Hurricane Sandy: How Can You Help?

The Salvation Army and American Red Cross branches in Ohio and nationally are poised to provide aid to those who need it, and you can help them do it.

Ohio has already been affected by the FrankenStorm, also known as Hurricane Sandy, but our neighbors to the east are getting hit much worse. And if you're safe and sound at home, you may feel compelled to do something to help them. There are many ways to help, we're just featuring two options in this story: American Red Cross and Salvation Army.  When the electricity goes out and people need shelter, it's usually the American Red Cross that sets up those shelters in schools, churches or community centers. They provide cots to sleep on, food and a safe place to rest.  Sunday, the Red Cross had already set up 112 shelters in nine states. That's just the beginning.  But all that costs money and while the Red Cross was created by the U.S. …

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High Wind and Storms in the Area: What to Do if the Power Goes Out

Red Cross has advice on how to cope if the electricity goes off

All of Northeast Ohio is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. With high wind and thunderstorms possible this evening, the American Red Cross has advice on how to handle a potential power outage: Before the Outage • Keep a couple of coolers on hand to store your cold food. Surround it with ice and make sure you have a digital quick-check thermometer to test whether the food has gotten too warm. • Have an emergency kit on hand with non-perishable food, water, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, cash, medications and personal hygiene items. • Keep a non-cordless phone around. It's likely to work when the power is out. • Make sure your car's gas tank is full. During the …

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Don't Know CPR? There's an American Red Cross App For That

This free app isn't supposed to be a substitute for American Red Cross first aid training, but it's good in a pinch.

First aid emergencies are much less scary if you know what to do and a new app created by the American Red Cross aims to do that. The First Aid by American Red Cross app, created for both Android and iPhone users, offers step-by-step instructions on first aid including videos and animations, preparedness tips for natural disasters and a 9-1-1 button for big emergencies.  It's like having a friend who's an emergency medical technician on speed dial.  But it's not a substitute for in-person first aid training which the American Red Cross chapters offers regularly.  The Summit County chapter offers classes in the new hands-only CPR, babysitting, lifeguarding and more. 

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Stewart's Caring Place Volunteer Offers More Than Her Time

Joan Goson has been a volunteer for about a year and a half.

Joan Goson was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, but she doesn't call it a battle, she calls it a journey. Her journey led her to Stewart's Caring Place where she volunteers several times a week and sits in on breast cancer support group sessions. Stewart's provides a variety of free non-medical services for people and families affected by cancer. "It was a different kind of journey for me," Goson said. "After I started feeling better (from radiation), I heard about this place and thought I would like to volunteer here." Goson, 72, has been a survivor for almost two years and she uses her experience in the group therapy to help others. "I love it and I love talking to people," Goson said. "And since I'm a survivor I have more …

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Five Things to do This Week

It's the last hump day of 2011, check out your options for the rest of the week.

1. The Rotary Club of Fairlawn is holding its weekly breakfast meeting this morning at the Fairlawn Country Club. 2. There's still time to experience a Victorian Christmas. The Bath Historical Society and Museum is featuring its Historic Town Hall for Christmas exhibit through February. 3. The American Cancer Society and Revere Relay for Life are hosting the Amazing Amazone Event. Enjoy unlimited laser tag at the Amazone Family Entertainment Center. 4. Revere High School students cn take a break from their winter break to donate blood at the Richfield branch library. 5. Bring the young ones to the Happy Noon Years Eve Party at the Fairlawn-Bath branch library.

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Five Things You Should Know

Take our poll, a look at Christmas by the numbers and more than 800 area residents donate blood.

1. Jewelry was reported missing at both a home and a senior living center in Bath. 2. Did you get an iPhone or an Androoid tablet for Christmas? We want to know what gadget you got this holiday season. Take our poll. 3. The Humane Society of Greater Akron featured Guinnesss, a two-year-old dog, and Molly, a two- to three-year-old cat, as this week's Pets of the Week. 4. Christmas is a big time for retailers, but how big? Here's the by-the-numbers look, courtesy of the  U.S. Census Bureau. 5. More than 800 area residents took time out of their busy holiday schedules to attend the largest blood drive held in Summit County.

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Five Things to do this Week

A blood drive, a winter hike and the last chance for a lantern-lit tour: Just a few examples of what's going on around Fairlawn and Bath.

1. The American Red Cross is hosting the largest Blood Drive in Summit County. Blood donors who come to the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls tomorrow will be treated to refreshments, holiday entertainment and a free goody bag. 2. Take a hike during the winter break at Fort Island Park. Children under 5 will need to be accompanied by an adult. 3. It's the last opportunity to go back in time to Christmas Eve 1861. Enjoy a 90-minute, latern-lit journey through the Hale Farm and Village where guests will tour the homes and meeting house of Civil War-era citizens. 4. For more holiday dazzle, check out the spendor of Stan Hywet Hall at its Deck the Hall: Joys of Christmas Past 25 Nights. 5. Bath Township Historical Society and Museum is …

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Five Things you Need to Know

From winter break for students, to a poll for parents to a Fairlawn man donating 16 gallons to the American Red Cross. Read what's been going on this past week.

1. Students at Copley-Fairlawn Schools and Revere Local Schools are now on winter break. Classes resume on Jan. 3 for Copley students, and on Jan. 2 for Revere students.. 2. A Fairlawn man is the recipient of a 16-gallon donor pin from the American Red Cross. Sam Hamilton has made 128 separate trips to Red Cross blood drives over 45 years. 3. Recently, malls started banning parents from taking their own photos of their children sitting with Santa, or asking them to shoot from a distance. What do you think? Take our poll. 4. The Humane Society of Greater Akron spotlights Reva, a pointer/cattle dog mix, and Abigail, a shy, lap cat this week. 5. A 14-year-old girl was arrested this week after a Macy’s loss prevention agent watched her and two…

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Fairlawn Man Donates 16 Gallons of Blood, One Small Pint at a Time

American Red Cross has been recipient of Sam Hamilton's generosity since 1966 in Vietnam.

It was the promise of a steak dinner after far-too-many meals of powdered eggs and bread in 1966-era Vietnam that prompted Fairlawn resident Sam Hamilton to become a first-time blood donor. Fast-forward 45 years and Hamilton is the proud recipient of a 16-gallon donor pin from the American Red Cross. That means Hamilton, 65, has made 128 separate trips to Red Cross blood drives, donating the gift of life one pint at a time. At this point, Hamilton said the donations are just part of his life routine. “It’s kind of like a form of charity. My wife and I give money to other charities, but the Red Cross needs blood, so I give that,” Hamilton said. “I’ll keep going every other month as long as I’m healthy and eligible. I may as well, because …

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Gift of Blood in Constant Demand

Northern Ohio region needs blood to support 12,000 transfusions each day

While many of us were busy shopping at the mall and stores all along state Route 18, the Monday before Christmas, volunteers at Fairlawn Lutheran Church were giving a gift that's in constant need, the gift of the life by donating a pint of their own blood. The need for blood donors is constant and continuous, according to Christy Chapman, communications manager for the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio. Thirty-nine thousand pints of blood are needed every two seconds in the United States. In our area -- the Red Cross Northern Ohio Region comprised of 19 counties -- blood is needed for 12,000 transfusions per week. "We need to collect nine hundred pints today and we'll need to collect nine hundred pints tomorrow," Chapman said. The …