In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Oregon Red Cross Wants You To Do (& Tweet) #Just1thing To Prepare Yourself For Emergencies — & Possibly Win A Valuable Prize

September 3rd, 2010 · 1 Comment

The always creative folks at the Oregon Trail Red Cross are again running their successful National Preparedness Month contest, #just1thing.
To enter, tweet just one thing that you’re doing to get prepared for emergencies to @RedCrossPDX and use the hashtag #just1thing.
It’s a terrific contest — fun, spurs action and creates a good preparedness list. Anyone can share [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Ideas · Red Cross

Some Last-Minute Ideas For (Preparedness-Themed) Halloween Costumes; Also, Some H1N1 Safety “Tricks” From Red Cross’ Chief Nurse

October 30th, 2009 · 1 Comment

The always helpful and creative folks at the Cross Blog have offered some preparedness-related ideas for those still looking for costumes in a post titled, “Halloween Red Cross-Style”:
“If you’re also having a hard time figuring out a costume for this year, I’ve got some inspiration for you. How about showing off your Red Cross knowledge and [...]

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Tags: Humor · Red Cross

Interview With “Ready Radio” Show From Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter’s Cross Bloggers

October 7th, 2009 · 1 Comment

I had the great pleasure to be a guest on the latest episode of the “Ready Radio” show co-hosted by Robin Parker and Lise Harwin. Parker and Harwin are the impresarios (or as they might say it, imprep-e-sarios) behind the terrific Cross Blog of the Oregon Trail Red Cross.
In the segment, we discuss how I got [...]

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Tags: Media · Media Interviews · Red Cross

Are You “Ready” For Some Emergency Preparedness Radio?

June 17th, 2009 · No Comments

From the same folks who brought you the Cross Blog comes “Ready Radio”, an internet-based biweekly show dedicated to emergency preparedness and related subjects. I just listened to the first episode, and I can tell you that hosts Lise Harwin and Robin Parker of the Red Cross/Oregon Trail Chapter bring the same creativity, enthusiasm and [...]

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Tags: Media · Preparedness Resources

H1N1 Flu Response Shows Government Needs To Improve Social Media Public Communications For Future Emergencies

May 4th, 2009 · 7 Comments

In his weekly radio/video address, President Obama addressed the government’s response to the H1N1 flu outbreak. One new topic he raised was the role of social media in communicating with the citizenry. As the President said: “The White House has launched pages on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to support the ongoing efforts by the CDC [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0

“Singles CPR” Makes A Match, Creates A Fun Model

April 2nd, 2009 · 3 Comments

I am always on the lookout for new ways of making preparedness fun and engaging. Often, I find such ideas percolating at the Portland-area chapter of the American Red Cross. Its Cross Blog reports that one of their ”Singles CPR” events has resulted not only in more prepared Oregonians but also a romantic match”:
That’s right…two attendees are now [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Ideas

Give Valuable Blood, Win Valuable Prizes And Maybe A Date

March 4th, 2009 · 1 Comment

As someone now benefiting from periodic transfusions, I’ve been promoting the importance of blood and platelet donations. I am also always on the lookout for innovative consumer marketing approaches in the preparedness area. So, I wanted to highlight two ideas I heard about recently.
First, I learned that the New York Blood Center has a ‘frequent [...]

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Tags: Cause Marketing · Red Cross · Volunteer Opportunities

The Oregon Red Cross vs. Portland Water Bureau ‘Blog Off’

August 16th, 2008 · No Comments

Beginning Monday, my friends from Cross Blog, the website of the Oregon Red Cross, are going blog-to-blog against the Portland Water Bureau’s Water Blog in a ‘Blog-Off’. It is yet another attempt by the Cross Bloggers to make the work of the Red Cross and the subject of preparedness more accessible, engaging and fun. 
I am impressed by the [...]

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Tags: Red Cross

Cross Blog, CPR Romance & The Repositioning of Emergency Preparedness

June 23rd, 2008 · 1 Comment

I had a good weekend of cross blogging with Robin Parker and Lise Kerwin of Cross Blog, the terrific blog of the Red Cross’ Oregon chapter. I wanted to mention one more thing about Cross Blog that I think is worth noting: a typically playful, eye-catching post on Saturday titled “Can CPR Get You A Date” listed several Portland, Oregon Craig’s List postings of potential [...]

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Tags: Non-Profit Organizations · Red Cross

“Cross Blog” — The Oregon Red Cross’ Innovative Online Presence

June 22nd, 2008 · 2 Comments

One of the important goals of the American Red Cross’ Social Media Unit I just visited in Washington is drawing from (and spreading) creative preparedness 2.0 work being done in their chapters around the country.
This week, they invited Robin Parker, one of the founders of the Oregon chapter’s Cross Blog, to headquarters in Washington to help out with their social media efforts in response to the Midwest floods.   
 

 
 
 
Cross Blog’s Robin [...]

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Tags: Non-Profit Organizations · Preparedness 2.0