Photo of the day: Edmonton grabs a flotation device

Red Cross office in Edmonton sports their lifejackets at work.

Here’s our team in Edmonton helping spread the word! This year 166 people will drown while boating.

Always wear your lifejacket and make every outing a return trip. Of those who drown, 88% are not wearing, or are not properly wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD). Boaters feel safe just having a lifejacket nearby. But when something goes wrong, you won’t have time to put it on. A lifejacket can save your life – but only if you wear it. Just like our Edmonton team.

Spring break offers a lesson in water safety

Guest entry by Carolyn Tees, Senior Manager, First Aid, Swimming and Water Safety

How important is swimming? I don’t think you ever really think about it, but there are times when it hits you. I had my son in Red Cross Swim lessons and he did very well. But it was all in the pool.

For spring break we took a family trip to Maui. Wow!  Sunshine in March. And we got to go snorkeling for the first time as a family. My son and I set off, with our waterproof camera in hand. Planning to capture the fish and elusive octopus…It was so clear, so many fish to see, and quickly I lost track of time. My son and I were both smiling and ecstatic when we nearly swam into two sea turtles eating kelp in the waves.

I pointed upwards and we took a look around us above the surface. We were a really long way from shore above the reef. For a second I was happy to be alone with my son and enjoying this special moment. But I suddenly looked at him. We were really far out. Clearly another 25 or more minutes of snorkeling was needed to get back to shore. Open water is very different. It isn’t like the pool.  I know my son could do more than 500 metres in the pool.  But had I brought him out too far and was he getting really tired (and perhaps cold – water in Maui isn’t warm – don’t be shocked)?  It was a reality check.  My son can swim, as can I,  I forget to be aware of the risks. The other part of learning to swim is about making safe choices and being water safety aware.  In the excitement of the day, we forgot. Fortunately, while tired, my son and I made it back. He was asleep by 8 that night.

It has made me think. And on our second trip we are going to pay attention. We’ll check how far we are out, our level of fatigue, and make sure we remain water safe. I won’t forget the sea turtles or the lesson.

First aid never takes a vacation

Guest entry by Kristopher Tharris, Coordinator, Learning & Development, First Aid

Flip flops, sunscreen, beach reads….and a first aid kit!

Many Canadians escape winter this time of year to a sunny destination. For me this meant two weeks in beautiful Barbados.

It was spectacular: sand, sea turtles, and body surfing. At one end of the beach is a small reef that creates waves ideal for body surfing. We lined ourselves up between the exposed bits of reef on the shoreline and went for it in the 20-metre space between.

I caught THE wave.

It was an excellent ride with the shore rushing up when I felt stinging in my hand. If the moment had frozen it would have looked like I was mid-push-up, with my hands directly in my face. I came up from the wave and found that I had scraped my hand on a bit of unseen reef.

Following Red Cross’ training, I first applied pressure to stop the bleeding, washed the wound with soap, rinsed with clean water and then covered with a bandage.

As I’m currently working on the Wilderness & Remote First Aid program development, I also snapped a few photos of my injury (you never know when you might catch a book-worthy image!). Though the hand was tender for a few days, I realized it could have been worse – at least it wasn’t my face!

While incidents can happen anywhere at any time, with the proper training and a few basic supplies packed in your luggage – they won’t ruin your vacation.

Clowning around at the Red Cross

Guest entry by Colleen Lowe, Communications Manager in Ontario

Shortly after retiring from his job at the local hydro station, Rick Nienhuis noticed a sign recruiting volunteers for the Sarnia Red Cross branch in Ontario. It piqued his curiosity and he needed something to keep him busy.

Ten years later, Rick is like a part of the family at the Sarnia branch. Often requested by name by his ongoing clients, he volunteers four days a week in the transportation program making sure that his clients get to where they need to go.

Occasionally he helps with Meals on Wheels delivery, and also works in the office one day a week. Tammy Fauteux, the Community Services Coordinator at the Sarnia Branch says the clients adore him and he is always a pleasure to be around. He has a way of making everyone feel important.

Rick loves interacting with all his clients, but has a fondness for his regulars.

As a father of five children he shares with his wife Carolyn, Rick is used to staying busy. He is an avid Maple Leaf fan, knows sign language, and enjoys camping and fishing. Oh yes…and one other thing, sometimes Rick goes by the name “Chirp”, which he was given after graduating from clown school. He still helps out occasionally at community events when they are in need of a clown. And when he’s not busy with these other activities, he sure brings a smile to everyone around him at the Red Cross.

A sweet surprise for Meals on Wheels clients

Meals on Wheels clients in Burlington, Ontario received a sweet surprise for Valentine’s Day from students at Clarksdale Public School. Older students helped younger students create special place mats for each Meals on Wheels client. Red Cross volunteers then delivered the place mats with the meals. Both volunteers and clients were tickled pink. Pictured in the photo from left to right are Red Cross volunteers Roger Nicholson, Mario Tattoni, John Carne and Doug MacFarlane.

Photo of the Day: Manitoba concert lends a helping hand

Guest entry by Megan Blanchette, Development and Communications Coordinator, Manitoba

Photo credit: Lindsay Bonk Photography

Recently the Canadian Red Cross in Manitoba and Manitoba Lotteries teamed up with singer/songwriter Sierra Noble, and the winners of Canada’s Got Talent, Sagkeeng’s Finest, for a special benefit concert.

The concert was an initiative to help create awareness and raise funds for programming in Aboriginal communities across Manitoba such as: Injury Prevention, Water Safety & Swimming Lessons and Walking the Prevention Circle: Violence and Abuse Prevention.

Sierra’s smooth vocals left the audience feeling inspired, as for Sagkeeng’s Finest, well, let’s just say wow those boys can jig! We’ve had nothing but positive feedback, and we are so pleased that this event turned out the way it did.

Thank you to everyone who attended, and to those that helped make this evening possible.

For other Manitoba news and events, be sure to check out redcross.ca/manitoba frequently!

Nominate a Youth Making a Difference

Guest entry by Melanie MacDonald, Communications Coordinator, Atlantic Canada

Lauren Chartrand has proved that even at the tender age of 14, it’s possible to make a difference in your community. Lauren joined the Canadian Red Cross’ Beyond the Hurt program in 2011 and became active in campaigning against bullying not only within her school but also in her community and across her home province of New Brunswick.

With confidence beyond her years, Lauren succeeded in bringing her message of bullying and its devastating effects out of the shadows by producing several educational videos and speaking to the media. It resulted in a marked decrease in bullying incidents at her school!

Last fall, Lauren was recognized for her tireless efforts to combat bullying by becoming the youngest recipient in New Brunswick of the Canadian Red Cross Young Humanitarian Award.

If you know people like Lauren who are doing exceptional things to help others through volunteer work, advocacy, leadership or philanthropy, we encourage you to nominate them for the 2013 Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian or Young Humanitarian Award in Atlantic Canada. The nomination deadline is coming up on February 3!

Photo of the Day: Miss 604 visits the Canadian Red Cross!

Guest entry by James Park, Assistant Communications Coordinator, BC

Rebecca Bollwitt, also known by her online moniker, Miss 604, recently visited the Canadian Red Cross office in Burnaby to deliver a much appreciated talk about social media.

As a famous Vancouver blogger and the co-author of a book called Blogging to Drive Business (2^nd edition published in 2012), Rebecca shared her wealth of knowledge, tips and tricks on how to effectively use social media to reach more people, which will definitely come in handy. We appreciate her taking the time to do that. Thanks Rebecca!

Rebecca also volunteers for the Canadian Red Cross as a Social Media Ambassador, sharing updates on the activities of the Canadian Red Cross to her 38,000 followers on Twitter when a disaster strikes. She also blogged about her experience at the Red Cross’ ERU training last fall.

Check out Rebecca’s blog and her Twitter profile.

Photo of the Day: 99 and still going strong!

Guest entry by Randie Anderson, Communications Coordinator, Alberta

At 99 years old, Ethel Currie may have to modify the type of work she does, but she still remains active in her service as a Canadian Red Cross volunteer.

Ethel was recently awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, which honours significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. This prestigious award was given to Ethel for her amazing work serving her community including her volunteer efforts with the Canadian Red Cross for more than 60 years. Ethel’s work dates back to the Second World War where she sewed for soldiers, crocheted quilts for newborns and knitted mittens with the nuns.

She continued her work after the war volunteering at the blood donor clinics, various Red Cross events, and was involved in the founding of the Medicine Hat office. Currently, Ethel serves as the Treasurer on the advisory committee for the Medicine Hat Red Cross office.

Thank you Ethel for all that you have done!

Dispatch from Haiti: Recovery continues three years on

Guest entry by Cindy Fuchs, Provincial Director, Saskatchewan

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Last month I was given the opportunity to visit Haiti to see the progress of the Canadian Red Cross work there. It was quite an eye opening experience for me. During my 20 years of work with the Red Cross here in Canada I have never had the chance to see what we do outside the country.

I have to say, I have never been as proud of being part of the Red Cross as I was after seeing our work in Haiti.

The Canadian Red Cross work in Haiti is a long-term commitment, focusing on shelter, health and disaster preparedness. Many of the families I met were grateful to the Canadian Red Cross for providing them with the ability to move from a tent to a home which kept them safe during Hurricane Sandy.

I met a woman who was able to start a business to support her family because of donations from Canada and I saw women lined up with their children to get vaccinations at a Red Cross health clinic.

What touched me most was seeing infant twins who wouldn’t be alive without the help of the Red Cross. The twins were only two pounds when they were born and wouldn’t have survived if there wasn’t a doctor and facilities to care for them. 

If you were one of the thousands of people who donated to Canadian Red Cross work in Haiti, I would like to pass on a big THANK YOU from all the Haitians I met. They wanted to make sure I let you know.