Red Cross Blogs

Archive for the ‘UK’ Category

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It took its time, but winter’s finally here.

The gloves are on, the temperature’s dropping faster than the economy and, later this week, parts of the UK will be colder than Iceland. That’s Iceland.

With the best will in the world, that realistically means lots of falls and broken bones, and hundreds of vulnerable people potentially put at risk from the freezing weather. So, here are some tips for staying safe:

Broken bones
It’s a simple enough equation: snow equals ice equals slippery surfaces equals people flat on their backsides. If you see someone slip over and break a bone:

1. You need to immobilise the affected part.  Try and support the injury with a cushion or items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement.

2. With upper-arm injuries, encourage the person to support the limb with their hand.

3. As soon as possible, call 999 or get someone else to do it.

Head injuries
If someone is unlucky enough to slip and bang their head, they will definitely need your help.

1. Ask the person to rest and apply a cold compress to their injury – this can be ice or a packet of frozen vegetables, wrapped in something like a tea towel.

2. If they become drowsy, vomit or their condition deteriorates, call 999 or get someone else to do it.

Hypothermia
Most of us associate hypothermia with mountaineers and outdoorsy-types, but it’s more often caused by being in a poorly heated room for too long.

Older people and infants are especially at risk.  (Older people are less aware of changes in temperature and infants can’t regulate their own body temperatures.)

A person with hypothermia may be shivering, pale and cold to touch. They may also be disorientated.
1. Call 999 or get someone else to do it.
2. Warm the person slowly by wrapping them in a blanket and giving them warm drinks and high-energy foods, such as chocolate.
3. Give constant reassurance.

Take care during this cold snap, and for more information on basic first aid skills that could help your family and friends visit our website.

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Would you ask for less homework? For better school dinners? Or for longer holidays?

On Tuesday 31 January the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP – Secretary of State for Education – will meet parliament’s Education Committee, where MPs will field questions from members of the public.

You can submit your question online, too, using the Twitter hashtag #AskGove.

First aid and humanitarian education

We see this committee as a great opportunity to highlight Pupil, citizen, life-saver – our campaign to add first aid and humanitarian education to the school curriculum. We know that it is a pressing concern for teachers, parents and pupils, who all value the Red Cross’ work in schools.

In 2011 we responded to the Department of Education’s national curriculum review of the essential knowledge and skills taught in schools. Now the department is reviewing responses around the core subjects of English, maths, science and physical education before they tackle other subjects to be included in the new National Curriculum.

A great campaign response

Since we launched our Pupil, citizen, life-saver e-campaign, our supporters have asked over 50 local MPs to sign our parliamentary petition. So, thanks to those who have taken part – and if you haven’t yet, you can ask your MP too.

Education isn’t – and shouldn’t be – just about reading, writing and maths. At its core, education should also be about gaining practical knowledge that will help people to be more confident, willing and able to help in a crisis. And what’s more practical than learning to save someone’s life? That’s why we asked Michael Gove questions about the curriculum.

Schools provide an ideal forum for learning how to cope with challenging situations, and the British Red Cross has an excellent track record with over five years helping teachers use our creative resources in the classroom.

We’ll be listening out for our questions (and the answers) on Tuesday during the Committee’s meeting – and we hope you will too.

For more information about our advocacy work, email advocacy@redcross.org.uk.

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To celebrate the holiday season and the launch of our free first aid mobile app, we’re giving away three single-person first aid kits in a Christmas photo competition.

How to enter
To be in with a chance of winning, send us a seasonal photograph that involves the Red Cross* – for example:

• The Christmas decorations in your local British Red Cross shop
• A festive Red Cross event
• Red Cross volunteers (if you can catch them) working in the snow.

Email your photographs to socialmedia@redcross.org.uk, with

• your name
• your Twitter or Facebook user name (if you have one)
• your email address
• a brief description of your photograph and why you believe you should win.

What you’ll win
We’re giving away three of these attractive and potentially life-saving single-person first aid kits, modelled here by our social media assistant Ed Lyon:

The single-person first aid kit is full of useful emergency first aid supplies like bandages, a first aid emergency guide, wound dressings and plasters – all in a handy zippable pouch you can strap round your waist.

*Please note: We won’t be able to award any photographs that feature modified or homemade versions of the Red Cross emblem, as it’s a protected symbol under international humanitarian law. However, photographs of British Red Cross shop signs, volunteers’ uniforms, badges, collection boxes, etc. that feature the official emblem are obviously fine.

The competition will be open over Christmas and the New Year, and we will be announcing the three winners on 6 January 2012.

Good luck and get snapping!

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With Christmas just two weeks away, you’d be forgiven for feeling daunted by the prospect of fighting your way through frazzled and frozen bargain hunters to complete your Christmas shopping.

But don’t worry. Because, with delivery dates right up to 22 December, you can buy your gifts from the comfort and warmth of your own home at the British Red Cross online gift shop.

Alternatively, if seasonal cheer – and bargains – are what you’re after, read on to find out about the special Christmas shopping events your local Red Cross shop is laying on in a bid to raise £4 million by Christmas.

The Red Cross online shop
As well first aid materials and products to help vulnerable people live independently, we also sell unique Christmas decorations, gift bags, wrapping paper and Christmas cards, including these ‘Doe a deer’ cards – £3.25 for 10 cards with envelopes:

You can also buy quirky gifts like this teapot, £15:

Or this tapestry kit, reduced from £42.00 to £33.60:

And stocking fillers like this Swarovski necklace, £9.60:

We also stock a host of unique jewellery, confectionery, toiletries, games and beautiful gifts for your home and garden. So put the kettle on and your feet up, and shop online now to spread some Christmas cheer and help us save lives in the UK and across the world.

Special Christmas events at your local Red Cross shop
All 320 Red Cross shops across the country are hosting special Christmas events and promotions to raise £4 million by Christmas Day. Six-hundred and eighty Red Cross staff and 6,500 volunteers have joined forces to set up late-night Christmas celebrations, vintage and retro specials, fashion shows, art sales and craft fairs.

Many shops have saved stock all year, including eveningwear, collectibles, toys, books and vintage items, for special themed nights – there’s even a Downton Abbey evening in Chelsea.

Find your local Red Cross shop to see what’s happening near you, and you can continue to support the Red Cross’ work helping people in crisis well into the New Year.

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Ever wondered how you might make some delicious pork and pineapple koftas and support the Red Cross at the same time? It’s a question most of us have probably asked ourselves at some point, but now it’s a reality thanks to a new celebrity recipe book.

As with so many great things, it all started with a simple good idea. Lesley Butcher, fire service worker by day and keen amateur chef, had been really moved by the Red Cross fire and emergency support service (FESS), which helps people immediately after they’ve been caught up in a house fire.

She recalled: “It’s a fantastic service and, working for the fire department, I’ve seen first hand what a difference their volunteers can make to people.”

So Lesley decided to compile a unique fundraising recipe book, featuring 70 meals from across the world. Several celebrity chefs – including Ainsley Harriot, Gary Rhodes and Rick Stein – happily signed up to donate signature dishes.

And there’s something for every palate: from exotic moussakas and jalfrezis to more stolid homegrown fare, such as stews and hotpots. And Gary Rhodes’ bread and butter pudding is apparently a real treat for those chilly winter months.

Lesley added: “I’ve included a few of my own favourite recipes and researched many of the dishes and their ingredients, so there’s a bit of a history lesson as well.” Naturally, given her job, there’s also a bit of kitchen fire safety advice.

The booklet costs just £2 –  every penny of which goes to the Red Cross – and can be bought from Lesley directly with a small postage cost. Just contact LButcher[at]humbersidefire[dot]gov[dot]uk

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