A publication of the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada Fall 2014

redcrosstalkLocal Fire Departments Value the Work of Red Cross Volunteers

The news has no shortage of people suffering after a disaster. In Southern Nevada, a family is displaced by a disaster, usually a home fire, on average, every 19 hours. !As a result of a long history of working side by side, the American Red Cross chapter and area firefighters have built a relationship on mutual respect, trust, and appreciation for the work of their partners. !“The American Red Cross is an indispensable resource for our community,” said Henderson Fire Chief Steven Goble. “When we call the Red Cross to help residents, volunteers are on the scene quickly and bring compassion, understanding and the essentials for daily living to families in crisis. The victims of the fire often have nowhere else to turn and the Red Cross is always there to help.” !Las Vegas Fire Department’s Public Information Officer, and former Red Cross volunteer Tim Szymanski said “A home fire is probably one of the most difficult times of a person’s life.” Tim always encourages victims to use the action plan the Red Cross provides to begin their recovery in a systematic way. !The members of the North Las Vegas Fire Department consider Red Cross volunteers as part of their team. Captain Cedric Williams said “Some people consider firefighters heroes, but we consider the people of the Red Cross heroes because of their work and dedication. They not only respond on scene, but help way after the fire has been put out.” !Clark County Fire Department’s Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Manager, John Steinbeck, who has been with the department for over 24 years says, “It’s

great to have the Red Cross available day and night, seven days a week.” He said he’s seen how fire victims who have turned to the Red Cross are “so grateful for making a horrible experience somewhat more tolerable.” He also appreciates the work that the Red Cross does to support firefighters on long-involved fires by providing food and drinks. !The fire departments and the firefighters of Southern Nevada believe in the mission, the dedication, and the continued support of the American Red Cross. And the American Red Cross is proud to stand beside our first responders in support of their incredible work.

Volunteer Edd Lockwood- Writer

American Red Cross - Southern Nevada NewsletterVolunteer Editors: Guy DeMarco and Brooke Allen-Burnstein Volunteer Contributing Writers: Pete Reynolds and Edd Lockwood

With a history of working together, Red Cross and fire professionals appreciate the value each gives the other.

Did You Know?

Firefighters support the Red Cross financially too.

This year, Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation donated $10k in gift cards for fire victims, and the Professional Fire Fighters of

Nevada donated $20K

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As we move from summer to fall, we desert dwellers tend to shift our activities outside. With the passing of the summer heat, we’re excited to head outdoors to barbecue, hike, run, boat and explore. And it’s a great time to take our pets outdoors or on trips too.

If your plans include travel, the American Red Cross recommends the following steps to ensure your pet’s safety. First, consider whether you should even take your pet on a trip, especially if your pet is older or highly active. If you plan on staying in a hotel, be sure the hotel allows animals. Second, take sufficient supplies and records for your animal. These include basic items such as medication, food, bowls, leashes, pet carriers and/or bedding. The Red Cross also recommends keeping your pet’s legal documents (veterinary records, vaccinations, necessary medications, etc.) handy when traveling.

Third, familiarize yourself with travel rules and regulations with regard to animals, especially when traveling by air. Finally, never leave your pet in a parked car or in the back bed of a moving vehicle. Parked vehicles can quickly reach deadly

temperatures during the summer. Additionally, placing an animal in the back bed of a moving vehicle exposes the animal to dangerous debris, incredible stress, or in the event of an accident, physical harm.

If you choose to embark on outdoor activities with your pet, the American Red Cross recommends making sure your animal drinks plenty of water. In addition, familiarize

yourself with plants in the area that may be toxic if eaten. If you take your pet on a boat, Las Vegas’ Banfield Pet Hospitals suggest acclimating your animal to the boat before going out on the water, taking items that will make the boat ride more comfortable for the animal, and in some cases, fitting your animal with a lifejacket or floatation device.

The American Red Cross offers pet first aid courses, as well as a great Pet First Aid app so pet owners are prepared in the event of an injury to an animal.

Even if your outdoor plans only include a backyard barbecue, it is still important to take the proper steps to ensure your animal does not come into harm’s way. According to the Huffington Post, those steps include securing your backyard so your animal can’t run away, preventing your animal from gaining access to dangerous food scraps or uncooked food, and securing pool areas to prevent your animal from drowning.

Fall is a fun time for the whole family. By taking a few precautions, you can ensure it’s a fun time for your furry family members too!

Remember Pet Safety in the Excitement of Fall Activities

Total Number of Pets Owned in the U.S. (millions)!

Freshwater Fish 145.0

Cat 95.6

Dog 83.3

Bird 20.6

Small Animal 18.1

Saltwater Fish 13.6

Reptile 11.5

Horse 8.3

Volunteer Brooke Allen-Burnstein — Take precautions to ensure safety for your furry family members.

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Why Do You Volunteer?

Alba Figueroa!Public Affairs!

Alba moved here from Mexico with her Masters in Psychology. While she waits for her credentials to transfer so she can practice in the U.S., her first idea was to volunteer for the American Red Cross.

Now, as a Public Affairs volunteer, Alba is getting to know the Red Cross volunteer corps by managing the Chapter’s involvement in parades and events this fall.

“I’m really proud of being a Red Cross volunteer. I can participate in activities that have direct impact on my community. I have found that it also helps foster my personal growth by being part of new things, reaffirming my strengths and developing new skills.

“When you get people from diverse backgrounds working together toward common goals, great things happen. And the feeling that you’re making a difference

Matthew Fendrich!Disaster and Preparedness!

Matthew sees working with the Red Cross as an extension of his education with his Masters in Disaster Preparedness from Grand Canyon University.

He sees the work that he’s doing as a way to support his local community and to expand his knowledge and experience in Disaster Preparedness. He enjoys meeting new people

Originally from Michigan, Matthew has been in Las Vegas for several years now, and currently is a rising star in the gaming industry in security.

We ask Red Cross volunteers what inspires them to help.

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do

interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale

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www.redcross.org/southernnevada https://twitter.com/SNVRedcross http://ww.facebook.com/SNVRedCross

Financial First Aid in Disaster PreparednessGetting out is one thing, but what do you do about your records and finances in times of Disaster?

If you had to evacuate your home because of an emergency, would you and your family have time to gather vital personal documents and financial information necessary to rebuild?

Fortunately, the American Red Cross and Citizen Corps (an initiative to organize communities by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) can help you prepare documents in the event of an emergency. Planning is the key.

Citizen Corps provides an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) – a free, online tool that helps prepare documents. The EFFAK details various documents you should safeguard:

• Personal, householdand propertyinformation

• Medical and health careproviders

• Power of attorney andestate documents forfamily survivors

• Security and access information for personalinformation on phones and personalcomputers

The first step to protecting these documents is to get them organized. If you only have single copies of important documents, Citizen Corps recommends storing them in the same place.

Obtain copies of vital cards (e.g., car insurance cards, health insurance cards) that most people carry in purses or wallets.

Keep digital and hard copies of your financial records. Include your will, living will (instructions in a medical emergency), life insurance, property insurance and records of larger or more valuable property. Citizen Corps suggests maintaining a record on your computer or online database for these files. Finally, maintain copies of your most recent income tax filings, which provide proof of ownership and value of real property and earnings.

Once organized, the next step is to ensure safe storage. At home, keep your EFFAK and original documents in a fireproof storage container. Include cash in small denominations, as ATMs and banks cannot operate during a prolonged power outage, and credit card systems may also be down.

Citizen Corps recommends storing lone copies of personal documents (such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and divorce decrees) and computer back-up data in a

safe deposit box away from your home. Make sure the safe deposit box information and key are easily accessible. Storing these documents off-site is helpful if your home is destroyed by flood, fire or other disasters.

Financial experts advise updating your documents promptly whenever a life-changing event (e.g., birth, death, change in marital status, etc.) occurs, and provide copies of your EFFAK with trusted family members, a personal attorney and/or a designated executor.

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Volunteer Pete Reynolds — Writer