When an disaster strikes, often times there is little or no warning. The tornadoes that recently ripped across 5 southern states have shown just how quickly a storm can leave communities devastated, displacing and even killing so many. Fortuantely, the Red Cross and its volunteers prepare for such situations. From natural disasters to a single family displaced by a house fire, the Red Cross is prepared to respond and provide shelter. In the event of an emergency, the Red Cross is usually notified by the local authorities and come immediately on site to the incident. Red Cross shelters and volunteers provide vouchers for food, clothing, medicine, mental health counseling, and in many cases assistance in obtaining longer term shelter or housing. Continue reading Red Cross Ready: Shelter From Harm’s Way »

The winter months give us plenty of opportunities to try fun sports such as skiing, sledding, snowboarding and the long standing family classic, ice-skating. But like any winter activity, kids and parents need to be aware of potential for injuries. According to statistics from the Safe Kids Campaign, as many as 16,000 children are injured in ice-skating related accidents. But you can keep the experience enjoyable and avoid the emergency room by taking the proper precautions when on the ice. The National Safety Council offers some great advice for you to carry along: Continue reading Don’t Let Safety Slip Away When Ice-Skating »

If you think it’s cold outside, your pets probably do too. After all, many have only a fraction of our body mass and can’t put on a sweater, turn up the thermostat or use an extra blanket when the temperature gets unbearable. That’s not to say you need to chain them next to the fireplace until spring, but be sure to pay close attention to where your pets are going and how they’re acting this time of year. Here are some tips from the ASPCA to help make sure that your dog or cat stays healthy and comfortable in wintertime. Continue reading Keep Your Pets Out of Winter Trouble »

Having fun in the snow is big business. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, 10.6 million people visited ski and snowboard resorts last winter. Fortunately skiing is relatively safe. The National Ski Areas Association reports an average of 37 deaths annually from ski and snowboard accidents as compared to 3600 swimming-related and 1000 bicycle relates fatalities. Continue reading Staying Safe On The Slopes »