News from the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina

Upstate Red Cross Marks 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Hugo

2009-09-18T08:45:00.002-05:00

Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston, South Carolina on September 21, 1989 with winds up to 135 miles per hour. These winds, together with a storm surge (rapid rise in sea level produced when winds drive ocean waters ashore) of water about 17 feet high, wrecked buildings and marinas along more than 100 miles of coastline. Away from the coast, high winds and several tornadoes damaged buildings and downed trees and power lines. Due to the extreme intensity of Hurricane Hugo when it crossed the South Carolina coast – the storm roared through inland communities with unimaginable fury. Many residents of inland areas had not fled mobile homes for more substantial shelter, expected only dangerous conditions near the coast. Hugo marched through South Carolina killing scores of people, destroying property, leaving untold sorrow. Many who had fled the coast found themselves in frightening weather conditions while they waited in motels, shelters, and schools. Almost two-hundred miles inland Hugo still had 100-mph wind gusts. The major metropolitan area of charlotte, North Carolina suffered extensive damage. Thousands of large trees fell into homes and businesses around Charlotte and glass was shattered in downtown skyscrapers. Torrential rains in Virginia flooded roads and cut power to 2 million people. By late on September 22nd, Hugo finally died over the cool forest of southern Canada.

American Red Cross trained volunteers opened 438 shelters that housed over 93,000 people. One week after the storm over 56,000 people in South Carolina were left homeless. Red Cross served over 1,000,000 meals. Over 700 volunteers worked around the clock in South Carolina assisting hurricane victims with immediate needs such as food, clothing, shelter, bedding and other essential items of household furnishings as well as emergency medical supplies.

Ann Wright, CEO of the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina was dispatched 3 days in advance of predicted landfall to North Charleston with a team of disaster volunteers and staff leaders to serve as the Director of the Charleston Hurricane District. She was there for the duration of the storm and some of the first to see the damage at first light. “It was a harrowing night as the eye passed over us in sheer darkness. We could hear trees breaking, winds howling, and class shattering for what seemed like days! Amazingly, some phone communications actually remained in tact until the very end of the storm” Ms. Wright said. “Many of our personnel and supplies were staging in Charlotte. Unfortunately, Hugo took a path inland and literally followed Interstate 85 and hit Charlotte with significant winds and rain. This delayed our support and supply arrival, so we had to get by with what little we had. It was very scary, yet a rewarding experience. People at their very best, and some at their very worst, in one of the darkest hours this country had ever seen up to that point. Not soon forgotten! My hope, said Ann Wright, is that no one will forget how important it is to respect these storms and their power. Being prepared and following evacuation orders are critical.”

The American Red Cross encourages every family to be Red Cross Ready in case of a hurricane or any disaster. It is important for you to be prepared for possible disasters and other emergencies. Natural or human-caused disasters can strike suddenly, at anytime and anywhere. There are three actions everyone can take that can help make a difference:

Get a kit
Make a Plan
Be informed

Join other members of your community through the American Red Cross in taking these first steps. You never know how many people your actions will affect, how many lives you might change. Contact your local American Red Cross today for more information on how you can be Red Cross Ready.

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During National Preparedness Month, You Need to do More Than Cross Your Fingers!

2009-09-04T10:13:00.011-05:00

A picture of my family. Chocolate for the kids. And—my dentist will love this—floss.

Those are just a few of the personal things I’ve put in my emergency kit—in addition to the basics like food, water, a flashlight, radio and first-aid supplies. As a mom—and someone who lives in earthquake and wildfire country—I want my family to be prepared for emergencies that can happen at anytime and anywhere. I think it’s important that we all do that

So what will you put into your kit to personalize it for you and your family?

Watch a short video I taped for ideas and general tips on what to put in a kit so that you’re prepared. Then share your own ideas and see what others have to say:

September is National Preparedness Month and I am proud to be a part of the American Red Cross’s Do More than Cross Your Fingers campaign.

We all cross our fingers for luck, but when we’re facing life’s emergencies, it’s easy to do a little more. Pick up kit supplies. Write an emergency plan. Stay informed. You’ll thank yourself later!

So what’s going in your emergency kit to help you and your family through life’s emergencies, big and small? Share now by clicking here:

Do More!

I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

All the best,

Jamie Lee Curtis

Proud Volunteer

American Red Cross

First Aid Training Put into Practice at Upstate Lowe's

2009-08-27T08:34:00.002-05:00

Veteran First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Lenora Cuddy and a group of her former students had occasion to use their First Aid training recently at a Greenville Lowe's store. Some Lowe's employees, who had previously taken an American Red Cross First Aid class with Lenora as their Instructor, snapped into action and responded like a well-oiled machine to an emergency in their parking lot.

This is Lenora's story, as told told to Linda Conrad, Director of Health & Safety for the ARC of Upstate SC:

Dear Linda,

Wow! I can’t believe I get to write you this letter. As one of your Red Cross instructors for many years now I have often wondered if my students would really remember what to do in the event of a real emergency, today I got my answer.

Roughly at somewhere around 1:45 today I was arriving at the Lowe’s on Woodruff Road (one of my former classes for the Red Cross). Just as I stepped out of the car I heard a loud cry for help. I looked around and found an older lady with a huge gash on her leg. Both she and her elderly husband were screaming for help and asking someone to call 911. Several onlookers ran into the store and one offered a towel to soak up the blood.

My medical background and Red Cross training took hold and I sprang into action I placed my hand in a Lowe’s plastic bag for protection applied direct pressure to a gash that was roughly 4” long. She was bleeding heavily so I elevated her leg. During questioning she told me that she was taking a blood thinner. I made the 911 call off my cell phone. I know this sounds like I am tooting my own horn, but it is what happened when the Lowe’s employees showed up that most impressed me. They took control of the area and started asking the right questions and securing the scene. One of them arrived with the BBP [Bloodborne Pathogens] spill kit and made sure that the area was secure and cleaned properly after our patient was taken to the hospital. I smile even now as I remember one of them looking at me and going “Hey aren’t you our Red Cross Lady”, and then reassuring the victim what good hands she was in.

Linda, there are no words to tell you how proud I was of this group and how good it felt to finally know without a doubt that we do make a difference (today what I taught the employees at Lowe’s made a difference). I hope this made you smile and that you feel as much pride as I do in the staff at Lowe’s.

Fondly,

Lenora Cuddy
Instructor

All it takes is a phone call to register for a First Aid class. In less than four hours you too can have the training it takes to feel confident that you will know how to react in an emergency situation such as this.

For Greenville area classes, call 271-8222
Anderson 225-8666
Greenwood/Abbeville/McCormick 229-3102
Laurens 938-6306
Pickens 878-0131
Oconee 638-5619
Spartanburg/Cherokee/Union 583-8000

American Red Cross Honors Local Volunteers

2009-05-26T11:22:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, May 12th the American Red Cross of Upstate SC in Pickens County hosted its annual volunteer recognition dinner. The theme for the dinner was an Oscar Party – Pickens County style. The paparazzi even showed up to take photos of the Red Cross celebrities.

Every May, American Red Cross volunteers, partners and friends gather to celebrate and reflect on the past year. Usually we share a few statistics and highlights, perhaps reveal a few of the quirks of our staff and volunteers and recognize everyone for their commitment to our mission.

During these difficult and often stressful times, each of us is continually asked to do more with less at home, at work and with our families. Sarah Dow, Director of The American Red Cross of Upstate SC in Pickens County states that she “finds focus by remembering why she is here.” You see for Sarah, her passion for the mission of the Red Cross predates her service to the organization. Despite the fact that it has been over 15 years, the story she shares is still as clear and emotional today.

It is one of the very many stories that bind her so closely to the mission of the American Red Cross.

Katie, one of Sarah’s high school classmates, lost her home to a fire. The fire department arrived on scene that Friday night but could not save the home – it was completely destroyed. Her family did not have homeowner’s insurance. For two days her family of five lived out of their car in the driveway of their destroyed home - alone. She went to school the next Monday wearing the same clothes she had been wearing all weekend. The clothes were wrinkled, dirty with soot and sweat and reeked with the unique smell of a burned home. You see at that time there was not a Red Cross in the community where Sarah lived. She remembers her mother, with tears in her eyes, handing Katie $200 after school that Monday to buy clothes wishing she could do more to help. Sarah also saw the struggle in Katie's eyes before she looked down at her feet as she decided to accept the gift with embarrassment.

10 years later Sarah had the opportunity to work with the American Red Cross in her new community ensuring families, unlike Katie’s, would have a shoulder to lean, new clothing, shoes, shelter and food after a disaster.

Sarah is proud to be a part of the American Red Cross of Upstate SC, which serves Greenville, Abbeville, Anderson, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick and Pickens counties, was founded in 1917, nearly 100 years ago.

Every year we face a new set of challenges. Each time the Red Cross rises to meet the challenge head on – never wavering from our commitment to help people prepare, prevent and respond to emergencies.

In a time when change and uncertainty reign, Sarah believes the following statement speaks to the spirit and very nature of the American Red Cross,

“Although its growth may seem to have been slow, it is to be remembered that it is not a shrub, or plant, to shoot up in the summer and wither in the frosts. The Red Cross is a part of us – it has come to stay – and like a sturdy oak; its spreading branches shall yet encompass and shelter the relief of the nation.”

Clara Barton shared these thoughts on May 14, 1904 at the ceremony for her retirement as the President of the American Red Cross. Those words still ring true today and the Red Cross symbol continues to provide comfort and shelter to those in need - especially during these challenging times.

Many volunteers were recognized Tuesday evening for their service. Four special volunteers were recognized for their years of service to the American Red Cross. Each of them has 15 years of service with the American Red Cross for a combined total of 60 years! Those volunteers are: Bill Penn, Joan Penn, Mike Little and Gloria Little.

The Female Volunteer of the Year was Crossie Cox and the Male Volunteer of the Year was Mike Little.

We could not help or train our neighbors if it was not for our volunteers – they are the lifeblood of the American Red Cross. Next time you see a Red Cross volunteer; please tell them “thank you” for a job well done.

To find out more information about the American Red Cross and volunteer opportunities, please call 864-878-0131 or email Sarah Dow at dows@usa.redcross.org.

Catch Our Tweets

The American Red Cross Celebrates 128 Years!

2009-05-21T14:27:00.002-05:00

Today is the "Birthday" of our American Red Cross. This is a great time to remember the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement:

Humanity The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace among all peoples.

Impartiality It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Voluntary Service It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity There can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

Want to learn more about the history of the American Red Cross? Visit this page!

Catch Our Tweets

Volunteers Recognized at Upstate Awards Dinner

2009-05-20T14:38:00.003-05:00

Last week, American Red Cross Volunteers from all over the Upstate were celebrated and cheered at the Annual Meeting and Volunteer Awards Dinner.

Volunteers were recognized for attaining milestones in years of service to the ARC of Upstate South Carolina. Some especially dedicated Volunteers were nominated for awards given in recognition of outstanding service.

Martha Dove received the New Volunteer of the Year Award
Roger Myers received the Disaster Volunteer of the Year Award
Sally Clark received the Doris Simpson Burgess Award
Keith Ridgeway received the Diversified Volunteer of the Year Award
Earl Wright received the Henri Dunant Award for the outstanding male Volunteer of the year
Anna Cuson received the Clara Barton Award for the outstanding female Volunteer of the year
Tanya Carter received the Tiffany Award for Employee Excellence

If you should see any of these dedicated individuals, please thank them for their hard yet rewarding work.

Volunteers are the heart of the Red Cross!

Catch our Tweets!

Gettys Middle School Student Saves Child's Life Using ARC Training

2009-05-18T15:23:00.002-05:00

Sarah Dow, Director of the Pickens Office of the ARC of Upstate SC, sends us this Good News item.

Mrs. Dorothy Blanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Gettys Middle School in Easley, SC, relayed the following story:
"One of my 8th grade students told me that she saved a little boy’s life at church yesterday by using Abdominal Thrusts. She said the adult in charge just wanted to pat him on the back, and she told the adult she was trained and knew what she was doing because she learned it in school a couple of days ago."
Mrs. Blanton teaches American Red Cross lifesaving skills to her students every year including: Adult CPR, Infant and Child CPR, Babysitters Training and First Aid.

To learn more about lifesaving training visit our website at www.upstateredcross.org.

Happy World Red Cross Red Crescent Day!

2009-05-08T15:41:00.002-05:00

Today, May 8, join us here at the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina in celebrating World Red Cross Red Crescent Day.

This story taken from RedCross.org helps show how the work of your local Chapter, the National American Red Cross, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are all intertwined.

T.L. Hanna Student Becomes First Ever in Anderson County to Win the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit

2009-05-07T08:34:00.002-05:00

Caitlin Chapman, a T.L. Hanna High School student, became the first person from Anderson County to win the prestigious American Red Cross Certificate of Merit. The award is given to individuals who have saved or sustained a life as a direct result of their American Red Cross CPR/First Aid training.

Read the full story on the Anderson Independent-Mail's website.

To learn how to save a life, call your local Upstate American Red Cross office:
Greenville 271-8222
Anderson 225-8666
Abbeville 366-6800
Greenwood 229-3102
Laurens 938-0622
McCormick 465-3636
Pickens 878-0131

Changes to American Red Cross Policy Regarding Tornado Safety

2009-05-01T09:00:00.002-05:00

On Wednesday, April 29, The Weather Channel reported a change in American Red Cross policy with regards to tornado safety recommendations.

The specific change pertains to what people should do if they are outdoors, or in a mobile (manufactured) home, or in a car and without access to sturdy shelter when a tornado warning is issued. Previously the American Red Cross adhered to the National Weather Service's recommendation that people should lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area.
However, after careful consideration, the Advisory Council for First Aid, Aquatics, Safety and Preparedness (ACFASP), an independent panel of health and safety experts that advise the Red Cross, found no scientific evidence to support this long-held tenant. Therefore, the revised American Red Cross recommendation is as follows:

If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, tornado shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot get to shelter, a recent study suggests doing the following:

Get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt, and try to drive at right angles to the storm movement and out of the path of the tornado.

If strong winds and flying debris occur while you are driving, pull over and park, keeping seat belts on and the engine running. Crouch down below the windows, covering your head with your hands and a blanket if possible.

If you are unable to get to a building or vehicle, as a last resort, lie in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.

Great Information and Resources for You Regarding Swine Flu (H1N1)

2009-04-30T09:14:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, the World Health Organization raised the pandemic influenza alert level to 5 on its six-point scale, showing the increasing concern about the swine flu (H1N1) outbreak and indicating that a pandemic may be imminent.

The CDC has some very informative Questions & Answers on its Swine Flu (H1N1) page, también disponible en español. Taking the time to become educated and informed will not only help protect you and your loved ones, but can also allay the fear and panic that can be associated with this situation.

The American Red Cross, as part of its Be Red Cross Ready series, has a wonderful resource sheet about seasonal flu, también disponible en español, including Swine Flu (H1N1). Please feel free to print this sheet and share it with your family and friends. Post one in your office kitchen, your church meeting hall, or on the bulliten board of your favorite grocery store or sandwich shop.

Get educated; stay informed. Be Red Cross ready.

American Red Cross Opens Emergency Aid Station for Fire Clients

2009-04-27T11:58:00.000-05:00

The American Red Cross has opened an Emergency Aid Station in the parking lot of the Barefoot Resort Clubhouse located at 4980 Barefoot Resort Bridge Road in North Myrtle Beach. Red Cross volunteers are offering assistance to meet health and emotional care needs as well as snacks and information. Anyone affected by the wildfires should stop by the Station set up from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily until further notice.

Client caseworkers will be in the affected neighborhoods in both North Myrtle Beach and Conway from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. this week also. They will assist clients whose primary homes were damaged with their emergency, immediate needs. Any fire victims who have not made contact with the American Red Cross about their disaster-caused needs should call the Coastal South Carolina Chapter at 843-477-0020.

“We are taking care of people affected by disaster, and we are taking care of the emergency responders. It’s what we prepare for, and it’s what we do when the time comes. We are proud to serve our community in this role,” said Angela Nicholas, Coastal South Carolina Chapter Chief Executive Officer.

The American Red Cross has served more than 15,000 meals and snacks and delivered more than 300 clean-up and comfort kits since the wildfires in Horry County began Aug. 22.

The aid stations are not drop-off points for goods. If you have goods to donate, please call 2-1-1, the United Way community information line for social services.

About the American Red Cross: Help people affected by disasters like the recent wildfires, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the local American Red Cross chapter at 2795 Pampas Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

More Upstate Volunteers Deployed in Horry County

2009-04-24T10:50:00.002-05:00

Several additional Volunteers from the Upstate area are headed downstate to assist with the Disaster Response to the wildfires. Robert Neal and Joe Hawkins left in the Upstate's ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle), and Joe Land and Wayne Deitz left Spartanburg this morning driving the Piedmont Chapter's ERV. Mike and Jan brown also headed to Horry County to assist with the sheltering operation.

We realize that not everyone has the time or circumstances necessary to devote to being a Disaster Volunteer in the field. We have many other Volunteer opportunities -- we will find the right fit for you if you want to help. Not everyone can ride in the ERV to North Myrtle Beach, but the need for Volunteers who can make phone calls and stuff envelopes is just as great right now.

If you would like to Volunteer in any capacity, please call your local American Red Cross office OR toll free 1-800-839-8839.

Be the Hands That Give!

North Myrtle Beach Reeling from Wildfires

2009-04-23T15:38:00.003-05:00

Please be advised that we have a major disaster situation in North Myrtle Beach near Barefoot Landing. Check out these terrifying photos: Horry County Wildfires

The American Red Cross has two shelters open with over 200 people in them and we may be opening more as the situation dictates. Our Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) in Greenville and two volunteers are leaving at 5pm today to begin feeding routes in the morning in North Myrtle Beach. We are working to secure two additional volunteers for the Spartanburg Emergency Response Vehicle. Eight ERV’s have been requrested from across the state. Forty homes have been destroyed. Hundreds of people have been evacuated.

We are in immediate need of financial contributions to support our Disaster Relief Fund. You can send a check to P. O. Box 9035, Greenville, SC 29604; call 1-800-RED-CROSS; or go online to www.redcross.org.

Here are some examples of what these gifts help us provide:

$20 helps provide 2 meals to a disaster client

$50 covers the distribution and delivery of clean up kit and comfort supplies for a family of 4

$75 covers the cost to feed and shelter a client for a day in a shelter

$185 provides for the travel, meals and shelter for 1 day for 1 of our Red Cross volunteers

$300 covers the cost to feed and shelter a family of 4 for a day in a shelter

$1,500 covers feeding a sheltering a family of 4 for 5 days

$15,000 covers the cost to feed and shelter 200 clients for 1 day in a shelter

Together we can make a difference!

How You Can Help With Local Storm Relief

2009-04-17T10:43:00.002-05:00

Help South Carolina Respond and Prepare for Tornado Season - How You Can Help

Many of our friends and neighbors were impacted recently by severe weather and tornadoes in South Carolina. Trees and power lines were blocking roads and many houses were damaged or destroyed as a result of these storms. Almost before the winds calmed and the night was over, your Red Cross was on the scene helping those impacted by these storms.

Facts at a Glance: Tornado Relief Efforts
As of April 17, 2009

Affected counties Abbeville, Greenwood, Aiken, Allendale, Union, Anderson, Greenville, Oconee
Shelters opened 6
Overnight stays in shelters by individuals 18
Homes destroyed or with major damage (excludes businesses) 156
Meals and snacks provided to individuals 9,771
Vehicles providing mobile feeding* 4
Distribution of clean up kits & comfort kits 441
Volunteers 168
* mobile feeding discontinued mid-day 4/17/09

Your gift to the Disaster Relief Fund is now more important than ever. Red Cross assistance for this effort may
exceed $200,000. Most of the families that we are serving could least afford to suffer this damage and destruction. They need our help to begin their recovery.

The Disaster Relief Fund provides families with food and a safe place to stay, life sustaining medication, infant supplies, and essential toiletries, in addition to health services and mental health counseling. Equally important, the Disaster Relief Fund allows us to maintain the vehicle fleet, warehouses, communications systems and volunteer training necessary to be able to respond 24 hours a day.

How You Can Help
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Help people affected by disasters like tornadoes, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters. Call 864-271-8222 to make a donation. Contributions can be mailed to The American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina at PO Box 9035, Greenville, SC 29604. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.upstateredcross.org.

Companies can also help by implementing a customer donation program, sponsoring an employee giving and matching gift program, or even placing a Red Cross banner ad on your website. For more information, please contact the American Red Cross at CorpPartnerships@usa.redcross.org or 202-303-8380.

Upstate Hit Hard by Tornadoes

2009-04-16T14:53:00.000-05:00

South Carolina Tornadoes
April 2009

Tornadoes and strong winds tore through South Carolina on Friday, April 10th, causing widespread damage and destruction. In the Upstate area, Abbeville and Greenwood Counties were especially hard hit. We are still assessing the extent of the damage.

Quick Facts to Date – April 16, 2009

• Statewide, at least 297 homes sustained damage.

• Over 200 trained Red Cross volunteers have been on the scene since the storms hit, providing shelter, feeding, and client assistance.

• Four Emergency Response Vehicles have provided mobile feeding of meals and snacks to approximately 8,000 people.

• Approximately 150 comfort kits and clean-up kits have been distributed to affected families, providing basic hygiene items like soap, shampoo and deodorant along with household cleaners, mops and brooms.

• Six shelters were opened statewide to provide safe and comfortable lodging for individuals affected by the storms.

• Volunteers and staff are meeting with individual families to assess their immediate needs. We are providing families with food and a safe place to stay, life sustaining medication, infant supplies, and essential toiletries.

• Disaster Health and Mental Health workers are available to assist clients with their needs. In particular, trained mental health workers are providing counseling to help residents cope with the emotional distress that often follows a traumatic event like this devastating storm.

• We anticipate that the cost of this relief effort may exceed $100,000.

• All disaster assistance is provided free of charge. We depend on the generosity of the American people to fulfill our mission.

• To make a monetary donation to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, call the Upstate Chapter at 864-282-8641 or mail to P.O. Box 9035, Greenville, SC 29604.

Volunteers Respond to California

2007-10-25T09:34:00.000-05:00

Since Sunday, several wildfires have swept across Southern California, destroying homes and forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate. The American Red Cross was among the first on the scene responding to the wildfires, providing food, shelter, counseling and other emergency assistance made possible, in part, by the financial support from members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program.

As winds are forecasted to spread flames across the state over the next several days, the Red Cross will remain on the ground providing emergency assistance. In the coming weeks, the Red Cross will continue working with community partners to identify resources that can aid in the recovery of individuals and families affected by the wildfires.

Eight disaster volunteers have left the Upstate en route to San Diego to join the 3,000+ Red Cross workers already there providing relief. Four of our volunteers will be providing Mass Care services of sheltering and feeding; Three more will provide client casework assisting evacuees determine their disaster-caused need; and one will provide her skills as a Red Cross nurse. All of our volunteers give of their time knowing they are facing a three-week deployment.

If you would like to get involved in this relief operation, you can make a financial contribution through this chapter securely on-line by logging onto www.upstatescredcross.org, or by stopping by the chapter. If you wish to directly impact the lives of future victims, call the Upstate Chapter today at 271-8222 and sign up for training in disaster services.

Upstate Red Cross Sends Volunteers to Help with North Texas Flooding

2007-07-09T10:26:00.000-05:00

Shallow puddles suddenly rose from ankles to knees, and then to the shoulders of residents in North Central Texas. Flooding in Texas began two weeks ago, centered near Gainesville (60 miles north of Ft. Worth, just below the Oklahoma border) in the north central section of the state. It spread to over 47 counties in the north and north-central areas of the state.

These floods have caused tremendous damage and inflicted extreme hardship on those in the affected counties. Eight volunteers from the Upstate Red Cross were activated and responded last week to calls for assistance. They conducted damage assessment in areas known to be affected, assisted in shelter operations to house those displaced from their homes, and staffing needs for Red Cross responders.

They joined 528 Red Cross volunteers from many chapters throughout the country who came together to care for the immediate, disaster-caused needs of the Texas victims facing flood damage.

We are proud of our volunteers. We wish them well and look forward to their return in a couple of weeks.

Red Cross Rushes Aid to Victims of Taylors Crossing Fire

2007-06-19T12:04:00.000-05:00

11:30 p.m., the American Red Cross, Upstate South Carolina Chapter, received a call that victims of the Taylors Crossing apartments were in need of assistance due to a fire that gutted nearly 20 units and caused a degree of damage to another 10.

Four highly trained volunteers left their homes in the middle of the night to respond to the needs of the victims offering hope and the sense that a better day will soon dawn when the sun begins to rise.

At 1:00 a.m., the mood amongst the victims was somber. Daddies were holding their children close, neighbors were hugging neighbors, one young mother sat alone, clutching a photo of her eight month old daughter who was safely sleeping at a friends house. The mother told the story of a knock that came in the night awakening her to dark smoke and the chocking smell of fire. She had just enough time to grab her shoes and the photo she held so tenderly while her husband grabbed the child. Together, all three rushed out the door to safety.

The Chief of the Taylors Fire Department told of the heroic act of two firefighters that propped ladders against the burning building to rescue an elderly victim who would not leave her apartment until her dog was safely removed. The firefighters rescued the dog and returned for the victim. The victim was carried down the ladder and safely evacuated to a nearby hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation.

Amazingly, no victims or firefighters were seriously injured in this fire. Many who lost there homes and possessions have begun to make there way into the Red Cross to begin rebuilding their lives with the assistance of the Upstate Red Cross. Some victims will need food, shelter, medications and emotional counseling. All of which can be provided by the Red Cross because of the generosity of the Greenville community.

Upstate residents trust the American Red Cross with their financial contributions as a means of caring for their friends and neighbors. Highly-trained staff will provide only the assistance needed based on the individual victims disaster-caused needs.

Individual house fires and multi-unit fires are the Upstate's number one disaster. This scenario has played itself out 271 times across the Upstate this year. For this one disaster alone, the Red Cross will commit approximately $20,000 in assistance to the victims. The victims of last nights apartment fire have 951 predecessors who have received over $260,000 in disaster assistance; all of which is provided free of charge to the victim.

We are honored to serve the victims across our community, but we need the help of Upstate residents to ensure the continued and effective delivery of service to these victims and the victims of disasters yet to come. We urge the community to get involved and make a difference by making a financial contribution to the Upstate chapter. Contributions can be made by calling (864)271-8222 or by logging onto upstatescredcross.org and making a secure, online contribution.

Volunteer Rhonda Hunt teaches life-saving skills

2007-05-09T15:11:00.000-05:00

When Rhonda Hunt was 10 years old, she watched wide-eyed as emergency personnel attempted to revive her grandmother using CPR. Unfortunately, her grandmother did not survive, but Hunt decided then that she wanted to learn how to save lives.

"It was something I always wanted to have the knowledge to do, even as a kid," she says. "You often wonder what impact you might have in trying to save a life."

Today Hunt is a health and safety professional with Michelin North America. She also uses her knowledge to benefit the Upstate Chapter of the American Red Cross by serving on the health and safety committee and training other volunteers about safety, life-saving techniques and emergency preparedness.

Hunt initially became involved with the Red Cross through her previous employer, Fluor Corp., where she was in charge of emergency response. Hunt says when she moved to Michelin, the company encouraged her to stay involved.

"It's something I need to know for my employer. But then I can also pass that training on to my community and my church members," she says.

Hunt's most memorable experience was about two years ago when she was asked to stand in as the temporary health and safety director for the Pickens County chapter of the Red Cross. There, she says, she felt the full impact of what classroom experience can mean to real people when she worked with families who had lost their homes to fire.

The volunteers under her not only provided shelter and basic necessities to the victims, but also emotional support and comfort kits with teddy bears for the children.

"They are just so compassionate," she says.

Hunt spends between two and 10 hours a month at the Red Cross, depending on if she is teaching a class. She hopes she never has to use her life-saving skills on someone but says it gives her confidence knowing she can respond.

"I've had to respond to several emergencies, but I've never actually utilized CPR or resuscitation in saving someone's life. But it's always in the back of your mind, 'What if?' " Hunt says.

Having the skills to respond to an emergency is the main reason Hunt believes people should get involved with the Red Cross.

"It is very important that more people in the community be trained and able to respond," she says, using the example of Hurricane Katrina as a time when there were not enough trained volunteers to take care of all the needs.

"And you never know when you might become a recipient of Red Cross services," she adds. "The things that we've been blessed with are only temporary and can be taken away in the blink of an eye. That's what continues to stay in my mind."

Volunteer Sue Conklin Makes a Difference

2007-04-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

When Greenville businesswoman Sue Conklin sees a need in her community, she fulfills it. Whether as the owner of The Puppy Nanny or as a volunteer for the American Red Cross, she has a true passion for making her community better.

Experience has taught Sue that animals respond better to compassion rather than force, a business philosophy she learned from Horse Whisperers, Monty Roberts and John Lyons. The gentle technique has served her well as she and her husband Paul trained thoroughbred horses for 20 years, managing farms in Ohio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

When career changes brought Sue to the Upstate and back to dog training, she identified a need in the community for in-home training services. As do many successful business owners, Sue filled a niche in the market and built her business, The Puppy Nanny, on home consultations. The ability to offer a flexible schedules and training in both behavioral and puppy consultations distinguishes her in the field of training.

A true “dog whisperer,” Sue’s expertise is in demand. She has been featured on local TV shows speaking about dog training and safety. She appeared on the Montel Williams Show and has given demonstrations on obedience and training at pet expos across the country. She has been written about in articles for national dog magazines and has authored commentary on training issues featured in local newspapers.

Believing strongly that education is the key to making positive change, Sue took the Pet First Aid class offered by the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross. Seeing the value of this skill for her business, Sue became a volunteer instructor for the Red Cross and now teaches Pet First Aid to her clients and others in the community.

As an active volunteer instructor of the Red Cross, Sue realized that the pet first aid equipment owned by the Red Cross needed repair. Again, seeing a need, she turned to her friends, students, and local businesses to raise the funds necessary to purchase new pet manikins. Through her efforts and generous donations from the Cleveland Park Animal Hospital, Andrew and Diana Gilbert, Sam and Linda Ross, Gene Johnson, Terri Kiker, Ann Martin, Marc Balsa, and Graham and Katharine Greene, enough funds were raised to purchase two CasPeR the CPR Dog Manikins for the Red Cross; no small feat as the cost for the manikins totaled more than $400.00.

Sue’s career as a pet trainer has spanned nearly two decades and more than 2000 dogs. Some of her training graduates have gone on to become Search and Rescue and Pet Therapy dogs and have made television appearances. Mostly, her trainees have simply become beloved family pets.

Sue exemplifies the high-caliber of volunteer making a difference at the Red Cross and in the community. In addition to being a wife, a mother, and a business owner, she gives of her time ensuring the Upstate is ready when emergencies happen.

Today, We Are All Hokies

2007-04-21T11:36:00.000-05:00

It is a phrase of unity heard around the campus, the community, and the world. Students, faculty, staff and alumni are now returning to the campus attempting to make sense of the incomprehensible.

The Drill Field at the heart of the Virginia Tech campus is a place of sacred honor as many memorials to the fallen and injured can be seen. It is a place of great emotion. Tears from friends, and loved ones sprinkle the ground as they remember the horrific events that unfolded here less than one week ago.

The American Red Cross was on the scene less than an hour after the incident offering mental health counseling and spiritual care. Although this is not a natural disaster, to this community and to those who experienced this horrific event it is an emergency with immense impact.

It is a privilege to be on the campus of Virgina Tech to offer hope as part of the American Red Cross response effort. The services available to those in need are numerous. Mental health counseling, spiritual care, transportation for the families of victims, assistance for medical expenses, and even assistance for funeral expenses are some of the services that are offered through the Red Cross.

Soon the students will return to class and resume life on campus as normal...if there can be a normal after an event like this.

As time permits, I will post more on the hope effort in Blacksburg.

Red Cross Responds to Disasters Here

2007-04-09T11:08:00.000-05:00

By Bob Hammersla, Chairman of the Board

Recently, I heard the story of Janie Turmon. Janie cares for her mother, brother, sister and three children, some of whom have physical disabilities. She and her family were the victims of a terrible house fire.

"Everything I had worked so hard for went up in flames," she said, "We sat on the curb in front of our burned up house. I cried and cried. We were homeless. ... I had no idea where to go or what to do. What an awful feeling!"

But Janie and her family did not stay on that curb for more than a few minutes, thanks to immediate assistance provided by the Upstate Chapter of the American Red Cross.
As you may know, the Red Cross is not just a single national organization -- there are individual chapters throughout the United States.

Volunteers from the Upstate Red Cross were the ones who showed up at the scene of Janie's home fire. Resources from the Upstate Red Cross enabled them to shelter Janie and her family and see them through their ordeal.
Most of us, however, are totally unaware that the funds to create these resources come only from our community. We are the ones who make it possible for the Red Cross to respond to local disasters.

Our Upstate Red Cross has offices in Greenville, Anderson, Abbeville, Greenwood and Laurens counties. Why? Because it takes a network of volunteers and resources to serve our region, to respond to local disasters and keep us and our neighbors out of harm's way. For the past two years, our Red Cross has responded to an average of one disaster a day locally for an average cost of $1,000 per family.

So far this year, our Red Cross chapter has expended over $225,000 to help more than 798 of our friends and neighbors survive catastrophic events -- mostly single-family house fires -- that don't make the news.

The chapter offers other critical community programs, such as CPR, First Aid, Automated External Defibrillator training, lifeguard training, teaching our toddlers to swim, certifying nurse assistants to qualify them as caregivers and providing emergency communications for the armed forces.

Our local Red Cross touches the lives of 5 percent of the Upstate population. Some of the activities the chapter is involved in are chartered to the Red Cross by the U.S. Congress but not funded in any way by the government.

These programs and services are delivered by a corps of more than 700 volunteers. In fact, the local chapter is so heavily driven by volunteers, they outnumber the paid staff 30 to one. Each volunteer averages 23 hours of training to provide various Red Cross services. These community heroes donate services worth more than one million dollars a year! The chapter could not function without them.

So where does the money come from, then? Most of it comes from us -- from our responses to local fund-raising events and from individual and corporate donations (39 percent). In addition, some program funding does come from United Way (17 percent), grants and course fees.
You and I and every corporation and every citizen in the five Upstate counties benefit from the local Red Cross. It's in all of our interests to support them -- from the smallest company to the largest corporation whose employees might someday need assistance to survive a fire, or a flood, or a tornado.

The American Red Cross is always there when we need it. But what if it wasn't? How would that impact our community? Think of this:
Some 1,500 disaster victims would not receive food, shelter, clothing and other immediate emergency assistance.

More than 17,000 professional, lay rescuers and citizens would no longer be able to provide CPR and First Aid to victims in the community.

Nearly 5,000 lifeguards and children would not learn water safety.

That's why I'm excited to share that Alvin and Wanda McCall are issuing a challenge to our community:

They have pledged $50,000 and are challenging the community to match it between now and April 30 as a way to support this vital community resource.

I encourage you to take this opportunity to get involved with the Red Cross. When you do, remember Janie Turmon. Without the Red Cross, she and her family would have been left with nowhere to turn.

Upstate Red Cross Provides Relief in Alabama

2007-03-06T13:36:00.000-05:00

Tragic events over the past few days have left people reeling throughout the Midwest and the South due to severe weather. Two Red Cross volunteers from the Upstate left their homes and families this past weekend to provide relief in Enterprise, Alabama.

Enterprise, a town of 22,000 residents, is home to Enterprise High School, the site where eight students lost their lives when a tornado struck the school collapsing part of the structure. In total, 50 residents of Enterprise were hurt by this storm.

In an email message to the chapter, deployed volunteer John Ligon reported that it is a pretty big operation in Enterprise with 50 people assigned to the Red Cross headquarters alone. Relief workers from Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Arizona, and many other places from across the U.S. have merged on Alabama to lift up their hurting neighbor.

Ligon and Seth Harrison answered the call to help by providing computer networking support to operations headquarters and Client Assistance Centers in Alabama. "We are here to give support to the residents of Enterprise" states Ligon, "but they are doing all they can to give us great support" eluding to the indomitable spirit of the devastated region. Ligon's and Harrison's efforts will greatly speed up the support provided to the victims by the Red Cross.

The Upstate Red Cross is seeking volunteers to join in disaster relief efforts both locally and nationally. Interested individuals should call the Red Cross at (864) 271-8222 and begin the training process today.

The Janie Turmon Story

2007-02-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

The American Red Cross is a preparedness and response organization driven by volunteers. It is an honor to be able to share stories from victims who have received services through the Upstate Red Cross. It is they, the disaster victim, that can convey better than anyone, the Red Cross story. The following testimonial is from Janie Turmon, a fire victim in Anderson, South Carolina.

"On June 6, 2006, while at work, I received a call from my daughter asking me to come home because our house was on fire and fire trucks were on the way. I grabbed my purse and headed out the door not knowing what I would find when I arrived home. I prayed all the way and it seemed to take an eternity as I was stopped by every red light along the route. The closer I got to home, the more smoke I could see. There were cars and fire trucks everywhere, blocking my driveway. I panicked and jumped out of my car and began to run toward the house. My thoughts were to save whatever I could, but was stopped short by a firefighter saying that I could not go into the house. My heart sank as I watched everything I had worked so hard for go up in flames.

I cried and cried because at that moment I was homeless along with my three children, my mother, my sister, and my brother who all lived with me. I wondered what we would do. There was no place to go. I didn't have home owner insurance. I intended to get it, I just kept putting it off. Each time I went in to pay my car insurance, I would talk with the agent about it, but I never got around to signing a policy.

As I sat outside with my family, a feeling of hopelessness began to set in. When I looked up, a van appeared. Not just any van. This one had a bright red cross on the side and four ladies who brought help to my family. They supplied water and all the assistance we needed to get back on our feet. I believe in the Lord, but until that day, I never experienced angels coming to assist me at that magnitude.

As I stated, we had nothing. The Red Cross ladies supplied funds for clothing and housing, and they provided contact information for agencies that could assist in my recovery. I truly believe that you have to be a special person to take time to help others who are in need.

I will be forever grateful to the American Red Cross. I will forever support their mission and the mission of other agencies that provide assistance to disaster victims.

I want to say thank you. Without the help of the American Red Cross, my family and I would not be where we are today."

Chapter Honors Greenville Hero

2007-02-13T10:02:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, February 8, the Upstate South Carolina Chapter, bestowed honors upon a Greenville Hero.

Virgil Whitted, of Mitsubishi Polyester Film Company, was having lunch in the employee cafeteria when a co-worker began to choke on some food that lodged in his windpipe. Virgil sprang into action and performed abdominal thrusts, dislodging the food and saving his co-workers life. Virgil provided further assistance by checking for injuries and escorting his co-worker to the plant medical department.

For his life-saving act, Virgil was given one of the Red Crosses highest awards, the Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder which is given to an individual who saves a life by using skills and knowledge acquired in a Red Cross Health & Safety course. The certificate bears the signatures of the President and CEO of the American Red Cross and the Chairman of the Board.

Virgil's actions exemplify the highest degree of human concern anyone can display toward someone in distress.

Highly Trained Red Cross Volunteer Retruns From Florida

2007-02-07T10:14:00.000-05:00

Red Cross Damage Assessment Volunteer, Bill Vaudreuil of Greenwood, returned home Monday morning from his deployment to Paisley, Florida.

The small town of Paisley boasts a population of just over 700 residents who lived sprinkled throughout the Central Florida countryside in mobile or single family homes. Many of its residents chose to live in Paisley because it is a peaceful location providing shelter and respite from Florida storms--until now.

"I was called to deploy Friday night and arrived in Florida early Saturday morning," stated Vaudreuil. "We arrived ahead of any Federal Agencies and began to assess the damage." Vaudreuil reflected on what he saw and remembered the distinct path the tornado carved into the countryside. "Trees were torn down and homes were destroyed where the tornado traveled," he paused then began again, "no, the homes were not just destroyed, they were gone!"

Volunteers like Vaudreuil are highly trained having taken basic, intermediate, and advanced Red Cross courses which provide expertise in a chosen field of service.

Potential volunteers can select from many areas of service at both the local and national levels: Health Services, Mental Health Services, Sheltering, Feeding, Disaster Assessment, Facilities Management, Procurement, Transportation Management, IT, Public Affairs, and Fundraising are only some of the specialties.

The American Red Cross never allows a volunteer to enter a disaster situation with out training. If you would like to provide relief, either at the local or national levels, contact the Upstate Chapter today at (864) 271-8222 to become involved.

Local Volunteers Continue Relief in Florida

2007-02-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

Friday's storm was the second-deadliest combination of thunderstorms and tornadoes in Florida history. Joe Hawkins and Robert Neil, two seasoned Red Cross relief workers from Greenville are there and amazed at what they see.

"The devastation is extensive," remarks Hawkins who daily drives an Emergency Response Vehicle through Valusia County neighborhoods. Echos of chainsaws, hammers, and dump trucks can still be heard there. Hawkins continues, "Trees are twisted off and ripped from their roots, homes have been blown apart down to the foundation, people are in shock over the damage."

Joe and Robert are working long hours providing a vital life-link to Florida residents. Together, they have delivered nearly 4,000 meals working from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The violent F4 tornado packed winds as high as 165 mph, about 30 mph higher than Hurricane Katrina. Many Florida residents without homes today say they never felt a breeze the night the storms ravaged the state. The Red Cross estimates that over 2000 homes received major or minor structural damage, or were destroyed completely totaling near $70 million dollars in damage thus far.

The need for Red Cross services continues as a curfew is still in effect for Florida residents in storm damaged areas. Progress Energy and Sumter Electric Co-op have restored power to the homes that can safely receive electricity. "We expect to be here until next weekend," states Hawkins, "but as long as there is a need, we will remain."

Joe and Robert are two of the 434 "Red Crossers" that responded to Florida. They represent some of the finest citizens the Upstate has to offer. They are truly modern day heroes.

Reuniting Families in Tragedy

2007-02-04T16:40:00.000-05:00

When tragedy strikes, the Red Cross is there to lend a hand enabling disaster victims to begin the recovery process.

Reconnecting with family, friends and loved ones jump starts the healing process, and one way Florida's disaster victims can convey their welfare is through the American Red Cross' Safe and Well website. The Red Cross encourages individuals and families to register themselves as “safe and well” on the site, which is accessible at all times via www.redcross.org.

With Internet access, people within a disaster area are able to select and post standard “safe and well” messages on the Safe and Well Website. Sample standardized messages for posting include:

􀂃 I am safe and well
􀂃 Family and I are safe and well
􀂃 Currently at a shelter
􀂃 Currently at home
􀂃 Currently at friend/family member/neighbor’s house
􀂃 Will make phone calls when able
􀂃 Will email when able
􀂃 Will mail letter/postcard when able

Using a last name and phone number (home, cell, or work) or complete home address, family members outside of the disaster-affected areas can search the website for the “safe and well” messages left by their loved ones.

The Safe and Well website complies with all privacy and child protection laws. Because of these concerns, no location information will be publicly displayed on this website. Every person maintains the right to determine how best to communicate their contact information and whereabouts to family members.

The Safe and Well website is just one more way the American Red Cross provides peace of mind for those directly or indirectly affected by tragedy.

Upstate Red Cross Responds to Devastating Florida Tornadoes

2007-02-03T11:29:00.000-05:00

Central Florida residents and vacationers received a devastating blow to the start of February as tornadoes ripped through communities across the state, prompting Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to declare a state of emergency in Lake, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties.

Overnight, volunteers from the Upstate Red Cross sprang into action. "When we heard the news, we knew we had to help," stated Joe Hawkins, a seasoned disaster response volunteer whose most recent deployment was to Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina.

The Upstate Chapter has deployed four volunteers so far, some of whom left late last night for Daytona Beach one of the hardest hit, Valusia County cities in Central Florida. The deployed relief workers will be doing a variety of activities while on their two-week assignment. Some will deliver meals in the affected neighborhoods, others will comfort victims who find solice in Red Cross shelters, while others will comb weather-torn neighborhoods assessing the extent of damage.

"Red Cross volunteers are some of the Upstate's most selfless residents," states Red Cross spokesman Brian Scoles. "Our volunteers will leave their homes, families, and jobs in the middle of the night if need be. They leave knowing it will be two or three weeks, sometimes longer, before returning home."

The Upstate Chapter's mission is to care for the emergency, disaster-caused needs of residents throughout the Upstate, but they also care for the needs of friends and neighbors across the country.

If you would like to get involved with the American Red Cross, call the Upstate Chapter at (864) 271-8222 or by logging onto the Chapter's website at upstatescredcross.org to begin the process today.

Red Cross Employee Dedicates Effort to Strengthening Community Preparedness

2007-01-28T14:02:00.000-05:00

There is strength in the Greenville Community in the vast array of organizations that have the capabilities and resources to respond in times of disaster as well as the individual spirit of volunteerism among citizens to help those in need. The Upstate Red Cross Chapter employs the nations first and only Community Disaster Preparedness Specialist (CDPS) to ensure that the strength continues to grow and that our communities ability to respond to disaster becomes more efficient through the maximization of resources and manpower.

Evidence of this strength was shown in 2005 when our community hosted individuals and families at the Palmetto Expo Center who had been displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina. There are many organizations poised to offer assistance in times of disaster--working to create partnerships with those organizations maximizes the strength and effectiveness of disaster response.

The Community Disaster Preparedness Specialist is charged with assessing what disaster response programs are currently available in the Greenville community, determining community readiness for disaster response and working to create partnerships around this issue.

At the heart of the CDPS position is the revitalization of the Greenville County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. The VOAD movement is based on the values of cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration. The Greenville County VOAD brings together organizations in the community that will assist residents in the event of a disaster, coordinate service delivery planning, and reduce the duplication of services to victims of disaster.

The CDPS also supports the work of the local Citizen Corps, the Community Emergency Response Team (or CERT) program and the Local Emergency Planning Committee which all work to raise public awareness about disaster preparedness and trains ordinary citizens in how they can respond in their local area during times of disaster.

The CDPS is a partnership between the American Red Cross and local government. The hope of those at the Upstate Chapter is that as the benefits of this pilot position become evident through a well-oiled community disaster response, other chapters and communities across the nation will duplicate this effort, thereby helping countless thousands of Americans become better prepared to respond to, prevent, and survive any disaster that may strike there hometown.

Upstate Chapter Helped More Than 1,100 People Rebuild Their Lives

2007-01-23T12:00:00.000-05:00

The core of Red Cross disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, clothing, health & mental health serivces to address basic human needs.

In addition to these services, the Red Cross also feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources.

Over the past year, the Upstate Chapter responded to 268 local disaster and assisted 1,141 individuals in rebuilding their lives. The sole community provider of these types of services, the Upstate Chapter is a private, non-profit organization that depends primarily on local donations and volunteer support to meet its mission of disaster response and preparedness. Each year, the Chapter must anticipate the community's needs and budget its services accordingly.

The 2006-2006 fiscal year was a record for the Upstate Chapter in terms of supporting our communities and a record in terms of contributions.

Katrina was largely responsible for the record donations. When funds are sent for a specific disaster, they are forwarded to the Disaster Relief Fund-the funds do not stay in the local accounts. Nonetheless, the Chapter was able to commit more than $410,000 to local disaster response, which was nearly three times our budget. Without the generosity of the community-individuals, business leaders, and the United Way-over and above the Karina donations, this commitment would not have been possible.

In addition to the disaster response, the Red Cross also provides ongoing health and safety training and education in a number of specialized outreach efforts. These include programs for the Hispanic community, youth leadership, CPR and First Aid training, Certified Nurse Assistant training, water safety, and more.

It might have been a record year of need within our communities, but is was also a record year of volunteer and financial response.

"Gray Ladies" of the Upstate

2007-01-22T09:43:00.000-05:00

As the Red Cross organization, and this chapter, grows and changes, it is important to remember our history. Even though the organization may change as it progresses, this article is reflective of our constant, long-standing commitment to the Upstate community and its health and welfare-a factor that will never change.

In 1919, the Upstate Red Cross pioneered the field of public health nursing by becoming the first to employ registered nurses (RNs) to teach home hygiene and maternity care. This eventually led to the formation of the Greenville City and County Health Departments and positioned the Upstate Red Cross Chapter in partnership with the city of Greenville and an important influence in the development of city services.

During the 1930s, Upstate Red Cross nurses led nutrition instructional programs in the schools, which was the forerunner of the School Lunch Program. Following the national mandate to create a cadre of hospital volunteers, in 1941, the Gray Lady Service was organized to serve the Greenville Army Air Base Hospital. By 1950, the Upstate Gray Ladies were serving in local civilian hospitals and institutions. The first Greenville County unit was formed at Allen Bennett Hospital. In the 1960s, Upstate nursing volunteers began to work in school health rooms; by 1970, Upstate Chapter volunteers served in 55 local school health rooms; and by the mid-1970s, blood pressure screenings were in full force at locations throughout the county. Through those placements, the Upstate Chapter could target young persons for blood pressure screenings with its award winning Student Hypertension and Risk Reduction Program (SHARRP) targeted.

In a similar growth pattern, the Red Cross nursing program—another historical national organization flagship program—has changed its focus in the Greenville community. Today, the Upstate Red Cross nurses help ease the shortage of qualified health care professionals in the Greenville community through its Vocational Health Care Training program.

Upstate Hispanic outreach has multi-cultural impact

2007-01-09T15:16:00.000-05:00

Reaching out to a diverse community and delivering our vital programs and services effectively to all Upstate cultural communities is a goal of the Upstate Chapter. Catalina Solis, the chapters Hispanic Outreach Specialist, works hard to educate, train, and take the Red Cross mission into the Hispanic Community.

This Outreach Program, funded by BI-LO, LLC., educates the Hispanic community on HIV/Aids awareness, First Aid/CPR, and Disaster Services. Catalina is instrumental in translating materials into Spanish and recruiting volunteers to assist with service delivery. Currently, the program has 126 Hispanic volunteers! The Upstate Outreach Program has three bilingual instructors and 19 instructor in fire prevention and the Together We Prepare initiative.

Quality As Well As Quantity

2007-01-08T16:41:00.000-05:00

Many of you may know that the way the American Red Cross does business is changing. From the top down, the organization is streamlining its board of directors, national offices, and field units (chapters) all in an effort to refocus the organization on its core commitment to the American Citizen, disaster relief.

On a local level, beginning January 1st, the Upstate Chapter became a Regional Chapter and accepted a degree of responsibility for six additional counties, thus expanding its area of service to the 11 counties that commonly comprise Upstate South Carolina. This may seem to conflict with my opening statement, but in actuality, it allows community chapters and service centers to concentrate their efforts on service delivery.

Prior to January 1st., there were four individual chapters in the Upstate. They all had the administrative responsibility of reporting its financial, disaster response, and Health & Safety numbers to the Service Area Headquarters in Raleigh. The Service Area Headquarters would then convey them to our National Office. Reporting requirements for larger chapters was no problem. For smaller chapters, compliance with the procedures was far too expensive and time consuming.

Since the change, smaller chapters became Community Chapters and shifted all of their administrative responsibilities, and its expense, to the Regional Chapter. The shift accomplishes a few things: first, fewer hands touching donor dollars increases accountability and accuracy in reporting to the Regional Headquarters. Second, the Community Chapters now have the opportunity to concentrate on delivering quality services tailored to meet the unique needs of the community it serves. This becomes more significant as we see a rise in disaster responses across the Upstate. Quality as well as quantity.

When the quality of Red Cross services rise, along with it occurs a rise in community awareness, community voluntarism, and donations to the local chapter. So, the American Red Cross making voluntary changes from the top down is a good thing, not only for the victims of disaster, but for the Red Cross itself.

By Brian Scoles

Be Ready

2006-12-07T14:53:00.000-05:00

At a joint press conference Friday, December 1st, the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross in partnership with Duke Energy and Lowe's stores, launched a significant educational and preparedness campaign to move Upstate South Carolinians toward greater personal preparedness.

The "Be Ready" Project, funded by a generous grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, is designed to raise awareness on the part of Upstate residents to the fact that disasters of any nature can and do strike the Upstate. Once residents are aware, they must take action by building an emergency supplies kit for themselves and each member of their household.

Many residents in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties will receive a card containing a refrigerator magnet with the top 10 essential emergency supplies and information that Duke Energy wants customers to know should the power go out. Residents can then redeem the card at participating Lowe's stores for a free Be Ready backpack. While at Lowe's, residents can fill the bag with batteries, flashlights, a radio, and other supplies they need to be better prepared.

A recent study showed that Americans are not moving toward greater personal preparedness even after seeing the horrific events of September 11, 2001, the five hurricanes that devastated Florida in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina last year. Right here at home, we experienced a severe ice storm last December. Many Upstate residents were caught off guard and depended on organizations to get them through.

The objective of this campaign is to equip people with the tools they need to better survive a disaster on their own for up to 72 hours, ideally. If you would like information on how you can be better prepared, call the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross at (864) 271-8222.

Total Devastation States North Carolina Newspaper Headline

2006-11-17T09:45:00.000-05:00

North Carolina's second deadliest tornado in 50 years tore through the state in the early morning of November 16, 2006. According to the Wilmington Morning Star, the twister killed at least eight people including two young children.

The 1,000 foot wide twister carved a path of devastation more than half a mile wide and nearly a mile long, heaving homes from foundations, flipping cars and scattering debris and bodies across the countryside 20 miles west of Wilmington.

This was the scene observed by two Upstate South Carolina Chapter volunteers who were deployed to Wilmington to assist with shelter operations and logistical support.

As more information becomes available on the Red Cross operations in North Carolina, it will be posted on this site.

Americans Unmoved Toward Personal Preparedness

2006-11-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

By Brian Scoles

Recently, I came accrossed some startling information that I just have to write about in hopes that it will evoke a response from those who read this blog.

According to a report published by Peter D. Hart Research and Public Opinion Stratagies, Americans, both personally and as a nation, lack the initiative to prepare themselves and their families for natural disasters or terrorist attacks. This comes on the heels of the tragic events of September 11, 2000 and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Americans have readily accepted the changes that have occurred since 9/11 in everything from air travel to entering public buildings or doing business on the Internet. We readily accept being searched and scanned for our safety, yet we fail to undertake the most simple personal precautions and disaster planning to protect ourselves, our family, and our community in the event of a disaster or attack. Why is it that although the nation has adapted to increased security in daily lives, Americans have not personalized the realities of these threats enough to take more personal preparedness actions?

Are we so complacent as a society that we think another tragedy will not strike us? Apparently that is the case. The Hart report states that 54 percent of Americans don't think another disaster is likely to happen.

That's not to say American's hearts weren't touched by what they saw during the terrorist attack and the hurricanes, people donated financially in record proportions. But, donating money to enable someone else to care for the victims and getting actively involved to the point of personal preparedness are very different things.

Why are you unprepared? Why do you think others don't prepare? I'd like to hear from you.

Red Cross CNAs Improving Life for Upstate

2006-10-18T15:14:00.000-05:00

Improving the quality of life for Upstate residents is not just a job, it's a way of life for those who work and volunteer at the Upstate Chapter. While the Red Cross provides aid to those who experience disasters, it also provides education to those who want to make a difference in their life and the lives of others.

Sylvia Coltrane, director of Vocational Health Care at the Upstate Chapter oversees the nearly 20-year-old Nurse Assistant Training Program, a four-week course consisting of classroom instruction and practical application. More than 200 community residents graduate each year, and go on to take a state certification exam to become Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs). "We are so proud," Coltrane says of her students, "Many overcome incredible odd to graduate."

Fire Ravages Laurens Business: Red Cross Was There

2006-10-11T14:24:00.000-05:00

By Brian Scoles

In the darkness of October 10, Clinton Fire Department responds to a call at the Anderson Hardwood Flooring plant in Clinton. Upon arrival, first responders encountered flames shooting 40 feet into the air. Emergency Preparedness Director Ray Blackwell reported that four workers escaped without injury and issued an evacuation order as a result of toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere.

Kay Osborne, Laurens County Service Center Manager for the Upstate Chapter, along with two volunteers, received the call that Clinton residents were urged to leave their homes and a shelter was opened. Osborne said of the shelter, "Clinton residents need a safe place to go and we will be there for them with food and shelter if only for a little while."

Kim Eller, Chief Chapter Services Officer for the Upstate Chapter, shares these disaster response statistics for the first quarter of the chapter's fiscal year which began July 1: the Chapter has responded to 70 disasters-a little more than 23 responses a month-and committed nearly $52,000 in direct financial assistance to individuals affected by disaster. "Last year was a record breaking year," says Eller, "in the first three months of this fiscal year, we are out pacing where we were a year ago at this point." All Red Cross emergency services are free to victims of disaster, paid for by the generous contributions of individuals and businesses who support the Upstate Chapter.

"Thankfully, no one was injured due to this fire" concludes Osborne. "No matter the result, the Red Cross will be there for the residents of the Upstate."

Anderson Hardwood Floor is a 60 year old firm and the second largest supplier of hardwood floors in America.

Bike Rally Aids Red Cross Chapters

2006-10-02T11:46:00.000-05:00

September 29th & 30th, motorcycle enthusiasts had the opportunity to ride, race, and raise funds for a good cause as the Upstate and Piedmont Chapters of the American Red Cross held its 14th annual Motorcycle Rally.

Friday's main draw was motorcycle drag racing at the Greer Dragway, presented by Foothills Motorsports. The event featured some of the nation's top Fuel racers and a competition among all bikers who attended as a way of proving who's got the "baddest hog in South Carolina."

The main rally began at 9 a.m., Saturday, at the BMW Zentrum in Spartanburg. Bikers participated in a poker run which awarded the best hand with a 2007 Harley Davidson 883 Custom bike donated by Harley-Davidson of Greenville.

The route included four stops and ended at the Harley-Davidson of Greenville, where bikers enjoyed a party with local food vendors and music by the Enforcers.

The event draws nearly 1,500 riders and raises approximately $80,000 split between two major Upstate Red Cross chapters in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties.

End of Summer Beach Party Raises Fun and Funds for Upstate Chapter

2006-10-02T10:29:00.000-05:00

September 17, 2006, The South's largest beach party was hosted at Pawleys Charcoal Steakhouse in Mauldin, SC., in support of the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross.

"A Day at the Beach" lasted from 1 p.m.-9 p.m. with DJ Ben Phillips playing beach music which could be heard over the sounds of volleyballs at the six on six beach volleyball tournament while spectators enjoyed delicious food from the outdoor beach bar. Little ones who came were entertained in the Kids Zone with games, prizes and fun. In the early evening people were "Shaggin’ on the beach" to the hot tunes of the J Michael Band.

Inside Pawleys, at the VIP party, beach goers enjoyed delicious food and the cool sounds of beach music greats Bill Pinkney, the original voice of “The Drifters,” Billy Scott of “Billy Scott and the Georgia Prophets,” Hack Bartley and Brent Fortson of “The Original Swinging Medallions,” and Clifford Curry who had the hit songs, She Shot a Hole in My Soul and We’re Gonna Hate Ourselves in the Morning, and many other local artists.

Fun was had by everyone! The event brought in over $6,000 for the Chapter.

Fines for Blood Safety Violations

2006-09-15T08:53:00.000-05:00

By Brian Scoles

The American Red Cross made the news in a big way this week and last when the FDA fined the Red Cross $4.2 million due to a voluntary recall of 12,000 units of blood and blood products produced by the Red Cross' Biomedical Services.

It is important to know that not all Red Cross chapters are involved in collecting 45 percent of the nations blood supply. The Upstate South Carolina Chapter is one that is not involved with blood collection.

Let's take a look at the issue for a moment: non-compliance with FDA regulations (Consent Decree). The FDA has established guidelines with which blood collection agencies must comply, such as pre-screening of donors, collection of blood and blood products, testing and storage, and delivery of blood to hospitals. The Biomedical Services division of the Red Cross discovered that it had not fully complied with the pre-screening phase during a limited period of time. When the error was discovered it was reported to the FDA.

Does that mean that Red Cross blood is unsafe? No. The FDA states that the Red Cross blood supply is safer than ever. The Red Cross has many layers of safety in place to help protect the blood supply which includes self-deferrals, completion of the blood donation record, health history screening, confidential unit exclusion, testing, and post donation information.

The Red Cross is not aware of any adverse events associated with ARC blood products, which is the good news. Now we must pay the fine and will do so. The funds will not come from donor money. They will be taken from the Biomedical Services' operating funds. The American Red Cross will never use the public's generous monetary donations to pay penalties associated with the Consent Decree.

I hope this helps to clarify the issue over the fine. Please respond with any questions you may have. Remember, the Upstate South Carolina Chapter is not involved in blood services.

Take these actions now to help you and your loved ones get prepared

2006-08-29T10:08:00.000-05:00

By Brian Scoles

As Ernesto approaches quickly, The Upstate Chapter wants you and your loved ones to be prepared. All it takes is a little time and following these three simple steps:

Get a Kit

Build a disaster supplies kit including water, non-perishable food, radio, flashlight and extra batteries for both, a first aid kit and necessary medications. Store important family documents (wills, passports, insurance policies, deeds, etc.) in a portable, waterproof and fireproof container as part of your kit.

Prepare supplies for pets and family members with specific needs.

Make a Plan

Make evacuation and communication plans.

Plan ahead for the possibility of becoming separated from your family and friends by choosing an out-of-town contact that each family or household member can call or email should a disaster occur.

Plan on using the Red Cross Safe and Well Website, accessible through www.redcross.org.

Be Informed

Talk to your family about the types of disasters that can happen in your community.

Follow the directions of emergency officials.

If you prepare for Ernesto, you will be better prepared for any emergency.

Upstate Red Cross Deploys Help for Ernesto, Urges Residents To Prepare Now

2006-08-29T09:47:00.000-05:00

By Brian Scoles

With new possibilities for Tropical Storm Ernesto to upgrade back into a hurricane and progress along the Eastern seaboard, the Upstate Chapter urges residents to act now while there's time to prepare. Ernesto is anticipated to make landfall in Florida in the coming days; later this week, there is the potential for northeastern communities to be impacted by severe, dangerous weather in the form of high winds, flash floods and more. For those in the entire state of Florida as well as individuals and families along the Eastern seaboard from Gerogia to New England, taking three simple steps to prepare can make all the difference in staying safe: get a kit, make a plan and stay informed.

Individuals and families can never be too prepared. There is a possiblility that the storm will strengthen again as it is moves into open water just north of Cuba. The current track of the storm plots Ernesto's landfall in South Carolina near Charleston. However, the entire State of South Carolina may be affected to some degree by winds, rain, and possibly flooding.

Communities in Ernesto's path need to take action now to plan for potentially dangerous landfall. Continue to review your family communications plan, and check your disaster supplies kit while you have the opportunity.

As always, the Upstate Chapter is there for its communities. However, through its cadre of well trained staff and volunteers, we have an impact nationwide. Two volunteers from the Upstate have deployed to Orlando, Florida in anticipation of Ernesto's landfall and 10 more are on alert to be deployed wherever they are needed. Our volunteers will be responsible for feeding victims in shelters, at feeding sites and delivering meals in affected neighborhoods. They will also aid in sheltering victims and evacuees and providing counseling services as necessary.

If you have a desire to get involved in disaster relief and have an hands on impact with storm victims, contact the Upstate Chapter by calling (864) 271-8222.

Director of Emergency Services Deploys to El Paso

2006-08-18T10:31:00.000-05:00

Posted by Brian Scoles

Selected by the national headquarters of the American Red Cross for her Spanish speaking ability and her understanding of the unique needs of disaster victims of diverse cultural backgrounds, Emergency Services Director of the Upstate Chapter, Christa Friddle, deploys today for two weeks to help the victims of flood ravaged El Paso, Texas.

Friddle will be performing in the function of Community Relations Liaison, a newly formed position within the National Disaster Resonse system, and will be tasked with several key responsibilities. While on location, Friddle will facilitate coordination and communication between the disaster relief operation, the hispanic community and the orgainzations that represent them and assist in the resolution of issues of race, language, and culture as they arise, and monitor the disaster operation to ensure quality service delivery--a vital role as the American Red Cross continually seeks to improve how it serves disaster victims across the United States.

We wish Christa well and look forward to hearing about her experiences when she returns.

Volunteers Deploy to Assist Northeast Corridor Flood Victims

2006-07-06T13:58:00.000-05:00

By Brian Scoles

Though the waters slowly subside, the Upstate South Carolina Chapter sends relief workers to help flood victims in the Northeast Corridor of the United States.

Volunteers Sue Sidel and Kathy Retherford are readying for deployment tomorrow morning to assist disaster victims with assessing their losses due to flood damage. Joe Hawkins departed the Upstate this morning to drive an Emergency Response Vehicle and distribute food to victims who are returning home to begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.

To date, 4500 homes have been determined by the Red Cross to have received major or minor damage or have been destroyed completely. 18 counties in New York and Pennsylvania have been declared federal disaster areas and the Red Cross is still in the affected area performing damage assessments.

Alberto, First Tropical Storm of 2006

2006-06-11T15:38:00.000-05:00

Posted by Brian Scoles, PR Director

Nine days into Hurricane Season 2006, our first Tropical Depression formed. 11 days in, it grew into our first Tripical Storm. Alberto is currently in the Gulf of Mexico and expected to reach the Western coast of Florida no later than Tuesday.

According to current NOAA projections, it will be off the coast of South Carolina by Wednesday. Even though we should not be directly affected by this storm, we need to be prepared for its secondary affects of high winds and rain.

As of Sunday, Alberto has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph which extend outward to 175 miles from its center. Alberto is expected to produce anywhere from 4-8 inches of rain.

Keep in mind, these are early predictions. However, the underlying message in these early reports is to prepare now!

What can you do to prepare? The first step is to visit redcross.org and review over the Together We Prepare information which talks about the simple steps of preparedness: Build a disaster supplies & first aid kit, make a family communications & evacuation plan, get trained as a Red Cross volunteer & help those in your community learn to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Remember, the wise person will be prepared to survive for at least 72 hours after a major storm passes.

Disaster Volunteers Deploy: Assist Victims of Mill Fire

2006-06-10T11:59:00.000-05:00

Posted by Brian Scoles, PR Director

Over the weekend, three Disaster Serivces Volunteers from the Upstate Chapter, deployed to help the victims of the J.P. Stevens Mill Plant 3 fire.

As a result of the fire, hydrochloric acid was released into the atmosphere in Great Falls, SC, causing over 1000 people to leave their homes. The Red Cross responded and opened a shelter to house evacuees and three volunteers from the Upstate Chapter moved into the shelter and assisted with government liaison work and individual client services.

The Upstate Chapter not only has a commitment to serve the residents of the Upstate, but our commitment extends to all South Carolinians and those who call America home.

Oh What A Night

2006-06-09T13:16:00.000-05:00

Posted by Brian Scoles, Chapter PR Director

I want to start off by thanking Amy Howard, our Director of Volunteers, for putting together an outstanding Annual Meeting. With the help of her volunteers, we had the largest attendance ever for an annual meeting.

This year, the American Red Cross celebrates 125 years of service to the people of the United States. That was the theme for last night's celebration. Many awards were given to chapter volunteers for their dedication and passion for serving their neighbors here in the Upstate and for some, their service to the nation during times of large-scale disaster. With out our volunteers, the Upstate Chapter and the American Red Cross as a national organization could not perform its service to the nation.

Pat's Seventeen Piece Swing Band created the atmosphere for the evening as people strolled through history looking at memoribilia of the Red Cross' service to the nation during times of war and peace. Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross and Henri Dunant, founder of the International Red Cross Movement, strolled through the crowd and talked about the significance of the Red Cross in providing aid to wounded servicemen and to those suffering the affects of a disaster both at an individual and national levels.

We elected new officers to our Board of Directors and nominated others for additional terms of service.

It was a great evening. We look forward to serving American for another 125 years.

Is Your Local Red Cross Chapter Prepared?

2006-06-02T14:21:00.000-05:00

Posted by Brian Scoles, Public Relations Director for the Upstate Chapter

With Hurricanes Katrina and Rita still fresh on our minds and pictures of New Orleans once again splashed on the news, Hurricane Season 2006 officially began at midnight on June 1st. I want to ask you, are you ready?

Rest assured, the Upstate Chapter is ready.

I realize that we don't get the full brunt of a hurricane this far inland, but we could experience the secondary affects of a hurricane that hits the South East. What types of secondary affects could we see here in the Upstate? Severe thunderstorms, high winds, flash flooding, and tornadoes-all of which are very real possibilities that could force us from our homes and thrust us into survival mode.

Should any of these situations strike the Upstate and cause residents to evacuate from their homes, the Upstate Chapter is ready to open shelters, feed all who seek refuge, and begin to meet many of the residents' disaster-caused needs. Chapter volunteers and employees have taking training specifically for hurricane response. The chapter has been updating its agreements with local schools to ensure they are ready should we get notice that evacuees are on the way. The chapter has stocked food, water, cots, comfort kits, client assistance cards, generators, and many more supplies that will enable our clients to begin the rebuilding process. We also have partnerships with local governmental and non-governmental agencies to provide medical and emotional care or special needs a shelter resident may have.

The Upstate Chapter has done its part to be ready in an emergency. Have you done all you can to get ready? The Red Cross strongly encourages Upstate residents to have enough supplies on hand to survive on their own for up to the first 72 hours after a disaster strikes. One lesson that everyone should have learned from Katrina/Rita is that sometimes disaster conditions are so devastating that emergency services may not be able to respond until conditions stableize.

In advance of any disaster, you should stock the following supplies for all members of your household in a duffle bag or large container:
Flashlight with plenty of extra batteries
Battery powered radio with extra batteries
First aid kit
Prescription medications in their original bottle, plus copies of prescriptions
Eyeglasses with copy of prescription
Water at least one gallon per person, more is better
Foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking
Infant items and elderly household members items
Medical equipment and devices such as dentures, crutches, prostheses, etc.
Change of clothes for each household member
Sleeping bag or bedroll and pillow for each household member
Checkbook, cash, and credit cards
Map of the area

Sounds like a lot, I know, but these items may very well save your life if you simply prepare ahead of time. For a more preparedness tips, you can contact the Upstate South Carolina Chapter at (864) 271-8222 or log on to www.redcross.org.

Home Fires Burnin'

2006-05-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

Posted by Brian Scoles, PR Director for the Upstate Chapter

Our Red Cross chapter is an integral part of the emergency response system in the Upstate. When called, volunteers are ready to provide immediate help any time of the day or night.

Home fires are considered to be "silent" disasters because many of them do not make the evening news and therefore often go unnoticed.

Losing a house or an apartment to a fire is as traumatic for the family who calls that dwelling “home” as if it had been lost during a highly-publicized natural disaster. Personal loss to these fires may be less newsworthy when a single-family dwelling is destroyed, but the need for emergency assistance is just as great to those individials and the Red Cross will be there to aid in recovery.

Why so many fires? The use of alternate heating sources, population growth in Anderson County, aging structures with faulty wiring, and our elderly parents and grandparents who are struggling to live alone, are just some of the causes.

We may not think of individual fires as having the same impact as a wide-spread disaster, but the shock is just as tremendous. Victims of house fires need immediate emergency assistance—a place to stay, food, clothing, medicine, crisis counseling, and a plan for recovery. Each person is helped to regain control of their own recovery. Flexibility and respect for cultural differences is part of the client assistance and recovery plan.

Our Red Cross plays critical role in neighborhoods throughout the Upstate before, during and after a disaster strikes. Due to the rise in local disasters, resources have been tapped in unprecedented proportions, but our work continues. This past year, our Red Cross responded to over 205 disasters, providing food, clothing, shelter and other emergency necessities to more than 900 people in Greenville, Greenwood, Abbeville, Anderson and Laurens Counties. During the ice storm, another 500 people were cared for in 5 shelters that operated for a full week.

Assistance to disaster victims totals more than $353,000, exceeding our annual budget by over $156,000 with two months still remaining.

The Red Cross helps people respond when disasters strike, but you will always be the first and best resource in an emergency. The Together We Prepare program teaches children and adults first aid techniques and simple steps to prevent or mitigate tragedies, including developing family communication plans and disaster supplies kits. I urge you to call the Red Cross and prepare for an emergency that could impact your family at any moment.

Many thanks to our volunteers and staff, United Way, individuals, corporations, and foundations for your support and involvement in helping the Red Cross help our community. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on contributions from you and me. Please continue to be generous where resources are urgently needed.

Media Appreciation

2006-04-12T07:05:00.000-05:00

The Upstate Red Cross chapter would like to thank the media for the outstanding coverage we have had during recent disasters.

By Presidential decree, March is American Red Cross Month.

2006-03-26T13:09:00.000-05:00

Dear Friend of the Red Cross,
By Presidential decree, March is American Red Cross Month.

And we're marking the occasion by honoring the humanitarian heart and volunteer spirit of not only the organization, but the entire country.

Today — after 125 years of public service — The American Red Cross is still helping people in your community every day. With the grassroots support of caring Americans like you, our nationwide network of volunteers and employees are at the forefront of more than 70,000 disasters each year — delivering critical assistance to victims in their time of greatest need.

Thank you, for being a part of our lifesaving work.

The American Red Cross

Biloxi and Gulfport

2006-02-20T14:08:00.000-05:00

Richard Fowler (Board Member) writes:

I was at a conference in Mobile, AL, this week and thought I'd take the opportunity to go and have a look at what was happening in Biloxi and Gulfport.

The devastation from Katrina was astonishing. A few very large casinos / hotels were still standing but everything else close the the shore was either flattened or substantially demolished. Loads of plots with a concrete slab and nothing else. There was a cemetery overlooking the sea where huge slabs of marble had obviously just been picked up and dumped in one corner by the power of the water. Everywhere there were huge trees not just knocked over but just completely shredded. Over a mile from the coast trees were still completely snagged with plastic and other debris that had been washed in.

The further west I went the worse it got. I headed north while still 70 or 80 miles from New Orleans. So since that was where the centre of the storm was I can't imagine what that would have been like. Noticed that there were still pretty large trees broken or knocked over at least 150 miles from the coast. Almost as far as Tuscaloosa, AL.

There were a lot of dead dogs on the side of the road, and of course plenty of vultures as well. I think I read about this. After the storm a lot of dogs were abandoned or couldn't get back to their owners so they went wild and started to adopt a primaeval pack mentality. It was like a different world.

Further north in Alabama there were convoys of lorries carrying single-wides with FEMA stickers on them.

The media only seems to talk about New Orleans, but it seemed clear that there was a huge disaster in Mississippi as well, and not an awful lot done about it.

Teen saved by defibrillator living proof schools need machines

2006-02-15T22:02:00.000-05:00

Here's a great piece from the front of today's State newspaper about a little boy whose life was saved because his school had Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) available.

Read the whole article here.

Four out of Five Americans Unaware that Home Fires are the Greatest and Most Common Disaster Threat

2006-02-14T18:31:00.000-05:00

Just read this on the national Red Cross site. Everyone thinks the big deal is Hurricanes and Earthquakes, but it's actually home fires. Read the whole piece here.

Less than 100 days until Hurricane Season

2006-02-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

Ann Wright says:

There are less than 100 days until the beginning of the 2006 Hurricane Season!

We need Disaster Services volunteers who can serve locally or on national assignment.
If you are interested, please call Amy at 271-8222.

A new disaster volunteer orientation will be held on March 7th from 6-8 p.m. Other upcoming training opportunities include: Damage Assessment workshop (3/2); Emergency Response Vehicle driver training, (3/11); Disaster Mental Health overview (3/14); and Disaster Health Services overview, (3/20). A disaster drill is scheduled for April 1 and a Disaster Readiness exercise and evaluation will be conducted May 7-9.

2006-02-14T10:48:00.000-05:00

Alison Tesh writes:

The 2006 American Red Cross HEROES Campaign kick-off luncheon was held Wednesday January 25th at The Peppermill. Thanks to Michael Stathakis for a wonderful lunch. Michael Codgill gave a motivating speech touching on tragedies both national and local he has had the opportunity to experience first hand.

Over 50 people were in attendance. Greenville county schools, banks, businesses, and corporations were all represented and some wonderful events are planned. Stay tuned for more details. If anyone is interested in joining the Campaign, please contact your local Red Cross chapter.

Red Cross Sends 9 new volunteers to Baton Rouge

2005-09-19T15:10:00.000-05:00

Nine newly trained Red Cross disaster volunteers will leave for Baton Rouge today where they will be assigned to work in Red Cross shelters for the next three weeks. As a result of the enormous response by the Red Cross to assist the families affected by Hurricane Katrina, the Upstate SC Chapter of the American Red Cross held two large disaster training workshops with hundreds of people attending the workshops. Many of the trained volunteers have been working at the Palmetto Expo during the past week and nine more will leave today for Louisiana. More than 85,000 trained disaster relief workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to help their neighbors in need.

To date, trained volunteers have assisted 1136 people providing assistance of food, clothes, prescriptions and other emergency supplies. The Upstate Chapter has provided direct assistance of over $371,000 to hurricane victims that have come to the Upstate. Trained Red Cross caseworkers are now working with each family to transition them out of the Palmetto Expo including helping them reach a final destination or if they are planning to stay in the area, helping them find temporary or permanent housing arrangements. The Red Cross is leading local efforts to integrate all evacuees into the community, providing stability and a platform for rebuilding lives and families.

Across the Mid-Atlantic, the American Red Cross has provided immediate emergency assistance for almost 7,000 families and now will continue to work within neighborhoods to help these families transition to services for their long term needs.

Since Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore, the Red Cross has provided survivors nearly 2 million overnight stays in 709 shelters across 24 states and the District of Columbia. Yesterday, the Red Cross housed more than 50,000 survivors in 268 shelters and served more than 365,000 hot meals. The American Red Cross is expanding the variety of its efforts to provide immediate financial assistance to upwards of three quarters of a million dollars to Hurricane Katrina victims who are dispersed across the nation. With an understanding that the process of getting assistance to victims will take weeks rather than days, the Red Cross continues to reach out to the thousands of people in need of help.

The Red Cross has been preparing for Tropical Storm Rita by assessing potential equipment, shelter and volunteer needs even while responding to Katrina. The first priority of the Red Cross before, during and after any disaster is to provide safe shelter, food and safe drinking water, as well as emotional support. The Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters every year - whether the situation is a single-family fire or a multi-state catastrophe.

American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort Facts at a Glance

2005-09-14T19:29:00.000-05:00

The American Red Cross is responding to an unprecedented natural catastrophe and devoting every resource to this humanitarian relief effort. The American people can be confident the Red Cross will spare no effort to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors.

• Since Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore, the Red Cross has provided survivors nearly 2 million overnight stays in 709 shelters across 24 states and the District of Columbia.
• On Monday night, the Red Cross housed more than 61,500 survivors in 348 shelters.
• The American Red Cross served more than 358,500 hot meals on Monday.
• The Red Cross has served more than 7.7 million hot meals and more than 6.6 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
• To date, more than 112,000 people have received Red Cross Disaster Mental Health services.
• More than 85,000 trained Red Cross disaster relief workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to help their neighbors in need. During this effort, the Red Cross has trained more than 75,000 people in specialized disaster relief skills.
• To date, nearly 80,000 families have received more than $140 million in aid through Red Cross programs. In addition to funds, 85,000 Red Cross trained volunteers are providing services like meals, blankets, clothing, hygiene kits and a place to sleep for hundreds of thousands of people.
• More than 182,000 people have registered on the Red Cross “Family Links Registry,” which is helping reconnect loved ones separated by Hurricane Katrina. To register, go to www.redcross.org or call 1-877-LOVED-1S.

The American Red Cross is expanding the variety of its efforts to provide financial assistance to upwards of three quarters of a million Hurricane Katrina victims who are dispersed across the nation. Assistance is provided in a variety of ways, including client assistance cards, vouchers, and checks.
The Red Cross is fulfilling urgent needs, turning donations into help faster than ever before. Our gold standard is for everyone touched by Katrina to be safe and comforted.

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 this disaster and thousands of other disasters across the country each year 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 those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW 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.

Update 09/13/2005

2005-09-13T12:03:00.000-05:00

The American people can be confident the American Red Cross will spare no effort to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors. The Red Cross is establishing a comprehensive system to deliver needed financial assistance to storm victims.

The Upstate SC Chapter of the American Red Cross continues to assist families and individuals devastated by the hurricane's onslaught. To date, trained volunteers have assisted 927 people providing assistance of food, clothes, prescriptions and other emergency supplies. The Upstate chapter has provided direct assistance of over $322,000 to hurricane victims that have come to the Upstate. We are now working with each family to transition them out of the palmetto Expo. This includes helping them reach a final destination or if they are planning to stay in the area, helping them find temporary or permanent housing arrangements.

The Upstate SC Chapter has organized training for literally hundreds of volunteers to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Because of this generous outpouring from community members, the Red Cross has now reached its capacity for volunteers needed to help in the Upstate with this disaster at this point in time.

The American Red Cross continues to work with our partners to provide food and sheltering to the victims in the affected areas. More than 74,000 trained Red Cross Disaster Relief workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to help their neighbors in need. To date, the Red Cross has provided 207,000 survivors in over 709 shelters. The American Red Cross has served more than 7.6 million hot meals to survivors of Hurricane Katrina since before first landfall.

Many of the evacuees have lost loved ones or are unable to locate their families. The Red Cross "Family Links Registry" on www.redcross.org is one way for families to re-connect. Concerned family members can register the names of their loved ones and view the list of those already posted. Since its inception, the Registry has received a total of 115,242 calls with over 5,000 coming in during the past 24 hours Due to the extent of the damage and the number of people displaced, concerned friends and family members are encouraged to visit the site daily. You can visit the "Family Links Registry" via www.redcross.org or call 1-877-LOVED-1s (1-877-568-3317)...

The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need for this disaster and thousands of other disasters across the country each year.

Due to the generosity of the American people, the American Red Cross stands ready to meet the monumental challenge of helping to rebuild lives. The WYFF Telethon raised over $640,000 for Katrina Relief. For every dollar donated, 91 cents goes directly to assist disaster victims.

Ten local volunteers have been deployed from the Upstate Chapter for 3-week assignments in affected areas. They are feeding victims on mobile emergency response vehicles and working in shelters in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. One volunteer has been deployed to the National Call Center.

Hurricane Katrina is the worst natural disaster our nation has faced; the disaster is the largest and costliest relief effort ever mounted by the American Red Cross. It is expected that relief efforts will continue for many months and will have to be sustained through the generosity of the American public.

The Red Cross has been preparing for Hurricane Ophelia by assessing potential equipment, shelter and volunteer needs even while responding to Katrina. Shelters are already open and more are on standby in the Outer Banks and other low-lying and inland areas. The first priority of the Red Cross before, during and after any disaster is to provide safe shelter, food and safe drinking waters, as well as emotional support. The Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters every year - whether the situation is a single-family fire or a multi-state catastrophe.

Jack Ware

2005-09-12T20:28:00.000-05:00

Jack Ware, a New Orleans-are resident left his uptown, second-floor apartment after Aug. 30 after concluding the police did not have control of the city.

Read more about his day-to day experience here.

Update 09/12/2005

2005-09-12T08:47:00.000-05:00

Greenville, SC Sept. 6, 2005 – The American Red Cross is responding at a record-setting pace in its drive to bring shelter, food and safe drinking water to the tens of thousands of Americans impacted by Hurricane Katrina’s savage assault on the Gulf Coast. The Upstate SC Chapter continues to assist families and individuals devastated by the hurricane’s onslaught. To date, trained caseworkers have assisted 880 victims. Direct assistance such as food, clothing, prescriptions and other emergency supplies totaling over $300,000 has been provided to victims who have reached the Greenville area from the gulf coast.

Families who are unable to reach a Red Cross office can call 1-800-975-7585 toll free 24 hours a day to register for emergency financial assistance which they will obtain from a financial institution in the community where they are now staying.

The American Red Cross continues to meet the staggering challenge of providing relief to thousands of survivors in the widespread path of devastation and destruction left by Hurricane Katrina. To date, the Red Cross has housed 1.8 million survivors in over 700 shelters. The American Red Cross has served more than 7.2 million hot meals to survivors of Hurricane Katrina since before first landfall. The sheer volume of people affected, as well as the extensive geographical area impacted will require long-term massive feeding and sheltering operations for many months to come. 90,000 square miles have been affected—about the same size as Great Britain.

In order to accomplish this extraordinary level of relief, over 63,000 trained Red Cross disaster specialists have been deployed in 13 states and at the Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C. Recruitment is continuing and local chapters across the country are expanding training for thousands of spontaneous volunteers who are willing to make the priceless donation of their time and skills to this enormous humanitarian outreach.

With families, friends and colleagues scattered in the face of Katrina’s fury, the American Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross have established the “Family Links Registry” to enable people to re-establish those essential relationships. Since its inception, the Registry has received a total of 115,242 calls with over 5,000 coming in during the past 24 hours. The “Family Links Registry” can be accessed through www.redcross.org or by calling toll-free 1-877-LOVED 1S (1-877-568-3317).

Update 09/08/2005

2005-09-08T05:12:00.000-05:00

Red Cross emergency shelters are providing a safe refuge for tens of thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors. Since Hurricane Katrina first slammed ashore in Florida, the American Red Cross has:

# housed 142,000 survivors in more than 485 shelters in 18 states.

# served more than 3.3 million hot meals to survivors of Hurricane Katrina since before first landfall.

# Mobilized more than 5,600 trained Red Cross workers who have left their homes in every corner of the United States to join thousands of local volunteers who responded immediately to help their neighbors in need

Telethon on WYFF Tomorrow - We NEED your help

2005-08-31T12:09:00.000-05:00

The Chapter will once again be partnering with WYFF for a telethon to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The telethon is tomorrow, September 1st, from 5:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

We NEED your help! Please call 271-8222 as soon as possible and sign up for a two-hour shift to help answer phones at the telethon. When you call, ask for Ginger or Amy or Genean and they will sign you up.

Check out the WYFF website.

Red Cross Needs Your Help

2005-08-30T19:37:00.000-05:00

The following message is from Marty Evans, President and CEO, American Red Cross:

The extent of damage and loss of life caused by Hurricane Katrina is still unfolding; however, early news reports today indicate that the hurricane has left a trail of utter destruction even as it continues to flood communities far inland. Today, as floodwaters still rise, 80 percent of New Orleans is reported to be under water, and the Gulf Coast communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have awakened to extreme damage that will put many thousands of families out of their homes for months on end. Officials believe that this storm will be more costly than Hurricane Andrew, the previous record-breaking hurricane of 1992. In response, the American Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources for a single natural disaster involving thousands of trained disaster relief workers, tons of supplies—and shoulders on which to lean.

Even with the rapid and generous support from our partners and the public, a nationwide, coordinated fundraising effort is necessary to ensure we have the resources to deliver the critical services that Americans trust us to deliver. Effective immediately, we will begin a nationwide Disaster Relief Fund Campaign. Your service area will be working with each chapter to determine the most appropriate goal for your unit.

We anticipate a sustained disaster relief effort, unlike any other in our history, lasting many months. Already, the Red Cross has provided a safe haven for nearly 70,000 evacuees in more than 230 Red Cross shelters - from the panhandle of Florida, across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas. However, because Katrina is still wreaking havoc as she tracks northward, we do not have a full report of the damage and services needed, and we do not yet have a firm nationwide fundraising goal. Early estimates indicate that this response could cost as much or more than the sum of the four combined hurricanes during last year’s hurricane, which cost approximately $130 million. The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is still to come.

I want to stress that the initial $130 million target is only an estimate and may change, depending on updated damage assessment figures and the amount of assistance needed by the families affected by this event. The Red Cross is committed for the long haul. We will meet the immediate emergency needs of disaster victims in the weeks and months ahead. We are asking field units to continue to educate the public that we anticipate the costs of this disaster to be significant and that we need their help

Upstate volunteers help Katrina relief effort

2005-08-30T06:45:00.000-05:00

Two volunteers, Joe Hawkins and Wayne Deitz, left on Sunday morning driving the Emergency Response Vehicle. They went to Little Rock where they will be dispatched to an affected area. Three more volunteers will be leaving on Tuesday.

Gary Yearwood will go to Montgomery, AL, where he will be sent to an affected area to work as a computer technologist. You can read more about Gary's work in today's Greenville News.

Frances Thompson is going to Houston where he will be assigned to a shelter operation and Jean DuRant from Anderson is going to Falls Church, Virginia, where she will be working at the call center. We may have more volunteers leaving in the next day or two.

You can make a donation here.

Youth Council Leadership Volunteers Plan for FY '06

2005-08-25T10:49:00.000-05:00

Just got an update from Kelly Davis about plans for next year. You can read the whole story here.

Electronic Greetings Cards

2005-08-13T07:06:00.000-05:00

Did you know that you can send Red Cross themed electronic postcards? Neither did I, but they're pretty cool.

Update on National Youth Council volunteering

2005-08-09T21:38:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you all remember Kelly Davis who is our our volunteer on the National Red Cross Youth Council, and was formerly the President of the Furman University Red Cross club and member of our Board of Directors. She was at the Chapter recently and gave Ann an update on her current activities.

Excitingly she has been asked to stay on the Council an additional year, so she is now one month into her fourth year on the council. This year she will be the project lead for the Navin Narayan College Scholarship, the Navin Narayan Convention Youth Speaker Award, and the Convention scholarships. She will also work on one more project committee which will probably be the Convention and Youth Institute committee.

In the past she's worked on the Convention and Youth Institute committee and the Measles Initiative committee; she was the project lead for the Navin Scholarship last year as well. She says she's enjoyed meeting the Board of Governors members; her adopted BoG is Doug Dettrick. She has greatly enjoyed the company of BoG members Karen Goodman and Rick Grinnan.

This year I don't want to miss the Motorcycles

2005-08-05T09:04:00.000-05:00

Each year that I've been in the Upstate I've always meant to attend the Motorcycle Rally, but somehow something always came up and I never made it. This year I'm determined to get there.

This year the Motorcycle Rally, from which all proceeds benefit the Upstate and Piedmont Chapters of the American Red Cross, is on September 9th and 10th, with the Red Cross Motorcycle Drag Races at the Greer Dragway on Friday 9th and the Red Cross Poker Run on Saturday 10th.

For more information call (864) 271-8222 (Greenville) or (864) 583-8000 (Spartanburg) or check online.

See you there.

One blog created 'every second'

2005-08-05T06:33:00.000-05:00

I knew that blogging was becoming more popular, but didn't realize how popular until I saw this piece on the BBC News web site.

What started out as something mostly just done by individuals is now being adopted by businesses as part of their overall marketing strategy. General Motors is a good example of a company using a blog in this way.

I haven't been able to find a good example of a not-for-profit blog, so I guess we'll have to make up our own guidelines as we go along.

Red Cross Trivia

2005-07-26T09:20:00.000-05:00

The American Red Cross was chartered by Congress to furnish disaster relief services. Contrary to popular belief, however, the Red Cross gets no funding from the U.S. government. All funding comes from private donations. That's why it is so important that all of us support the Red Cross with our donations.

It's hot in the Upstate

2005-07-26T07:58:00.000-05:00

The TV, Radio and Newspapers are all warning that today is going to be really hot and humid, so people need to take extra precautions to ensure they are not overcome by the heat.

“Almost 400 Americans die each year due to summer’s heat and humidity,” says Ann Wright, CEO, Upstate SC Chapter, American Red Cross. “So it’s important that community members are careful and take precautions when conditions get hot.”

To prepare for the hot weather, the Upstate SC Chapter of the American Red Cross offers these heat-related tips:
• Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella.
• Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.
• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m.
• Stay indoors when possible. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air.
• Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.
• Learn Red Cross first aid and CPR. While the above tips can help prevent emergencies, it is crucial to know what to do if an emergency situation arises.
Know These Heat-Related Terms:
• Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are an early signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.
• Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim may suffer heat stroke. Signals of heat exhaustion include cool, moist, pale flushed or red skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal.
• Heat stroke: Also known as sunstroke, heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim's temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high—sometimes as high as 105 F.
General Care for Heat Emergencies:
• Heat cramps or heat exhaustion: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. If the person is fully awake and alert, give half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not let him or her drink too quickly. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number if the person refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness.
• Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation! Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

For more information on how to prepare for heat-related conditions, contact the Upstate S.C. Chapter of the American Red Cross at 864-271-8222.