American Red Cross Helping Two People After Coventry Fire

The American Red Cross is helping two adults with emergency housing and food needs after a fire Monday on Albro Lane in Coventry.

The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits, containing age and gender appropriate personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving supplies and other items a family might not have been able to gather in the rush to escape the fire.  Children’s kits include a stuffed toy.

American Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge, a gift made possible by generous donations and the work of volunteers.  For more information about the Red Cross and how you can help, visit www.redcross.org.

American Red Cross Helping Three People After Providence Fire

The American Red Cross is helping two adults and one child with emergency housing and food needs after they were displaced by a fire today on Swift Street in Providence.

The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits, containing age and gender appropriate personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving supplies and other items a family might not have been able to gather in the rush to escape the fire.  Children’s kits include a stuffed toy.

American Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge, a gift made possible by generous donations and the work of volunteers.  For more information about the Red Cross and how you can help, visit www.redcross.org.

 

Red Cross Helping Two People After North Smithfield Fire

The American Red Cross is helping two adults with emergency housing, food and clothing needs after a fire today on Pond House Road in North Smithfield.

The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits, containing age and gender appropriate personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving supplies and other items a family might not have been able to gather in the rush to escape the fire.  Children’s kits include a stuffed toy.

American Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge, a gift made possible by generous donations and the work of volunteers.  For more information about the Red Cross and how you can help, visit www.redcross.org.

 

Red Cross Babysitter Training Offered on Presidents’ Day

The American Red Cross is offering its Babysitter’s Training class on Monday, February 18. The course will be offered at the Red Cross office in Providence.

“The Presidents’ Day school holiday is a great opportunity to give your children this important training,” said American Red Cross spokesperson Paul Shipman. “The skills your child learns in this class will help them if they want to earn money babysitting, but will also provide skills to help them watch younger siblings and to be safer at home.”

Designed for young people ages 11 to 15, “this course prepares you to become a great babysitter – and shows parents that you take this responsibility seriously,” Shipman said.

Participants gain practical skills and confidence through video presentations, hands-on activities and classroom discussion. Students will also leave with resources to help them get started as Babysitters, including résumé and business card templates; “How to Ace an Interview” guide; safety inspection checklist; and more.

Participants will learn how to:

•           Supervise children and infants

•           Perform basic child-care such as diapering, feeding and dressing

•           Choose safe, age-appropriate games and toys

•           Handle bedtime and discipline issues

•           Identify safety hazards and prevent injuries

•           Care for common injuries such as burns, cuts and bee stings

•           Communicate effectively with parents

•           Find and interview for babysitting jobs

Classes start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. The class will be held at the Red Cross office in Providence. Cost for the course is $85. The course fee includes a Babysitter’s Training Handbook, Emergency Reference Guide and CD-ROM. After successful completion, students will receive Babysitter’s Certificate. To register call 1-800-REDCROSS (733-2767) or register online at www.redcross.org.

American Red Cross Helping Five People After Providence Fire

The American Red Cross is helping a family of five – two adults and three children – with emergency food needs after a fire this morning on Camp Street in Providence. The family was able to make alternative housing arrangements.

The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits, containing age and gender appropriate personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving supplies and other items a family might not have been able to gather in the rush to escape the fire. Children’s kits include a stuffed toy.

American Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge, a gift made possible by generous donations and the work of volunteers. For more information about the Red Cross and how you can help, visit www.redcross.org.

Naval Academy Prep Students Help Red Cross Provide Shelter from the Storm

Brody, Paul, Jared and Adrian are 4 of 23 students of the Naval Academy Prep School who volunteered to set up, staff and close the Rhode Island shelter in Middletown.Photo: Sara Smith, American Red Cross

By Sara Smith

Early in the afternoon just one day after a blizzard socked the Northeast, four young men in Navy uniforms have formed a human chain. They’re carefully tossing boxes into a Red Cross trailer parked outside Gaudet Middle school in Middletown, R.I. Adrian Chinnery, Jared Hachmeister, Brody Samaha and Paul Weatherford, all candidates and students at the nearby Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS), joke about the weight of a bag filled with Styrofoam containers as they toss it down the line, while also reminding each other to watch their footing on the snow-covered pavement.

Through a special partnership with the American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter, 23 candidates from NAPS volunteered their time, skills and muscle to help set up, staff and close the shelter in Middletown. Shelter manager Carmela Greer considers them an irreplaceable asset, noting, “I couldn’t have done this without them. It was literally like having the Navy come in and assist with a big emergency.” She was struck by the candidates’ professionalism and compassion, both on vivid display at the shelter as some sat with elderly residents through the night, offering conversation and a distraction from the fierce weather. Other candidates played games with young children whose families’ homes had lost power. “They helped serve meals, comfort residents and anything we asked of them. They were so great,” Greer gushed. “I would be in traction doing all this if it wasn’t for them.” Their assistance was certainly needed; the Gaudet Middle School shelter in Middletown served as many as 344 local residents during the storm, eclipsing the population of the eight other R.I. shelters opened in response to the February blizzard. Families, elderly and residents with special needs were kept warm, comfortable and well fed as they waited for power and heat to be restored.

Adrian Chinnery, a student from NAPS packing up the shelter at Gaudet Middle School in Middletown, RI
Photo: Sara Smith, American Red Cross

Placing the last box of supplies into the Red Cross trailer, the four candidates talk about how great it was to be able to help with the response to the storm. As they catch a ride back to NAPS, Carmela appreciatively warns them that they may be called upon again. All four smile, laugh and accept the challenge.

Shelters Open in Rhode Island After Blizzard

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Effective immediately, Governor Lincoln D. Chafee has granted limited access for travel for those individuals who do not currently have heat, electricity or who require immediate life safety needs. Other non-emergency travel is still subject to the statewide traffic restriction at this time.

Shelters are open in several locations to provide a safe, warm place to stay, said American Red Cross spokesperson Paul Shipman. Shelters are in the following locations:

• Jamestown: Melrose Elementary School
• Middletown: Gaudet Middle School
• Tiverton: Tiverton Middle School
• Wakefield: South Kingstown High School
• Warwick: Warwick Vets High School
• Westerly: Westerly Senior Center

Shipman said shelters will have basic supplies, but residents can make their visit more comfortable by bringing some personal items:

• Pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, or air mattresses
• Extra clothing, shoes, eyeglasses, etc.
• Folding chairs, lawn chairs or cots
• Personal hygiene supplies
• Flashlights and batteries
• Quiet games, books and favorite toys
• Important papers
• Prescription medications

Additional shelters may open as needs and travel conditions evolve. Remember that, while service animals are permitted at shelters, pets are not.

Visit www.redcross.org for shelter locations and information on preparing for cold weather.

American Red Cross Winter Storm Information Resources

Here’s a handy consolidation of Red Cross links to information that will help you weather the storm.

• Winter Storm Safety checklist (includes generator safety):  
  http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240231_WinterStorms.pdf
  
• Winter Storm Safety page:
  http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/winter-storm
  
• Power Outage checklist:
  http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340180_PowerOutage.pdf
  
• Power Outage page:
  http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/power-outage
  
• Generator Safety tips are also on Power Outage Checklist:
  http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340180_PowerOutage.pdf
  
• Fire Safety & Prevention Checklist:
  http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340073_FireSafety.pdf
  

• Home Fire Safety page:
  http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/home-fire
  
• Preparedness and Carbon Monoxide info, winter weather tips and cold weather emergency (hypothermia) tips are in American Red Cross First Aid App: redcross.org/mobile

Additional outdoor safety info:

o    Before you take on any strenuous work in cold temperatures—such as shoveling snow—consider your physical condition, the weather and the nature of the task. Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated while working, and avoid overexertion.

o    Protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible.

o   Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Also seek immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of frostbite: these include numbness; flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration; and waxy-feeling skin.

Red Cross Offers Generator Safety Tips Ahead of Storm

PROVIDENCE, R.I., February 8, 2013 — The winter storm bearing down on Rhode Island today may bring power outages and many people may plan to utilize back-up generators. While generators are handy to have during inclement weather, it is important to operate them safely to protect your family from home from dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning or risk of fire.

General Generator Safety

• DO NOT operate a generator inside homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, sheds, or other partially-enclosed spaces even if using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these spaces and can linger for hours, even after the generator is shut down.
• Operate the equipment ONLY outside and far from windows, doors and vents to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide gas from accumulating and potentially being drawn towards occupied spaces.
• ALWAYS place a portable generator downwind and point the engine exhaust away from occupied spaces.
• Shut down the generator when refueling. Always refuel the generator outside your home, garage or shed.
• Always read and follow the equipment Operator’s Manual before use.
• Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that could kill you in minutes. You cannot smell it, see it or taste it. Even if you do not smell exhaust fumes, you could still be exposed to carbon monoxide gas.
• Install battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms or plug-in carbon monoxide alarms with battery back-up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Smoke alarms do not detect carbon monoxide gas.
• If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using the portable generator, shut it off and get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. See a doctor. You may have carbon monoxide poisoning.

Know the Warning Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be similar to those caused by other illnesses such as a cold, flu or food poisoning. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning consist of:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Faintness
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue

If you suspect that you are experiencing any of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, get to fresh air immediately.

To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Never operate a portable generator or any other gas engine-powered tool in or near an enclosed space.
• Install a CO alarm that meets the current UL2034 safety standard.
• A CO alarm can provide added protection, but it is no substitute to proper use and upkeep of your generator.

For more storm and cold weather safety information, visit www.redcross.org/prepare. “Like” us on Facebook by visiting us today at www.facebook.com/riredcross, or follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/riredcross.

Winter Storm Could Make Driving Hazardous; Red Cross Offers Safety Tips

PROVIDENCE, R.I., February 7, 2013 – As a major storm bears down on the region, the American Red Cross reminds people to take precautions when driving in inclement weather. According to the National Weather Service, about 70 percent of winter deaths related to ice and snow occur in automobiles.

“The best thing to do is to avoid travel at all during the storm,” said American Red Cross spokesperson Paul Shipman. “Stay safe, stay home and give road crews the opportunity to do their job.” If you must travel, Shipman said, there are important tips to keep in mind.

The National Weather Service reports that many people die each year when they attempt to leave their vehicle during a storm to walk to safety. Stranded drivers should stay with their car, tie a bright piece of cloth to the car’s antenna or door handle and try to contact emergency personnel by mobile phone.

While stranded, drivers should start and run their car for 10 minutes every hour, using the heater. Be sure that your exhaust pipe and radiator are clear of packed snow before running your engine. While the engine is running, partially open a down-wind window to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and to get fresh air into the vehicle. Keep the vehicle’s interior lights on while the engine is running. Avoid hypothermia by constantly moving your arms and leg; clapping hands will help keep you warm as well. Warning signs of hypothermia are memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, exhaustion and uncontrollable shivering.

Shipman reminded people to carry essential supplies. “You should have some basics on hand – such as a flashlight, extra batteries and bottled water – in case you do get stuck somewhere. Also, be sure to carry a cell phone and car charger.”

A winter travel survival kit may include:

• Snow brush
• Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Booster cables
• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
• First aid kit and manual
• Bottled water and non-perishable high-energy foods, such as nutrition bars, raisins and peanut butter
• Compass and road maps
• Shovel
• Flares
• Extra clothing to keep dry
• Sack of sand or cat litter (to use for tire traction)

Other travel tips:

• Keep tuned to the radio for the latest road conditions
• Drive with your headlights on
• Keep all your windows and all lights clear of snow for visibility
• Clear all surfaces of the car. Snow and ice blowing off the hood of your car can blind you or damage your windshield. Snow and ice blowing off your roof or trunk can blind drivers behind you or damage their vehicle.
• Slow down when visibility is reduced; don’t drive faster than your ability to see ahead on the road
• Leave extra space between your automobile and others on the road. All-wheel drive vehicles do not stop any better or more quickly than conventional vehicles.
• Remember bridges and overpasses usually freeze before other roads. Use caution.
• Make sure you are buckled up

Visit www.redcross.org/prepare for more information on preparing for cold weather.