RedCrossNW Disaster Services, Preparedness

Shake-out and brush-up on your tsunami survival skills

By Gordon Williams The number one reason for taking part in the Great Washington Shake-Out on October 17, 2019 is to practice and perfect your earthquake survival skills of drop, cover and hold on. Washington State is earthquake country and the quicker you can respond when the ground shakes, the better your chances of escaping … Continue reading Shake-out and brush-up on your tsunami survival skills

RedCrossNW Preparedness

How to turn a scary earthquake into a positive learning experience

By Gordon Williams The earthquake which struck the Seattle/Snohomish County area early in the morning of July 12, 2019 was scary enough — the strongest quake to strike the area in 18 years. Still, the Washington Military Department — parent agency of the state’s Department of Emergency Management — wants us to see the temblor … Continue reading How to turn a scary earthquake into a positive learning experience

RedCrossNW Biomedical Services, community

Nutrition is one key to giving blood

Every time you donate blood or platelets, you’re helping people with cancer, trauma patients, premature babies and organ transplants; just to name a few. To help them regain their health, the Red Cross relies on healthy donors. We recommend that you maintain a nutritious, well-balanced diet with foods rich in iron and high in vitamin C. These … Continue reading Nutrition is one key to giving blood

RedCrossNW community, Young Professionals

Managing a Red Cross chapter that spans 15 counties

Ryan Rodin By Gordon Williams It takes a wide range of skills for the Red Cross to carry out its mission of aiding disaster victims — from disaster responders to shelter workers to mental health professionals. But Ryan Rodin brings a very different set of skills to his job with the Greater Inland Northwest Red … Continue reading Managing a Red Cross chapter that spans 15 counties

RedCrossNW Disaster Services, Sound the Alarm, Volunteers

Drake Walters knows first-hand why smoke alarms are life-savers

By Gordon Williams On one level, Drake Walters of Suquamish, Washington is just one of the thousands of individuals across the United States who install smoke alarms as part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign (HFC). Drake is a volunteer in the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas Chapter of the Red Cross, headquartered in … Continue reading Drake Walters knows first-hand why smoke alarms are life-savers

RedCrossNW Biomedical Services, Blood drive

Give blood: Help patients in need this summer

During the Fourth of July week, fewer blood drives are held across the country and many blood donors are away enjoying vacations. This creates a difficult situation for the blood supply, and the American Red Cross is facing an emergency need for blood and platelet donors after a significant shortfall in blood donations during the … Continue reading Give blood: Help patients in need this summer

RedCrossNW Uncategorized

The life-saving potential of Red Cross learn-to-swim Scholarships

By Gordon Williams The American Red Cross Aquatics Centennial Campaign goal is to reduce deaths by drowning, by making low-cost swim and water safety lessons widely available in cities and towns all over the United States. This summer the campaign will make a splash in Seattle, at the Tukwila Pool, to offer learn-to-swim scholarships to … Continue reading The life-saving potential of Red Cross learn-to-swim Scholarships

RedCrossNW Disaster Services, Volunteers

The special gift Jan Mackem gives to disaster victims

By Gordon Williams Red Cross responders provide disaster victims with all manner of emergency supplies: blankets, clean-up kits, personal care items. But disaster victims on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas of Washington often get all that and something more: quilts made by hand  by responder Jan Mackem and a half dozen of her colleagues. The … Continue reading The special gift Jan Mackem gives to disaster victims