Pan Flu info via blood drive

Day 1 - blood hound meeting

  Two weeks ago in February I volunteered again to be the "blood hound" for the department. "Blood hound is the person who encourages others to donate in non confrontational way. Today March third  the cities blood drive kicked off today, two weeks before the real event on March 18th.

  It was a somber meeting of the usual folks. About 1/6 th of the normal department representatives showed up. The refreshments where also scant: doughnuts provided by the Red Cross and coffee by the city. Blood drive hand outs where limited to a few posters and some mail box suffers with the time and date on them. In the past there have been multiple sheets given out in a nice folder with sign up sheet and what to eat before.  No T-shirts, but that is ok. The results are the reward. After all "We are just helping good people do good deeds"  I still want a T-shirt as its a good way to remember blood drives and events and will settle for the chance to volunteer - which is more important.

  Of the six people, two where new and one will be a first time donor. She was complimented with "Lead by example" and a round of applause. There where thirty some department folders, normally twenty four or so people show up. We swapped stories, hints and tips on encouraging others. There was some de-mything of who can and can not donate. As with the fluwikie - it was the wisdom of groups at work.

 Note: the economic down turn has pushed people to comfort foods and "dollar menu" items. These foods are not rich in iron nor are they that healthy.  Later I created a sign up sheet in Excel and passed along the Red Cross website on what to eat foods to eat and emailed it out.

 During the meeting there was a feeling some will not participate in city blood drive because of city cut backs and pay cuts. This happened in a neighbor city where the frustrated employees acted poorly and took out frustrations on the blood drive. It is sad but seemed to explain why there where only six of us instead of the normal twenty four.

 Of those in attendance the fire department took the Pandemic flu information about HHS webcast, WHO death by age and websites. Others had either heard my before or where not interested. The Red Cross co-ordinator did not seem to have any problem with me having pandemic flu information at the canteen or the blood drive. Canteen is where cookies and soda are served post donation.

 Appointments will not be done as there are so many walk ins.

Note: no discussion on how a pandemic would reduce blood donations.

Facts: One pint can help three adults or six infants. People often need multiple pints, bad cases need 50 or more. Fire and police often give - but they often see the need.  

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by: Kobie @ Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 21:50:28 PM UTC

Email sent out

 Copy of email I sent out, always a pandemic note. I could have added Fluwiki or ReadyMoms but always open with an official site. Then redirect people to where they can get more "interactive" information. No insult to HHS, just how things work.

Hi, here is more information not covered at the moring meeting.

Iron rich foods
http://www.my-redcross.org/ind...

 Please read even if you are not going to donate.

How to prepare
http://www.my-redcross.org/ind...

Requirements - please show up and let the Red Cross say yea or nay. It costs nothing to try. Sadly blood banks are not FDIC insured nor part of the stimulus package. They need your help since even in the 21st century there is no substitute for blood. Your donation will save a life.

One donation can save up to three lives or six babies. With the bad weather we just had and the upcoming Memorial day driving there is a need for blood.

Blood donation: quick way to do a good deed, be waited on, be fed and loose a pound.

March is Red Cross celebration month - Red Cross celebrates you the volunteer as the winners (some will even get prizes )
http://www.redcross.org/portal...

March 18th is also the 11th federal HHS web cast describing pandemic flu preparations and asking for your input
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/

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by: Kobie @ Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 21:54:00 PM UTC

Blood donation is important

and you're doing a great job by helping.

For ideas on how to persuade people to donate try asking existing members what made them give blood the first time.

Me, I was curious to know what blood type I was :-)

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by: UK - Bird @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 22:57:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Blood donation - good idea

UK-Bird,

 Good idea. Gets people over the hump and gives then a personal reason to do it for their own information.

 The guys are telling me "I'm on too many chlesterol meds" and the women say "I'm anemic, so is .... (listing five other people in the office)" Only a few

 Me, I just say I'm healthy, have conqured anorexia and made it to the high side of  my BMI  (body mass index) ;-) Whoo Hoo!

  UK-Bird, seriously I like your idea, will use it and try to invent more.

Thank you
Kobie
"The trouble with life is, you're halfway through it before you realize it's a 'do-it-yourself' thing."

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by: Kobie @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 12:31:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There are two interesting tables on this wiki page

One is "ABO and Rh blood type distribution by nation (population averages)" , the other is the "Red blood cell compatibility table".

I think I'd want to know if I had one of the rarer blood types, I might find that the cupboard was empty if I needed a pint or two.

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by: UK - Bird @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 20:41:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Darn, forgot the link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B...

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by: UK - Bird @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 20:41:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Too weird

UK-Bird,

 Wow the table is facinating. Iceland and Ireland I can see - but not the difference to the UK.

 Why is the US so much like Belgium ?

 Thank you - very good information and adds another dimension to get people interested.

 An angle I was working on is "Blood donations is like voting. If you don't do it, don't complain about the results or being shut out"   Kinda harsh for me but it is blunt, accurate and to the point.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 22:08:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Day 2 - sign of the times

 Day 2 - sign of the times

   Putting up flyers and sign up sheet. Also printing out information about what foods to eat.  

   Flyer placement is critical. Now they are in the break room and hallway so people have time to read them and talk about them. Later they will be put on the entrance/exit doors to remind folks.

   Date, place and time highlighted in green to go with St. Patrick's day.  Lime green would be for Cinco de Mayo (lime in beer or tequila)

   Use color where possible. 8.5 x 11 is fine. Include contact information. Today include web sites where possible. Try to include local information or impact. Use only a few fonts. Keep it short - who, what, where, why, when & contact. By when include more than the date. Include date and where possible time frame like 'Coming soon in two weeks"

   Going around to visit every one and personally encourage them to eat well, donate or try to is very helpful. I find it harder on me than them. It takes some courage to interrupt folks and talk to them. Remember you are just helping them do a good deed that many want to do.

  Remember where you posted signs so you can clean up.

  Pan Flu lesson - having a spokes person in each department of five but not more than 50 people provides the helpful one-on-one time. Pandemic prep should not be a memo in the break room people read and dismiss. Helpful instruction should be provided. Here express the need and let folks rise to the occasion. Let them be all they can be and all they want to be.

  No memo can contain all the information to answer questions. There has to be a local person to talk to. Donating blood is optional - disaster prepping is not always optional.

 Math:
 If you school has 3,000 people then figure on at least 60 pandemic spokesmen.
 If your company has 300 people that is at least six if not ten pandemic people.
 If you company has 200 people but runs 30 gas stations then look at thirty to thirty five spokesmen. One for each station to track and encourage prepping.
 If your youth group is 300 people but broken down in to groups of seven to 10 then figure on 40 spokesmen - one for each group plus a few. With volunteers push hard on cross communication.  

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by: Kobie @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 18:00:56 PM UTC

Nice collection of quotes linked to a news story today

This is an old story but most of it is still good, I think.  Some of these quotes could be used on posters.

Is it smart to prepare for bird flu? Here's what the experts say
Monday, February 27, 2006 by: Mike Adams
"A pandemic, or worldwide outbreak of a new influenza virus, could ... overwhelm our health and medical capabilities, potentially resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of hospitalizations and hundreds of billions of dollars in direct and indirect costs."

   - White House document, National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza (NSPI)

"It's the most dangerous influenza virus that I've ever seen."

   - Richard G. Webster, flu researcher at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

"Even now, there is little to no excess capacity to absorb more patients, but when pandemic flu arrives there will be a tidal wave of patients arriving in clinics and ERs nationwide. If it happens tomorrow, the system will collapse."

   - Dr. James A. Wilde of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia

"Given the high level of global traffic, the pandemic virus may spread rapidly, leaving little or no time to prepare."

   - World Health Organization

"The threat of a pandemic is the most important public health issue we face today. The signs are worrisome."

   -Bruce Gellin, director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' national vaccine program

"It is fair to assume the shock during a flu epidemic could be even larger and last longer than SARS."

   - Milan Brahmbhatt, World Bank chief economist for the Asia-Pacific region

"[Bird flu] will ultimately threaten all critical infrastructures by removing essential personnel from the workplace for weeks or months."

   -White House document, National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza (NSPI)

"Once human-to-human transmission has been established, we will have only a few weeks to lock down the spread before it spins out of control."

   -Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General

"These viruses are always around ... always bubbling under the surface. You get to the point where the entire population is susceptible because nearly everyone around for the last pandemic has grown up and died."

   - Dr. Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

"There is no way we are going to contain the avian strains of influenza that we're concerned about by sealing borders and by making decrees. Stand off methods that you have right now are totally ineffective."

   - World Health Organization spokesperson Dr. Bradford Kay, referring to the fact that airports are currently unprepared for a human-to-human strain of the bird flu virus, despite the fact that they would be the primary facilitator for its spread

OTOH, not all of this is good

"Responsibilities of the individual and families include: Keeping supplies of materials at home, as recommended by authorities, to support essential needs of the household for several days, if necessary."

   -White House document, National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza (NSPI)

Several days??  And then what, it's all over??  I don't think so.

There are many more quotes at the link.
http://www.birdfludefense.com/...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 23:43:06 PM UTC

Several days

Jane,

  Thank you. It is sad to see "Several days" like - most people do not have that already. I wish they would show some 1940 Norman Rockwell photos of well stocked pantry with a week's worth of food. Even the Duggars(sp?) with 18 kids keep a large walk in closet siezed pantry. That is 20 people in one house.

 If we are experiancing  a bad recession similar to the depression FDR fought then is it not smart for people to use what worked back then?

 Jane, thank you. I will take the quote you posted and use them as back drop. Showing multiple people and departments agreeing that pandemic is real.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 13:35:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Day 3 - Recon

  The blood dirve sign up sheet is out. Flyers are posted by doors and break room. I have been talking to people. I learned to keep pandemic handouts with me.

  Blood - Blood only keeps for 42 days but since need outstrips supply it does not sit for 42 days
            Up to three adults or six babies can be helped.
            What vegetables and foods to eat for iron, even if one does not donate.
            List of who can and can not donate by country and ailment. Diabetics can donate blood. If they have a tattoo they can donate. Those who lived in the EU between certain years can not.

  Pandemic: WHO case list
                 WHO death by age
                 ReadyMom flyer
                 OSHA "Preparing Workplace for pandemic" - Page #2 says "Its the employers responsibility to create a safe workplace"
                 List of websites to visit including Crofs Blogs, FluTrackes, FluWiki.

   Went to a health fair and talked with several folks dropping off information. Only Antham healthcare said "People have asked if we are pandemic ready" Other hospitals and dental groups seemed to be surprised by the terms "bird flu" or H5N1. Pandemic was understood only in a historical or hysterical sense.

  Made one good contact with librarian. Libraries are doing more community outreach to get people in. They sponsor group readings, art displays and historical showings. We talked about using the big 10' screen to project HHS webcast while people talked or used WiFi to twitter/learn.  Unlike churches, lodges and other places that do not have WiFi some larger libraries do. Many places do not like strangers connecting PCs or Laptops to their internal networks.

  Lesson learned:
    Keep information and hand out handy
    Be prepared to cover the basics
    Be prepared to de-myth bad ideas or false information with facts
    Have source of facts handy like CDC, Red Cross, WHO, HHS - even Wikipedia
    Have contact information - I forgot this one again.

NOTE: Color handout grabs attention. Most people accepted a B&W xerox copy to take with them.
   Always be plesent and respect their whish not to talk about donations or H5N1
   Never be suprised by success. So often I'm told to shut up about pandemic it took me off guard when people said 'We get asked about this'.

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by: Kobie @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 16:41:41 PM UTC

Day 4 - regroup,

  I spent Friday going over all that has happened and keeping all the other balls in the air. Life is what happens when making plans. Laundry, work, dinner, time for Guitar Hero III and some TV.

 There is a webcast comming up - needed to create a diary for that. Questions - all the types of questions.

 This could be a full time job, but for now it can not be.

 Daylight savings time tomorrow its time to check the batteries in the smoke detector and rotate my battery stock some. During the last storm we did a flashlight drill and they all came up ok.

 Actually yesterday was so busy I did not get to post about it till today.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Sun Mar 08, 2009 at 03:18:25 AM UTC

LOL!

This could be a full time job, but for now it can not be.

Tell me about it, Kobie!  

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

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by: Readymom @ Sun Mar 08, 2009 at 04:20:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

One day it will be full tim +

ReadyMom,

 Yet I enjoy feeling like progress is being made for a problem few want to talk about. Its more than a hobby or simple volunteer work.

 Glad you laughed too.

 These things sneak up on me untill I look back and "wow". We have come so far that we can now go further than many imagined. Its no longer simple TEOTWAWKI, but a manageable descent v.s. a crash. We can have a planed and thought out recover instead of a reactionary "hope this works for no one has gone through this before"

 Onwards and upwards.

Kobie

 

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by: Kobie @ Sun Mar 08, 2009 at 17:43:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

In other words:

'you've got that right!  

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

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by: Readymom @ Sun Mar 08, 2009 at 04:21:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Day 5 rest

  Today was beutiful. Great day to be out doing yard work.

 Made me think of how much it would suck to SIP on a beutiful spring day that seemed like summer. I got out in the sunshing for the first time in months. If the pandemic happend in January and lasted for three months then I would miss a few spring days.

 Yes there would be alot of fear. But after three months in the house everyone would want to go outside. Go outside and blow off some steam or just rebel.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Sun Mar 08, 2009 at 03:21:14 AM UTC

Day 6 Prep - Day 7 reach out

Day 6 - Prep for Monday- There seems to be lots of examples to learn from

 'A smart man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from others mistakes'

 In seeing the finacial melt down, the fuel problems in other countries and weather problems no one should be caught off guard.

 Ok, easier said than done. Won't alot of money need to be spent? Yes - in some cases. Learning how to camp or cook out doors is an investment - but it is fun and pays back in memories.
 Yes buying a generator is expensive and running it from time to time takes vigilance but the pay back can be far greater.

 Donating blood - it takes time. The facts are:
  1) people often need more than two pints - we ain't just topping off here.
  2) There is no subsitute
  3) Lack of blood is incompatible with life or "He's dead Jim" There are about 10 pints of blood and some operations take more than 10 pints I'm told so its a total refill.

 BTW - 10 pints is 1.25 gallons or 5 quarts. That is about the same amount of oil in your car or about 1/4 the amount of antifreeze coolent.

 56 facts about blood and donations: http://www.bloodcenters.org/ab...

 4) Donating is like voting - if you dont do it, don't complain later.
 5) In some states it is the first legal thing you can do on your own as an adult.

KObie

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by: Kobie @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 18:21:01 PM UTC

Day 8 - communication, command and control

  Always follow up eamils with a visit.

 Emails are great for documentation but stopping by someones office to say "There is a blood drive next week, how can I help you donate?"

 The problem is emails can not answer questions. Emails or posters do not add the personal touch.

 A phone call is not as personal.

 The two big problems of talking with someone is you have to do it. You have to talk with them. Many of us like to keep our friends and avoid or just say hi to the other people we work with.

  Yet many people do not mind being noticed in a company or being given the chance to do something helful and good. Ok the T-Shirt is nice too but the main reason should be from the heart.

 That is what makes it easy to talk them. You are breaking the ice to help them do something good for others that they will feel good about afterwards

 There are no commands, just the message that there is a chance to do good.

 Control. By walking up and starting the coversation you are in control. Be polite and non confrontational. "Hey there is a blood drive" and let the rest flow from there.

How does this relate to Pandemics? Glad you asked. One needs many of these same skills in passing out information and getting people to prep. To feel comfertable when others want to avoid "the pandemic conversation"

 Not knowing does not make one better. So do feel free to let them know.

Kobie

 

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by: Kobie @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 20:24:17 PM UTC

Day 9 - I'm going in

   Well its less than one week from the blood drive and about a month from the next HHS webcast.

 Lead time is everything. For a blood drive people need to get it on their calendars and to make sure their iron is up. People should get their iron up even if they are not going to donate.

 As for HHS webcasts I stopped by a cafe today to talk about their hosting the webcast. I was not sure if had WiFi or if they would be open to the idea but its best for them to make that decision - not me.

 I talked with the manager about how 2 to 3 pm webcast could bring in people during the dead time between lunch and dinner crowds. This makes it a win / win situation.

 Problems:
  1) Strip mall shops have a lot of glass. Making the place dark will be a challenge.
  2) Projector and screen
  3) Having the router set up as "open" so anyone can use their laptop.
  4) Lead time. Fortunately HHS let us know what the April webcast is about and when well in advance.

 Library:  They have a projector, room that can be made dark and can provide a common PC that people can post their questions on.

Benefits:  The webcast brings people together so they know they are not alone
    The event generates traffic for the cafe or Library
    A person, a flubie,  like us can be there to field questions beforehand and afterwards.  

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by: Kobie @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 20:36:06 PM UTC

Your'e putting a lot of time and effort into this Kobie!

I'm looking forward to reading the wrap up summary! -k

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

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by: Readymom @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 22:30:45 PM UTC

Want to see how it ends

ReadyMom,

 Can't waite to see how my story(life) turns out ;-)

 If you told me last year or a month ago I would be doing this I would have laughed. Somehow there just seems to be this skill set of getting the word out and people involved.

 Blood drive / pandemic flu / food drive they all have some elemets in common.

 Tomorrow I start talking to papers.

 The blood drive will be here next week. It is actually fun to work one.

 As Sun Tzu wrote in 'The Art of War' - "take the moral high ground and others will join you."  Basicaly its not who or what you defete, its how much good or evil you are fighting for.

Regards,
Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 23:34:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Day 10 - cracking the code

  How does one break a secret? How does one get the word out.

 Both Paul Rever and William Dawes rode that cold night of April 18, 1775. Armed with the same message one rallied many while the other, William Dawes, produced little results.

 Since they where both men of good standing with the same message "The British are comming" why is one famouse and the other all but forgotten? (and why bring it up here?)

 Wheather it is a blood drive or pandemic flu its the results that count. Getting people to act in their best interest and that of their neighbors best interest.

 Here blood drives and pandemic flu should be no secret.

 Here lead time is key. The colonist where prepared for a fight. They got the message late in the night. Ran with no plan and few provisions to meet a larger supirior force. Many did not know each other. Non had trained at the site. That did not matter. They had decided to win or do their best long before hand.

 Today's people are no different - they only need lead time. Time to get the message, digest it and spread it so it is not a secret. Spread the message so they feel comfortable with it and belive in it.

 Mention "blood drive" and people know what that is. It is easy to coax someone to take the first step if they whish. For a blood drive news papers and radio stations are willing to mention them for free. People actually feel good supporting a good cause.

 So when the pandemic does draw nigh be remeber - lead time. Posters, ads and the message -"it will help, you can help"

 With enough people talking & passing out information pandemic preparation will no longer seem like a secret.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 17:54:00 PM UTC

Blood drive today

  Well I'll be volunteering at a blood drive today.

 Yes I will hand out pandemic flu and ReadyMom pamphlet.

 Yes the focus will be on the blood drive - I do not want to create competition or outstay my welcome.

 We should have over 150 people.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 11:03:57 AM UTC

Good Luck, Kobie!

Get that info in as many hands as you can! -k

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

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by: Readymom @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 12:46:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Pandemic info went well

ReadyMom,

 I guess people where in shock - they did not fight nor dismiss the pandemic info.

 One person from the juvinile jail is actually interested in information and says they will contact me.

 A full write up is comming.

 What hurt is seeing how long a blood drive takes and how close people have to be, the commong areas and knowing how bad that would be during an outbreak.

 I was there from 10am to 3pm and can not imagine running or helping with one during a pandemic. What scares me is that with economic problems and shortage or HCW blood banks and corporate blood centers will close or face the same problems.

 Blood supply is almost JIT. It is mesured in days or week+ - not weeks nor month units. As I joked with those donating "Blood is made here - we can not import it from China" Many said they would not want it because of the tainted products from China.

  There is a solution. There is a solution.    

  There is a solution.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 11:26:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks, Kobie-

Waiting for your full summary. -k

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

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by: Readymom @ Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 12:26:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Day of Conquest

  The blood drive went well. The cathedral like main room of the library is large enough for five historians doing intake, a small waiting area, 12 blood donor stations where one person manages two donors, two double red blood machines, a canteen where we check people out and a station for those who become faint.

 I arrived about 10:15 and instead of working the reception desk moved to the back to work the floor and canteen.

 The canteen is prime area! People have done their donation and have time to sit and listen. Often talk with the person next to them while eating. Many do not talk while giving blood or waiting in line.

 First priority is the person during the donation and afterwards. Tip: Orange juice. Second tip: experience - know first time donors from veteran donors. Third tip - be funny its saving a life not a funeral.

 Blood donation is a great time to be pampered, do a good deed, get fed and loose a pound of weight. Well ¾ of pound but who is counting. As a volunteer do walk around and make sure people have something to drink like orange juice or soda more so than water.

   Talk with first timers. They can be nervous and not more focused on what is going on then how they are feeling. A pint of blood is small in comparison to the blood in the body about 10%. Still just the event, not the donation, can be draining for some.

  Those who like to be in charge of the world around them may take it worse. It is a strange environment full of "what will happen next, how will it feel, can I stop it, how do I get out, will I be embarrassed if I leave early," etc, etc.  Walk them through the process and make sure they have something to drink. Take care of the donor.

 It is also a good way to introduce your self for later. You have broken the ice so to speak.

  Once they have made a donation make sure they spend ten min at the canteen. Get them something to eat and drink. Many will want to leave - particularly men. Simple words like "Here is your seat, we have these drinks to choose from" is non confrontational and hard to refuse.

   Now with a captive audience pandemic flu information can be presented. Have it out waiting for them. Try to notice something about them to bring up pandemic flu and preparedness. Do they work in a hospital, jail system, at home, school, pharmacy, grocery store, etc.

   Let them know what H5N1 is. Show them the WHO death by age graph. Talk about the nine cases of H5N1 so far this year. Have the ReadyMom and Instedd citizens guide info hand with the ReadyMom brochure & pandemic flu website info they can take with them.

  Contact information. Never forget contact information in case they want more info or have questions that come up later.

   Make sure the donor does eat and drink. Talk with them to see how they are doing. If stickers are given out saying "I Donated" or "I tried" do pass them out. Keep the ice, food and drinks at one end of the table and the trash at the other. Always keep the cups clean and move food from the bins to the table and then trash to the trash cans(s) Have multiple trash cans and a way to empty them.

 Tip: Hand sanitizer. You will be touching a lot of things and people. Even if you wear gloves the gloves can get dirty and pass germs. Use the no-wash hand sanitizer. Try to use fragrance free type.

 Tip: if you have pizza, have one use gloves and designate someone to serve it.

  Personal Tip - do not forget to eat and drink yourself. There will always be an flow of new people coming in. The number of people at the canteen will ebb and flow. During a slow time take care of yourself. It may be simple but it is work.

  Walking Tip: If people pass out or you think some one will pass out. Have one person walk to their side and one person walk behind. The person walking behind is not to catch and hold but slow the fall of fainting person and make sure the head does not hit the floor. This is done by turning sideways and letting the fainting person slide down your side. Same as with a choking victim, slow the fall and protect the head hitting the floor.

    Once they pass out raise their feet to get blood in the head.

    Tip - those who work at the Red Cross are the professionals at this so I just stay out of their way.

Results: We averaged 113 pints, several deferrals but not that many. I was there till after 3 pm. Good memories. Right now things are tuff for everyone. There was just enough to cover the donors and volunteers. You may or may not get a T-shirt. Don't worry. You made a difference. That is what counts.  

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by: Kobie @ Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 17:37:29 PM UTC

Thanks

For the report Kobie.

Were there many folks who did not want the panflu materials?

Any interesting comments after you spoke w/ some of them?

You took a prime opportunity and made good use of it for getting the info out there! Nicely done! -k

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

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by: Readymom @ Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 20:40:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

All wanted flu info

ReadyMom,

 I do not know why but people seemed interested.

 May have been their lack of blood, the hand out, the presentaions of the wonderful delivery by me. Ok, it was not me but people asked questions, did not freak and seemed courious, to interested to "we have somone working on this."

 I hope the tide is turning - pandemic or not. Disasters happen. IMO the clock is ticking down to the next pandemic. I do not have a doomsday clock set at 4 min to midnight. It is more of the hour glass half empty with few clouds on the horizon.

 It was a biased audiance. Only 5% of the population that can donate blood does. So these where the people who do care and do act.

  The room was filled with people from all walks of life and IQs. It looks random but it is not. It is full of people who care about others.

  That is a lesson not to be forgotten. May it help others.  

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by: Kobie @ Sat Mar 21, 2009 at 00:52:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Spoils of victory

  Good deeds should never come back to haunt, nor should they go unoticed.

 The drive's goal was 110 and the final official count was 123 pints. Not much but real good for a single event.

 Fist acknoledge those who gave. Some do not want the publicity. That should be respect but do acknoledge the number.

 Next is to follow up not only with those worked to find out what was learned by each. Volunteers are always coming and going so training is paramount.

 As Thomas Edison said: "I am not a great man, but I have such vision because I stand on the shoulders of giants"  New people can pick up where others have left off instead of starting at nothing.

  Work with those who gave, those who volunteerd and thank the blood drive co-ordinator.

 Try to follow up with those who got pandemic information. Re-enforce the information and answer questions. Learning is a long process.

 Lastly be prepared to start all over again. It would be nice if things only needed to be done once. Sadly that is not the case. The laundry will need to be done - again. The bathroom cleaned - again. The bills paid, dog walked, the list goes on.

 Yes, blood donated - again.

 The story goes on ;-)

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by: Kobie @ Sat Mar 21, 2009 at 01:12:21 AM UTC

Thank you, Kobie, for the fainting idea,

as well as your account of the blood drive. It makes a lot of sense to not try to catch someone.

You worked so hard.  You're an inspiration!  

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 01:04:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Jane - most welcome

Jane,

 I hope the diary helps others.

 The "do not catch, but let slide" I learned at wilderness first aide class and have passed it along. Every bit helps.

 I'm still working with the library on hosting a room and computer for HHS webcast. I would like to put "Social" back into social media.

 In talking with a few RedCross people at the Fargo Indiana flood yesterday and today I'm stunned at how unprepared people are and yet how they can pull together.

  Righ now roads and schools are closed in places around Fargo. I hope they have their three weeks to three months of food, diapers and beer. They are ramping up to go 24x7. I'm sure their blood drives are on hold.

 The RedCross started sending people on Friday. That is soo very different from what will happen during a pandemic when help will not arrive - for weeks.

  Anyway there is another bllod drive in the middle of June. I hope to pass along what I know and help make that one even bigger.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 20:22:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]