AMERICAN RED CROSS, ROTA NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2014

HOLA ROTA!

Become an American Red Cross Rota Volunteer Today!!

Volunteer Orientation is held the first Wednesday of each the month, from 12-1

pm in the Community Support Building, 3293. Come to the Red Cross office and

we will get you signed in and directed to the classroom. Our next Volunteer Ori-

entation will be on November 5th, 12-1 pm.

There are several different ways that we can use your help! Our Special Events

Committee, DGF, and Housing to name a few, are always looking for more

volunteers. In addition, we have a number of volunteer leadership positions

available within the American Red Cross Rota.

Orientation is the perfect time to find out more

about these exciting opportunities.

Tell your friends and co-worker about volun-

teering with the Red Cross Volunteer!

IN THIS ISSUE

NURSE GIBB’S HEALTH & SAFTEY CORNER

AMERICAN RED CROSS: IS READY TO HELP YOU!

DISASTER PREPARDNESS MONTH

PHOTOS FROM OUR RED CROSS SEPTEMBER EVENTS

ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

11 OCT– CPR/FIRST AID/ AED CLASS

24 OCT– MWR TRUCK OR TREAT

30 OCT– MWR ZOMBIE/HERO RUN

October Birthdays:

Anne Kukowski, 8th

Cassaundra Westfall, 13th

Carlena Pearson, 16th

Khanh Le, 17th

Michaela Bostwick, 18th

Shandy Hamner, 24th

Winnie Boyle, 29th

OCTOBER: Breast Cancer

Awareness Month

This month I’d like to talk about breast cancer. Some of the risks, warnings signs, and screening recommen-dations.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Pre-vention (CDC), some of the risk factors include being a woman, getting older, changes in breast cancer-related genes (BRCA1 & BRCA2), and family history.

On the other hand, the American Cancer Society reports that at this time, there is no scientific evidence corroborating the rumors that bras and antiper-spirants can cause breast cancer.

Although not everyone shows symptoms, the CDC lists these as some of the warning signs:

-New lump in the breast or underarm

-Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.

-Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.

-Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.

-Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.

NURSE GIBBS-HEALTH & SAFETY CORNER: BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

NURSE GIBBS-HEALTH & SAFETY CORNER: BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

-Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.

-Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.

-Pain in any area of the breast.

While breast self-examination and clinical breast exams are recommended, according to the CDC mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early. Currently, the CDC recommends that women 50 to 74 years old have a mammogram every two years. However, the CDC also states that in certain circumstances, doctors may recommend a mammogram be-fore age 50. The CDC suggests women to talk to their doctor regarding their family history and if they notice any symptoms or changes in their breasts.

For more information regarding risks, warnings signs, and screening recom-mendations visit the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/mammograms.htm

Or you can also visit the American Cancer Society at

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-risk-factors

Till next month amigos!

Nurse Gibbs

American Red Cross is Ready to Help You!

By Scott Humphreys, Disaster Chair

It is important to make sure that the entire family is prepared and informed in the event of a disaster or emergency. You may not always be together when these events take place and should have plans for making sure you are able to contact and find one another.

The American Red Cross suggests some basic steps to make sure you remain safe:

Meet with your family or household members.

Discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, work and play.

Identify responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team.

Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency

Choose two places to meet:

Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire

Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate

Choose an out-of-area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Every-one should have emergency contact information in writing or saved on their cell phones.

Plan what to do if you have to evacuate

Decide where you would go and what route you would take to get there. You may choose to go to a hotel/motel, stay with friends or relatives in a safe loca-tion or go to an evacuation shelter if necessary. Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on your map in case roads are impassable. Plan ahead for your pets. Keep a phone list of pet-friendly hotels/motels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.

Let Your Family Know You're Safe

After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. This website is designed to help make that communication easier, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well website at https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cmc/index.php to let your family and friends know you are safe. You may also call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and select the prompt for "Disaster" to register yourself and your family.

Register Yourself as “Safe and Well” Click on the “List Myself as Safe and Well” button to register yourself on the site.

Search for Loved Ones Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well” by clicking on the “Search Registrants” button. The results of a successful search will display a loved one’s first name, last name and a brief message

American Red Cross is Ready to Help You! Continued...

American Red Cross Preparedness Month: Family Preparedness Made Easy By Scott Humphreys, Disaster Chair

Make Family Preparedness Easy with One-Minute Drills

In an effort to help you and your family prepare now, here are some one-minute drills that are short on time, but big on impact.

Drill 1 – Get a Kit

Visit the American Red Cross Store at www.redcross.org and buy the Deluxe Emergency Preparedness Kit. That’s it. You are already done with this step. Easy, right?

Drill 2 – Discuss Kit Rules

Once you get the kit, make sure that everyone knows where it is and that the items are to be used for emergencies only. You don't want someone taking the water packet from the kit just because they don't want to make the trip to the kitchen.

Drill 3 – Personalize Your Kit

Have each family member pick their favorite canned foods and personal items and add them to the kit.

Drill 4 – Make an Evacuation Plan

This is much easier and less time consuming than it seems. Pull out a map and highlighter and determine two or three destinations and the routes to get there.

Drill 5 – Be Informed

It is important to know what natural disasters can affect your area and what to do in the event of one striking. Read through the appropriate Disaster and Emergency guides at www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster. Watch the weather and stay on top of the news if a hurricane or other severe weather is predicted to come your way. If local authorities are telling you to evacuate, then EVACUATE! If you followed the drills above, then you already have an evacuation plan.

PICTURES FROM OUR SEPTEMBER EVENTS AND OCTOBER UPCOMING EVENTS!

(Left) Disaster Chair, Scott

Humphreys, at our Disaster

Preparedness Display at the

NEX.

(Left) Leslie Barstow, Health

and Safety Chair, briefing

Retirees at their quarterly

meeting Retiree Meeting.

October Events:

Adult & Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED– Saturday, OCT 11th, 0900-1600.

MWR Truck or Treat– Friday, OCT 24th, 6-8pm.

MWR Heroes/Zombie 5K Run– Thursday, OCT 30th, 6-8pm.

Contact Us:

American Red Cross

BLDG 3293

Phone: DSN 314-727-2333

CIV: 956-82-2333

E-mail:

Rota@redcross.org

Facebook:

American Red Cross, Rota

Leadership Volunteers:

Winnie S. Boyle Station Chair Kathleen Banlaoi Recognition Chair Leslie Barstow Health & Safety Chair Stephen Berkey Special Events Chair Lars Engberg Publicity Chair Scott Humphreys Disaster Chair Shunacee Stills Hospital/Dental Chair Paid Staff:

Debbie L. Dustman Station Manager

Kayla A. Valenzuela Field Office Assistant