Volunteer Voice - October 2014

October 2014

The Volunteer Voice A Note from Katherine Jones, Senior Station Manager It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for almost 3 months! All I can say is THANK YOU! This has been by far the most welcoming station I have come in to. I started with Red Cross as a disaster volunteer in 1998. Since then, I have worked in a variety of positions, and have been fortunate to serve the Red Cross and members of the military throughout the world. I hope to use these experiences to support the USAG Vicenza Red Cross and the larger community. I my short time July Volunteer of the Month: Manuela Carretta

here, I have met nurses, social workers, administrative experts, special event and disaster volunteers. The volunteers at USAG Vicenza are an amazing group of individuals: I am so fortunate to be joining this outstanding team.

Emergency Communication Messages If your family is facing an immediate crisis such as the death or life-threatening illness of an immediate family member, the American Red Cross may be able to assist by providing a verified emergency communication message to go to the service member’s command to assist with making a leave decision.

August Volunteer of the Month: Jamilah Garrett

Wilderness and Remote First Aid Class 17-19 October Cost: $55 Pre-requisite is current CPR/First Aid/AED certification

How? In order to start a Red Cross message stop by the American Red Cross office (Building 333), M-F from 0800 to 1630 or call 001-877-272-7337 at any time, any day.

Who? Anyone can start a message for a service member or OCONUS DOD civilian or contractor.

What to know to start a message? Service member’s legal name, rank, ssn, unit, date of birth, and as much information about the crisis as possible. **The Red Cross does not make leave decisions**

October 2014

Red Cross Club The VHS Red Cross Club is a group of dedicated high school students who participate in an array of American Red Cross events and special projects here in Vicenza. Our members most recently participated in the VCC County Fair, Pet Awareness Day, and the Lake Fimone clean-up project. The Red Cross Club is a great way to serve your community, boost your resume, meet new friends, and to have fun! We have general meetings every second Thursday at the high school during lunch in Room 39. All interested students should talk to Mr. Gillett at the high school or stop by the Red Cross office for more information.

Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Program (DAAP) Applications Applications are now available for the American Red Cross Dental Assistantship Program. If you are interested in applying, stop by the Red Cross office to pick up an application and receive further information.

Applications are due 31 October.

October is Fire Prevention Month Fires are the biggest disaster threat in the United States. The good news is that they are preventable. The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to increase your chances of surviving a fire: 1) Get a working smoke alarm. Smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half. Alarms should be placed on every level of your house including bedrooms. Change the batteries annually.

2) Create a fire escape plan. You may only have two minutes to escape when a fire occurs. Your escape plan should include at least two ways to escape from each room in your house. Make sure all family members know the plan and practice it twice a year. Include a meeting place a safe distance from your house where your family can meet after a fire.

For more tips, visit www.redcross.org.

OCTOBER CALENDAR 10/4 – CPR/First Aid/AED Course 10/14-17 – VHC Facilitated InProcessing 10/8 – Volunteer Orientation 10/14 – Red Cross Club Meeting 10/15 – Blended Learning CPR/First Aid/AED Course (Daytime)

10/15 – Job and Volunteer Fair @ ACS 10/17 – Retiree Health Day 10/17-19 – Wilderness and Remote First Aid Training 10/18 – Pet First Aid Course 10/30 – USO Trunk or Treat

Questions, comments, concerns?

American Red Cross Building 333 Caserma Ederle Vicenza, Italy Phone: 0444-71-7089 Vicenza@redcross.org