A publication of the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada Spring 2014

redcrosstalkChoosing a Resolution that Sticks

For most of my adult life I have made New Year’s Resolutions, and for the most part I have broken all of them except one. It’s not that I don’t want to change. It can just be difficult, sometimes, to follow through. So this year, I went online to research just how people manage to muster the resolve to stick to their resolutions.

The key is to be emotionally invested in your resolution in order to find the motivation to make it a reality. This year I decided to make one resolution that I found meaningful, rather than making several hopeful “wishes.”

I resolved to becoming a Red Cross Volunteer, and I know I’ll be keeping my resolution to re-up my CPR/AED and first aid certificates. These are resolutions I can keep. !If you’d like to make the Red Cross part of your New Year resolutions, go to www.redcross.org/southernnevada, have a look at the ways in which you can get involved!

New Year’s Resolution Edition

Volunteer Dana Cartie - Editor

American Red Cross - Southern Nevada Newsletter

Volunteer Editors: Dana Cartie, Kaitlyn Paulsen, Jamin Hansen Volunteer Contributing Writers: Pete Reynolds, Lance Early, Dana Cartie, Kaitlyn Paulsen

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Visit www.redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment to donate blood, or call 702-522-3998 to get information on hosting a blood drive.

3. Host a Blood Drive / Donate Blood

2. Be Red Cross Ready!

Get a Survival Kit.

Having the proper supplies is the first step in preparing your family for a disaster.

Make a Disaster Preparedness Plan.

It’s important that every member of your household knows what to do in an emergency.

Be Informed.

You can find out how to build an emergency survival kit, learn how to make a Disaster Preparedness Plan, and much more at www.redcross.org/prepare.

BE RED CROSS READY The American Red Cross has an array of apps that can put Red Cross help in your pocket. Some of the apps include:

Pet First Aid App !!!First Aid App !!!Earthquake App !!!Wildfire App !!Swim App !!

Go to www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps to learn more.

1. Learn to Save a LifeTo find out about taking CPR/AED and first aid classes, visit www.redcross.org/southernnevada, and click on the “Take a Class” link, or call 1-800-REDCROSS.

4. VolunteerYou can find out how rewarding it can be to help others in their time of need by becoming a volunteer. Go to www.redcross.org/southernnevada and click the ‘Volunteer” tab.

Did you know the U.S.

Government has a web page to

help you make New Year’s resolutions?!

http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New-Years-Resolutions.shtml

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!Dana first contacted the American Red Cross during the clean-up of Hurricane Katrina. She had wanted to help out, but did not have the training. So, when she was laid off from her job in the spring of 2008, she took the opportunity to become a Red Cross volunteer and get trained to help out in case of another national disaster. She had no idea that in little more than a month, the

national disaster that she would be responding to would be in her own back yard. !Now trained in Disaster Response and Public Affairs, Dana received trial-by-tornado when more than one tornado struck Northern Colorado. During that disaster Dana was in charge of Public Affairs, and spent her time putting out press releases and conducting interviews. After that, she was hooked. !In 2012, she moved to Las Vegas and transferred to the Southern Nevada Chapter’s Public Affairs division where she began to assist Public Information Officer Lloyd Ziel. She serves as the Editor and writes for this newsletter.

Volunteer Highlight:!Dana Cartie Public Affairs Supervisor

Volunteers Making “Red Cross” Resolutions

Ellen Korchek!Volunteer Services!

When Ellen watched the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2011, she felt devastated for the families involved.

Helen decided that in 2012, she was going to help the Red Cross to help people.

“I’m dependable, like the Red Cross. So I thought that volunteering here would be a good fit,” she says. Helen now works to find volunteers to fill positions at the Red Cross.

Jim Gilloon!Public Affairs Supervisor!

Jim got involved with the Red Cross following what he saw during the Carpenter 1 fire this summer up on Mt. Charleston.

This New Year, Jim made the decision that he’d volunteer more by working with Disaster Action Teams responding to home fires during the week, and keeping media informed working in Public Affairs on the weekends.

New Year “Resolutions” for the Chapter!New for this year is a large expansion of volunteer staffing at the VA Hospital, including positions in Data Entry, Administration and Emergency Room Doctors. If you’re interested in volunteering, go to www.redcross.org/southernnevada. In our ongoing commitment to the community, another resolution is an expansion of the Disaster Department to better serve disaster victims. Some new positions have been filled, so stop by the offices and say “hi”.

Southern Nevada Chapter

1771 E. Flamingo Road

Suite 206-B

Las Vegas, NV 89119

702-791-3311

!!!!!!!!MLK Day of Service was

Jan. 20, 2014 and volunteers made a huge

impact. Canvasing

neighborhoods in N. Las Vegas, City of Las

Vegas, Clark County, and Henderson, 83

volunteers distributed 1,665 fire safety door hangers and visited

1,679 homes. !Partnering with local fire departments, fire unions, and Hope Worldwide, 66

smoke detectors were given out . We thank our partners for giving back

to the community.

www.redcross.org/southernnevada

https://twitter.com/SNVRedcross

http://ww.facebook.com/SNVRedCross

Non-Profit Org US Postage Paid Las Vegas, NV

Permit #55

Fire Hurts... Red Cross HelpsThe Red Cross teams with the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada to raise $350,000 for fire relief.

Fire Hurts… Red Cross Helps is a year long fundraising initiative to raise money for families who’ve been displaced by a home fire. This money stays in Southern Nevada to directly assist those individuals. With a home fire happening an average of every 18 hours, fires are the leading disaster affecting residents of Southern Nevada.

A home fire can happen to anyone. The Red Cross is there right after a fire to give the victims the means to get shelter, food and clothing for the first critical days after they have lost their homes.

You can help local families displaced by home fires by helping us achieve our goal. Go to www.redcross.org/cm/southernfirehurts-pub or by calling 702-369-3674.