Last night I had the honor of attending the Joplin High School graduation, one year after the horrific tornado that tore through this town destroying homes and taking lives.  President Obama spoke at the graduation, and we cheered on the new graduates, celebrated the town’s recovery, but also remembered the lives that were lost.

As I drove through Joplin, I was stunned at how bright, vibrant and warm the community appeared.  There were new homes and restored businesses, as well as renewed energy and pride.  There were also stark reminders of the devastation – the remains of the high school (pictured above), the crumbling hospital and boarded up homes.  But what struck me most were the determination and almost a sense of moral obligation that the people of Joplin have embraced.  It’s as if they want to honor the tens of thousands of volunteers and donors who helped them and show that their efforts and generosity were put to good use. 

During the graduation, I sat in the crowd shedding many tears and thinking of all of the people around the country who supported Joplin through the Red Cross in its time of crisis.  To everyone who donated to the American Red Cross for the Joplin relief effort, I want to thank you.  You likely will never meet the people you have helped, but your generosity will always be remembered in Joplin.  It has made an incredible and tangible difference here, and it will never be forgotten.

This Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up is courtesy of Scott Waggoner, from Cross Blog: Award-winning Red Cross news and views from Oregon and beyond

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…

PAKISTAN: Following the brutal murder of Khalil Rasjed Dale, a health program manager working for the ICRC, the organization is reviewing its presence and activities in Pakistan. The ICRC has put on hold its activities carried out from offices in Peshawar and Karachi, with the operations in Balochistan already frozen in the aftermath of the incident. In the coming weeks, the ICRC will announce a decision on its future presence and set-up in Pakistan.

SOUTH SUDAN: Since the beginning of the year, the ICRC has stepped up its efforts to respond to mounting humanitarian needs in South Sudan. Needs increased further in early April when hostilities erupted along the border with Sudan. The ICRC, in cooperation with the newly recognized South Sudan Red Cross, is striving to help people affected by armed violence in South Sudan by supporting health-care system, visiting detainees, promoting humanitarian law, and assisting approximately 20,000 newly displaced individuals.

NEPAL: When the armed conflict in Nepal ended in 2006, around 17,000 people were dead and 3,100 reported to the ICRC as missing. While the fates of many are now known, there are still more than 1,400 people on the ICRC’s list of missing persons that continue to be investigated. In the places where the ICRC works, it has been seeking for decades to forestall disappearances, restore family links when they have been broken, and ascertain the whereabouts of missing people.

BURKINA FASO: In a remote rural Burkina Faso community, the Burkinabe Red Cross Society has set up two women’s groups with community gardens where they grow vegetables that provide a lifeline for families struggling with severe hunger. Up to 23 million people across the Sahel region are facing severe hunger due to frequent droughts. The Burkinabe Red Cross Society has been focused on food security for eight years with support from the Spanish Red Cross, training communities how to grow vegetables outside of the usual crop production season.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Browse more data visualizations.

To learn more about donating blood and to make an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org.

Last week we started #21 in the series, Civil War on Sunday. As always, Will and I dove headfirst into the book, found ourselves engrossed almost immediately, and continued reading past his bedtime as Jack and Annie rushed an injured soldier across a dangerous battlefield toward the safety of the field hospital in the distance.

Based on my experience with Magic Tree House books, I expected Civil War on Sunday to offer interesting and age-appropriate information about Abraham Lincoln, slavery, the Union and Confederate Armies, the end result of the war, and what transpired after slavery was abolished. I didn’t expect, however, that the book would accomplish all of these things by centering its story around the American Red Cross’ very own Clara Barton.

I may have gasped out loud when Clara appeared, and I certainly beamed with pride when Will recognized Clara Barton as a historical figure who “worked for the Red Cross”. (At that point Will was still a little sketchy on the connection between Clara and the American Red Cross.)

The book describes Clara Barton accurately, as a nurse who cared for soldiers – using supplies she purchased with her own money – from both the Union and the Confederate armies during the Civil War. Clara also drove a horse-drawn “ambulance” onto battlefields to help wounded solders, and this willing disregard for her own safety in order to save those who would otherwise be left for dead earned her the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield”. Will thought this was a funny nickname, because as both he and Jack (the little boy in the story) observed, “she doesn’t look like an angel”. Angels come in all shapes and sizes, son…

The story itself never mentions the American Red Cross, but the “Facts for You” section at the end of the book goes into detail about how Clara founded the American Red Cross, which “not only provides relief during times of war but also helps people who have suffered terrible natural disasters, such as hurricanes or floods”.

I love discovering the American Red Cross in my day-to-day life. I love running into someone wearing a Red Cross baseball cap or an “I donated blood today” sticker. I love driving through town and spotting the bloodmobile outside a school or an “I Support the American Red Cross” bumper sticker on the back of a car. I love books and magazines and newspapers that devote pages to the people behind and the mission in front of the organization. But more than anything, I love when opportunities to share these Red Cross connections with my children present themselves.

I’ll be the first to admit that my kids aren’t always all that interested. They don’t really understand blood donations, can’t quite grasp financial contributions, and instead of Red Cross logos would prefer Major League Baseball logos on their baseball caps and Transformer or Hello Kitty logos on their stickers.

But Civil War on Sunday…now that was a Red Cross connection they could wrap their sticky little fingers around. I loved every minute of reading that book to Will, because it allowed me, by way of the story, to teach him about something important to me in a way that made him feel like he was directing his own learning. He will remember why our country fought the Civil War, who Clara Barton was, and how her unwavering commitment to humanity led to an organization that still today feels – at least to me and most likely to people who have received support from the American Red Cross in their darkest hours – a little like magic.

There has been a lot of talk around here about zombies. This got me to thinking about zombies and the Red Cross. Obviously, we’re complimentary groups of people: The Red Cross is well-known because we help people prepare for and respond to emergencies, and, well, a zombie apocalypse is something to be prepared for.

This led me to the interwebs to do some research on this possible Red Cross/zombie relationship, and I found a lot of evidence that led me to believe that there is such a strong connection between us because zombies might actually LOVE the Red Cross. I know zombies are the walking dead, void of all emotions and dead set (pun intended) on consuming brains, but I think there’s some sort of soft spot in their dead hearts for the Red Cross.

Here is my evidence:

Run for Your Lives

This zombie infested run that has the goal of “destryoing” its participants may not seem like the most Red Cross-loving event one could stumble upon; however, the Red Cross is the charitable partner for this race. So technically, the zombies are chasing down runners to support our mission – and I think that’s sweet. I asked the co-race director, Derrick Smith, why he thought this was a good partnership. His response was, “When people think of a true zombie apocalypse scenario there tends to be a lot of bloodshed and general chaos, which is why the Red Cross was a natural fit to partner with. The Red Cross is the top organization out there for taking care of people in emergency situations, so we were more than happy to donate a portion of every ticket sale to their cause.” Photo courtesy of Happy Go Lucky Photography

Night of the Living Donors – Zombie Blood Drive

In Portland, the Zombie Squad took it upon themselves to partner with the local Red Cross to host a blood drive to help them be prepared in case of a zombie invasion. The Zombie Squad has been a great Red Cross partner over the years by helping us spread important disaster preparedness messages (I particularly like their Bug Out Bag) – in fact, their mission is similar to ours: “Zombie Squad’s mission is to educate the public about the importance of personal preparedness and community service, to increase its readiness to respond to disasters such as earthquakes, floods or zombie outbreaks.” Neat-o!

I asked Nate Warren, who helped coordinate the blood drive, why he thought zombies loved the Red Cross so much. His response was, “I think zombies love the Red Cross because, for one, they have an insatiable hunger and we can provide tastier alternatives to the boring and redundant diet of brains. Whether we’re dishing out cookies at blood drives or cooking up meals at disaster sites, it’s nearly impossible to find the Red Cross representing without “noms” nearby. Also, while most scream at the sight of the undead, the Red Cross prides itself on impartiality, and serves as a neutral force in conflicts as guardians of the Geneva Conventions and other treaties surrounding international humanitarian law. Finally, let’s get real: zombies smell and probably don’t know it. It’s time to bring the Red Cross humanitarian mission to the formerly living and reach out with comfort, understanding and rubber gloves.”

Hmmm, good point, Nate.

World Zombie Day
Lastly, I sought out another Red Cross connection – this time in the super prepared state of Colorado. Last year, the chapter published this extensive article on zombie preparedness in honor of World Zombie Day – however, I found that Colorado was far more concerned with helping people prepare for the zombie invasion rather than trying to embrace our undead friends. Patricia Billinger noted, “I think zombies fear the Red Cross because we build the type of neighborhoods that know how to band together, get out and fight back!”

So maybe the relationship between the Red Cross and zombies truly is a complimentary one. Zombies are giving us something to prepare for, and we’re giving our communities the tools and opportunities to be prepared. However, in my mind, if zombies truly didn’t care about YOU or the Red Cross, they wouldn’t be trying to gnaw brains during a race, or showing up to blood drives.

Deep down inside, I believe the zombies want you to be prepared so the unprepared are easier to pick off when the zombie apocalypse happens.

In April I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Eilat, Israel in support of the Logistics, Relief and Shelter training hosted by the Magen David Adom (MDA) and the Jordan Red Crescent (JRC) Eilat is Israel’s southernmost city, located at the northern tip of the Red Sea adjacent to the Egyptian village of Taba and the Jordanian port city of Aqaba.

After twenty hours of travelling from San Francisco, I arrived in Tel Aviv – tired, but so excited for my first visit to the Middle East. Tel Aviv is officially one of my favorite cities now! It is so alive and cosmopolitan.

During the bus ride from Tel Aviv to Eilat there were miles of agricultural land which turned into miles of open space dotted with Bedouin communities. I was fascinated to learn more about the Bedouin history from one of the volunteers who lives there. We soon found ourselves in a spectacular desert landscape. Watch out – CAMELS on the road. Yes, an everyday occurrence for many – a Kodak moment for Anne.

No rest for the weary, we got right to work the minute we arrived, organizing a simulation of the first 72 hours following an earthquake. In addition to presenting sessions on logistics, shelter, and relief activities, we worked on how to conduct initial assessments, and provided strategies for the integration of assistance from other Red Cross/Red Crescent societies. We worked very long days, but no one minded as we were so excited to share information.

I was fascinated to learn about the expertise of the Magen David Adom and Jordan Red Crescent societies. MDA serves as the ambulance and paramedic service for Israel. They do not have as robust a role in disaster response as we do domestically, but they are exploring ways to build this capacity. The JRC volunteers and staff have become very proficient in establishing refugee camps and settlements, but also wanted to expand their understanding of disaster response operations.

We broke into small groups. My group met with the local emergency manager for the city of Eilat to learn about their response plans and local supply caches. I coached my team to inquire about local government’s expectations of the MDA. One team member asked the city manager, “What does success look like for you?” I felt like a proud parent!!

Dr. Mohammad Al-Hadid, President of the Jordan Red Crescent and Dr. Noam Yifrach, Chairman of MDA Executive Committee, made the trek to Eilat to express their gratitude to all who participated, and reiterate their commitment to working together. This was quite moving knowing the obstacles these societies face everyday.

Another five-hour bus ride and an early morning trip to the airport had me headed back to California. I am still riding my “high” from this trip. This was one of the most rewarding Red Cross experiences I have had to date – and having been with the Red Cross for over ten years, that is saying something! To all of my new friends and colleagues, Toda and Shukran.

Anne Reynolds is the Disaster Officer for California, Oregon, and the islands
she is also a member of the International Disaster Roster

Penn State University – Lehigh Campus (Center Valley, Pa.) students John K. Roam, Mandy Marquardt, Kayla Butz and Shirali Patel completed this video as part of their English 202 class project.

[Canadian Red Cross] – One year has passed since wildfires swept through northern Alberta, devastating homes and livelihoods. Since the disaster struck, Canadian Red Cross has provided assistance to families, individuals and community groups on their long road to recovery.

[International Committee of the Red Cross] – Photojournalist André Liohn was recently awarded the 2011 Robert Capa Gold Medal Award for “photographic reporting from abroad requiring exceptional courage and enterprise.” In this short film, Mr. Liohn speaks about the meaning of that award, photojournalism and his work in Libya.

When we consider our health care, we as a society tend to focus on our doctors; their experience, their credentials, and recommendations from family and friends help us determine into whose hands we place our lives. And while yes, our doctors are important (they’re the ones removing tumors, transplanting organs, setting bones, and prescribing medications, and we want and expect them to do all these things WELL), our overall experiences as patients often have much more to do with the care we receive from our nurses than anything else.

Nurses – who work in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, schools, early childhood programs, and homeless shelters – support our doctors in a way that allows them to better focus on their responsibilities and perform in their roles within the health care arena. But more importantly, nurses care for and both physically and emotionally support us and our families throughout our recoveries.

Nursing is not an easy job. I worked for one summer as a nurse’s aide and knew after less than a week that nursing wasn’t the career for me. But my mom has been a nurse for more than 35 years. At times I witnessed the frustration that comes with the job: among other things, wanting so badly to help patients who refuse to help themselves. At other times I witnessed the pain that comes with the job: patients grow sicker, and some, inevitably, pass away. But she, along with thousands of nurses throughout the country, keeps at it. Day in, day out, through the frustration and the pain, because nurses believe that what they do makes a difference.

This week, from May 6th (National Nurses Day) through May 12th (Florence Nightingale’s, the founder of modern nursing, birthday), our country celebrates National Nurses Week. These seven days provide Americans with an opportunity to recognize and thank nurses in all settings for their continued and selfless service to their patients and communities.

Interestingly, nurses have always played a significant role in the services provided by the American Red Cross. Red Cross nurses offered their skills and support during times of disaster and conflict beginning with the 1888 Yellow Fever epidemic and the 1889 Johnstown floods. The Red Cross Nursing Service was officially established by Jane Delano in 1909, and has been a leading player in the evolution of nursing and nursing leadership throughout the United States ever since.

Today, more than 20,000 nurses in both paid and volunteer positions are involved with the American Red Cross. These nurses:
- Provide direct services as members of local Disaster Action Teams and by staffing Health Fairs, volunteering in military clinics and hospitals, promoting blood collection, and caring for the public at community first aid stations.
- Teach and develop courses such as CPR, First Aid, Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Disaster Health Services, Nurse Assistant Training, Babysitting, and Family Caregiving.
- Act in management and supervisory roles as Chapter and Blood Services region executives.
- Function in governance roles, from the local board level all the way to the National Board of Governors.

The American Red Cross is committed to supporting and promoting the involvement of nurses, primarily volunteer, throughout the organization and in this vein (pun intended) has created a National Nursing Committee and the Office of the Chief Nurse to direct these efforts.

The American Red Cross Nursing Vision is as follows: American Red Cross Nursing…a presence throughout…uplifting lives with compassion and special skills…competent and prepared…strengthening the organization with innovation and support…enhancing the Red Cross.

This week we recognize ALL nurses – those involved with our organization as well as those providing services elsewhere – for their presence, for uplifting lives with compassion and special skills, for their competence and preparedness, for strengthening our communities with innovation and support, and for enhancing our lives.