Reminder: Come to Papa Gino’s to Help your Community.

Don’t forget! The Greater Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross gets 20% of your purchase from Papa Gino’s in the Maple Tree Mall on July 8th between 4pm and 9pm. You need to present a flyer at the time of your purchase.

All you have to do is bring this flyer with you, gather up a bunch of your friends and have a good time.

The money raised will continue to support your community with disaster and emergency relief, health and safety education, blood services and Service to the Armed Forces.

This is a great way to have fun with some friends and give back to your community at the same time.

Hope to see you there.

Get to Know your Red Cross

The Red Cross is probably an organization that you’ve heard of before, but do you know how it started?

While the Civil War was raging in the United States, Clara Barton, a former school teacher and government worker from Massachusetts, went to the battlefield to help care for the wounded.

After the Civil War, Barton went to Europe and learned of the Red Cross Movement and worked in relief efforts for civilians during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Returning home, she worked to persuade the US government to sign the Geneva Convention.

In 1881, with a group of friends, Barton founded the American Association of the Red Cross. Her unique contribution to the worldwide Red Cross movement was organizing volunteers to help disaster victims. Her ideas became reality when Red Cross volunteers in New York shipped food and clothing to victims of the Michigan forest fires of 1881.

(Clara Barton)

For more history of the American Red Cross visit their website.

Continuing the example set by Clara Barton, The Greater Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross services Manchester and the 16 surrounding communities, and has been doing so since its charter on July 28, 1916.

This example includes following the fundamental principles, which have always remained at the forefront, and providing disaster relief to the community.

The chapter moved into the Frank P. Carpenter House in 1941, after it was given to the Red Cross by the family. Frank P. Carpenter is remembered for his philanthropy, which funded the construction of many building in Manchester including the YMCA, the Carpenter Memorial Library and the Manchester Historic Association Building.

The chapter resided there until 2008, when we moved into the renovated carriage house behind the Frank P. Carpenter House. During that time the chapter was awarded two Historic Preservation Awards, in 1994 and 2002, for their treatment of the property.

The classes that are offered through this chapter include Adult CPR/AED, Babysitter’s Training and many others. These classes provide the community with the opportunity to learn how to prevent and be prepared for a disaster.

If you would like to get to know the Greater Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross first-hand come get involved.

Be Prepared for Everything this Summer.

Summer is the time for adventures and fun. Unfortunately that can lead to some sticky situations and injuries. For that reason it is important to have a first aid kit around when you need it.

(Always have one with you!)

If you want to purchase your own first aid kit you can call us at 603-624-4307.

You may also make your own. Some kits are designed for specific activities, such as hiking, camping or boating. Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need. Include any personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers or other items your health-care provider may suggest. Check the kit regularly. Make sure the flashlight batteries work. Check expiration dates and replace any used or out-of-date contents.

Here is a list of what the Red Cross recommends including in a first aid kit for a family of four.

It is also important to have a kit prepared for an emergency. If you don’t have an emergency supply kit now, but are looking to start one (good job!), here is a list of all the things you’ll need.

Whatever you’re doing this summer try to stay safe and remember to bring along your first aid kit on all your trips.

Find Your Place and Give Back to the Community.

Improving your community can be done in a variety of ways. During the summer sometimes we forget to still give some of our time back, and all we need is to be pointed in the right direction and given a little push.

(Public Domain)

With that in mind here are a few places to look into as a starting point:

Libraries- There are various movies, classes and events happening throughout the summer. Go there to help out or just to have a good time this summer. Manchester City Library, Goffstown Library, Bedford Library, Hooksett Library

Food Banks- Hunger is something that we have the ability to lessen in this state. Find a drive near you or give some of your time in other ways at the NH Food Bank.

Give Blood- It’s easy to find a location near you and this simple task can save a lot of lives.

VolunteerNH- Find a place that fits your goals for volunteering. There are many different opportunities available, so find one that suits you today.

Boys and Girls Clubs- A way to help children in your community reach their full potential as responsible, productive and caring individuals.

Girls Inc NH- There are many different opportunities and roles available for someone wishing to be a role model for the youth of their community.

So, with these ideas in mind, find the place that suits you and volunteer this summer.

Help your Community and EAT! Come to Papa Gino’s and Support the Greater Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Do you love helping your community? Do you love Pizza? Do you wish you could combine the two? Well, now you can. The Greater Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross has teamed up with Papa Gino’s for their Community Fundraiser.

We will receive 20% of the sales from this fundraiser. All you have to do is bring this flyer to the Papa Gino’s on 545 Hooksett Road in the Maple Tree Mall on July 8th between 4pm and 9pm and your purchase will count towards the fundraiser.

This is a great way for everyone to help their local Red Cross chapter and enjoy some delicious food at the same time. Bring your friends and enjoy your food, knowing that it will provide health and safety education and help people in your community during disasters.

Remember, you have to bring the flyer with you when you go to make your purchase. Also, carry-out counts too! So don’t let a busy day stop you from helping your community.

We thank you all very much for your support of the Greater Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross. We couldn’t do all that we do without your dedication.

World Blood Donor Day

Today is World Blood Donor day, which thanks those who voluntarily donate blood and encourages others to start becoming regular blood donors. The global campaign for this year is focused on youth. The slogan is: “New Blood for the World”.

The goal of this year’s World Blood Donor day is to get more young people involved in donating blood.

“Recruiting and retaining young donors not only improves the long-term safety and sufficiency of a country’s blood supply, but also promotes safe and healthy lifestyles,” the World Blood Donor day website writes. “With young people playing such a valuable role in helping to secure a safe and adequate blood supply, World Blood Donor Day is a good opportunity for governments, policymakers and blood programmes to thank them.”

The launch event for World Blood Donor day will be held in Barcelona, Spain. The Spanish and Catalonian Health Care Authorities, the Spanish and Catalonian donor associations and the Spanish Red Cross will host the event.

(The Red Cross Blood Bus)

If you would like to save a life by donating blood find a location near you at givelife.org. If you would like to volunteer with blood services call Ellen Benson at (603) 625-1951 or email her at bensone@usa.redcross.org.

Stay Safe this Summer when Swimming in Lakes, Rivers and Streams.

With summer getting closer and closer, swimming is the cool-down choice for most of us. And where better to do that than at a natural body of water, like a lake, river or stream? The safety tips for these bodies of water are different from those for swimming in a pool, however.

(The Squamscott River in Newfields, NH. Photo by: Jim Richmond, Creative Commons)

Starting with when you first show up, the first thing that you should do when going swimming at a natural water environment is to be aware of water and weather conditions. Some things to look out for are:

• Unexpected changes in air or water temperature.
• Fast-moving currents, waves, or rapids, even in shallow water.
• Sudden drop-offs that change water depth.
• Other people's activities in the same water, such as boating.

It doesn’t stop once the fun starts! While in the water there are also several safety tips to follow:

• Ensure that everyone in your family learns to swim well by enrolling them in age-appropriate learn-to-swim classes.
• Keep children under constant active supervision and remain free from distractions.
• Avoid swallowing the water.

The best way to stay safe is to make smart choices throughout your time having fun:

• Be aware of the potential hazards of the area you are visiting and take appropriate precautions.
• Know the abilities of those going with you, including swimming abilities and level of supervision required. Be sure to provide appropriate supervision.

To see the full list of information, look at the Be Red Cross Ready[pdf] preparedness sheet.

The summer is a great time to get outside and see the beauty of New Hampshire’s natural bodies of water. Make sure you can continue to enjoy it by following these preparedness facts.

Help Your Community by Signing up to be a Summer Swim Aide

Do you know a person, who is at least 11 years old, that loves swimming, playing games, and teaching?

Encourage them to sign up to be a swim aide for the Red Cross Summer Swim program. They will be assisting the Water Safety Instructors by working with students on their strokes and making sure that the students are following water safety rules.

This is a great opportunity to assist the community and have fun this summer.

(Our instructors having a great time at the pool. From L-R: Lindsey Hanna, Maddie Kramer, Jill Puchacz, Corey Birdsall, Kayla Silva, Ashley Tourville, Shaun Simpson, Allison Hesketh, Fritz Manson, and Savannah Walcott.)

Having taken swimming lessons or having a basic understanding of swimming strokes is required to become a swim aide.

To sign up call (603)-624-4307!

Become a Part of the 2010 Red Cross Summer Swim Program!

Sign up to be a Water Safety Instructor or Swim Aide for this summer and develop leadership and teaching skills while having fun and giving back to the community.

Water Safety Instructor classes start June 12.