Apply to National Youth Council

Check out the new Red Cross Youth website! www.redcrossyouth.org
Here are some of the new opportunities available:

Do you have the experience and creativity to be one of the newest members of the National Youth Council? Each spring the National Youth Council conducts an application process for new members. The applications for this year’s application process are now open!

What is National Youth Council?
“Twenty-five percent, or 100,000, or American Red Cross volunteers are youth or young adults, defined as age 24 and younger.”
The American Red Cross National Youth Council (NYC) is a group of 13 youth members and 3 adult advisers who nationally represent the youth volunteers of the American Red Cross, and continually strive to better serve them. Drawing upon the creativity, dedication, and energy of youth, the National Youth Council seeks to promote young volunteers as an organizational resource. Specifically, the National Youth Council:
-advocates for youth involvement throughout the organization
-advises senior leadership on organization-wide policies concerning youth
-maintains RedCrossYouth.org
-connects and informs youth through YouthWire (our media newsletter to be released biweekly)
-plans the annual National Youth Involvement Month in November
-raises funds to further the humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross through the Holiday Giving Campaign
-recognizes outstanding youth volunteers through the granting of scholarships (such as the Navin Narayan Scholarship)
-reaches out to youth in the field through the Connect Tour (our newest initiative) We do this, and much, much more!
In recognition of its work, the National Youth Council has been presented with numerous awards, including the 2007 Together for Humanity Award, given by the International Federation of Red Cross and international Red Crescent Societies.

Apply to be a Member of the American Red Cross National Youth Council! Applications to become a member of the National Youth Council are here! For instructions on how to apply and to access the application, click on the links below: NYC Main Application Form
NYC Executive Recommendation Form
NYC Non-Red Cross Recommendation Form

All three parts of the application are due on Friday, April 20th, 2012 by midnight, EST!

FEMA Calls for Nominations to the National Youth Preparedness Council

FEMA is looking for youth leaders who are dedicated to public service, who are making a difference in their community, and who want to expand their impact as a national advocate for youth preparedness. 

Are you a 12 to 17 year old who wants to make a difference in your community that could help save lives? If you have contributed to youth disaster preparedness in your community or lived through a disaster and want to share your experiences, you could be on FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council! 

Click here for more information 

Spring Forward!

It’s time to turn the clocks ahead this weekend when daylight saving time kicks in at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. The American Red Cross uses this time to remind everyone to bone up on preparing you and your loved ones for emergencies.

CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARM BATTERIES
When you turn the clocks ahead, take a few minutes to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and push the test button to make sure the alarms are working. It’s also a great time to check your carbon monoxide detectors.

GET YOUR HOUSEHOLD PREPARED
Disaster can strike anywhere, anytime. It’s important for everyone to make sure their household is ready and knows what to do should an emergency occur. The Red Cross wants everyone to know about the three steps they should take to be prepared.
Get a kit.
Keep supplies in an easy-to-carry preparedness bag that you can use at home or take with you if you have to evacuate.
Make a plan.
Meet with members of your household and discuss what emergencies could occur in your home, taking into account what type of disasters could happen in your neighborhood. Plan what steps everyone should take if something happens.
Be informed.
Learn what emergencies can occur in your area and how officials will notify you should a disaster occur. Check the disaster information tab to help you find where your nearest ARK and shelter will be in case of a disaster.

source: http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=c5cae1e1510ae210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

Focus: Midwest and South Tornadoes

Red Cross response to the tornadoes in the Midwest and South:

Red Cross workers continue to offer shelter, food, emotional support and relief supplies to the thousands of people affected by last week’s tornadoes.
• Shelters are open across several states to provide people with a safe place to stay. Since last Wednesday, the Red Cross has sheltered hundreds of people displaced by tornadoes in 11 states.
o The Red Cross is also sheltering people in Florida and Michigan because of severe winter weather.
• Red Cross emergency vehicles are delivering meals throughout affected communities and in the coming days, relief supplies like shovels, rakes, trash bags, work gloves and tarps will be handed out to help people clean-up their neighborhoods.
• Red Cross mental health workers are helping people cope with the devastating things they have had to endure. Health workers are helping replace things like lost medications and eyeglasses.

If you would like to help people affected by disasters like these tornadoes and storms, you can make a donation today to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

SAFETY STEPS
As people begin to deal with the aftermath of the tornadoes, the Red Cross reminds them to return to their neighborhood only when officials say it is safe to do so. They should also:
• Stay out of damaged buildings. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes.
• Avoid fallen power lines or broken gas lines - immediately report them to the utility companies.
• If someone smells gas or hears a hissing noise, they should open a window, get everyone out of the building immediately and call the gas company or fire department
• Use flashlights, not candles when examining buildings.

Upcoming Trainings

Are you interested in becoming CPR and First Aid certified?  Or maybe you want to be eligible to teach Basic Aid Training and SafeKids classes or present at Community Disaster Education events!  If so, March is the month for you!

March 11th - SafeKids Training: Learn how to teach SafeKids classes! These classes are directed towards preschool and kindergarten-level children and will cover such topics as disaster preparedness and basic first aid. Email rcsafekids@gmail.com for specific questions. Please sign up by March 8th.

March 25th - BAT Instructor Training: Learn how to teach BAT classes! These classes teach basic first aid, CPR, etc. to students in elementary and middle school. There will only be 60 spaces, so sign up quick! Questions may be directed at rchealthandsafety@gmail.com. Sign up before March 22th.

March 27th - CDE Training: Learn how to present at CDEs! These events include health fairs, classes, and more! Sign up by March 24th.

March 22, April 9, 19, 28, May 20 - CPR/AED/First Aid Training: Learn how to save lives with CPR and first aid! These life-saving skills are priceless and will definitely come in handy. The classes are being offered for the low, low combined price of $20, discounted from the usual $90! CPR/AED will cost $15 and First Aid will cost $5. You may choose to take either one or both of the classes. There will be five different class sessions. Please sign up 3 days prior to the class you would like to attend.

All signups are available on the Current Event Sign-up page. If you have any general questions, feel free to email arcsvyouthevents@gmail.com!