The Indianapolis Red Cross Youth Initiative

A.R.C . Gives THANKS to J.A.G.

2011-11-10T14:47:00.006-05:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis is honored to support Decatur Central High School and to have attended the invitation and installation ceremony of their J.A.G. program. Jobs for America’s Graduates, J.A.G., is an active participant in the Red Cross S.H.A.R.E. program, meetings and events. Volunteering with our chapter, the J.A.G. class has been responsible for putting on a Battle of the Bands, volunteering at Halloween Safe Night and more with us.

We’d like to give them a BIG thank you!!! We are very proud of you young men and women. Keep up the good work!!!

Stay Safe on Halloween!

2011-10-25T10:41:00.003-04:00

Halloween is so much fun because we can dress up, stay up late, and eat tons of candy all in one night. But here are some tips to have fun and stay safe by using these tips:

See and Be Seen

After dark, kids aren't usually swarming the neighborhood. But on Halloween night, they are. That's why kids need to watch out for cars and other traffic. Be sure that your mask or costume doesn't cover your eyes or make it tough for you to see where you're going. You might think about wearing makeup instead of a mask. If you do wear a mask, make sure the eye holes are big enough so that you can see.

Kids also need to be seen on Halloween, so it's a good idea to wear or carry something that glows in the dark. You might choose a glowing necklace, a glow-in-the-dark treat bag, or a flashlight. Your parents also can apply reflective tape to your costume.

Don't Trip!

You want your costume to look cool, but there's nothing cool about tripping and stumbling all Halloween night. Make your costume trip-proof by:

making sure it's not too long
wearing shoes that fit
avoiding swords, canes, and other props that can get in your way

Don't Go It Alone

It's best to trick-or-treat with family members or friends. And it's also a good idea to have a grownup with you. A cell phone can be another handy item to have along. That way, you can check in with a parent or call for help, if needed.

Talk it over with your mom or dad when you're deciding where to trick-or-treat. Sticking close to home is great because then you'll know many of the people and you won't get lost in unfamiliar neighborhoods. And people who already know you just might throw an extra treat in your bag!

When trick-or-treating, avoid going inside a stranger's home. Sometimes a person might invite you in for a treat, but you can just say that your mom or dad asked you not to go inside anyone's house. (Likewise, never go up to or into a stranger's car even if the person offers you a Halloween treat.)

And if you're wondering about whether to go to a certain house, check if the porch light is on. If not, that's usually a sign that they aren't home or they don't want any trick-or-treaters.

Let's Talk Treats

Before you start eating the treats in your bag, you'll want to get a good look at them. When you get home, dump everything out and let your mom or dad see what you have. They can help you get rid of stuff you shouldn't eat. For instance, you don't want to eat anything that's loose or not in a wrapper. Anything unwrapped, including fresh fruit, should be thrown away. Without a wrapper, it's hard to tell if food is clean and safe to eat.

Once you've looked over your treats, you'll probably wonder just how much you can eat. Well, it's best not to overdo it. If you don't eat too much on Halloween, you'll have leftovers to enjoy in the days and weeks to come. In other words, you can make Halloween a little sweeter by making it last a little longer!

The Youth Department will be at Halloween Safe Night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds from 5-7pm on Halloween night. The Theme is “Trunk-or-Treat”! We hope to see you there!

Bookmobile School Locations

2011-09-20T09:52:00.007-04:00

On September 19th, The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, along with volunteers Andra, Barb, and Karen, kicked off the first Bookmobile stop of the year. The Bookmobile program provides three free books to youth in grades 2-5 in Selected Schools. The Bookmobile Program is funded through Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) grant, private donations, and volunteer assistance from Sallie Mae.

Click on the Link below and find the locations of schools Bookmobile is visiting in September/October/November:

http://www.communitywalk.com/indianapolis/in/map/1443461

Here are the dates in which the Bookmobile will set off to Greater Indianapolis Schools to give a free book to children in grades 2-5:
September: 20th, 26th, 27th, 29th.
October: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 25th, 26th, 28th.
November: 1st, 2nd, 10th, 11th, 15th, 17th, 18th.

Next Rounds for the Bookmobile will be in January/February and March/April.
Stay Posted!

American Red Cross Youth Volunteers in ACTION!

2011-09-20T09:45:00.004-04:00

Here is an awesome youth video showing ways YOU can get involved in your community through the Red Cross.

October is going to be a BIG month in the Youth Department. Let's get out volunteering in Indy!!

Watch it NOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPxd4hbd7bc&feature=player_detailpage

Contact us!
(317)396-9419

Adam Moschell ; amoschell@redcross-indy.org
Ashley Hickman ; ahickman@redcross-indy.org
Katie Oneill ; koneill@redcross-indy.org

Red Cross SHARE Meeting this Thursday

2011-09-07T09:03:00.001-04:00

The America Red Cross Youth Board will resume meeting to enhance the SHARE (Students Helping Advance Readiness Education) program in central Indiana and we need your help!!

We will meet this Thursday, September 8^th at 4:00pm – 5:00pm to discuss upcoming opportunities, review last years accomplishments, tour the Red Cross and learn how your school can become an official Red Cross school.

If you cannot make it to the meeting but would like to phone in, please let me know as this option could be made available.

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis is located at 441 E. 10^th St. Indianapolis, IN 46202. If you can only attend part of the meeting, that is OK! Any interest is great! We look forward to meeting with you and developing programs in your schools and communities that will help increase Red Cross awareness!

P.S. This is an open meeting, so anyone with interest can attend. If you know another student/teacher or group who may interested in this program, please do not hesitate to attend or refer them to us!!!

Make your own tornado!

2011-05-05T14:20:00.000-04:00

Directions: Gather the materials below to make a tornado with your family.

Materials:

• 2-liter plastic soda bottle with cap

• Water

• Dishwashing liquid

• Marbles or other small objects

1. Fill the bottle with water.

2. Put 3 drops of dishwashing liquid into the bottle.

3. Place a few small objects into the bottle. Recap the bottle tightly.

4. With a hand on each end, hold the bottle on its side.

Move the bottle in a circular motion to swirl the liquid.

5. Keep the liquid swirling as you turn the bottle upside down. Keep the cap end of the bottle steady while you continue to swirl the liquid in the large end.

Tornado Safety

2011-05-05T14:15:00.000-04:00

If there is a tornado warning,
Act Fast! Get to a safe place.
If you are outside, go inside to a basement or a center room with no windows.
Drop and cover your head and neck.
If you are stuck outside, lie down in a ditch.

December is Here!

2010-12-02T13:41:00.000-05:00

December is upon us! This means holidays, winter break, sledding and my favorite thing, SNOW!
Snow and cold weather can be tons of fun.. but severe winter weather can also be very dangerous. Before you go out and play in the first snow of the season, be sure to keep these tips in mind.

Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, wear mittens and a hat that covers your ears.
Wear waterproof boots to keep your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with nonfrozen drinking water.
Take breaks inside to warm up.

Have fun! We will see you after the new year when we start the Bookmobile up!

Halloween Safety

2010-10-27T10:17:00.000-04:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis wants to ensure everyone has a fun and safe Halloween! Here are a few safety tips while trick or treating:

-Map out your route beforehand
-Bring a flashlight
-Don't enter anyone's house
-Wear something light colored so you can be spotted
-Stay on the sidewalk
-Put a glow stick in your jack-o-lattern instead of a candle
-Watch for cars
-Only visit lit houses

The youth department will be at Safe Night at the Indiana state fairgrounds from 5-7pm on Halloween night. We hope to see you there!

October is Fire Prevention Month

2010-10-04T08:39:00.000-04:00

Hello youth! We hope everyone is enjoying autumn so far. Did you know that October is Fire Prevention month?

Here are some tips to prevent fires:
-Never leave the kitchen when your stove is on.
-Keep anything that can catch fire—like pot holders, towels, plastic and clothing— away from the stove.
-Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
-Don't play with matches or lighters.

Everyone should discuss a fire escape plan with their families and practice the plan twice a year. You should know two ways out of every room in your house!

If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help.

Back to School Time!

2010-08-30T09:22:00.000-04:00

We hope everyone is having a great start to the new school year and settling in to your new classes. The youth department here at the Indy Red Cross is looking forward to some fun projects, fundraisers and volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. If your school is interested in getting involved, you can email chawthorne@redcross-indy.org and we will get you some more information.

Be Red Cross Ready!

2010-07-27T15:24:00.000-04:00

It's been a great summer so far-the youth department has attended more than 30 camps and there's more coming up. A lot of teens in Indianapolis have asked how they can become CPR/AED and first aid certified. The answer is simple!

You can visit the local chapter website, which is posted below to view upcoming classes and register online:

http://www.redcross-indy.org/

Enjoy the rest of your summers and we look forward to seeing you when the school year starts!

Be Prepared for Heat Waves!

2010-07-07T13:13:00.000-04:00

Hello Indy! It's been a scorcher this week, so everyone at the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis wants to make sure you're prepared so you don't suffer from heat exhaustion.

Make sure to listen to the local weather and be aware of the temperatures outside. If you don't have air conditioning, try and go somewhere cool during the warmest parts of the day. I like to hang out at the public library when it's too hot to play outside.

Wear lightweight and light colored clothing and DRINK WATER!! Try and postpone outdoor activities to later in the day when it cools down. If you are doing things outside, take frequent breaks to cool off. Don't forget to eat small meals throughout the day.

Make sure you check on your friends and family members to make sure they are keeping cool and don't forget your pets! Give your dogs and cats water throughout the day, too.

Be sure to get help or call 9-1-1 if someone vomits, has changes in consciousness or seems to be suffering from the heat. Heat emergencies can be very serious and require medical attention.

Have a great summer and stay cool!!

Meet our newest youth department member!

2010-06-29T15:35:00.000-04:00

We want to welcome Carleen to the youth department! She said she is very excited to spend the next year reaching out to the youth in the Indianapolis area and teaching them how to prepare for disasters! You will see her at local events and wherever the bookmobile is.

Summer Camps 2010

2010-05-13T09:13:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! The Red Cross is pleased to announce that it has started to schedule our 2010 summer camps! Every summer, Red Cross representatives and volunteers travel to Indianapolis area summer camp programs to provide fun and informative disaster preparedness presentations to grade school aged camp participants.

If you are of high school student age or older you can become a volunteer at The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis teaching disaster preparedness lessons to elementary-aged children this summer at area camps. These hour-long presentations teach kids how to be Red Cross Ready, including life-saving information about tornado and fire safety. This is a great opportunity to start your involvement with the Red Cross, learn the inner workings of a non-profit organization, and build your resume. Skills required include public speaking, flexibility, and enthusiasm. Camps take place Monday through Friday during the daytime, usually between the hours of Volunteers will need to have their own source of reliable transportation to the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis in downtown Indianapolis. If you are interested, please contact Adam Moschell, Youth Outreach Coordinator, at AMoschell@RedCross-Indy.org or call 317-396-9419.

A Message from Prepared Patty

2010-04-15T09:33:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! Prepared Patty here. I wanted to share some information with you today about thunderstorm safety, so you can be prepared as I am!

What I would like to talk about is called the 30/30 rule, and it is about what you should do to stay safe if you are playing outside when dangerous weather might be happening. The rule is this:

If you are outside, and you hear thunder or see lighting, you need to slowly count to 30. If you see lightning or hear thunder again before you get to 30, you need to go inside, and you need to stay inside for 30 minutes after the storm ends.

Some people think thunderstorms are cool, but they can also be very, very dangerous, so you need to make sure you are safe when one happens. Thunderstorms can move very quickly, so be sure you react right away!

Thanks for listening to my message everybody! Now you can be Red Cross Ready for thunderstorms, too!

Complete the jigsaw puzzle below to view a photograph of a thunderstorm over Indianapolis!

provided by flash-gear.com

Tornado Time

2010-03-08T09:15:00.000-05:00

This has been an especially long, cold winter for Indy. Now that the temperatures are beginning to warm up, the gang has pictures of cook-outs and baseball and flip-flops in their heads. But here in the Central United States, spring can also mean the beginning of some bad weather . . .

Ready Eddie: The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and I am READY for Spring!

Confused Connie: Me too! This winter was crazy. I am so excited not to have to worry about bad weather anymore.

Prepared Patty: I'm excited for milder temperatures, too, Connie, but don't forget that spring time is often the peak time for other kinds of bad weather.

Confused Connie: Urg! What now?!?!?!

Ready Eddie: Oh yeah, I know . . . the beginning of spring is also the beginning of tornado season!

Confused Connie: So tornadoes happen in the spring?

Prepared Patty: Actually, Connie, they can happen any time of year. But it is true that they are most likely to happen in the spring, so it is a good time to talk about the importance of being prepared for tornadoes.

Confused Connie: Well, I know that if one might be happening if the tornado siren is going off. Unless you are downtown and it is Friday at 11:00am. Then that is just a test.

Ready Eddie: Exactly right, Connie! If the tornado siren goes off at a time that is not a designated testing time, it means there is a tornado watch or warning.

Prepared Patty: Yes. A tornado watch is when the weather conditions are right for a tornado to form, and one could appear at any moment, so you need to watch out. A tornado warning is when a tornado has actually been spotted, and may be heading in your direction, so you need to go to a safe place.

Confused Connie: Like my basement?

Ready Eddie: Right!

Confused Connie: What if I am at my grandma's? She lives on the 9th floor of an apartment building.

Prepared Patty: In any tornado situation, you want to get away from windows, and as low to the ground as possible. In a place where you can't get to the lowest level, or if you are in a building without a basement, you need to go to a small interior room, like a hallway or a bathroom or a closet.

Ready Eddie: Yeah, Connie, you can always get into the bathtub, and cover yourself with something soft and padded, like a mattress! Then you get into the tornado position. Make sure you cover your head and the back of your neck with your hands!

Confused Connie: So my grandmother will be okay?

Prepared Patty: Yes, if she is prepared!

Confused Connie: Good! . . . How else can someone prepared for tornadoes?

Ready Eddie: Well, they should make sure they have a disaster kit! Especially one with a battery powered radio, so they can listen to the weather reports for those watches and warnings we talked about.

Prepared Patty: Plus, tornadoes can happen anytime, even when you are outside. Remember that if you are outside when a tornado happens, you need to get inside a building with a basement as quickly as possible. If you cannot get inside, you need to lay down in a low-lying place like a ditch and cover your head.

Confused Connie: I feel a lot better about tornado season now that I understand what I need to do if one happens. Thanks guys!!!

Prepared Patty: Any time Patty! Now let's go to the store! I think it might soon be the start of water fight season, too!

Ready Eddie: YEAH!

Now it is time to test your tornado knowledge. Click on the picture below for a larger, printable version of our tornado crossword puzzle!

Winter Bookmobile Coming Soon

2009-12-31T13:11:00.000-05:00

The Winter run of the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis' Bookmobile will begin in a few weeks! Many of our bookmobile schools have already been scheduled (see sidebar at left). This season we are excited to be bringing our new Scrubby Bear program out with us as we travel from school to school to share this exciting disease information with first grade students. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Winter Safety

2009-12-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

Ready Eddie: Burrr, it sure is cold out there!

Prepared Patty: You're telling me! I am glad I prepared myself for the weather by wearing my warm jacket, hat, and gloves.

Ready Eddie: Have you seen the weather forecast lately. I think soon we might get some-

Confused Connie: SNOW!!!! I LOVE SNOW!!!! SNOW IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!

Ready Eddie: I agree. I love playing in the snow. But snow can also be very dangerous.

Confused Connie: Dangerous? But how?

Ready Eddie: Winter weather can cause lots of problems. A lot of them have to do with car accidents. Driving in winter conditions can be extremely hazardous. You could crash or become stranded.

Prepared Patty: That is exactly right, Eddie, which is why it is important to make sure every car your ride in has a disaster supplies kit!

Confused Connie: I think I remember now. We talked about having disaster supplies kits this summer at the summer camps. So . . . is they why we told everyone to have a kit every house AND every car?

Ready Eddie: Yes! Winter weather isn't the only situation you might need supplies in your car for, but it is definitely an important one to be ready for.

Confused Connie: What if I just stay out of cars? Will winter be safe for me then?

Prepared Patty: Definitely not! Winter storms are dangerous for everyone and can cause many problems. Large storms can knock the power out for days! That can be very scary for people who aren't prepared.

Ready Eddie: You have to be ready to prevent dangerous situations, like hypothermia.

Confused Connie: Hypothermia? I don't remember what that is!

Ready Eddie: Hypothermia is when you body gets so cold, it starts to shut down. It is a very serious condition.

Confused Connie: Oh no! What can I do?

Ready Eddie: It is important to make sure you are ready when winter storms hit! Having a disaster supplies kit in your home can be very helpful during this time.

Prepared Patty: Yes, especially one packed with extra blankets and warm clothing.

Confused Connie: Okay, that makes sense. My family has a wood stove, too, so that should help, right?

Ready Eddie: That is a good way to keep warm when the power is out, but don't forget to be careful with any wood stove, fireplace, or other heating device. If you're not, you could start a fire!

Confused Connie: Really? A fire? When it is so cold out??

Prepared Patty: Definitely! But you can prevent fire by not leaving heating sources on when you're not arround, and making sure your smoke detectors are working and have fresh batteries.

Confused Connie: I think I can do that. There is a lot to think about with winter weather! But is it still okay for me to have fun in the snow?

Ready Eddie: Of course! Just make sure you have warm winter clothes on.

Confused Connie: Good! Now that I know how to stay safe, I can still be excited about making snow forts again!

Prepared Patty: And that will be a good way to be prepared for the snowball fights I am sure we will be having.

Ready Eddie: I can't wait!

Now that you've thought about being prepared for winter weather, what are some important items for your winterized disaster supplies kit? Below is a word find with some good ideas for items you should be sure to have. Click on the puzzle for a larger, printable version:

Scrubby Bear Game

2009-11-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis has now brought the Scrubby Bear Program to over 500 area kids! To celebrate, here is a Scrubby Bear word find. See if you can find all the words hidden within this puzzle and remember how they relate to staying healthy! Click the puzzle to enlarge.

Scrubby Bear Comes to Indianapolis!

2009-10-06T12:21:00.000-04:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis is proud to present the Scrubby Bear Program as a the newest addition to our Youth and Educational Outreach offerings! Scrubby Bear is a Red Cross program designed for Kindergarten and First Grade aged-children about the importance of hand washing. Proper hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent diseases such as colds, flu, Hepatitis A, and infectious diarrhea. Due to recent outbreaks of potentially pandemic flu like H1N1, this information is more important than ever!

The young participants in this half hour program learn about how germs are spread and discuss methods to prevent infection. Hand washing techniques are practiced and other good hygiene tips discussed. Central to this presentation is the story of Scrubby Bear, a young bear who knows a lot about good hygiene practices! At the end of the presentation, participants become official card-carrying members of the Scrubby Bear Clean Hands Club after taking the club pledge.

If you are interested in bringing this popular and innovative program to your Kindergarten and First Grade students, contact Adam Moschell, head of youth activities at the Indy Red Cross chapter, at 317-396-9419 or amoschell@redcross-indy.org, to schedule a presentation.

Remember what Scrubby Bear says: "Don't get sick! Wash up quick!"

Bookmobile 2009!

2009-09-21T09:24:00.000-04:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis is gearing up for their first Bookmobile visits of the school year at participating IPS schools. The gang is preparing the Bookmobile. . .

Ready Eddie: Hey guys! I just got back from the Bookmobile Room. Wow, we have tons of books! And we still have tons more to unpack!

Confused Connie: That is really exciting! The Red Cross is going to make a lot of money selling books this year!

Prepared Patty: Connie, don't you know anything about the Red Cross Bookmobile? The Red Cross doesn't sell books, they give them away!

Confused Connie: Really? For FREE?

Ready Eddie: Yeah, isn't that cool?

Confused Connie: Wait . . . do the kids get to keep the books, or do they just borrow them, like at the library? The library is free . . .

Prepared Patty: They get to keep the books.

Confused Connie: Forever?

Ready Eddie: Forever.

Confused Connie: That is really cool! How nice of the Red Cross! But . . . what kind of books? They aren't dumb books, are they? Are they . . . about the Red Cross?

Prepared Patty: No silly! We worked really hard to research what kinds of books kids are into.

Ready Eddie: Yeah! We have stuff like Goosebumps and Junie B. Jones and The Magic Treehouse and Hannah Montana . . .

Confused Connie: I LOVE Hannah Montana!

Prepared Patty: I'm more into Goosebumps. I've read all the Goosebumps. Hannah Montana is not very prepared, Connie.

Ready Eddie: . . . and books about sports and science and comic book characters . . .

Prepared Patty: We better go get the Bookmobile ready! We have lots of books to distribute!

Confused Connie: Okay! Bye guys! I can't wait to start giving out free books to the kids at our bookmobile schools!

Ready Eddie: . . . and classics and joke books and Cheetah Girls and Hardy Boys graphic novels . . .

Summer Youth Program in Madison County

2009-08-13T11:13:00.000-04:00

This summer, the Red Cross provided the Youth Disaster Preparedness Program in Madison County for the first time. We were able to do this thanks to the Indiana United Way Disaster Fund. Adam M and Katie B from Indianapolis helped me to get the program up and running.

A special thanks goes out to Hannah, Dani, Kali, and Tom. With the help of these 4 youth leaders, we visited 8 locations in Madison County- in Anderson, Alexandria, Lapel, and Pendleton- doing a presentation and a follow-up session a week later at each site. This includes the YMCA, several daycare facilities, and school registration at the Wigwam. We gave a total of 10 disaster preparedness presentations to kids in grades K-8. Fifty kids completed their Family Disaster Plans, and 14 of those lucky kids won Emergency Preparedness Kits for their families.

A total of 293 Madison County kids were reached this summer!

I’ve really enjoyed this experience and I’m proud to know that 293 kids and their families are better prepared for disasters!

Thanks!

Katie Ayers

The Youth Department Goes to the Children's Museum

2009-08-11T08:56:00.000-04:00

On the evening of Thursday, August 4^th, the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis’ Youth Initiative team was pleased to participate in the Playfit Family Night at the Children’s Museum: a free admission night where families can come together before the start of the school year. The Red Cross was one of many organizations to have a booth at this event. We reached hundreds of youth and adult residents of Indianapolis with tons of Red Cross information.

Along with a variety of informational pamphlets and booklets, we brought along two Red Cross games to help educate the participants in disaster preparedness: the Prize Wheel and the Mystery Box. At the Prize Wheel we gave out nearly 400 prize bags to kids who answered questions about disaster preparedness and first aid. At the Mystery Box kids pulled an item from the box and explained why or why not that item would be a good thing to put in a disaster preparedness kit, in exchange for some Red Cross band-aids.

Our youth representatives had a great time at this event, and we hope you did too!

The next event the Youth Initiative will be attending is the August 20th Back 2 School Celebration at school 110.

Summer Camp Wrap-Up

2009-08-10T13:07:00.000-04:00

American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis’ Youth team recently finished a summer of Disaster Preparedness presentations at local camps. We reached 2344 local kids during 84 camps around the area. Our friends Eddie, Patty, and Connie discuss some of the highlights of the summer . . .

Ready Eddie: What a great summer! We helped over 2000 kids at summer camps get prepared for disasters these past few months! We taught them to be Red Cross Ready by getting a kit, making a plan, and being informed!

Prepared Patty: If any of those kids experience a disaster they will know what to do because they are prepared. Being prepared for disasters is important! If a disaster happens, you are less likely to get hurt or need assistance after if you are prepared!

Confused Connie: We saw so many kids! It made me laugh how everyone thought the radio in our disaster kit was a walkie-talkie!

Ready Eddie: We gave presentations in such a wide variety of locations! Outside, inside, in the sun, in the rain . . .

Prepared Patty: Remember when the power went out during our presentation at Shepherd Community Center? Good thing I was prepared with that glow stick!

Confused Connie: That thunderstorm was pretty scary. I am glad I leaned so much about what do to during thunderstorms so I don’t freak out when they happen.

Ready Eddie: Yes, Connie, it is good not to freak out when we give presentations! I am glad you learned so much so that you will be ready for the next possible disaster.

Confused Connie: I learned how to do the tornado position!

Ready Eddie: That is great, Connie!

Confused Connie: But I am worried . . . what if I don’t remember everything that I learned? We gave out a lot of information during our presentations. What if I forget something important???

Prepared Patty: That is why we gave out those Be Red Cross Ready booklets. They cover a lot of the same information the presentations covered and more! That way, even if you don’t remember everything from the presentation, you can still review the material any time you want so you can be confident you are prepared.

Confused Connie: Oh yeah! I remember those booklets! And we also gave out activity books and pencils and bookmarks and band-aids . . .

Ready Eddie: Yeah! If someone gets a small cut or scrape, I will be ready with my band-aids!

Prepared Patty: Don’t forget to wear gloves when you are helping someone who is bleeding!

Ready Eddie: Don’t worry, Patty, I won’t.

Confused Connie: We had so much fun this summer!!! I am sad it is over. I liked visiting all the camps and meeting all those great kids!

Ready Eddie: There is no need to be sad, Connie, the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis does these summer programs every year. Plus, there are various events during the school year and the book mobile! We will still be out in the community helping kids get prepared for disasters!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-08T09:51:00.000-04:00

Ready Eddie, Prepared Patty and Confused Connie just returned from a long weekend for the Fourth of July! They all celebrated together and had a blast! And it was good that Eddie and Patty were there to help Connie out of a potentially HOT situation!

Ready Eddie: Hi Everyone! I'm so glad to be back!

Prepared Patty: We had a great Forth but there are so many fire hazards this time of year! I'm glad I was prepared for our accident this weekend.

Confused Connie: HI! I'm so glad to speak to you guys again! Did everyone enjoy the Forth? I LOVE the Forth of July. All the fireworks and camp fires...mmm s'mores...

Prepared Patty: Oh Connie, those can be so dangerous. You need to be very prepared for accidents before you have any of those things

Confused Connie: ...and sparklers... and cook outs

Ready Eddie: Yes, they can be dangerous but they can also be so fun Patty! Remember!

Confused Connie:...hot dogs....hamburgers....

Prepared Patty: That's true, we did have so much fun at Connie's house, but it was a good thing I was prepared when that grill fire got out of hand.

Ready Eddie: And it's good that I was ready to take action!

Confused Connie: I'm glad you were both there to help me. But, I don't understand why it happened. I was just cooking hotdogs and hamburgers....they were so good...I love cookouts.

Prepared Patty: Well, as I learned in my Red Cross Fire Safety class, fires require three things to start.

Confused Connie: Three things...hmm...like matches, hotdogs, and a grill?

Ready Eddie: Close Connie but not quite. You need three things for a fire. The first is Fuel. The second is Oxygen and third is Heat.

Prepared Patty: Lit matches and your grill are a good examples of heat. The yummy hotdogs were the fuel for the fire. The grease from the hot dogs is hot but it also burns so it can be fuel or heat. Since we were outside on your deck, the wood deck could be fuel too. The oxygen was air outside.

Confused Connie: I see, so I had all the right things for a fire to happen! Cool!

Ready Eddie: Not cool Connie, it can be very dangerous. The grease from the hotdogs and hamburgers dripped down onto your deck. The grease provided heat, the wood of the deck provided fuel and the oxygen was in the air. That's why a fire started on your deck.

Confused Connie: yeah, it was a scary fire. I was afraid.

Prepared Patty: That's why when you have a cook out you want to be prepared. You can be prepared by keeping the grill away from fuel like wooden decks or dried leaves. Also keep oily cloths and lighter fluid away from the grill as they can easily catch fire! Futhermore, I made sure we had a fire extinguisher close by just in case.

Ready Eddie: I'm glad you remember to be prepared Patty and have the fire extinguisher close and that I was ready to take action!

Confused Connie: You guys were great! I'm so glad you were there to help me out! And thanks patty for all your ideas on how to be safe when I cook outside!

Prepared Patty: No problem Connie! Thank You for having such a wondering celebration for July 4th!

Ready Eddie: Well, I guess we should go get ready for a day at camps!

Confused Connie: We get to go to Camp! YAY! I LOVE camps! Camps are totally awesome!!!!! See you later!!!!

Prepared Patty: Bye everyone! I'll tell you more next time about fire safety!

Ready Eddie: See you later! We'll be back soon.

Meet the New Team!

2009-06-26T13:22:00.000-04:00

Ready Eddie, Prepared Patty and Confused Connie are New to Indianapolis and this is their first day working at the Indianapolis American Red Cross! They are all excited about their new jobs and can't wait to meet all of you! They will be learning all about being prepared for disasters and might need your help! Be sure to check back often in case they have questions that you can help them answer! Oh, here they are now...

ReadyEddie: Hello everyone! I'm Ready Eddie! I'm new to the Indy Red Cross and I am ready to learn all about being prepared for disasters! I hope all of you can help me learn!

PreparedPatty: Hi guys! I'm Prepared Patty! I know all about being prepared for disasters so I don't think I'll need your help. Maybe I can help you!

ConfusedConnie: What? Is this thing on?

ReadyEddie: Yeah, it's on Confused Connie. You just type. I'm sure they are all excited about meeting you.

PreparedPatty: Come ON Connie. I took a whole class on computers so that I would be prepared.

ConfusedConnie: Oh. HI GUYS! I'm soooo excited you're all here! It's like a party! I looove parties. Last year, I had this totally GREAT birthday party -

ReadyEddie: This isn't a party Connie. Even though it's fun, we're learning about disaster preparedness.

ConfusedConnie: Wait? We're in the middle of a disaster??? OH NO!!! Take cover!!!

PreparedPatty: Calm down Connie! There isn't a disaster going on right now. We're here so that we can be prepared when one actually happens...I love the word prepared...

ConfusedConnie: Oh, okay. Hello there! I'm Connie! Sometimes I need a little help understanding what's going on but my best friends Eddie and Patty are always there to help me understand.

ReadyEddie: Well kids, I have to go get ready for my first day of work. See you soon!

PreparedPatty: Bye!

ConfusedConnie: HI! Wait, oh, we're leaving now? Okay. BYE GUYS!

Summer Youth Internship Opportunity with "Get Red Cross Ready!" Program

2009-05-07T10:21:00.000-04:00

This summer, the Red Cross will again be conducting the “Get Red Cross Ready” Summer Youth Initiative. Last year, the Youth Department educated over 2,000 students in Marion County on disaster preparedness through presentations at local Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and Indy Parks. A similar initiative, due to the work of Americorps*VISTA Kate Ayers, will also be taking place in Madison county this summer.

We are recruiting high school and college students ages 14-23 for full and part-time unpaid summer internships in both Marion and Madison Counties. Interns would work alongside Red Cross employees and Americorps*VISTAs to compose educational materials and make presentations to the target youth. The presentations will occur on weekdays between the hours of 9AM-3PM. We will work with qualified candidates to accommodate their availability.

Just click on this link to view the “Application for Leaders” and the “Get Red Cross Ready! Leaders” documents for position description and application. If you have any further questions please contact Katie Burkhardt at KBurkhardt@redcross-indy.org for Marion County opportunities or Kate Ayers at KAyers@redcross-indy.org for Madison County positions.

Round 1 Finished!

2008-12-09T09:36:00.000-05:00

As the holidays roll in the Bookmobile pulls in for a pit stop. We've finished our first round of book distributions, seeing over 4,000 kids and promoting disaster preparedness. We want to thank all the schools for your cooperation during our visits and we look forward to seeing everyone 2 more times in the winter and spring of 2009 (featuring out brand new vehicle). Remember, our goal is to make you happy, so let us know what books you would like to see added to our collection. We will do out best to ind what everyone wants. Also, we'd like to give a special thanks to School #54 for sending us cards. We love getting feedback from everyone and appreciate the time put into to making these works of art!

Return of the Bookmobile!

2008-10-13T11:28:00.000-04:00

The 2008-2009 school year is in full swing which means the Bookmobile is once again roaring its engine at a school near you. This year we will be visiting a total of 16 different IPS schools and giving grades 2-5 the opportunity to select a new book. We have all the usual favorites in stock this year such as Hannah Montana, Capatain Underpants, Junie B. Jones and Goosebumps. Students have 3 different opportunities to select books from us during the school year, but that doesn't make choosing a great read any easier. A special thanks to all of our volunteers who help with distributions and to our Manual High School students who aid us as well. We look foward to visiting your school too and hope that kids remember that reading can be an adventure!

Fire Escape Plans

2008-08-25T12:53:00.000-04:00

One of the most important things about a Family Disaster Plan is knowing how to escape your home in case of an emergency. Families often draw maps of their homes to help them femember which routes are the fastest and where the most accessible exits are. You should also have a meeting place outside your home your whole family can safely gather. I've displayed my fire escape plan here, now draw your own at home nd share it with your family!

Can you solve the puzzle?

2008-08-11T09:21:00.000-04:00

provided by flash-gear.com

Upcoming appearances

2008-08-04T10:57:00.000-04:00

The Youth and Educational Outreach team will be appearing at various locations around the city this month, including....

August 6th - Lawrence Early College Boot Camp

August 7th - Playfit/Target free family night at the Children's Museum

August 21st - 10th Annual Back to School Carnival Celebration at Julian Coleman Academies, IPS # 110.

September 4th - Perry Meridian Highschool Healthy Living Fair

Look for us at these events and others, and if you have an event you'd like us to attend please contact me at AMoschell@redcross-indy.org .

From the Desk of Kathleen Burkhardt

2008-07-30T12:05:00.000-04:00

Rumblings of a forty-something year old bookmobile and practiced, steady words on disaster preparedness could be heard amid the typical shrieks, laughter, and games of summer camp in the Greater Indianapolis Area this year.

Cara McCord and I, two summer VISTAs for the American Red Cross Youth and Educational Outreach Department, made over 82 presentations to youth ranging in age from 3-17 at YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Indy Parks over the past eight weeks. Every Monday-Thursday Cara and I would strap ourselves into the bookmobile, rattle off down the road, and wonder what the day held for us. Although we gave the same 40 minute presentation up to six times a day, the variety of our audience ensured new experiences and lessons each time we detailed the importance of Disaster Kits and Family Disaster Plans. We soon learned that nearly every group, without fail, would mistake the Emergency Blanket for a PopTart; try to convince us that jumping out of a second story window was a good idea during a fire; adhere to some unspoken rule that when in doubt, shout out “Ice pack!”; and would never, ever remember Cara’s name.

In the end, we were able to reach 1,775 youth and educate them about disaster preparedness. Every student we met this summer learned at least one new thing from our presentation, which—when the information could save a life—made every word worthwhile.

- Katie Burkhardt -

Word Search Puzzle!

2008-07-15T15:09:00.000-04:00

Here is a fun crossword puzzle for you to do at home. Just click the image and then print the page that appears!

Summer Youth Preparedness

2008-06-24T10:50:00.000-04:00

The American Red Cross youth and educational outreach department has been having a busy summer. Though school is out and the youth of Indianapolis are scattered around neighborhoods, we’ve been working with the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club to provide relevant information and fun presentations to kids at summer day camps. Teaching the program are two amazing AmeriCorps*VISTA workers, Cara McCord and Katie Burkhardt. When asked about the summer education efforts Cara said, “Teaching youth about Disaster Preparedness is imperative in our world today. The youth play a major role in changing the future world and being prepared for the unexpected is a good place to start.”

With the weather being as unpredictable as ever lately, the need to teach kids how to be prepared has become a major priority. The youth have been witnesses to the destruction and chaos that can be caused by tornadoes, floods and multiple other disasters. The presentations about being ready for such events give them something to relate to and teach them valuable skills. The focus has been getting families educated on the importance of having a disaster supplies kit and making sure everyone has a disaster plan. So far the kids have responded with enthusiasm and interest which ensures us that when the time comes, these kids will be ready!

For more information on disasters and how to be prepared, please visit the American Red Cross website at http://www.redcross-indy.org/ or by purchasing a disaster supplies kit at your local American Red Cross.

An Introduction

2008-06-03T12:28:00.000-04:00

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis has always worked with the Youth of our community. From assisting with Red Cross Bookmobile distributions, to creating comfort kits to be used in disasters, to providing educational information about being prepared, the Youth of Indianapolis have been active more then ever. This blog is a way for us to share information with you about upcoming events and about how you too can become more involved.