Red Cross News: Students and schools really help us

We are so lucky to have the students, faculty and staff at St. Rose of Lima School, 154 Beach 84th Street in Rockaway Beach, work closely with the American Red Cross in Greater New York to help Rockaway residents prepare for emergencies and to extend a hand when people around the world need our support.
Just before the school started closing its doors for summer, we began a relationship with them that will pick up in earnest during September and grow in the years ahead.
St. Rose of Lima has collected $183 toward its goal of $500 that will be used to help others in the community. The students also are making a video about the Red Cross. From our side, we have visited the school to talk about the good work that we do in Queens, throughout the city and around the world. We also have provided the school with Red Cross first aid kits and FACT (First Aid for Children Today) books.
FACT helps children understand the importance of managing their health and safety, and the health of the environment in which they live. Using stories featuring animal characters, FACT deals with topics such as first aid, calling 9-1-1, road safety, home alone, healthy living habits and the environment.
The school/Red Cross collaboration was the idea of the fourth grade students, who were inspired by the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. The children are amazing. They have so much energy and many great ideas. I was even surprised when they told me that they knew that American Red Cross founder Clara Barton was born on Christmas Day.
We hope this relationship will inspire other private and public schools in Queens to work closely with us. When the bell rings again in September, we would like to hear from students, teachers and members of PTAs at all Queens schools.

Summer Safety Tips

Speak up if you or a pet are going to be left behind in a car with doors locked and windows closed. You and pets always need to go along with the driver.

Drink plenty of water.

Avoid drinks with caffeine in extreme heat.

Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

Change into dry clothing if your clothes become saturated with sweat.

Use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or more—even on cloudy days.

Eat small meals of carbohydrates, salads and fruit, and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, because they increase metabolic heat.

Slow down. Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activity.

Stay in the shade when possible, and avoid prolonged sun exposure during the hottest part of the day, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Joan Foley is director of the American Red Cross in Greater New York - Queens.
In Queens, the American Red Cross in Greater New York responds to emergencies such as fires, floods and power outages. It also helps residents prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies by offering first aid, CPR, aquatics and other classes along with free emergency preparedness training programs and resources. The Red Cross is located at 138-02 Queens Boulevard in Briarwood. More information can be obtained by calling 718-558-0053, or visiting www.nyredcross.org.