READY.SET.RED!

We’re just a few weeks away from the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge at www.readysetred.com! Now is the time to sign up a team and participate in this unique event that is sure to exercise both your body and mind. 

Imagine this ….

There’s a hurricane approaching your city, and they’ve just announced mandatory evacuations.  While you are preparing to leave town, you realize that you may not return to your home again. You frantically begin searching your home for both keepsakes and survival items to take with you. What items would you choose to take and how much could you fit in your car?

Some essentials you know you need thanks to your American Red Cross disaster planning training are: emergency kit, water, blankets, emergency radio, mini lantern and first aid kit.

At the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge, test your disaster preparedness and see how many personal belongings you can fit into an environmentally friendly vehicle while your time before the hurricane hits is running out.

Ready for your latest trivia fact? Remember: knowing the answers to these questions will earn your team extra points at the challenge.

The American Red Cross of Central Texas responds to disasters such as house and apartment fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes or other situations that cause human suffering or create human needs that those affected cannot alleviate without assistance.

Be prepared to name three types of disasters from the fact listed above that the American Red Cross responds to during the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge to gain an edge on the competition!

Don’t forget to sign up today at www.readysetred.com! 

READY.SET.RED! THE H.E.A.T IS ON...

We are officially less than one month away from the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge at www.readysetred.com! Have you been sticking to last month’s resolution to stay in shape? Get ready to show off your fit self and cycle in the H.E.A.T Bootcamp Challenge! Don’t worry if you’re not exactly Lance Armstrong—you’ll be cycling while your teammate answers Red Cross trivia questions, or vice-versa. It’s an uber-fun meeting of brains and brawn.

While we can’t help you with your cycling skills, we can definitely give you an edge on those quiz questions. This week’s fun fact hint is all about all the different ways you can get involved to support your Red Cross. Score extra points at the Cross City Challenge and better your community by taking these volunteering tips to heart:

1. Tell the Red Cross story as a member of the speaker’s bureau. Represent the Red Cross at community events like the America’s Charities workplace giving campaign.

2. Help your neighbors be prepared for a disaster. Distribute information on disasters common to your community and build disaster kits to help friends and neighbors prepare for emergencies, or comfort kits for those personally affected by disasters.

3. Ensure your community has adequate sheltering in the event of an emergency by taking Shelter Manager Training.

4. Lend a hand to a local military family by utilizing your counseling skills to help family members cope with deployments or educate them about aid available.

5. Be a bridge to your community. Lend your skills as a bilingual volunteer to work directly with those affected by disasters who may face a language barrier.

Following through on just one of these ideas can save the lives of your fellow Austinites!  Plus, a winning attitude just might translate to winning the Cross City Challenge.  Good luck!

READY. SET. RED! HINTS FOR WINTER WEATHER

It's already February; how did that happen so quickly?  Well, nothing like starting the month off with a few freezing cold days.  Bundle up, and while you stay distracted at work, don't forget to sign up for the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge on March 5th at www.ReadySetRed.com.

Are you ready to brave the elements?  Prepare yourself for the Texas Running Company's indoor obstacle course!  It will simulate a flood, windstorm, and other conditions of a natural disaster.  Stay tuned as we announce additional activities from the challenge.

And on that note...this week's fun fact hint is very pertinent to our weather this week.  Staying calm and using this information in a disaster can save your life (and earn you some extra points in the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge).  Your friends at the Red Cross are here for you.

"Winter storm" can have many different meanings from dangerously low temperatures to strong winds, ice, sleet and freezing rain.

• When the weatherman warns of a "Winter Storm Outlook", this means that winter storm conditions are possible in the next 2 to 5 days.
• A "Winter Weather Advisory" means that winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous.  When caution is used, these situations should not be life threatening.
• The days that you hear about a "Winter Storm Watch", you should review your winter storm plans and stay informed about weather conditions.  Winter storm conditions are possible within the next 36 to 48 hours.
• A "Winter Storm Warning" means that life threatening, severe winter conditions have begun or will begin within 24 hours.  People in a warning area should take precautions immediately.

Knowing the difference will help you better prepare for weather conditions ahead and possibly have the winning edge on March 5th.  Good luck at the Cross City Challenge...and navigating through the weather this week! 

READY.SET.RED!

We hope your first month of 2011 has been going well!  The close of January means the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge is just around the corner—woo-hoo!

Our excitement makes us want to sing, so we’re planning on doing just that.  Drum roll please….introducing  our latest challenge activity, Red Hot Karaoke! How many songs can you think of that have the word “fire” in them? Feel free to post your responses below and we may just work in your favorite songs! We’ll have a list of songs for you to choose from, all of which contain keywords associated with disasters. You don’t need to have an American Idol-worthy voice to participate; you just need to karaoke along to a song of your choice to earn points! 

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As you may have read in our blog last week, each week we’ll be giving away clues that will help you out throughout the March 5^th Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge. So pay close attention because these facts can help you can get a leg up on your competition!

This week’s fact: Not only does the American Red Cross intervene during disasters, but they also comfort victims post-disaster. The American Red Cross offers personal and family counseling to cope with disaster-related trauma. 

What some don’t realize is that the aftermath can be just as intense as the disaster itself. Whether or not you’ve personally been impacted, we all know people near and dear to us who have experienced disasters. Without the help of the American Red Cross, the residual damages could be even more severe and the victims would not have the much needed support.

Support your central Texas American Red Cross, find out all the details for the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge here and form your team today! Your participation in the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge means more members of your community can get help when they need it most.

READY.SET.RED!

The 2011 Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge benefiting the American Red Cross of Central Texas is proud to unveil our blog! The committee is pumped for the event on March 5^th and we want to share updates and information with you along the way.

Haven’t heard of the Cross City Challenge yet? We’re transforming downtown Austin into a playground of obstacle courses and fun activities to benefit the American Red Cross of Central Texas. Team up with your friends, family, and co-workers to compete in games across the city, win prizes, and learn disaster coping techniques.

Similar to how the Red Cross is prepared for every kind of disaster, we want to prepare YOU for the challenge and give you a winning edge. Check back with us on this blog each week to learn one new fact about the American Red Cross. Each fact you learn will earn you more points on the day of the event—and can save lives!

Bonus points and prizes? Check.

Saving lives? Double check.

Can you think of a better way to spend a day?

Find out all the details for the Ready. Set. Red! Cross City Challenge here and build your team today!