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Things you should know...

SPECIAL EVENTS & HAPPENINGS!!

Family of four without home day after moving in.....

In the early morning hours of Saturday, January 9, 2010 the Elkhart County American Red Cross assisted a Goshen family of 4 after a fire tore through their home. The Yates family was at home when the fire began in the bathroom and quickly raced through the structure. All family members got out safely with one member sustaining injuries. The family had just moved in the previous day and lost everything. We were able to provide them money for food, clothing and blankets. We are also coordinating donations including household items. If you would like to make a donation, please call 574-293-6519.

Family of 9 without home day after Christmas....

The Elkhart County Red Cross assisted an Elkhart family of nine the day after Christmas when a fire tore through their house leaving heavy damage throughout the house. The family was at home when a fire began in the kitchen and quickly raced through the structure. All family members escaped unharmed but they lost everything. We were able to provide them short-term housing, money for food, clothing and blankets and stuffed animals for the children. We are also coordinating donations including household items. If you would like to make a donation, please call 574-293-6519.

Online WSI Update:

Needing to update your WSI card? Click here first and then login in. Once you have logged in click on:

Swimming and water safety 09 tools
Instructor Update
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Swimming and water safety

The American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

RED CROSS RESPONDS TO HAITI EARTHQUAKE

On January 12, 2010 at 5:22 pm (local time), a series of earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.5 to 7.3 struck Haiti in the highly populated (3 million) area of Department Ouest, 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. Aftershocks continue to occur.

The Elkhart Red Cross has seen an outpouring of response from the local community. Despite the county's tough economic times, we have collected over $36,000 specifically designated to help the victims in Haiti. About $28,000 of the donations came from workplace donations from two companies in particular, NIBCO and IOI.
You can help the victims of the Haiti earthquake and the countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. Donations can be mailed to (please memo "for IRF"):

The American Red Cross
721 Riverview Ave.
Elkhart, IN 46516

or by phone 1-800-REDCROSS
800-257-7575 (Spanish)
Online at www.redcross.org

Are you prepared for a winter storm?

A winter storm can range from moderate snow over a short period of time to a blizzard with blinding, wind-driven snow that last several days. Some winter storms are large enough to spread over several states, while others only affect a single community. Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures and sometimes by strong winds, icing, sleet and freezing rain. It extremely important to make sure that you are prepared for any type of weather that mother nature will bring, especially now. You can find some helpful information below:
Winter Storm Safety Checklist
Power Outages
Food & Water in an Emergency
Winter Weather Forecasts
Snow Conditions
Current Snowfall

FEMA

LOCAL TEEN SAVES A LIFE....

Bethanie Riley, a junior at Northridge High School, saved the life of her friends' mother using the CPR skills she learned in an American Red Cross health and safety class. The CPR class is a requirement for a program she is taking at the Elkhart Area Career Center.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE....

H1N1 Information:

Here are some resources available that might be helpful:
(click on a link)

Healthy habits for parents and children

Taking care of others with the flu

Updated information on how to protect yourself

Pandemic Flu

What's the Real Deal?

Vaccination Confusion-Remedied!

Latest information from the Federal Government...

Still have questions?

DISASTER BOOT CAMPS!

The disaster boot camp is the basic class to be a Red Cross disaster volunteer, which is an introduction to the mission of the Red Cross and how to run an emergency shelter.

Hurry and sign up for the next basic class:

Saturday, January 30, 2010

from 9am-4pm

Already had the basic class and want to take your knowledge to the next level?

Classes are being scheduled so if you are interested please call the office and speak to Becki.

Call 574-293-6519 to sign up!

Welcome to all of our NEW Faith-Based Organizations!!

The Elkhart County American Red Cross would like to welcome all organizations to our new FBCI program. Click on the logo above for a list of our participants.

We are very excited that they are partnering with the Elkhart Chapter! These organizations are receiving training and will be ready to respond by being prepared to open a shelter in the event a disaster would ever hit Elkhart County.

You too can become a part of the FBCI community.

Already part of the FBCI community and need to request a background check?

Additional News

One family believes Red Cross may have saved their family's lives!

Members from the Elkhart County Red Cross DAT team canvassed neighborhoods with smoke detectors, batteries, and fire prevention information. They went door to door helping residents check their smoke detectors and supplied them with a new smoke detector and/or new batteries for the ones that were non-functional. Here is what one resident had to say:

"I want to say a BIG THANK YOU for the surprise delivery of the free fire alarm batteries to our house! The older gentleman was very kind and gave me two additional batteries for all three of our fire alarms. When my husband installed the new batteries - he found that two out of the three old ones we had were dead (purchased in '07) AND the fire alarm (First Alert purchased in '07) had never given "warning beeps" to let us know it was running out of power! We now know to regularly test them ourselves and are very grateful as you have protected us (including our one year old baby girl) from a fire in the future!"

Did you know?

LASTEST NEWS.....

LIFEGUARDING CLASSES

Are you interested in lifeguarding this summer?We have now scheduled Lifeguarding Instructor Class.
Click here for more information, sign-up online here, or call 574-293-6519.

CHECK OUR BABYSITTER'S CLASSES:

The Elkhart County American Red Cross is proud to offer you....BABYSITTER'S TRAINING!!

Geared towards youth ages 11 and older, this one day comprehensive course will teach:

~ Leadership ~

~ Professionalism ~

~ Safety and Safe Play ~

~ Basic Child Care ~

~ Disaster Preparedness ~

Plus....have FUN and meet new people

Join us for our next class:

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Friday, February 12, 2010

Wednesday, April 7 , 2010

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Saturday, December 18, 2010

All classes are from 9am-4pm at the

Elkhart Red Cross Office

We also offer Babysitter's Day Camp. This is a week long course and covers all of the above and much, much more!

All classes are from 9am-3pm Monday-Friday at the

Elkhart Red Cross Office with 1 day at the local pool.

574-293-6519 for more information.

Please bring a sack lunch...

ARE YOU READY?

Where you work, are there First Responders trained in CPR and First Aid? If your answer is "NO", call Donna today at 574-293-6519. You can help your company be ready to save a life in an emergency!!