The American Red Cross is 126 Years Old Today

On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. The volunteers who make up this organization give disaster aid both nationally and internationally. They supply close to 50% of America's donated blood and blood products, as well as contribute to society through biomedical research.

The American Red Cross is also known for helping to bridge the communication gap between military personnel and their families. Other organizations are beginning to follow this lead to recognize the needs of our Nation's military personnel, as noted in my post from May 6, 2007.

In addition to all of these objectives, these volunteers serve through mitigation and education. They help to keep the public informed on a number of safety topics (such as some of the safety tips posted on Saturday), and by such the American Red Cross also strives to help prevent accidents.

To find the Red Cross nearest you, or to learn more about this organization, please visit the link below!

Food for Thought

Children emulate what they observe their parents doing. Parents can set a good example for their children by making healthier food selections. One place to start is by speaking with a dietician at your local hospital. He or she can help to create a healthy diet plan for the individual needs of your family. There is also a wealth of information and tips at: http://mypyramid.gov/. Also worth noting is the "MyPyramid for Kids" section of the site. It includes a PDF explaining the key concepts behind it in addition to educational activities for children and tips for families about nutrition and exercise.

Obesity is a growing topic in the news as more research is uncovering health issues related to obesity. Education about nutrition and exercise might help to alleviate this health issue. If children observe their parents establishing healthy eating practices, they too will begin to eat better foods. This, in turn, would produce another generation of more health-conscious individuals as the cycle of healthy eating habits was taught to the next generation of children.