9 Tips to Keep Your Pets Warm and Safe This Winter

Winter Weather #PetParedness

This NYC winter has seem some of the coldest temperatures in recent memory. While it's critical for us to keep ourselves safe amid arctic temperatures  let's not forget about the brutal impact that severe weather can have on our four-legged friends.

So what can you do to protect and prepare your pets during the winter? Here are a few simple tips to keep them safe:

1. Bring your pets inside! It’s cold out there, and what’s bad for us is also bad for man’s best friend.

2. Be careful around space heaters! Space heaters pose many risks. Not only can they burn your pet, your pet can also knock them over and start a fire.

3. Be mindful of the paws! Salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate a pet’s paws. Wipe their paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates their mouth.

4. If pets cannot come indoors, keep them warm  in a dry, draft-free space large enough to allow them to sit and lie down, but small enough to keep them warm.

5. Dress your dog in style for winter weather and make sure they are wearing a collar or ID tag with their name and your cell phone number.

6. These days, there’s an app for everything, including keeping your dog safe. Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for iOS and Android smartphones. 

7. Love may be the best medicine, but if your doggy gets meds from the vet, be sure to keep some in supply in case you get snowed in this winter.

8. Be ready by keeping a preparedness kit for your pets all year long. It should include food, water, and any medications for your pets. A chew toy would also be a nice gesture.

9. And in case of an emergency evacuation, never leave your pet behind in the cold. Remember, if it’s not safe enough for you, it’s not safe enough for your pet. 

Thanks to our friends at Good Dog Therapy for sharing the photos! Check out the full series here. 

In Case You Missed It - Jan 29

Long Island Red Cross volunteers installing free smoke alarms in Plainview after a fatal fire. (Photo: Lori-Ann Pizzarelli)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 65 adults and 15 children following 42 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones in a fatal fire Sunday in Plainview. Thank you to the dedicated Red Cross volunteers who came out yesterday to assist the family and to help install 35 smoke alarms in the community.
• The husband and wife volunteer duo of Ed and Peggy Byrne taught Shelter Operations training to nearly 20 of our newest volunteers over the weekend. 
• On Saturday, ABC7NY aired its annual fire safety special “Operation 7: Save A Life” where our signature, Disney-sponsored children's emergency preparedness program The Pillowcase Project program was featured prominently in the second half of part 2. 
• Long Island Red Cross volunteers were up late on Friday in the freezing cold serving hot drinks to emergency workerss at a 4-alarm fire in Old Westbury. 
• On Friday our Mass Care Manager on Long Island Eli Russ was featured in the Mamaroneck section of the Daily Voice. 
• Volunteer Services held a Volunteer Appreciation Lunch for volunteers who recently deployed to Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, USVI and California. 
• On Wednesday, National Grid teamed up with the Red Cross to install free smoke alarms in the Rockaways. See press release here. 
• Also on Wednesday, we announced a long-term partnership with Win (formerly, Women In Need) to bring The Pillowcase Project to the homeless youth who reside in Win's centers. Watch a video of the special kickoff event. 
• On Tuesday, FOX5NY and ABC7NY reported on our response to a 3-alarm fire in the Bronx where we assisted 32 adults and 16 children who were displaced from the blaze.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Jan 30, Feb 2, 3, 5: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today. 
• Jan 31: Interesting panel this week in NYC highlighting some very relevant issues: Humanitarianism in an Inhuman Era 
• Feb 10: Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. fire prevention event will be in Manhattan. To schedule a future free smoke alarm installation and/or to volunteer to help make your community safer, please visit soundthealarm.org/nyc.

In Case You Missed It - Jan 22

Jan 5, 2017 - On one of the coldest nights of the year with temperatures falling to -5.8 degrees F with the wind chill factor, Red Cross volunteer, Dmitriy Pagul searches for fire affected-home in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Photo: Marko Kokic)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 265 adults and 78 children following 57 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Over the weekend, NY1 aired an interview on their “In Focus” show with our very own Josh Lockwood and City Councilman Chaim Deutsch. The segment highlighted the importance of getting smoke detectors in every NYC residence and other fire safety topics like escape plans and space heaters.
• On Saturday, our Home Fire Preparedness team installed free smoke alarms and provided fire safety education to the seniors of the Springvale Apartments in Croton-On-Hudson. 
• On Friday, with help from NY State Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, the Red Cross and FDNY provided fire safety education and signed up members of Community Board 9 in the Bronx for free smoke alarm installations. 
• The Red Cross and community partners like Tzu Chi New York and NYC Council Member Margaret Chin provided emergency housing and other services to 20+ families after a 5-story building in Chinatown was vacated. 
• On Thursday, our Community Preparedness Team taught 3,000 students of Midwood High School life-saving emergency preparedness skills. 
• New 12 Brooklyn reported on a fire in Sunset Park, Brooklyn where Senator Jesse Hamilton gratitude for the assistance the Red Cross provided to those residents impacted by the fire.
• On Monday, News 12 Bronx highlighted our extraordinary disaster relief efforts in this report: “Red Cross assists hundreds in 1 month in NYC”
• Long-time Red Cross photographer Marko Kokic accompanied volunteers on a disaster ride-along earlier in the month right after a major snow storm. You can see a gallery of his amazing and insightful photos from that evening here.
• Special thanks to volunteers and cadets of West Point for making our 4-day blood drive there a success. 
• Former NYC Mayor Dinkins, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Pastor Al Taylor all stopped by our Sound the Alarm tabling event at the Convent Ave Baptist Church on MLK day to show their support.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Jan 23, 26, 27, 29: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today. 
• Feb 10: Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. fire prevention event will be in Manhattan. To schedule a future free smoke alarm installation and/or to volunteer to help make your community safer, please visit soundthealarm.org/nyc.

In Case You Missed It - Jan 15

Councilmember Vanessa Gibson lends a hand installing smoke alarms with Sound the Alarm.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 635 adults and 175 children following 75 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Over the weekend, Red Crossers and partners fanned out across the Bronx (with help from Councilmember Vanessa Gibson) and Amityville (Long Island) to install free smoke alarms to make the community safer. News 12 Bronx reported on the event here.
• On Sunday, after a fire in Mount Vernon left a multi-generational family homeless, the Red Cross provided them with emergency assistance.
• Friday saw multiple fires in the Metro NY North region. First there was a fire response in Mamaroneck. Later that morning, an emergency shelter was opened to provide a warm, safe haven for Larchmont residents displaced by another fire.
• Last Wednesday, we were saddened to learn of the sudden passing of friend and long-time volunteer Carlos Nieves. There is also a GoFundMe page setup in his honor to support his family.
• On the anniversary of the Haiti Eartquake, we remember the remarkable Stephanie Crispinelli. Her spirit, compassion and dedication to helping others live on through the "Steph Comfort Kits" that are distributed to children who have lost everything to home fires.
• Tuesday morning, the Red Cross taught 350 kids from PS 143 in Queens about the importance of emergency preparedness. #PillowcaseProject
• The week started off with yet another multiple-alarm fire. This time in Washington Heights (as was reported by PIX11 News). The Red Cross opened a reception center to help residents fleeing from the fire and cold.
• AM New York published a great article: “Red Cross disaster response increases with cold weather” highlighting all the compassion and care our volunteers and staff have been providing for the last two weeks.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Jan 16, 19, 22: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today. 
• Feb 10: Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. fire prevention event will be in Manhattan. To schedule a future free smoke alarm installation and/or to volunteer to help make your community safer, please visit soundthealarm.org/nyc.

In Case You Missed It - Jan 8

@LIRedCross volunteers responding to canteen at this multi-alarm house fire in Glen Cove
as well as a firefighter funeral for Sea Cliff Fire Dept. -@disasterbuff

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 231 adults and 87 children following 79 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Sunday, the Long Island Red Cross assisted the residents of Stony Hollow, who were left with no power and burst pipes in the frigid cold by handing out blankets.
• Partnering with the Federation for the Homeless, Department of Family Services, the United Way, and the Village of Monticello, the Red Cross handed out blankets and opened an overnight warming center for the residents of the Shaker Heights apartments. 
• On Saturday, Metro NY North volunteers provided comfort and care to a Pine Island family who lost two family pets and their home to a house fire. 
• During frigid temperatures (10-degree) following a fire, the Glen Cove Fire Department requested support from the Long Island Red Cross. 
• On Friday, the Long Island Red Cross provided canteen services at the wake and funeral of late Sea Cliff Fire Chief and FDNY Firefighter Michael Hallquest. 
• On Wednesday, Long Island Red Cross volunteers responded to a fire in Massapequa and provided a family with assistance and comfort which included teddy bears and coloring kits for the little ones.  
• The Bronx Times reported on the two catastrophic fires that ripped through Tremont and Stratton Park and how the Red Cross assisted those impacted.  
• Chelsea Now published an article about the Christmas Day fire in Chelsea and mentions Red Cross providing services to residents. 
• Want to know what it was like to be a volunteer dispatcher during one of the busiest week of disasters? Gordon Williams gave us an inside look via this post. 
• Councilman Chaim Deutsch thanked the Red Cross and partners for an informative and impactful fire prevention forum.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Jan 8, 9, 12, 13, 15: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today. 
• Jan 14: Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. fire prevention event will be in the Soundview section of the Bronx. To schedule a future free smoke alarm installation and/or to volunteer to help make your community safer, please visit soundthealarm.org/nyc. 

In Case You Missed It - Jan 2

Red Crossers rushing to aid stranded ferry passengers in the frigid cold.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 255 adults and 118 children following 73 local disasters. 

Last Week in Review

• Due to the extreme cold over the past holiday week, there was an incredible amount of fires and emergencies that the Red Cross responded to. Here are some of the highlights where Red Crossers provided hope, help and comfort to so many during what should have been a festive time.
• Jan 2: Red Cross teams have spent a good part of the day on Commonwealth Ave in the Bronx following a 7-alarm fire that forced dozens from their homes in the freezing cold.
• Dec 31: Red Crossers provided canteen support to the White Plains Fire Department as they battled a house fire on New Year’s Eve.
• Dec 30: Following the tragic Bronx fire that occurred a couple of days before, Red Crossers canvassed the neighborhood to register residents for free smoke alarm installations and helped residents unload donation from the community.
• Dec 28: Red Cross teams were on the scene after a tragic fire in the Bronx to provide comfort and emergency relief and will continue to assist affected families for days to come.
• Dec 27: Red Cross team rushed out to Brooklyn to deliver blankets, coffee and other assistance to 20+ ferry passengers returning to shore after being stuck in Jamaica Bay for hours.
• Dec 27: On a brutally cold morning, the NY Post reported on several large fires, including a 4-alarm on Knox Place in the Bronx.
• Dec 26: Red Cross team responded to a fire in Port Chester that displaced a family of two adults, two children & two family dogs
• Dec 25: Red Crossers were on the scene of a devastating fire in Chelsea and in Newburgh on Christmas.
• Dec 23: A home fire in Mamaroneck displaced an estimated twenty-five people, including nine children
• Thanks to the Harlem Globetrotters for helping us to raise funds at the Westchester County Center!
• 3 months after Hurricane Maria, FiOS1 News visited Puerto Rico with the American Red Cross to see how continued response effort.
• A Year in Review:
• Images of 2017: Part 1 and Part 2
• Blog: Preparing the Community, Responding to Local Disasters, Home Fire Campaign, Service to the Armed Forces
• In year of unprecedented disasters, New Yorkers answer call to help
• Happy holidays to our volunteers, staff, donors and supporters!