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Learning to love my lifejacket

National Lifejacket Day – did you even know there was such a thing?  Just before the May long weekend every year, the Canadian Red Cross works to raise awareness about the importance of wearing lifejackets. Each year, my colleagues and I wear lifejackets to work for the day to prompt conversations about drowning prevention. But being wide and busty, the ones I used to wear sat too high and barely closed.
Until recently, the truth is I hated lifejackets.  

National Lifejacket Day: #LifeJacketLiving, then and now

My grandpa was... a character.

A retired jail guard, he towered over most people and delighted in giving everyone, especially my new boyfriends, the 3rd degree.

His catch phrases – more like a series of not-so-subtle common sense reminders – were a running family joke. At the cottage, you frequently heard his booming voice: “Close the door!” “Turn out the lights!” and, whenever we headed toward the water, “Where’s your lifejacket?”

May 8 is World Red Cross Day – do you know why?

Every year, May 8 marks World Red Cross Day to commemorate the more than 150 years of humanitarian actions by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement around the world.

Nepal earthquake a stark reminder of need to be ready

Large-scale disasters like the Nepal earthquake last week continue to remind us of the importance of being ready. Canada is not immune to disasters, as we saw with the Alberta floods and the Lac-Mégantic train derailment in 2013.

We mark Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9) here in Canada by encouraging everyone to be ready.

Photos: Canadian aid workers providing medical care in remote community in Nepal

Dhunche is a remote village located high in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal, several hours away from Kathmandu. This is where a team of Canadian aid workers have set up tents and medical equipment, part of the Canadian Red Cross mobile field hospital, where they can provide medical care.

Red Cross providing access to clean water and sanitation, essential to Nepal relief efforts

As the relief operation continues in areas of central Nepal devastated by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, hundreds of thousands of families face the prospect of another night in the open air, fearful of returning to their homes due to aftershocks.

In this setting, access to drinking water is limited access and there are sanitation challenges to overcome.

Photos: Red Cross sends help to Nepal

The Canadian Red Cross mobile field hospital is now on its way to Nepal, where it will provide medical care to people affected by the recent earthquake. More than 20 Canadian aid workers are being deployed to Nepal to staff the hospital.

Photos: Red Cross responds to Nepal region earthquake

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25. Authorities report over 2000 people have been killed and many buildings have collapsed in the capital, Kathmandu.

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About The Blog

The purpose of this blog, quite simply, is to talk. This blog is an opportunity for Red Cross staff, volunteers, supporters and friends to share stories about what is happening in your community and the important work you are doing. It is a tool that will help keep all of us connected.

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