Red Cross Volunteer Judy Pevytoe

The American Red Cross depends on volunteers with various backgrounds, talents, and skill levels to help those locally and worldwide. Volunteers constitute 94% of the total workforce that carry out humanitarian work for the Red Cross.

            The South Plains Regional Chapter has many volunteers that help with disaster relief in the 15 counties it serves throughout West Texas. Many volunteers also deploy to different parts of the country to help those in need.

            Judy Pevytoe has been a full-time volunteer for the South Plains Regional Chapter for over a year. She mainly volunteers with the Disaster Action Team and in the office assisting with administrative tasks.

“After I completed the application and orientation process I started helping out in the South Plains Region,” Pevytoe said. “I really just enjoy volunteering with the organization because we help those in need, so it is a great way to help within the American Red Cross.”

In the South Plains area there are over 100 volunteers who help with all branches of the Red Cross. These branches include disaster relief, supporting American’s and military families, health and safety training, lifesaving blood, and international services.

Pevytoe helps with sheltering, inventory in the office, preparing for health and safety classes, and fundraising within the community. She is also a DAT Captain under the disaster relief branch, responding to emergency calls, gathering all of the information on the disaster, and deciding what to provide for families that have been affected. Pevytoe is currently on call for any disaster relief for the North Texas Region, including assistance for the Colorado floods.

Over the past year, Pevytoe has seen mainly fires and floods impact families throughout the South Plains area. She has seen destruction around Lubbock, Muleshoe, Plains, and Plainview ruin homes and apartment complexes.

“During those disasters you see the devastation on those people’s faces,” Pevytoe said. “It’s just very rewarding to receive a hug or see some expression of relief when the Red Cross says they can help.”

Volunteering in the area can range from cleaning out the office supply closet to responding to major disasters around the world. Volunteers for the Red Cross understand our mission statement on preventing and alleviating human suffering and follow our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

Steps to become a volunteer in the South Plains region include: filling out a volunteer application, indicating areas of interest, completing a simple background check, and attending a two hour orientation.

For more information on how to become a volunteer for the South Plains Regional Chapter go to: http://www.redcross.org/tx/lubbock/volunteer

Written by: Mary McCormack, Public Affairs and Special Events Intern

Natalie Steadman to the Rescue!

This September marks the tenth year for National Preparedness Month within the American Red Cross. The South Plains Regional Chapter wants to inform our community on how to stay safe, develop disaster plans, and get information on being prepared during a disaster.

Locally, the Red Cross provides classes that help those become prepared for emergency situations or disasters. Classes such as CPR/AED training, water safety, babysitting training, and disaster training courses are provided throughout the country.

Natalie Steadman, a professor at Texas Tech University’s Health Sciences Center and volunteer instructor for the South Plains Chapter in Lubbock, discusses the importance of why somebody should be prepared for disaster.

“It’s important to know even some of the most basic health training,” Steadman said. “Just taking some simple courses will help you save somebody that you love.”

Steadman receives first aid training for her career every two years. She said she used her training to help a man she did not know saving his life.

            Littlefield, a small town outside of Lubbock, hosted a football game one Friday night when Steadman was on the sidelines. A photographer was also near the field when he started having heart complications and became unresponsive.

            “I never thought that day would ever come,” Steadman said. “I always wondered would I freeze when it came down to it, or would all of my training and knowledge kick in?”

            Every month, the American Red Cross offers many classes that will teach basic skills on how to assist someone who needs immediate medical attention. Without these classes, Steadman would not have been prepared and able to save someone’s life.

            “I’ve learned that the American Red Cross is all about helping those people in need at the very worst times in life,” Steadman said. “They have so many things to offer on how you can help, and I do my best to be an advocate.”

Written by: Mary McCormack, Public Affairs and Special Events Intern

Hotel Fire Safety Tips

Fires are scary when they happen in your own home, but what if they happen when you're staying in a hotel?  Here are a few extra steps you need to take to ensure you'll be prepared if a fire breaks out in your hotel.

Be safe when traveling

• Choose a hotel/motel that is protected by both smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system.
  When you check in, ask the front desk what the fire alarm sounds like.
  When you enter your room, review the escape plan posted in your room.
  Take the time to find the exits and count the number of doors between your room and the exit. Make sure the exits are unlocked. If they are locked, report it to management right away.
  Keep your room key by your bed and take it with you if there is a fire.
  If the alarm sounds, leave right away, closing all doors behind you. Use the stairs — never use elevators during a fire.
  If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit.

If you can't escape ...

• Shut off fans and air conditioners.
• Stuff wet towels in the crack around the doors.
• Call the fire department and let them know your location.
• Wait at the window and signal with a flashlight or light colored cloth.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

Red Cross Recruiting Volunteers Ahead of Tornado Season

First-Ever Texas/Oklahoma Exercise to Provide Training Opportunity

Easter week last year, 17 tornadoes ripped through the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Weeks later, a deadly outbreak devastated hundreds of families across Oklahoma. As is their custom, the American Red Cross responded immediately to get help to those in need.

One of the first tasks undertaken by Red Cross volunteers is a disaster assessment. This duty is critical to the organization because it helps them determine how many families are affected, how many meals need to be prepared and how many volunteers will be needed to respond. Today, the American Red Cross is seeking to increase its pool of disaster assessment volunteers in advance of tornado season by offering a pool of upcoming training courses.

“It’s a simple process to become a Red Cross volunteer,” said Shannon Smith, Executive Director, South Plains Regional Chapter. “Just jump on our website at www.redcross.org/lubbock and click on the volunteer link. You’ll get all of the instructions on how to register and you’ll receive your next steps.”

The Red Cross is urging new volunteers to get trained in February so that they can participate in the agency’s first tornado disaster drill that will take place across the states of Texas and Oklahoma on Saturday, March 2, 2013.

“We’re tornado prone in both Texas and Oklahoma so we have to prepare ahead of these storms,” said Smith. “The time to take your training is when the sky is blue so we’re hopeful that many people will take the opportunity to join us in February for training and then work with us on this important drill in early March.”

Anyone interested in joining the American Red Cross should go to www.redcross.org/lubbock and click on the “Volunteer” link or call 806-765-8534. To prepare for spring storms, visit www.redcross.org.