Disaster Drill

Written by: Mary Lou Farnum/American Red Cross volunteer
Photo by: Sonja Gross, City of Amarillo, Community Relations Coordinator

These Red Cross volunteers were part of a team of twelve from the Texas Panhandle Chapter who participated in the Airport Exercise conducted Wednesday by the City of Amarillo's Office of Emergency Management.

The Red Cross's role in this drill was to provide volunteers to help with the moulage as well as to provide volunteers willing to serve as "victims"  of an airplane crash. Red Cross also canteened the Exercise with snacks and water. 

While volunteers roasted on the hot tarmac waiting for the emergency medical professionals to triage them, all of them finished the exercise excited to have been part of the drill.

Theresa West, who asked the Red Cross to participate, was quite complimentary of our efforts. "Many of the responders have advised me that the moulage and your personalities made the exercise very realistic," West e-mailed.

Way to go, guys and gals! Job well done.

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Sign up now for Instructor Training

Written by: Mary Lou Farnum, American Red Cross volunteer

If you want to teach basic First Aid and CPR classes to others in your community or workplace, the Texas Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross will be offering this class to instructors on July 11-12 of 2012. 

To register for class go to this link: https://classes.redcross.org/Saba/Web/Mainto login.  Use 79102 as your zipcode and enter a radius of at least 25 miles.  Use July 11, 2012 as your start date, and July 12 as your end date.

This 16 hour class will train instructor candidates to teach basic-level American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED courses. This course has been updated to include 2010 ECC Guidelines. It is very important that students review and follow the directions on the attachment included with this course. 

This is a Blended Learning course consisting of on-line content and classroom segments. On-line material must be completed prior to attending the classroom activities. 

For more information, please reference the attachment you will receive via e-mail when you register.

Cost of the class is $500.  June 27^th will be the last day that anyone can receive a full refund.

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Sign Up Now for Babysitter's Training

 Written by: Mary Lou Farnum/American Red Cross Volunteer

If you have a son or daughter between the ages of 11 and 15 that would like to earn money this summer, perhaps they should enroll in the Red Cross Babysitter's Training class. We have a class scheduled for Saturday, May 26. Cost is $85. There's no better way for your budding entrepreneur to learn the knowledge and confidence to care for infants and school-age children. Combining video, activities, hands-on skills training and discussion for a complete learning experience, Babysitter’s Training teaches youth how 

• Respond to emergencies and illnesses with first aid, rescue breathing and other appropriate care
• Make decisions under pressure
• Communicate with parents to learn household rules
• Recognize safety and hygiene issues
• Manage young children
• Feed, diaper and care for infants
• Start their babysitting business

Course length: 6 1/2 for core course.

The class will be held at the Texas Panhandle Chapter in Amarillo, Texas at 1800 South Harrison. Participants must pre-enroll in order to reserve a spot.  Do so now by clicking this link: Babysitter's Training.

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Prepare Now for the Wildfire Season

Written by Mary Lou Farnum, American Red Cross volunteer

Monday night KVII Pro News 7 interviewed Chris Knight of the American Red Cross, and Richard Lake, Fire Chief for Potter County. Knight is Executive Director for Red Cross chapters located in Amarillo and in Pampa/Borger.

Both men stressed how important it is for panhandle residents to prepare now for the wildfire season ahead of us.

Knight agrees with KVII that being prepared could make the difference between life and death.  "If you've got that plan and you're ready to execute that plan, it could save lives."

Lake warns that just because our area has recently enjoyed some much needed rainfall, this does not mean that we can stop worrying about the dangers posed by wildfires.

As soon as KVII posts the interview to their website, we will embed the video for you to watch.

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Are you Red Cross Ready?

Written by: Mary Lou Farnum, American Red Cross volunteer

After last night's weather, every one in the Panhandle is urged to be Red Cross Ready: Get a Kit, Have a Plan, Be Informed! Thunderstorms that bring golf ball sized hail, strong 60 MPH straight line winds, or heavy rainfall can be just as devastating to families as a tornado. Please don't be caught off guard. Talk to your family members. Make sure each of you knows what to do when you must make quick decisions about how to stay safe if and when Mother Nature comes knocking at your door. Watch this video to get some ideas on which  items to put in your kit.

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