HR171

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Chapter of the AMERICAN RED CROSS has an unparalleled record of helping Hawaii's residents to prevent, prepare for, and respond to life-threatening emergencies by:

(1) Delivering relief services to victims of disaster;

(2) Offering health and safety training such as first aid, CPR, and aquatic lifesaving to more than 36,000 people statewide last year; and

(3) Providing emergency communication services to military families and participating in community education projects to safe lives;

and

WHEREAS, preparation ranges from knowing what to do in a natural or manmade disaster to having the skills to respond when a family member has chest pains; and

WHEREAS, the AMERICAN RED CROSS urges all Americans to take simple steps for emergency preparedness, including outlining a disaster-preparedness plan, assembling a disaster supplies kit, volunteering to help the local community prepare for disasters, and training at least one member of the household in first aid and CPR; and

WHEREAS, individuals can help make Hawaii and our nation safer by joining the AMERICAN RED CROSS as a volunteer, course participant, instructor, or contributor; and

WHEREAS, during AMERICAN RED CROSS relief operations, volunteers assess damages, drive emergency response vehicles to distribute food and other supplies, provide shelter for families who have been evacuated from their homes, and provide necessities to the needy, and all services are provided free-of-charge as a result of generous contributions from the people of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, March 2008 has been recognized as American Red Cross Month; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that all Hawaii residents are urged to work through the Hawaii State Chapter of the AMERICAN RED CROSS to help prepare their families and community for emergencies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Hawaii's families are encouraged to continue giving their time, financial contributions, and blood donations to support the Hawaii State Chapter of the AMERICAN RED CROSS' mission to prevent and relieve suffering and to save lives.

	OFFERED BY:	____________________________

Report Title:

RECOGNIZING MARCH 2008 AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	171
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII