Red Cross Post: I Feel the Temperature Rising

Well folks, it may only be April, but summer has arrived - at least according to my temperature standards - here in Texas.  Yesterday we saw 89 degrees, and today the high is 90.  (Last year the kids and I started the tradition of going to Dairy Queen on the first day the temperature hits 90 degrees - looks like we may be making a stop at DQ on our way home from Target this afternoon.)  When the mercury climbs to such heights we need to start thinking about protecting ourselves and our children from heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke (which can be life-threatening).  Pop on over to the Red Cross blog to read more about the signals of and treatments for these three conditions, and stay cool out there!

Red Cross Post: National Volunteer Week 2012

This week (April 15 - 21) is National Volunteer Week.

National Volunteer Week celebrates and recognizes those individuals who take action and solve problems in their communities, but is also an opportune time for those who've never volunteered to join the service movement.

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer - for the Red Cross or any other nonprofit organization - email me (ferrisel@gmail.com) and I'll help you find a place where you can make a difference.

Red Cross Post: What the Titanic Taught Me

Today marks the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.

For the last 25 years the story surrounding the tragic sinking of a supposedly unsinkable ship has fascinated me. I find the Titanic captivating, perhaps because while the ship’s catastrophic end actually played out in real life – 100 years ago this Sunday, to be exact – the entire saga seems much more like fiction written for the big screen.

Yes, I love James Cameron's blockbuster movie, but I also love documentaries; Dateline, 20/20, and 60 Minutes specials; fiction novels; nonfiction books; journal articles; and the Magic Tree House chapter book for children about the Titanic.

And as it turns out, I also love writing about the Titanic, which I did for the Red Cross this week. Click here to read about what the Titanic taught me about being prepared!

Red Cross Post: Dressed to Impress

Cousin Lily (and her parents) were visiting this week, and at one point she, Will, and Hallie donned a few of my old Red Cross t-shirts and put on their own little Red Cross fashion show. Read all about it and check out a few cute pictures of the kids here!

Lily wasn't too happy when I took her pacifier
(I was hoping to catch a picture of her cute little smile)...

...And she was really upset when
I didn't immediately give it back.

Red Cross Post: The Best of the Best

This week on the National American Red Cross blog I'm writing about the anatomy of a Red Cross disaster volunteer, and how grateful I am that these incredible people are working their tails off - day in and day out - to help our country prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. As March is Red Cross Month draws to a close, I salute all those who have at one time, currently, or will someday donate financially to, donate blood to, or volunteer for the American Red Cross. You really are the best of the best.

Red Cross Blog Post: Too Close to Home

Last week strong storms and tornadoes devastated a significant portion of Michigan's Washtenaw County.  (Until 16 months ago we lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is in Washtenaw County, and I worked for the Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross.)  Though we no longer live in Washtenaw County, it was once our home, and this disaster hit a little too close for me.  That's what I'm blogging about this week on the National American Red Cross blog - click here to read all about it.

Red Cross Blog Post: (MIRCM) What Are You Waiting For?

If you recall, March is Red Cross Month. In honor of this special month - and in hopes of recruiting more generous volunteers and blood donors for the organization - I'm talking about how to get the ball rolling on those New Year's Resolutions over on redcrosschat.org. (You know the resolutions I mean...they're made with the best of intentions in January, but when March rolls around you realized you haven't thought about them even once since January 1st.) Join me!

Red Cross Blog Post: March is Red Cross Month (Presidential Proclamation)

Happy March is Red Cross Month!

Every year the President of the United States officially proclaims March as American Red Cross Month. Read more about the history of the Presidential Proclamation here, and stay tuned for a second "March is Red Cross" themed post next week!

Red Cross Blog Post: Social Media at its Best

This week on the National American Red Cross blog I'm talking about how social media is helping organizations like the American Red Cross prevent, prepare, and respond to emergencies one Facebook status update, Twitter feed, and blog post at a time.

Red Cross Blog Post: The Busy Red Crosser's Year in Review

Despite having left the Washtenaw County American Red Cross more than a year ago, I remain on quite a few of their email lists. Last week I received an email containing the Fiscal Year 2011 Disaster Services Program Review, which while a few months old (fiscal year 2011 began in July 2010 and ended in June 2011), provided some really incredible information about what the organization as a whole accomplished during those 12 short months. If you've ever wondered about what the Red Cross actually DOES, on a day-to-day basis and on behalf of those whose lives have been touched by disaster, this is the post to read.

Red Cross Blog Post: Crafting for the Cross

This projects covered in week's Red Cross blog post stemmed from the Fire Safety Flop the week prior, but blended together a little Pinterest, a little crafting, and a little School for Little People creativity.  We'd love to hear your ideas for more Red Cross art, sewing, knitting, and baking projects!

Honoring Our Veterans

This week's Red Cross blog post recognizes the tremendous contributions of our country's veterans. Please stop on over to read about how you can honor those who bravely and generously served our country through membership in the Armed Forces beyond just saying "thank you". (Saying "thank you" is of course important, but there's more we can do!)

Red Cross Post: Spotlight On: Blood Battle

This week's Red Cross blog post points the spotlight on Blood Battle, a fantastic collaborative effort at and blood collection competition between the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Ohio State University in Columbus. Thanks to all those at both UM and the WCARC who contributed to the post, and my apologies in advance to OSU for defeating you in this year's competition. Go Blue!

Red Cross Post: An American Red Cross Halloween

Looking for a way to tie together Halloween and the American Red Cross? Look no further than today's Red Cross blog post!

Red Cross Post: Going Up?

Check out this week's Red Cross post here!

Thanks, everyone, for visiting and reading Midwestern Girl!

Red Cross Post: Fire Drill!

This week's Red Cross blog post is up - head on over to read about our family fire drill and then make plans for your own!

Red Cross Post: One of These Things is Not Like the Others

My next Red Cross blog post is up - you can find it here.

(For those of you who read Midwestern Girl regularly, you'll find the story I tell in this Red Cross blog post to match the one I tell in Traitor. I knew that Red Crossers across the country would appreciate the predicament in which I found myself!)

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

I'm changing things up a little here at Midwestern Girl. Because of my new writing opportunity and a few other less important and interesting reasons, I'm going to transition from writing here on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to writing here on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

In case you want to keep up with my other projects, I'll be writing at Wiggles (my family/kids blog) on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at the Red Cross blog early in the week. (I can't give you an exact day of the week for that one, because regardless of when I submit my posts for review it's up to the social media team at National when they're actually posted.) I hope you'll join me, and spread the word!

A New Opportunity

A few weeks back I wrote the post "Traitor", about my Red Cross background and how it colored an experience I had here in Texas. A couple of Red Cross social media top dogs found my post, and contacted me about contributing regularly to the National American Red Cross blog. I was, and am, honored. And of course I jumped at the opportunity.

I'll provide links to my Red Cross blog posts here, but I encourage you to visit the blog periodically anyway for great information about Red Cross disaster responses, community outreach, and health and safety information.

Click here to read my first post!

Traitor

I took my very first American Red Cross Health & Safety course – Babysitter’s Training – when I was 11 years old. In the years that followed I received numerous additional certifications and recertifications from the Red Cross: CPR for adults, children, and infants; AED for adults and children; Basic First Aid; Blood borne Pathogens; Lifeguarding; Water Safety; and Water Safety Instructor. Eventually I also took the Fundamentals of Instructor Training course and became a certified American Red Cross Health & Safety Instructor.

I started working for the American Red Cross soon after I graduated from college. I spent two years with the Grant Wood Area Chapter (Cedar Rapids, IA) as the Financial Development Associate and six years with the Washtenaw County Chapter (Ann Arbor, MI) as the Blood Services Volunteer Coordinator and then as the Director of Volunteer and Youth Resources.

I’ve been affiliated with the Red Cross for 21 years, and consider myself a Red Cross girl, through and through. Even my kids have been indoctrinated.

This fall both of my kids attend school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, which means that on Tuesday and Thursday mornings I. AM. FREE. Well, I’ll be free after I exercise; shower (without worrying that “someone” will drop my phone in the toilet or whack her brother over the head with a wooden ukelele); pay bills; grocery shop; and visit the dentist, doctor, and hair salon (I’m LONG overdue with regard to all three). I should fill my free time with a paying job, but as I’m sure you can imagine, it’s tough to find a job that allows one to work only Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Except a job, say, substituting at one’s children’s school. So while I try to figure out what kind of work I want to do in the future (taking into account that 1. the Red Cross in my county is not hiring, 2. the Red Cross in my county will probably not EVER be hiring, and 3. if I can’t work for the Red Cross I’d really just like to write/blog professionally), I’m going to substitute teach at Will and Hallie’s preschool.

To prepare for the upcoming school year, all of the lead and assistant teachers, as well as any substitute teachers who were interested, attended a child CPR/AED and first aid class. My Red Cross certifications in these areas had expired, so recertifying by sitting through the class – even though I’ve taken and taught it countless times – seemed like a good idea.

The instructor rose and walked to the front of the room. She introduced herself, and hit play on the DVD player to introduce the, wait for it, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Child CPR/AED and First Aid course.

Though the American Red Cross/American Heart Association rivalry isn’t as well known or vicious as say, the Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees rivalry, it’s a rivalry just the same. The two organizations have the same overarching goal – to train as many people as possible in the lifesaving skills of CPR, AED, and first aid – and are constantly competing with one another to be the most-trusted and most-used heart health and safety organization.

Sitting through the American Heart Association CPR course was brutal for me, a Red Crosser for two thirds of my life. I felt guilty and dirty, and kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see my Red Cross peeps scowling at me from the dark shadows in the corners.

I’m a traitor. And to make up for it, on my first “free” Tuesday morning, I’m heading to the Red Cross office in my county to find out how I can volunteer.