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March is Red Cross Month
Written by
Lesly Hallman
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Monday, March 01, 2004 — Across the country the American Red Cross is reminding communities that March is Red Cross Month, a time to commemorate Red Cross involvement. In Knoxville, KY, the Red Cross chapter will hold a “Free CPR Saturday,” to provide life-saving skills to the community at no charge. In Alabama, the Red Cross Gulf Coast Blood Services Region is holding ice cream socials to thank its volunteers. And in Santa Barbara, CA, Red Cross flags are flying over downtown streets. These are just a sampling of the nationwide events scheduled for March is Red Cross Month.
Every year since 1943, the President of the United States has proclaimed March as Red Cross Month. This year President George W. Bush signed the Presidential Proclamation, continuing this proud tradition. As a result, March has become a time for the Red Cross to commemorate its past accomplishments and to look forward to future goals.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the first March is Red Cross Month proclamation in 1943. |
The month-long commemoration was created in the 1940s when the Red Cross started a “Roll Call” drive to increase public support during wartime. After discussions with President Franklin Roosevelt, the honorary chairman of the Red Cross, an official call for support was issued, and he declared the whole month of March Red Cross Month.
“I summon the men, women and young people of our country, in every city and town and village, in every county and state throughout the land, to enlist in the army of mercy mobilized under the banner of the Red Cross and to contribute generously to the Red Cross War Fund," Roosevelt said. Within six weeks the effort brought in more than $125 million in donations.
THE GOAL IS PREPAREDNESS
This year the theme for Red Cross Month is preparedness. In January, Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans issued a strong wake up call to the American public to remember the importance of being prepared. Despite growing concerns about terrorism and manmade disasters, in addition to the onslaught of fires, tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters that the United States faces every year, Americans continue to go unprepared.
“Close to 60 percent of Americans are wholly unprepared for a disaster of any description,” said Evans. “They don't have a family emergency plan, nor are they aware of school, workplace and community procedures. They have not stocked emergency supplies, nor have they sought even basic first-aid and CPR training. They're not giving blood, nor are they donating their time or money to emergency support services like the American Red Cross.”
To reverse this tide of inaction, the Red Cross launched the Together We Prepare campaign in 2003, challenging individuals, businesses and communities to take responsibility for their safety and that of their families, homes and their neighborhoods. By following five basic steps we can all move toward greater safety.
- Make a plan. Design a Family (Home) Disaster Plan. Work with neighbors and co-workers to create Community and Workplace Disaster Plans.
- Build a kit. Assemble Disaster Supply Kits, which contain items that people may need (1) if confined to their home or place of business for an extended period or (2) if they are told to evacuate on short notice.
- Get trained. Learn to save lives. The Red Cross offers classes year round to individuals and businesses on first aid, CPR, defibrillator use and much more.
- Volunteer. Give of yourself. Supporting the Red Cross mission--whether sharing your time or money--means that they will be there to respond immediately whenever the need arises.
- Give blood. Become a regular and frequent blood donor to ensure a blood supply that meets all needs, all of the time. It is critical that the Red Cross maintain at least a 5- to 7-day blood supply. To do so, more Americans need to become first time and repeat donors. Only five percent of the eligible population donate blood. Having current donors donate more frequently is not sufficient to meet that need.
The Red Cross and its preparedness mission is being championed at all levels of government. In February Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge urged the public to continue on the path to preparedness.
“For our part, over the next year, Homeland Security will focus its efforts on raising the baseline level of preparedness across the nation,” said Ridge in a speech last month.
“We know, of course, that terrorists can strike anywhere, the unpredictable nature of terrorism that is so daunting ... so all communities need some level of assistance to increase their preparedness.”
Ridge pledged to continue working with the Red Cross and other organizations to teach the preparedness message across the country. “
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