheriff’s Department
Agricultural Center – 3230 Presson Road – Monroe

Saturday, January 26th – 10:00am to 2:30pm
Bonds Grove United Methodist Church
8215 Bonds Grove United Methodist Church – Waxhaw

Monday, January 28th – 4:00pm to 8:30pm
Zion United Methodist Church
1521 Old Fish Road – Monroe

ANSON COUNTY
Wednesday, January 23rd – 1:30pm to 6:00pm
Sponsored by: Wadesboro Community
First Presbyterian Church – 208 S. Green Street – Wadesboro

In general, donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more, and be in general good health. This year, you can make a difference. All it takes is the willingness to help someone in need and a pint of your blood. On behalf of all of those who may need blood, we thank you.

For more information on the American Red Cross of Union County or donating blood, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.

The American Red Cross of Union County is delighted to announce the arrival of a special and much needed gift, a Local Emergency Response Vehicle (LERV). The LERV arrived on Tuesday, December 18, to a very excited and anxious group of Red Cross volunteers and staff. Driven by volunteer Chuck Clary, and purchased by proud Red Cross supporters Martha and Steve Allen, the LERV now sits in the Red Cross parking lot, awaiting the opportunity to bring relief and support to disaster victims and emergency workers throughout Union and Anson Counties.

“The soldier who goes into battle with the finest equipment and the highest morale can defeat any enemy,” explains donor Steve Allen. “It’s no different for the Red Cross Disaster Volunteers - except that their enemy is cold, hunger, fatigue, darkness, grief, and despair. This new LERV will give the Disaster Volunteers an advantage over the enemy. And with this equipment supporting their skill and dedication, the upcoming battles for the citizens of Union and Anson Counties will be won again and again.”

The new response vehicle will be used for local disaster response, such as family fires and assisting first responders with mass feeding requests, etc.

“We are so excited to have received such a fantastic gift,” states Kathy Bragg, Community Executive for the chapter. “This response vehicle is going to help us be there When Help Can’t Wait for so many experiencing crises in our community.”

The American Red Cross is not a government agency, and relies on the generous support of people like the Allens and other Union and Anson County residents to continue bringing life saving services to the community.

For more information on the American Red Cross of Union County or ways you can help, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.

The American Red Cross needs more than 900 units of type O blood each day to meet the needs of patients in hospitals in this area. The American Red Cross of Union County will be hosting an “O” drive at the Red Cross on Friday December 28th. The chapter is located at 608 East Franklin Street in Monroe. The drive will be from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm, and donors will receive an American Red Cross long sleeved t-shirt as a thank you. All donations are welcome, but a special plea is being made to type O donors. Approximately 44% of the population has type O blood, making it the most common blood type. Almost half of all daily hospital requests are for type O. In addition, type O negative blood is used in trauma situations to stabilize patients until their blood can be crossmatched. Type O negative blood is often used to save the lives of premature babies.

Other life saving events in Union County during the holiday:

• The Enquirer Journal will host a drive at their office at 500 West Jefferson Street on Thursday December 20th from 2 to 6:30 pm
• Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse is hosting a drive on Friday December 21st from 2 to 6:30 pm at their store on Roosevelt Blvd.
• Faith United Methodist is hosting a drive at the church located at 9708 Faith Church Road in the Lake Park Community on Sunday December 23 from 12 noon to 4:30 pm

All blood drives are open to the public and all blood types are needed. Blood donors must be 17 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. The entire collection process takes about an hour. A blood donation can be made every 56 days.

For information call the Union County Chapter at 704-283-7402.

Now, Union and Anson County community members have a new, convenient way to get trained in lifesaving skills such as CPR and first aid — online.  The Union County chapter has partnered with the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis to offer Red Cross Online Training.    

The old adage about being in the right place at the right time came true Wednesday, October 31 for a group of American Red Cross disaster volunteers working the San Diego wildfires.

The Client Services Outreach team of four was canvassing an area devastated by the fires, walking around the property of a client whose home had been destroyed. They were on a mission to contact the client and ensure he was getting the necessary emergency assistance such as food, water, or clothing, when they discovered something much more devastating.

Union County American Red Cross volunteer Jessica Funk was the first to notice a smoldering brush on the property, ready to turn into another fire. The team immediately dialed 9-1-1.

“My conscience and Red Cross spirit wouldn’t allow me to walk away from a scene that could have become much more tragic,” explains Jessica.

A group of forestry fighters, who came from Idaho earlier that week to help contain the wildfires, were the first to arrive and put out the blaze. Thanks to their fast response time and the quick thinking of Jessica, along with the other members of the Client Services Outreach team, what might have been a disastrous fire was prevented.

“I’m so proud of Jessica and our two other disaster volunteers currently helping in the California Fire relief efforts,” states Deb Stein, Director of Response and Recovery for the Union County Red Cross. “It’s because of people like them, who are willing to be trained and ready to help at a moment’s notice, that allows the American Red Cross to continue bringing life-saving support and services to the community and ensures the relief efforts are what the American people have come to expect.”

In addition to Jessica, the Union County Chapter has another volunteer working as a Client Case Worker at the San Diego fires, and a third volunteer in San Bernardino, working as a Mass Care worker, distributing food, water, and other necessary materials to emergency workers and disaster victims.
The Red Cross relief efforts are far from over, and they will continue providing emergency services, keeping shelters open, and meeting the needs of those affected by the fires. To date, nearly 7,000 Red Cross workers across the country, most of which are volunteers, have gone to help. They have provided nearly 275,000 meals and 25,000 overnight stays in over twenty shelters. Sixty-three mobile feeding units have also gone out for those who could not make it to the shelters.

As we approach the holiday season, the Union County chapter encourages all citizens to check their smoke alarms and be extra cautious. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation to the local American Red Cross disaster relief fund for local family fires in Union or Anson counties, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.

As wildfires continue to rage throughout southern California, destroying hundreds of homes and displacing hundreds of thousands of residents, the Red Cross is continuing to work with officials to support the relief effort.

The Union County Chapter is assisting in these efforts by sending three volunteers to California. “Marilyn” and “Jess” are already in San Diego helping in Individual Client Services, where they are working as Client Case Workers providing one-on-one assistance to families. They help those affected by the fires get emergency assistance such as food, water, clothing, or finances, and when necessary give them referrals to other agencies that will continue helping them get back on their feet.

“Linda”, another Union County Volunteer, is going to San Bernardino on October 26 to work in Mass Care. She will be a Bulk Distribution Supervisor, where she will help gather and distribute food, water, and other necessary materials to firefighters and emergency workers in the affected areas as they work to battle the blazes and safeguard residents, and the disaster victims.
Here is a snapshot of Red Cross services as of midnight, Tuesday, October 23:

• The Red Cross and its partners have opened dozens of shelters across the region.
• 40 trucks full of supplies have arrived, bringing thousands of cots, blankets, toiletry kits and other needed items.
• 50 Mobile feeding vehicles have arrived with 25 more en route.
• Cleanup supplies are also en route. Supplies include rakes, shovels, and other useful equipment to help with cleanup in the affected communities.
• A large feeding kitchen will open at Petco Field to support the shelters, mobile feeding and the feeding to the emergency workers.
• Nearly 2000 Red Cross volunteers/workers have been deployed across the county to help.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the California wildfires, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

You may also donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by utilizing the Text 2HELP™ program established by the partnership of The Wireless Foundation and the American Red Cross. Subscribers of AT&T Mobility, Alltel, Boost Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and SunCom can donate $5 to relief efforts simply by text messaging keyword “GIVE” to “2HELP” (24357). The donations will appear on customers’ monthly bills or be debited from prepaid account balances.

Text 2HELP™ has been activated, and contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund will be accepted for the next 60 days. Money from the fund is used to support American Red Cross relief efforts throughout the country, as well as in California.

For more ways you can help the relief efforts or for information on the American Red Cross of Union County, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.

With witches, goblins, and super-heroes descending on neighborhoods across America, the American Red Cross offers parents some safety tips to help prepare their children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat holiday. Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun.

• Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.
• Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms.
• Cross the street only at corners.
• Don’t hide or cross the street between parked cars.
• Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards, and brooms, too!)
• Plan your route and share it with your family. If possible, have an adult go with you.
• Carry a flashlight to light your way.
• Keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flammable.)
• Visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger’s house.
• Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes.
• Be cautious of animals and strangers.
• Have a grown-up inspect your treats before eating. And don’t eat candy if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.

For more safety tips and information on the American Red Cross of Union County, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.

The American Red Cross of Union County is proud to offer Babysitter’s Training classes, providing youth ages 11-15 with a fun way to learn how to become safe and responsible babysitters. They learn a range of injury prevention and safety skills, as well as training in decision making, basic child care, leadership, and professionalism.

American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training is designed to be interactive and exciting, using tools such as hands-on activities, videos, demonstrations, role playing, and lively discussions. The class gives youth the confidence and valuable employment skills needed to impress parents.

It teaches youth how to:
- Perform First Aid
- Identify Common Safety Hazards and Prevent Injuries
- Make Good, Responsible Decisions
- Supervise Infants Through School-Age Children
- Chose Safe and Age-Appropriate Toys and Games
- Perform Basic Care Routines like Diapering, Feeding, and Dressing
- Prepare Simple Meals and Snacks
- Handle Bedtime Issues
- Find and Interview for Babysitting Jobs

The course has been reviewed and supported by a number of respected organizations, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Boy Scouts of the U.S.A., YMCA of the U.S.A., Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the 4-H Club in the U.S.A.

The class runs from 9am to 2:30pm and costs $40, with the next ones occurring on Saturday, October 27 and Saturday, December 8, 2007 at the Stallings office, located at 323 Stallings Road, in Stallings, NC. Scholarships are available for those who qualify, and any donations are welcome. Since these classes are scheduled for a whole day, please bring a bagged lunch and a drink. There are two forms parents will be required to fill out prior to enrolling their child in the class.

In addition to the Babysitter’s classes, the Red Cross offers Adult CPR, Infant/Child CPR, First Aid, a combination of the three classes called Community First Aid and Safety, a review session for individuals who need to be recertified, and a bloodborn pathogens class upon request. These classes and a lot more are offered online as well. However, anyone completing the online portion will still need to come into the Red Cross within 30 days to complete a short skills session.

For more information on the American Red Cross of Union County or the classes offered, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.