Board Member, Volunteer says ‘Nobody else does what the Red Cross does’

Clarke Cochran poses with an American Red
Cross vehicle while on vacation in Spain.

By Kassidy Ketron, Intern

When Clarke Cochran responded to his first disaster with the American Red Cross as a Disaster Action Team member, he didn’t know he would be helping someone he knew.

About three years ago, the Red Cross board member and volunteer said he didn’t realize it at the time, but when they pulled up to the house that had burned to the ground, it was his very good friend’s home.

“He was there, he was well-to-do, he was well insured,” Cochran said. “Everybody was OK, nobody was hurt, but he was just kind of in a daze and he was saying, ‘I can’t get a hold of my insurance company.’ The DAT captain pulled out his phone and said, ‘Here, I've got the numbers and the emergency response of all the insurance companies,’ dialed it for him, gave it to him and that was the lifeline he needed.”

When Cochran first joined the Red Cross team in 2008, he said he was one of the vice presidents of Covenant and hoping to help serve as a liaison between the two.

Not only does Cochran believe the Red Cross is a great organization, but he said it’s important for people to offer their community a helping hand.

“We depend on our community for all kinds of things whether we realize it or not and therefore, others depend on us,” Cochran said. “So, it’s give and take. Reciprocity. Mutual assistance. Nobody else does what the Red Cross does and we’re a volunteer led organization and therefore, if the Red Cross is not there, people can’t get from here to there. So, that’s why the Red Cross is important.”

During his time with the Red Cross, he said he has learned several things about disasters, small or large.

People, Cochran said, don’t know how to get through the first two or three days after the initial disaster because the path they were once on was changed and they suffer from shock.

“Nobody expects to lose their whole house, all their clothing, their checkbook, their debit card, you know, all the stuff we take for granted. The Red Cross is there after the fire is put out and sometimes while the fire is going on and helping them say, ‘OK, here’s the next few steps and we got you covered for the next couple of days until you can kind of pull together your resources and other community resources.’ So, it’s an essential bridge to getting your life back in order.”

You, too, can work with people like Clarke to be there for your neighbors, friends or fellow community members during times of disaster. To join the American Red Cross team, visit RedCross.org.

Red Cross’ Guide to a Successful Valentine’s Day

Photo courtesy of blog.bookrenter.com

By Kassidy Ketron
Intern

Before you prepare a lavish meal for your sweetheart, light every candle in a five-mile radius, or prepare those chocolate covered strawberries sprinkled with nuts, the American Red Cross wants you to keep a few things in mind so this day of love isn’t ruined.

Whether you’re making a five-course meal or turning off all the lights in your home leaving candles as the only option, make sure you know what to do to prevent catching your apron or carpet on fire.

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Stay in the home while simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food. Check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that food is cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire—like pot holders, towels, plastic and clothing— away from the stove.
• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.

 If you fail to follow our preventative steps:

• Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home.
• Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside in case of fire.
• Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year and at different times of the day. Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside. Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

Click here for more information about fire prevention and what to do in case of one.

Assuming you’ve made or purchased a wonderful meal, you sit down with your honey to enjoy it, but they start choking because your charming self said something really funny.

Here’s what you do:

• Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades five times to dislodge the object.
• Then, give five quick abdominal thrusts. Stand behind the choking victim, join your hands around their tummy and form a fist. Pull your hands sharply inward and upward. Don’t attempt this technique on a child under a year old.
• Always call 911 or get someone else to do it when someone is choking.

Prepare yourself as much as possible for the unexpected by downloading the First Aid App by American Red Cross or visit our website to learn more about making sure your Valentine’s Day is disaster free.