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Show : i ' - ' - " r . . u I r, v n , i A . : -' Mayor W. D. McDougald signs proclamation of the first Emergency Grand County Red Cross Drive for the week of Oct. 28 through Nov. 1, urging citizens to give generously to the local chapter, which is currently completely out of funds and unable to even bring the Bloodmobile to Moab. Looking on, left to right, are Betty Bowen, Barbara Brewer, Floyce Wells, G. U. Foote and Judith Robinson. Emergency Red Cross Drive Begins In Moab. Local Support Urged The week of Oct. 28 through Nov. 1 has been named First Emergency Grand County Red Cross Drive week in order to secure funds to continue valuable programs conducted locally by the Red Cross. The Grand County chapter has operated the past 6 years without an all-out fund raising campaign, and although letters lett-ers asking for emergency funds were mailed to local businessmen and response was good, not enough people were contacted. Beta Eta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon has volunteered to conduct the canvass for funds, for which the chapter is in such dire need at the present time. The Red Cross blood program prog-ram has always been widely accepted and donors in Grand County have always been most generous with the local quota alw ays meeting national needs set up by the amount of blood used by the County. The Blood Mobile Unit was cancelled last fall because of an outbreak of an infectious disease reported in Grand County, and also because of lack of funds necessary to pay trained personnel who must accompany the blood mobile along with local volunteer doctors, nurses and residents. The blood donated, with the exception of emergency donations donat-ions requested by Allen Memorial Hospital, all must be processed at a cost of about S25 per pint for distribution and use throughout the state. All blood used in Grand County must be secured through the Red Cross Blood Mobile Program, and it must be replaced by residents of the county. The county is behind in payment of cost for the blood mobile since the fiscal years of 1969 through 1971 for a total due of S718. The expense to bring the blood mobile unit to Moab is about S153. In charge of the blood program are Barbara Peterson and Marlene Bailey. Barbara has handled the blood program for 5 years w ith the support and excellent assistance of Beta Eta Chapter of SAE. The next regular blood mobile is scheduled for May of 1976 providing the county chapter is able to meet part of the back debit for past units. According to local chapter chairman, Uzel Foote, Grand County has remained active in many phases of Red Cross assistance, besides the blood program, without any funds, which handicapped each program pro-gram greatly. Water Safety Red Cross Water Safety Chairman Judith Robertson reports that many ccsiificates were issued to swimmers during the 19'74-75 seasons by authorized volunteer Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. Instruct-ors. Most of the training was done bv Jane Julson and Mary-Martin. Mary-Martin. The chapter is hopeful of getting more volunteer persons pers-ons interested in instructing. New instructors must receive training from the National Red Cross Instructor, who. it is hoped, will be in Moab before the I9"6 swimming season. This will necessitate some local funds, which the chapter is unable to supply at the present time. Armed Forces Red Cross Service to Armed Forces Committee Chairman Barbara Brewer reports that service to military families in a small town has many functions. funct-ions. Assistance may take the form of counseling families and servicemen when financial or family problems arise, assisting widows with paper work, etc. Notifications to servicemen of deaths, births and illness at home, anil also helping arrange emergency leaves if necessary are handled. handl-ed. Barbara has helped service associated families who are left stranded due to accidents or automobile breakdowns. Helping may take the form of financial loans which must be supplied on notice from Grand County Red Cross funds. If no funds are available, the National Office is solicited for funds. Barbara din-s not act on her own, as information provided sometimes may require verification verifi-cation from authorized physicians, physic-ians, clergymen, law enforcement, enforce-ment, etc. Reports must be complete and filed with the local chanter and also the national office. All cases are confidential and service is free to the individuals involved. Barbara is on call 24 hours a day to help servicemen. The average case takes about 2 hours and numerous phone calls as well as the ever present paper work. All cases require followup calls to make sure that all is well with the serviceman and to see if additional help is necessary. Barbara reports the volunteer volunt-eer work at no pay is very satisfying and states that to see someone's relief and gratitude is reward enough. Barbara remembers a reverse roll when hospitalized herself and Jim was in the military service. Red Cross arranged a trip home from Viet Nam on emergency leave for him. Barbara states this is her way of saying "Thank you. Red Cross," and feels that anyone interested or having the time would greatly benefit from such personal service. Any offer of assistance would be appreciated and is greatly needed. First Aid Program Jerry Epperson, chairman of the First Aid program reports that many individuals received certificates for standard, advanced, ad-vanced, and basic multimedia first aid programs in the last year. The Grand County Sheriff's department, the Highway Patrol, local Police Officers. Park Service and Forest Service personnel, along al-ong with personnel from area industrial plants are a few of the many organizations which received Red Cross first aid training. Red Cross's first aid programs progr-ams are broken into 3 courses: the standard first aid and personal safety training course for the general public to prepare them with basic first aid knowledge and skills; the advanced first aid and emergency emerg-ency care training course to meet the needs of individuals and groups who are in a position to provide first aid and emergency care frequently frequent-ly such as policemen, firemen, jeep patrols and ambulance attendants; and the basic multimedia first aid which has been designed to satisfy the requirements of the Occupational Occupat-ional Safety and Hazard Act (OSHA). If you need first aid training for yourself or for your business employees, contact Mr. Epperson to arrange a class. There is no charge for the instruction. Disaster Program Jerry Bonser. disaster chairman, chair-man, reports he is prepared to organize temporary relief for people who have suffered from a disaster. The local Red Cross chapter works in close association assoc-iation with Grand County Civil Defense organization and receives rec-eives much help and assistance assist-ance from Floyce Wells, local Civil Defense director. Jerry Bonser reports that we are very fortunate that no major disasters have occurred in our area recently, but nevertheless, neverthel-ess, the Red Cross is prepared to help in case of one. |