Volunteer Voice September 2013

September 2013

The Volunteer Voice Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month?

See page 2 for more details on how to be prepared!

August Volunteer of the Month: Andrew Smierciak

We would like to welcome Brenda Culp, our new Station Chairman.

Brenda just arrived from Bamberg where she served as the Chairman of Volunteers at the American Red Cross.

Interested in Volunteering in the Vicenza Health Center?

You will need to attend the Red Cross’ Facilitated In-Processing on 24-26 September at the Vicenza Health Center. At the InProcessing, you will complete mandatory training, be given an overview of the Health Center, have your immunization records screened, and more! If you have not already signed up and would like more information, please contact Renee Scholle at Renee.Scholle2@redcross.org

Dental Assistant Program Graduation Congratulations to Lucia Curry, Danielle Brower, and Yasmin Fanello who graduated from the Dental Assistant Program on 5 September. In order to complete this program, which is co-hosted by the American Red Cross and the Dental Clinic, these women completed 80 hours of didactic training and over 500 hours of chair side training.

September 2013

National Preparedness Month September is National Preparedness month and the American Red Cross wants to make sure you are ready if something happens.

There are several different types of disasters and the Red Cross has suggestions on how to prepare for all of them.

We have information on how to prepare your family, your school and your workplace, http://www.redcross.org/prepare.

Red Cross Apps

Make a Kit

The American Red Cross has put together award winning apps to help you stay prepared for different emergencies. If you have a droid or iPhone, then we have an app for you! Keep in mind that all these apps were designed for people living in the United States, so some of the functions may not work (like the 911 call button). One of the most popular is the First Aid App which walks you through several types of situations such as choking, burns, heat stroke, and head injuries. It even has a section where you can test your knowledge!

Most people have items that they need in case of an emergency, but they don’t have them in a kit so that they can grab them at a moment’s notice. The area around Vicenza is prone to flooding and earthquakes. If either one of those types of disaster occur, the likelihood that you will have time to gather individual items is slim.

Take the time to put a kit together. Need some ideas?

No problem, the Red Cross has everything you need to know: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/homefamily/get-kit.

You can check out all our apps at http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps.

Materials for Kids In addition to providing resources for adults to learn more about disasters, we also have information for kids. The American Red Cross partnered with Disney to produce Disaster Preparedness Activity books. You can download a copy in English or Spanish.

Disaster Library Want to keep it easy? The American Red Cross has created a Disaster and Safety Library to assist you in preparing your home, school and workplace in the event of a disaster or emergency. You will find fact sheets, preparedness checklists, recovery guides and other helpful information to keep you informed and safe. http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster-safety-library

September 2013

Bike Rodeo The American Red Cross teamed up with the USO and the PMO bicycle squad to put on a Bicycle Rodeo in which kids of all ages were taught basic and emergency biking skills. Not only were the kids prepped on how to deal with different obstacles they might face while biking, they also had their bicycles inspected for safety and helmets checked for proper fit.

The course consisted of eight stations laid out in front of the Vicenza Middle School. Each station had a volunteer which helped the child through that portion of the course and reviewed the child’s skill.

A special thanks goes out to the USO, PMO bike patrol, Caserma Ederle EMS, Outdoor Rec., AAFES Exchange, CYS, and the Vicenza Middle School.

Don’t Forget to Submit your Volunteer Hours!

Volunteer Connection is the place to record volunteer your hours. Instead of logging them on paper, just sign into volunteer connection, go to “My Profile,” select “Shifts/Hours” and log them there.

We will review them every week and approve them so that they will show in your record.

Log in at https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org.

Safety Tip of the Month With the kids back in school, have you ensured that they are Red Cross Ready?  Remind your kid that the most important thing he/she can do during an emergency at school is to stay calm and listen to the teacher or the administrators!  Tape a copy of your family’s contact numbers and meeting place(s) inside of your child’s backpack.

September Calendar 3 – Volunteer Orientation (Red Cross Office)

19 – Volunteer Orientation (Red Cross Office)

7 – CPR/First Aid/AED Course

21 – Babysitter Training (ACS)

9 - Pet First Aid (300A)

24 – Emergency Preparedness Booth (PX)

13 – Pet First Aid (300A) 17 – Emergency Preparedness Booth (PX)

24-26 – VHC Facilitated In-Processing

Questions, comments, concerns?

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