Lucky 13 Halloween Safety Tips!

Halloween is just around the corner. Here are great tips parents can use to keep children safe!

Fire Safety

Yesterday my son told me they had a fire drill at preschool. I asked him what they did and he replied they lined up and went outside. Then he told me they also practiced a tornado drill and went downstairs. He proceeded to get on the floor and cover his head - just like I did all those years in school.

So they practice what to do in school, but do your children know what to do at home? Have you practiced these drills, selected a meeting place outside and communicated it will all of your family members? Do your children know how and when to call 911? Do they even have access to a phone in this age of cell phones?

Now is the time to answer these questions for yourself and protect your family. Home fires can truly happen to any of us at any time. Be Prepared! It isn't difficult - visit www.grantwood-redcross.org for tips and information.

Oh Baby! Highlights Importance of CPR Training

Have you ever encounted a choking infant? Or even adult? It is a scary situation...unless you know exactly what to do. Red Cross training was recently featured on KWWL's Oh Baby! report.

Take a look at Sunny Lane's report here.

And the follow up report about how one Red Cross trained individual saved a baby's life - here.

What can you do? Register for a class today!

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month - are you prepared for an emergency?

The Red Cross has three easy steps to become Red Cross Ready.

1) Get a Kit
2) Make a Plan
3) Be Informed

What should be in your emergency kit?
Supplies for your family to last you up to two weeks including: water (1 gal per person per day); nonperisible food; flashlight; battery operated radio; batteries; essential medications for one week; personal hygene items; baby or pet supplies; extra set of clothing for each family member; copies of important documents (like birth certificates).

What kind of plan?
If your family is separated during the day and a natural disaster occured, how would you contact each other - do you have a meeting place? Is there someone out of state you could all call if cell phones here were down? Where in your home do you go during severe weather? Have you practiced this plan and what to do with all members of your family.

Be Informed you say?
Yes! Know what potential emergencies may occur in your area. When severe weather threatens stay tuned to the radio or TV for watches, warnings, etc.

Hawkeye Chapter Ribbon Cutting

There was a great turnout for the Hawkeye Chapter Open House and Ribbon Cutting on August 11th!

The Hawkeye Chapter showed guests recent renovations including a newly refurbished disaster training room with memorabilia displays, new carpet, paint, windows and more!

If you couldn't make it, feel free to stop in anytime to 2530 University Ave., Waterloo, IA.

Grainger Donations

Double Donation!

Thank you to the Grainger Foundation for recent donations of $10,000 each to the American Red Cross Hawkeye Chapter & Grant Wood Area Chapter in support of our mission to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

We've been busy in the Waterloo area helping residents that are cleaning up after flash flooding on Wed., July 7. The Red Cross has given out hundreds of clean up kits from the Hawkeye Chapter office at 2530 University Ave., Waterloo.

Our Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) from the Hawkeye Chapter and Grant Wood Area Chapter have also been out in flooded neighborhoods offering clean up kits, food and bottled water to those cleaning up.

For assistance call the Hawkeye Chapter at 319-234-6831.

With Memorial Day quickly approaching, warmer temperatures aren't far behind. We encourage you to learn about a variety of classes and trainings through the American Red Cross to ensure you have a safe summer.





Enroll your kids in swimming lessons at your local pool.


Sign up for a CPR and First Aid class at http://www.grantwood-redcross.org/.


Register your 10-15 year old in Babysitter's Training through the Red Cross.


Prepare your family for severe weather and practice your plan.


Purchase a first aid kit for home and your car.

New Pet Manikans

Is your pet considered a full-fledged family member? Do you know what to do if your pet is injured or stops breathing? Consider taking Red Cross Pet First Aid for Cats & Dogs! We have new pet manikans, just in today - made possible by a grant from PetCo on Twixt Town Rd in Marion! Check back this summer for fall Pet First Aid class dates. http://www.grantwood-redcross.org/

BIG B*A*S*H 2010

View our Mediacom PSA for BIG B*A*S*H 2010!
Get your tickets at www.grantwood-redcross.org

Masters of Disaster

The Grant Wood Area Chapter hosted 35 youth ages 6-10 last Saturday for our annual Masters of Disaster. This program teaches youth how to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in a fun and interactive way. The went through a "tornado" wind tunnel and crawled below streamers to practice what they should do in a house full of smoke. A special thanks to KCRG's Kaj O'Mara for a weather presentation. What a fun day!

Babysitters Training

Today we have 10 young babysitters in training at the Grant Wood Area Chapter Red Cross in Cedar Rapids. They are attending a two-day training over their spring break. Most will use the skills they learn to help care for younger siblings or earn spending money by caring for other children on weekends or this summer. They'll learn the basics of caring for elementary age kids and younger. How to deal with temper tantrums to weather emergencies! Last year we trained 485 area babysitters!

March is Red Cross Month

Support your local Red Cross and enjoy an evening out at one of these area restaurants!

March 2 - Las Margaritas, Waterloo 5-10 p.m.

March 4 - HuHot Mongolian Grill, Cedar Falls 5-9 p.m.

March 9 - Doughy Joey’s Peetza Joynt, Waterloo 5-8 p.m.

March 9 & 10 - Texas Roadhouse, Cedar Rapids 4-10 p.m. Must take a flyer

March 10 - Okoboji Grill in Independence 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

March 11 - Perkin’s on University Ave, Waterloo 4-9 p.m.

March 15-18 - Chili's Bar and Grill, Cedar Rapids all day Must take a flyer

March 16 - AMIGO’S, Cedar Falls 4-8 p.m.

March 18 - CU, Waterloo 5-10 p.m.

March 23 - Fainting Goat, Waverly 5-9 p.m.

March 24 - Buffalo Wild Wings, Iowa City 5-9 p.m. Must take this flyer

March 25 - Jameson’s, Waterloo 4-Close

March 30 - Harmony Restaurant, Waverly 4:30-9 p.m.

March 31 - Pita Pit (Waterloo & Cedar Falls) all day

The Hawkeye Chapter is busy preparing for CPR Sunday on March 7, 2010 at the UNI Wellness & Rec Center in Cedar Falls. This is an annual event to train community members in CPR/First Aid at a greatly reduced cost. It is fun way to learn to save a life - take the training with a friend or two. Visit http://www.hawkeyechapter.org/ to for more information and to register. Or call 319-234-8851.

If you have cabin fever (like us!) start making your summer plans now.

Are you going to sign up your kids for Red Cross swimming lessons at your area pool?

We also have a great list of Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor courses at http://www.grantwood-redcross.org/ under Services, Health and Safety, Aquatics. It truly is more than just a job, it is an experience that can save a life!

Any great lifeguarding stories out there? We'd love to hear about them.

Red Cross Responds in Haiti

Here is what you need to know about what the Red Cross is doing to help with the earthquake response in Haiti:

Aid is still getting to those who need it despite a recent strong aftershock and huge logisitical challenges.

The Red Cross is reaching survivors outside of the capital city with food, water and medical supplies. The American Red Cross is working with the World Food Program and providing 3 million pre-packaged meals for distribution. So far, 100 tons of aid has reached Haiti and more is coming.

This is an enormous relief effort and we know it will be a long term recovery - the Red Cross will be there throughout.

What is the best way to help?
People can make a financial donation by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-Red-Cross or texting 'Haiti' to 90999 to make a $10 contribution.

If you are raising funds for this response and plan to donate them to the American Red Cross please contact your local chapter - Hawkeye Chapter Wloo/CF 319-234-6831 or Grant Wood Chapter in CR/IC 319-393-3500.

Thank you for your generosity!

Since the information is changing at a rapid rate you can always get the latest updates at www.redcross.org