We Want You for the Red, White & Blue Bash!

Saturday, May 2, 2009
6:30 p.m. at the Bartow Civic Center
Net proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter

Your local American Red Cross Polk County Chapter volunteers will always be there to respond when people are affected by disasters. You chapter not only trains everyday people as volunteers, but also trains everyday people who want to respond in a medical emergency with first aid, CPR, or using an automated external defibrillator.

We can only do this training with your help and support, through regular donations of time and/or money. Now is your chance to do both at the Red, White,  & Blue Bash.

The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, at the Bartow Civic Center. Come dressing in your best patriotic and sign up as a General, Colonel, or Captain sponsor,…or enlist as a Private (single ticket).

Your tour of duty includes dinner by Texas Cattle Company, dancing and music — including selections by Steve Selby and patriotic songs from Harrison Arts Institute — a cash bar; and both silent and live auctions.
For Ticket information, call (863) 294-5941 today!
See our flyer.

The American Red Cross provides immediate emergency assistance based on need, thanks to donations from individuals and businesses in the local community. Only the financial support of the local community makes it possible for your local Red Cross Chapter to provide assistance in times of disaster and maintain public education and Health & Safety training programs. More information is available at http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org or on the national site at www.redcross.org.

The Red Cross, an organization run by local volunteers, depends on community support every day to provide assistance to people in your community. Your support makes Red Cross assistance possible. Please make a financial donation to your local Red Cross.

American Red Cross offers Swine Flu prevention tips

April 28, 2009 — As reports of the swine flu continue to dominate national headlines, the American Red Cross recommends individuals, families and businesses follow basic safety tips to prevent the spread of illness.

 

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or a hand sanitizer.
• Avoid or minimize contact with sick people (a minimum 3 feet distancing is recommended.)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
• Stay away from others as much as possible when you are sick.
• Adopt good business policies that encourage employees/students to stay home when sick and get a flu shot every year.
• Follow health and travel recommendations from your local health authorities and the CDC.

 

As health experts across the world seek to get more information and a better understanding of the scope and severity of the swine flu outbreak, this is also a good time for families, businesses and organizations to review and update their preparedness plans.

 

The American Red Cross and its chapters will continue to work with government officials on the swine flu issue and stand ready to help as appropriate.  The American Red Cross is committed to educating the public on preparedness and safety and ensuring that we can continue to provide disaster services to those in need.

 

People seeking information on human swine flu should visit the CDC web site or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

 

For more information and free tips on how to be Red Cross Ready to prevent the spread of the flu, visit www.midfloridaredcross.org, or contact your local Red Cross.

Polk Red Cross helps Winter Haven family after fire

WINTER HAVEN, FL (APRIL 28, 2009) – American Red Cross volunteers helped a Winter Haven family of three Tuesday morning after a fire damaged their home.

Volunteers with the Polk County Chapter responded to the home on 24th Street and provided two adults and one child with temporary shelter, comfort kits (personal hygiene supplies), emergency assistance for groceries, and odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home.

Home fires continue to be the most common disaster response for any local Red Cross Chapter. While any disaster can be devastating to a family, large or small, needs increase during tough economic times. Please take every precaution and follow fire safety tips to prevent fires in your home.

For more information, call your Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941 or visit http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org.

Polk County Chapter sees a busy three days of fires

Volunteers respond to nine house fires and feed firefighters at industrial fire, in three days

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009 – The American Red Cross Polk County chapter has just seen a busy three days, starting at roughly 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, and ending at roughly the same time on Friday, April 24.

All told, American Red Cross volunteers in Polk and Highlands counties have responded to a combined nine home fires – affecting 10 families (31 people) – and provided a hydration, nutrition and respite station for firefighters at an industrial fire in Bartow.

Polk Red Cross volunteers started by responding at 10:15 a.m. to a fire on Melhorn Road in Haines City, Fla.,, which had displaced two adults, a child, and a puppy. Volunteers provided the family with temporary shelter, comfort kits (personal hygiene items), emergency assistance for clothing and groceries, Red Cross T-shirts, and a teddy bear to comfort the child.

Then at 11:30 a.m., Red Cross volunteers drove to Hughes Road in Lake Hamilton, Fla., where a fire had destroyed the one man’s mobile home. He had arranged to stay with family, but volunteers were able to provide a comfort kit, emergency assistance for groceries and clothing, a Red Cross T-Shirt, and landlord verification forms to assist in relocation.

Then just before noon, a fire started at the Peace River Citrus plant on U.S. 17 in Bartow. Red Cross volunteers arrived at 1 p.m. and provided 50 meals, 100 drinks, 60 snacks, and a misting fan to roughly 50 emergency personnel.

Red Cross responded to several home fires over the three-day period. Each case was different, but volunteers provided assistance based on people’s disaster-caused needs:

• At 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, Highlands County Red Cross volunteers helped a family of three displaced from their home on Holmes Court in Sebring.
• At 2:30 p.m., Red Cross volunteers in Polk County responded to the site of a fire on Elk Drive in Lakeland to help five adults.
• At 11:30 p.m., Red Cross volunteers arrived on Pipkin Road in Lakeland, where fire displaced two adults and four children.
• Shortly after noon on Wednesday, April 22, volunteers responded to a fire scene on Henry Street in Auburndale, and provided assistance to two adults and a child, who were able to still stay in the house.
• At 8:15 p.m. that night, volunteers responded to help an adult and three children after a fire on West 14th Street in Lakeland.
• Thursday morning saw Red Cross responding in both counties. A fire on Tubbs Ranch Road in Sebring destroyed the mobile home of a family of four. Later that day, a duplex fire on North Vermont Drive in Lakeland affected two families – three adults.

Home fires continue to be the most common disaster response for any local Red Cross Chapter. While any disaster can be devastating to a family, large or small, needs increase during tough economic times. Please take every precaution and follow fire safety tips to prevent fires in your home, and please support your local Red Cross. For more information, call your Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941 or visit http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org.

Polk County Chapter sees seven fires in two days

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Polk Red Cross volunteers helping families displaced in Lakeland duplex fire

 

APRIL 23, 2009 – Fire calls for the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter have stayed almost constant since Tuesday afternoon.

 

In just 48 hours – from 2 p.m. April 21 to 2 p.m. April 23 – volunteers with the local chapter, whether in Highlands or Polk counties, have responded to a combined seven fires, affecting eight families, and more than 25 people.

 

Thursday morning saw fires in both counties, the most recent being a fire on North Vermont Drive in Lakeland, which affected two families. Volunteers are still doing casework with those families, but fortunately, the landlord has been able to move them into vacant units.

 

The other Thursday morning fire was in Sebring, destroying the mobile home of a family of four, who has received temporary shelter and other assistance from Highlands County Red Cross volunteers.

 

Thursday marked the latest in a spike of fires in just the last two days. Each case was different; Volunteers provided assistance based on people’s disaster-caused needs:

 

• At 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, Highlands County Red Cross volunteers helped a family of three displaced from their home on Holmes Court in Sebring.

 

• At 2:30 p.m., Red Cross volunteers in Polk County responded to the site of a fire on Elk Drive in Lakeland to help a family of five adults.

 

• Then, at 11:30 p.m., Red Cross volunteers arrived on Pipkin Road in Lakeland, where a fire had displaced two adults and their four children.

 

• Shortly after noon on Wednesday, April 22, volunteers responded to a fire scene on Henry Street in Auburndale, and provided assistance to two adults and a child, who were able to still stay in the house.

 

• Then, at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday night, volunteers responded to a house fire on West 14^th Street in Lakeland, helping an adult and three children.

 

Home fires continue to be the most common disaster response for any local Red Cross Chapter. While any disaster can be devastating to a family, large or small, needs increase during tough economic times. Please take every precaution and follow fire safety tips to prevent fires in your home, and please support your local Red Cross. For more information, call your Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941 or visit http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org.

Mid-Florida Red Cross volunteers assist firefighters as they battle brushfire

ORLANDO  (April 23, 2009) – <!–[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]–><!–[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]–> <!–[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]–><!–[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]–> A wildfire in the Bithlo area continues to grow and with no rain in sight for the next few days, firefighters are preparing for what could be a long battle.

 

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Over the next few days volunteers with the American Red Cross of Central Florida will be providing support to the Orange County Fire Department as they work to keep the blaze under control.

 

An Emergency Response Vehicle loaded with snacks and water will help keep firefighters hydrated and fed. Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q will also donate up to 60 meals for tonight (Thursday April, 23). Volunteers will continue to operate the canteen providing breakfast, lunch and dinner until the Red Cross is no longer needed at the command post.

 

While the wildfire is not currently threatening any homes in the area, the flames came close just a few days ago. The Red Cross opened a shelter at the Corner Lake Middle School on Chuluota Road last Sunday so resident evacuated from their homes would have a place to rest. The shelter closed that evening when residents were allowed back into their neighborhoods.

 

American Red Cross services are provided free of charge to victims of disaster. The Red Cross also operates under mutual aid agreements to assist crews during emergencies.

 

Any questions should be directed to the Mid-Florida Region Communications Manager at the number listed below:

Laureen Martinez, Communications Manager

American Red Cross Mid-Florida Region

(O) 407 894-4141 x: 5657, (C) 407 256-4676

laureenm@midfloridaredcross.org

Highlands Red Cross helps family after home destroyed by fire

<!–[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]–><!–[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]–>SEBRING, FL (Thursday, April 23, 2009) – Shortly after a fire destroyed a mobile home on Thursday in Sebring, American Red Cross volunteers arrived to help.

 

At 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 23, American Red Cross volunteers with the Highlands County office were called to the site of a mobile home fire on Tubbs Ranch Road. They arrived soon after 8 a.m.  and provided the family – two adults and two children – with temporary shelter, comfort kits (personal hygiene supplies), emergency assistance for groceries, and odor-control concentrate to help salvage any items from the home.

 

Home fires are still the most common local disaster for Red Cross volunteers, and Thursday’s fire was the second in three days for the Highlands County Red Cross.

 

Information on preventing home fires is online at http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org or by contacting your Highlands County office in person at 106 Medical Center Avenue in Sebring, by phone at (863) 386-4440, or via e-mail at redcross@vistanet.net.

 

The American Red Cross will respond to help people affected by disaster, whether that disaster is a severe storm, flood, tornado, or house fire. Please support your local Red Cross in Highlands County by calling (863) 386-4440 or e-mailing redcross@vistanet.net.

Polk County Chapter sees another fire in busy day

Red Cross sees spike in fires – five in 36 hours

APRIL 22, 2009 – Fire calls for the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter have spiked since Tuesday afternoon.

Now volunteers have responded to their fifth fire in just over a day. At 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, volunteers responded to a house fire on West 14th Street in Lakeland. They helped an adult and three children with temporary shelter, emergency assistance for groceries, two comfort kits (packs of hygiene supplies), odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home, three Red Cross T-shirts, a blanket, and Mickey Mouse stuffed toys to comfort the children.

This fire was just the latest in a string of home fires over the last 36 hours. Each case was different; Volunteers provided assistance based on people’s disaster-caused needs:

• At 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, Highlands County Red Cross volunteers helped a family of three displaced from their home on Holmes Court in Sebring.
• At 2:30 p.m., Red Cross volunteers in Polk County responded to the site of a fire on Elk Drive in Lakeland to help a family of five adults.
• Then, at 11:30 p.m., Red Cross volunteers arrived on Pipkin Road in Lakeland, where a fire had displaced two adults and their four children.
• Most recently, shortly after noon on Wednesday, April 22, volunteers responded to a fire scene on Henry Street in Auburndale, and provided assistance to two adults and a child, who were able to still stay in the house.

Home fires continue to be the most common disaster response for any local Red Cross Chapter. While any disaster can be devastating to a family, large or small, needs increase during tough economic times. Please take every precaution and follow fire safety tips to prevent fires in your home, and please support your local Red Cross. For more information, call your Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941 or visit http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org.