AMERCIAN RED CROSS HOLDS FIRST DISASTER KITCHEN TRAINING

First set of volunteers trained in new kitchen equipment to be used in disastersThe local American Red Cross held its first Disaster Kitchen Training and Disaster Kitchen Supervision courses November 21 – 23 in the agency’s new kitchen. The courses are designed to give mass care feeding volunteers the opportunity to learn about and practice working in a kitchen to prepare meals for delivery to clients affected by a disaster. Twenty-six Red Cross volunteers were certified in the training, including two volunteers from Lafayette and one from New Orleans.

 

The courses include lecture, table group exercises and a day-long practical application of knowledge and skills by preparing meals in the kitchen. The volunteers prepared 340 meals that were served to the residents of Oak Plaza and Turner Plaza apartment complexes.

“The intent was to provide volunteers the knowledge and experience to become familiar with the food preparation equipment and process to be used to respond to disasters,” said Blanche Harvey, mass care feeding volunteer with the local Red Cross.

Participants were certified in the ability to—

• Utilize safe food handling procedures. 
• Understand the process of food preparation and delivery.
• Determine Mass Care feeding requirements for a disaster response.
• Understand the needs of a suitable food preparation facility and the additional material resource requirements for the facility.
• Work efficiently with supervisors to receive, inventory, store and distribute supplies delivered to the kitchen site.
• Understand the closing procedures for a kitchen site, including the return of supplies and unused items.

To learn how you can become a Red Cross volunteer or to donate, contact the American Red Cross at (225) 291-4533 or log on to www.batonrouge.redcross.org.

American Red Cross volunteers learned how to utilize the chapter’s new kitchen equipment to be used in a disaster response. They prepared and served 340 meals last weekend as part of the course.

H1N1 Holiday Tips

DON’T LET THE FLU RUIN YOUR HOLIDAYS
Red Cross Offers Steps to Help Avoid Illness During the Holidays

With H1N1 flu causing illness all across the country, the American Red Cross has some steps to take that will lessen the chances of getting sick over the long Thanksgiving weekend and other upcoming holidays.

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods in the United States. If traveling for the holiday or hosting a family celebration, washing one’s hands as often as possible is important to help ward off illness. The Red Cross offers the following ideas to help halt the spread of the flu virus during the Thanksgiving holiday:

“Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy being with family, not to be in bed with the flu,” said Pat Ho, nurse volunteer with the American Red Cross. “You can follow easy tips to try and avoid becoming ill over the upcoming holiday.”

Tips for Travelers
Before traveling…

• If sick, stay home. It’s disappointing to not be able to join in the family celebration, but act responsibly and stay home to avoid spreading the flu.
• It’s possible to spread the flu virus one day before actually showing symptoms.  Those who have been in close contact with a sick individual should be extra careful about using good hand hygiene and cough etiquette and very aware of what might be flu symptoms.

While traveling…

• Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Use sanitizing wipes to disinfect hard surfaces such as airplane tray tables, luggage handles, cell phones, door handles and seat armrests.
• Remember to wash hands or use a hand sanitizer before eating any meals or snacks. It’s important to remember that you are touching a lot of surfaces that others are touching as well.  Make sure your hands are clean before you put anything into your mouth.
• Bring personal blankets, pillows and earphones to avoid using something which may have been in contact with the flu virus.
• After washing hands in a public restroom, turn off the faucet with a paper towel. Then use another paper towel to dry hands and open the door when exiting the restroom.

 Have a safe celebration

Thanksgiving is all about food, family and friends. Here are some steps that will help keep the celebration happy and healthy:

• Avoid the usual kisses and handshakes when greeting friends and family.

• If hosting the holiday dinner and someone in the household becomes ill, make sure that they can be isolated into a separate area for care, or ask another family member to host dinner to avoid spreading the flu.
• Wash hands frequently, before preparing food, while cooking, and especially before eating.  
• Keep plenty of hand soap in the bathroom, preferably in a pump container. Skip the pretty hand towels this year and instead use disposable hand towels or a roll of paper towels.
• Consider putting the glasses away this year and using plastic cups, or provide a way for guests to identify their drinks. Don’t drink out of anyone else’s glass.
• Put serving utensils in every dish, including snacks like nuts, pretzels, etc. This allows people to spoon out their portion instead of reaching in with their hands. 

Remember—always cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and clean hands afterwards. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into the inside of the elbow or upper arm. Avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth to prevent spreading germs. Visit Redcross.org for more information on how to keep safe and prepared for any emergency. 

 

Fire response increases with cooler weather

Red Cross volunteers responded to two more fires within the past 24 hours, assisting eight adults and three children with their most immediate emergency needs of lodging, food, clothing and personal hygiene items. 

You can help your neighbors in need. Become a volunteer or donate to the American Red Cross.

Local news features your American Red Cross

Bobbi Zaunbrecher, the chapter’s new CEO, was featured in The Advocate’s pop quiz on Thursday.

Also featured in Thursday’s The Advocate was our board chair Patrick Mockler’s letter to the editor about the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign.

AMERCIAN RED CROSS HOLDS FIRST DISASTER KITCHEN TRAINING

 

First set of volunteers trained in new kitchen equipment to be used in disasters

 

The local American Red Cross will hold its first Disaster Kitchen Training and Disaster Kitchen Supervision courses this weekend in the agency’s new kitchen. The courses are designed to give mass care feeding volunteers the opportunity to learn about and practice working in a kitchen to prepare meals for delivery to clients affected by a disaster. To date, twenty-eight Red Cross volunteers are registered for this training, including two volunteers from Lafayette and one from New Orleans. Two representatives from the Louisiana State Department of Health and Hospitals will observe the course; DHH is a partner of the American Red Cross.

The courses include lecture, table group exercises and a day-long practical application of knowledge and skills by preparing meals in the kitchen. The volunteers will be preparing 340 meals that will then be served to the residents of Oak Plaza and Turner Plaza apartment complexes.

“The intent is to provide volunteers the knowledge and experience to become familiar with the food preparation equipment and process to be used to respond to disasters,” said Blanche Harvey, mass care feeding volunteer with the local Red Cross.

After completing this course, participants will be able to—
• Utilize safe food handling procedures.
• Understand the process of food preparation and delivery.
• Determine Mass Care feeding requirements for a disaster response.
• Understand the needs of a suitable food preparation facility and the additional material resource requirements for the facility.
• Work efficiently with supervisors to receive, inventory, store and distribute supplies delivered to the kitchen site.
• Understand the closing procedures for a kitchen site, including the return of supplies and unused items.

To learn how you can become a Red Cross volunteer or to donate, contact the American Red Cross at (225) 291-4533 or log on to www.batonrouge.redcross.org

Early morning fire

Disaster Action Team members responded to a home fire at 4:30 this morning. We helped two adults with assistance toward temporary housing, food, clothing,storage containers, comfort kits with personal hygiene items. Your donations at work!

Why give?

You may wonder why you should donate to charities, which charity needs help, how much to give. You may also question what to give others this holiday season. What’s the perfect gift?

The American Red Cross has the answer. Give the gift that saves the day.

The gift that provides food, shelter and comfort to disaster victims. The gift you can count on when someone needs life-saving blood.

You can give a gift in honor of someone this holiday season that helps others in need.

Free gift cards with every order: Each gift card features a photo of the gift you are giving in the name of your loved ones. Create and send your personalized e-cards directly to your honorees.

Fires in two parishes

Disaster Action Team volunteers responded to two home fires in East Baton Rouge and St. Helena parishes yesterday, assisting four adults and nine children with immediate emergency needs such as temporary housing, food, clothing and personal hygiene items. Donate today to help your neighbors in need.

Give the gift that saves the day.

 

Letter to the Editor: Holiday Mail for Heroes

Send a “Touch of Home” to U.S. Service Members, Veterans and their Loved Ones Worldwide 

The holidays are a special time of year when people around the world gather with family and loved ones. But it is also a great time of year to remember the many men and women, their families and veterans who may be separated or far from home. 

Between November 2 and December 7, you are invited to send holiday cards with messages of thanks and support. Red Cross volunteers and Pitney Bowes will screen, sort and deliver your card to military bases, veteran and military hospitals across the U.S. and around the world.   

Visit www.redcross.org/holidaymail for details on how you can send a card.  Once you’ve read the guidelines, mail your card by December 7 to: 

Holiday Mail for Heroes 
P. O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD  20791-5456 

(Cards postmarked after December 7 cannot be guaranteed delivery.) 

Spread the word to your friends, family and neighbors, and let’s send a bit of holiday cheer to our service men and women, veterans and their families around the world in gratitude for their service. 

Sincerely, 
Patrick Mockler
Chairman, Board of Directors
American Red Cross, Louisiana Capital Area Chapter

 

Operation Warm the Homeless Now Underway

AMERICAN RED CROSS YOUTH GROUP HOSTING
OPERATION WARM THE HOMELESS
3^RD annual blanket drive in partnership with Boy Scouts of America

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (November 16, 2009) – The Louisiana Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and Boy Scouts of America’s Venturing Crew 800 will host the 3^rd annual Operation Warm the Homeless blanket drive from now until December 18. The campaign is held yearly to collect blankets and fleece throws for homeless men, women, and children in our area. The blankets should be twin-sized, new or slightly used, and of various designs.

The goal is to collect 500 blankets by December 18, 2009. The blankets can be dropped off at the Istrouma Area Council, Boys Scout of America at:
Pennington Service Center
9644 Brookline Avenue
Baton Rouge, La 70896
Phone: 225-926-2697

For more information, please contact the American Red Cross youth group at arcvc800@yahoo.com.