CLEARFIELD – The annual meeting of the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter American Red Cross will be held June 19, 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Reynoldsville. Board members will be elected and returning members re-elected at the meeting.
The chapter’s audit will be available for review in September. For further information, call the chapter office at 765-5516 or 849-2712.
The heat this week was enough to make everyone irritable and cause possible danger to health! If a Heat Wave Is Predicted or happening…
• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Stay indoors as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine. Try to go to a public building with air conditioning each day for several hours. Remember, electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help sweat evaporate, which cools your body.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s energy.
• Drink plenty of water regularly and often. Your body needs water to keep cool.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Water is the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly, but make the heat’s effects on your body worse. This is especially true about beer, which dehydrates the body.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.
• Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
Signals of Heat Emergencies…
• Heat exhaustion: Cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal.
• Heat stroke: Hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high– as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry.
Treatment of Heat Emergencies
• Heat cramps: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions worse.
• Heat exhaustion: Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.
• Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.
Extensive heat can also quickly diminish power supplies.
How Can I Prepare Before a Blackout Happens?
Assemble essential supplies, including:
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Portable radio
• at least one gallon of water
• a small supply of food.
• Due to the extreme risk of fire, do not use candles during a power outage.
If you have space in your refrigerator or freezer, consider filling plastic containers with water, leaving about an inch of space inside each one. (Remember, water expands as it freezes, so it is important to leave room in the container for the expanded water). Place the containers in the refrigerator and freezer. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold if the power goes out, by displacing air that can warm up quickly with water or ice that keeps cold for several hours without additional refrigeration.
If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
If you have an electric garage door opener, find out where the manual release lever is located and learn how to operate it. Carry a key that will work if the power is out.
If you use a battery-operated wheelchair, life-support system, or other power-dependent equipment, call your power company before rolling blackouts happen. Many utility companies keep a list and map of the locations of power-dependent customers in case of an emergency.
Use the phone for emergencies only. Listening to a portable radio can provide the latest information. Do not call 9-1-1 for information — only call to report a life-threatening emergency.
The Clearfield Office is in need of Registered nurses with at least one year of experience in long term care to administer testing of Nurse Aids for certification.
This can be a paid or volunteer position and is sporadic in nature, possibly once a month for 5-8 hrs. Anyone interested and qualified, please call the office at 765-5516 for more information.
Clearfield-Jefferson Red Cross is holding a 50-50 raffle to be drawn on August 2 at 10:00 p.m. at the Clearfield County Fair. Tickets are a $1.00 donation and will be available at the Red Cross offices or from board members and volunteers.
Disaster training classes:
• June 26th 2008 – Mass Care Overview at the Brookville Office 5:30-8pm
• June 28th 2008 – Mass Casualty Disasters at the Brookville Office 10am-4:30pm
If you or any one you know is interested in attending any of these disaster classes, please call the office or email esd@clearfieldjeffersonredcross.org to register. There is no charge for disaster classes.
Babysitter Training will be held on June 21 at 9AM at the Red Cross office. Students must be 11- 15 years of age and will receive a manual, first aid kit, wall and wallet certificates. They will learn Basic care, problem solving, safety related measures, basic breathing and first aid emergencies, safe play and more. Call 765-5516 to register.
Health & Safety Classes:
Adult CPR – Clearfield – July 2, 2008
Brookville – July 9, 2008
Punxsutawney – July 7, 2008
Infant Child CPR – July 3, 2008
First Aid – Clearfield – July 17, 2008
Brookville – July 10, 2008
Punxsutawney – July 8, 2008
All of the above Health & Safety classes begin at 6:00 pm.
Call 765-5516 to register for classes in Clearfield or 849-2712 to register in Brookville & Punxsutawney.
Visit the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter web site at www.clearfieldjeffersonredcross.org for all the local Red Cross news.
Clearfield Bloodmobile Schedule
Saturday June 14 Goshen Township Social Hall 10:00 3:30
Monday June 16 Clearfield Bank & Trust 10:00-3:00
Thurs. June 19 Penn Dot ` 9:00 – 3:00
Thurs. June 19 BigerYMCA 12:00-6:00
Thurs. June 19 Board of Assistance 9:00-2:00
Fri. June 20 Fixed Site- 440 Front Place 12:00 – 6:00
Fri June 20 Appalachian Wood Products 12:00-6:00
Wed. June 25 St. Mary’s Parish Hall, Frenchville 1:00 – 7:00
Jefferson Bloodmobile Schedule
Fri May 16 Brookville Borough Complex Noon-6 P.M.
Fri May 16 First Church of God- Punxsutawney Noon-6P.M.
Tuesday, May 27 St Mary’s Church-Reynoldsville 1 P.M. – 7 P.M.
When an emergency strikes or a disaster hits, your compassion is turned into action. Your money becomes blankets wrapped around a family who has lost everything. Your blood flows through the veins of a person whose life depended on it! Support your American Red Cross! Checks may be sent to Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 1100 S. Second St. Suite 2, Clearfield, Pa 16830, or Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 275 Main St., Brookville, Pa 15825.
VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Red Cross is a United Way and United Fund Participating Agency and an RSVP Station.