Thursday, November 10, 2011

A.R.C . Gives THANKS to J.A.G.


The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis is honored to support Decatur Central High School and to have attended the invitation and installation ceremony of their J.A.G. program. Jobs for America’s Graduates, J.A.G., is an active participant in the Red Cross S.H.A.R.E. program, meetings and events. Volunteering with our chapter, the J.A.G. class has been responsible for putting on a Battle of the Bands, volunteering at Halloween Safe Night and more with us.

We’d like to give them a BIG thank you!!! We are very proud of you young men and women. Keep up the good work!!!


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Stay Safe on Halloween!


Halloween is so much fun because we can dress up, stay up late, and eat tons of candy all in one night. But here are some tips to have fun and stay safe by using these tips:

See and Be Seen

After dark, kids aren't usually swarming the neighborhood. But on Halloween night, they are. That's why kids need to watch out for cars and other traffic. Be sure that your mask or costume doesn't cover your eyes or make it tough for you to see where you're going. You might think about wearing makeup instead of a mask. If you do wear a mask, make sure the eye holes are big enough so that you can see.

Kids also need to be seen on Halloween, so it's a good idea to wear or carry something that glows in the dark. You might choose a glowing necklace, a glow-in-the-dark treat bag, or a flashlight. Your parents also can apply reflective tape to your costume.

Don't Trip!

You want your costume to look cool, but there's nothing cool about tripping and stumbling all Halloween night. Make your costume trip-proof by:

  • making sure it's not too long
  • wearing shoes that fit
  • avoiding swords, canes, and other props that can get in your way

Don't Go It Alone

It's best to trick-or-treat with family members or friends. And it's also a good idea to have a grownup with you. A cell phone can be another handy item to have along. That way, you can check in with a parent or call for help, if needed.

Talk it over with your mom or dad when you're deciding where to trick-or-treat. Sticking close to home is great because then you'll know many of the people and you won't get lost in unfamiliar neighborhoods. And people who already know you just might throw an extra treat in your bag!

When trick-or-treating, avoid going inside a stranger's home. Sometimes a person might invite you in for a treat, but you can just say that your mom or dad asked you not to go inside anyone's house. (Likewise, never go up to or into a stranger's car even if the person offers you a Halloween treat.)

And if you're wondering about whether to go to a certain house, check if the porch light is on. If not, that's usually a sign that they aren't home or they don't want any trick-or-treaters.

Let's Talk Treats

Before you start eating the treats in your bag, you'll want to get a good look at them. When you get home, dump everything out and let your mom or dad see what you have. They can help you get rid of stuff you shouldn't eat. For instance, you don't want to eat anything that's loose or not in a wrapper. Anything unwrapped, including fresh fruit, should be thrown away. Without a wrapper, it's hard to tell if food is clean and safe to eat.

Once you've looked over your treats, you'll probably wonder just how much you can eat. Well, it's best not to overdo it. If you don't eat too much on Halloween, you'll have leftovers to enjoy in the days and weeks to come. In other words, you can make Halloween a little sweeter by making it last a little longer!

The Youth Department will be at Halloween Safe Night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds from 5-7pm on Halloween night. The Theme is “Trunk-or-Treat”! We hope to see you there!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Bookmobile School Locations

On September 19th, The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, along with volunteers Andra, Barb, and Karen, kicked off the first Bookmobile stop of the year. The Bookmobile program provides three free books to youth in grades 2-5 in Selected Schools. The Bookmobile Program is funded through Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) grant, private donations, and volunteer assistance from Sallie Mae.

Click on the Link below and find the locations of schools Bookmobile is visiting in September/October/November:

http://www.communitywalk.com/indianapolis/in/map/1443461

Here are the dates in which the Bookmobile will set off to Greater Indianapolis Schools to give a free book to children in grades 2-5:
September: 20th, 26th, 27th, 29th.
October: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 25th, 26th, 28th.
November: 1st, 2nd, 10th, 11th, 15th, 17th, 18th.

Next Rounds for the Bookmobile will be in January/February and March/April.
Stay Posted!

American Red Cross Youth Volunteers in ACTION!

Here is an awesome youth video showing ways YOU can get involved in your community through the Red Cross.

October is going to be a BIG month in the Youth Department. Let's get out volunteering in Indy!!

Watch it NOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPxd4hbd7bc&feature=player_detailpage

Contact us!
(317)396-9419

Adam Moschell ; amoschell@redcross-indy.org
Ashley Hickman ; ahickman@redcross-indy.org
Katie Oneill ; koneill@redcross-indy.org

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Red Cross SHARE Meeting this Thursday

The America Red Cross Youth Board will resume meeting to enhance the SHARE (Students Helping Advance Readiness Education) program in central Indiana and we need your help!!

We will meet this Thursday, September 8th at 4:00pm – 5:00pm to discuss upcoming opportunities, review last years accomplishments, tour the Red Cross and learn how your school can become an official Red Cross school.

If you cannot make it to the meeting but would like to phone in, please let me know as this option could be made available.

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis is located at 441 E. 10th St. Indianapolis, IN 46202. If you can only attend part of the meeting, that is OK! Any interest is great! We look forward to meeting with you and developing programs in your schools and communities that will help increase Red Cross awareness!

P.S. This is an open meeting, so anyone with interest can attend. If you know another student/teacher or group who may interested in this program, please do not hesitate to attend or refer them to us!!!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Make your own tornado!



Directions: Gather the materials below to make a tornado with your family.

Materials:

• 2-liter plastic soda bottle with cap

• Water

• Dishwashing liquid

• Marbles or other small objects

1. Fill the bottle with water.

2. Put 3 drops of dishwashing liquid into the bottle.

3. Place a few small objects into the bottle. Recap the bottle tightly.

4. With a hand on each end, hold the bottle on its side.

Move the bottle in a circular motion to swirl the liquid.

5. Keep the liquid swirling as you turn the bottle upside down. Keep the cap end of the bottle steady while you continue to swirl the liquid in the large end.

Tornado Safety


If there is a tornado warning,
Act Fast! Get to a safe place.
If you are outside, go inside to a basement or a center room with no windows.
Drop and cover your head and neck.
If you are stuck outside, lie down in a ditch.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

December is Here!


December is upon us! This means holidays, winter break, sledding and my favorite thing, SNOW!
Snow and cold weather can be tons of fun.. but severe winter weather can also be very dangerous. Before you go out and play in the first snow of the season, be sure to keep these tips in mind.

  • Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, wear mittens and a hat that covers your ears.
  • Wear waterproof boots to keep your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
  • Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
  • Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
  • Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non­frozen drinking water.
  • Take breaks inside to warm up.
Have fun! We will see you after the new year when we start the Bookmobile up!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Halloween Safety


The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis wants to ensure everyone has a fun and safe Halloween! Here are a few safety tips while trick or treating:

-Map out your route beforehand
-Bring a flashlight
-Don't enter anyone's house
-Wear something light colored so you can be spotted
-Stay on the sidewalk
-Put a glow stick in your jack-o-lattern instead of a candle
-Watch for cars
-Only visit lit houses

The youth department will be at Safe Night at the Indiana state fairgrounds from 5-7pm on Halloween night. We hope to see you there!

Monday, October 4, 2010

October is Fire Prevention Month


Hello youth! We hope everyone is enjoying autumn so far. Did you know that October is Fire Prevention month?

Here are some tips to prevent fires:
-Never leave the kitchen when your stove is on.
-Keep anything that can catch fire—like pot holders, towels, plastic and clothing— away from the stove.
-Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
-Don't play with matches or lighters.


Everyone should discuss a fire escape plan with their families and practice the plan twice a year. You should know two ways out of every room in your house!

If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Back to School Time!

We hope everyone is having a great start to the new school year and settling in to your new classes. The youth department here at the Indy Red Cross is looking forward to some fun projects, fundraisers and volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. If your school is interested in getting involved, you can email chawthorne@redcross-indy.org and we will get you some more information.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Be Red Cross Ready!

It's been a great summer so far-the youth department has attended more than 30 camps and there's more coming up. A lot of teens in Indianapolis have asked how they can become CPR/AED and first aid certified. The answer is simple!

You can visit the local chapter website, which is posted below to view upcoming classes and register online:

http://www.redcross-indy.org/

Enjoy the rest of your summers and we look forward to seeing you when the school year starts!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Be Prepared for Heat Waves!

Hello Indy! It's been a scorcher this week, so everyone at the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis wants to make sure you're prepared so you don't suffer from heat exhaustion.

Make sure to listen to the local weather and be aware of the temperatures outside. If you don't have air conditioning, try and go somewhere cool during the warmest parts of the day. I like to hang out at the public library when it's too hot to play outside.

Wear lightweight and light colored clothing and DRINK WATER!! Try and postpone outdoor activities to later in the day when it cools down. If you are doing things outside, take frequent breaks to cool off. Don't forget to eat small meals throughout the day.

Make sure you check on your friends and family members to make sure they are keeping cool and don't forget your pets! Give your dogs and cats water throughout the day, too.

Be sure to get help or call 9-1-1 if someone vomits, has changes in consciousness or seems to be suffering from the heat. Heat emergencies can be very serious and require medical attention.

Have a great summer and stay cool!!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Meet our newest youth department member!

We want to welcome Carleen to the youth department! She said she is very excited to spend the next year reaching out to the youth in the Indianapolis area and teaching them how to prepare for disasters! You will see her at local events and wherever the bookmobile is.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Summer Camps 2010

Hello everyone! The Red Cross is pleased to announce that it has started to schedule our 2010 summer camps! Every summer, Red Cross representatives and volunteers travel to Indianapolis area summer camp programs to provide fun and informative disaster preparedness presentations to grade school aged camp participants.

If you are of high school student age or older you can become a volunteer at The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis teaching disaster preparedness lessons to elementary-aged children this summer at area camps. These hour-long presentations teach kids how to be Red Cross Ready, including life-saving information about tornado and fire safety. This is a great opportunity to start your involvement with the Red Cross, learn the inner workings of a non-profit organization, and build your resume. Skills required include public speaking, flexibility, and enthusiasm. Camps take place Monday through Friday during the daytime, usually between the hours of Volunteers will need to have their own source of reliable transportation to the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis in downtown Indianapolis. If you are interested, please contact Adam Moschell, Youth Outreach Coordinator, at AMoschell@RedCross-Indy.org or call 317-396-9419.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

A Message from Prepared Patty

Hi everyone! Prepared Patty here. I wanted to share some information with you today about thunderstorm safety, so you can be prepared as I am!

What I would like to talk about is called the 30/30 rule, and it is about what you should do to stay safe if you are playing outside when dangerous weather might be happening. The rule is this:

If you are outside, and you hear thunder or see lighting, you need to slowly count to 30. If you see lightning or hear thunder again before you get to 30, you need to go inside, and you need to stay inside for 30 minutes after the storm ends.


Some people think thunderstorms are cool, but they can also be very, very dangerous, so you need to make sure you are safe when one happens. Thunderstorms can move very quickly, so be sure you react right away!

Thanks for listening to my message everybody! Now you can be Red Cross Ready for thunderstorms, too!


Complete the jigsaw puzzle below to view a photograph of a thunderstorm over Indianapolis!




provided by flash-gear.com


Monday, March 8, 2010

Tornado Time

This has been an especially long, cold winter for Indy. Now that the temperatures are beginning to warm up, the gang has pictures of cook-outs and baseball and flip-flops in their heads. But here in the Central United States, spring can also mean the beginning of some bad weather . . .


Ready Eddie: The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and I am READY for Spring!

Confused Connie: Me too! This winter was crazy. I am so excited not to have to worry about bad weather anymore.

Prepared Patty: I'm excited for milder temperatures, too, Connie, but don't forget that spring time is often the peak time for other kinds of bad weather.

Confused Connie: Urg! What now?!?!?!

Ready Eddie: Oh yeah, I know . . . the beginning of spring is also the beginning of tornado season!

Confused Connie: So tornadoes happen in the spring?

Prepared Patty: Actually, Connie, they can happen any time of year. But it is true that they are most likely to happen in the spring, so it is a good time to talk about the importance of being prepared for tornadoes.

Confused Connie: Well, I know that if one might be happening if the tornado siren is going off. Unless you are downtown and it is Friday at 11:00am. Then that is just a test.

Ready Eddie: Exactly right, Connie! If the tornado siren goes off at a time that is not a designated testing time, it means there is a tornado watch or warning.

Prepared Patty: Yes. A tornado watch is when the weather conditions are right for a tornado to form, and one could appear at any moment, so you need to watch out. A tornado warning is when a tornado has actually been spotted, and may be heading in your direction, so you need to go to a safe place.

Confused Connie: Like my basement?

Ready Eddie: Right!

Confused Connie: What if I am at my grandma's? She lives on the 9th floor of an apartment building.

Prepared Patty: In any tornado situation, you want to get away from windows, and as low to the ground as possible. In a place where you can't get to the lowest level, or if you are in a building without a basement, you need to go to a small interior room, like a hallway or a bathroom or a closet.

Ready Eddie: Yeah, Connie, you can always get into the bathtub, and cover yourself with something soft and padded, like a mattress! Then you get into the tornado position. Make sure you cover your head and the back of your neck with your hands!

Confused Connie: So my grandmother will be okay?

Prepared Patty: Yes, if she is prepared!

Confused Connie: Good! . . . How else can someone prepared for tornadoes?

Ready Eddie: Well, they should make sure they have a disaster kit! Especially one with a battery powered radio, so they can listen to the weather reports for those watches and warnings we talked about.

Prepared Patty: Plus, tornadoes can happen anytime, even when you are outside. Remember that if you are outside when a tornado happens, you need to get inside a building with a basement as quickly as possible. If you cannot get inside, you need to lay down in a low-lying place like a ditch and cover your head.

Confused Connie: I feel a lot better about tornado season now that I understand what I need to do if one happens. Thanks guys!!!

Prepared Patty: Any time Patty! Now let's go to the store! I think it might soon be the start of water fight season, too!

Ready Eddie: YEAH!


Now it is time to test your tornado knowledge. Click on the picture below for a larger, printable version of our tornado crossword puzzle!

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Winter Bookmobile Coming Soon

The Winter run of the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis' Bookmobile will begin in a few weeks! Many of our bookmobile schools have already been scheduled (see sidebar at left). This season we are excited to be bringing our new Scrubby Bear program out with us as we travel from school to school to share this exciting disease information with first grade students. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Winter Safety



Ready Eddie: Burrr, it sure is cold out there!


Prepared Patty: You're telling me! I am glad I prepared myself for the weather by wearing my warm jacket, hat, and gloves.

Ready Eddie: Have you seen the weather forecast lately. I think soon we might get some-

Confused Connie: SNOW!!!! I LOVE SNOW!!!! SNOW IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!

Ready Eddie: I agree. I love playing in the snow. But snow can also be very dangerous.

Confused Connie: Dangerous? But how?

Ready Eddie: Winter weather can cause lots of problems. A lot of them have to do with car accidents. Driving in winter conditions can be extremely hazardous. You could crash or become stranded.

Prepared Patty: That is exactly right, Eddie, which is why it is important to make sure every car your ride in has a disaster supplies kit!

Confused Connie: I think I remember now. We talked about having disaster supplies kits this summer at the summer camps. So . . . is they why we told everyone to have a kit every house AND every car?

Ready Eddie: Yes! Winter weather isn't the only situation you might need supplies in your car for, but it is definitely an important one to be ready for.

Confused Connie: What if I just stay out of cars? Will winter be safe for me then?

Prepared Patty: Definitely not! Winter storms are dangerous for everyone and can cause many problems. Large storms can knock the power out for days! That can be very scary for people who aren't prepared.

Ready Eddie: You have to be ready to prevent dangerous situations, like hypothermia.

Confused Connie: Hypothermia? I don't remember what that is!

Ready Eddie: Hypothermia is when you body gets so cold, it starts to shut down. It is a very serious condition.

Confused Connie: Oh no! What can I do?

Ready Eddie: It is important to make sure you are ready when winter storms hit! Having a disaster supplies kit in your home can be very helpful during this time.

Prepared Patty: Yes, especially one packed with extra blankets and warm clothing.

Confused Connie: Okay, that makes sense. My family has a wood stove, too, so that should help, right?

Ready Eddie: That is a good way to keep warm when the power is out, but don't forget to be careful with any wood stove, fireplace, or other heating device. If you're not, you could start a fire!

Confused Connie: Really? A fire? When it is so cold out??

Prepared Patty: Definitely! But you can prevent fire by not leaving heating sources on when you're not arround, and making sure your smoke detectors are working and have fresh batteries.

Confused Connie: I think I can do that. There is a lot to think about with winter weather! But is it still okay for me to have fun in the snow?

Ready Eddie: Of course! Just make sure you have warm winter clothes on.

Confused Connie: Good! Now that I know how to stay safe, I can still be excited about making snow forts again!

Prepared Patty: And that will be a good way to be prepared for the snowball fights I am sure we will be having.

Ready Eddie: I can't wait!


Now that you've thought about being prepared for winter weather, what are some important items for your winterized disaster supplies kit? Below is a word find with some good ideas for items you should be sure to have. Click on the puzzle for a larger, printable version:







Thursday, November 5, 2009

Scrubby Bear Game

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis has now brought the Scrubby Bear Program to over 500 area kids! To celebrate, here is a Scrubby Bear word find. See if you can find all the words hidden within this puzzle and remember how they relate to staying healthy! Click the puzzle to enlarge.