Albany, NY (May 1, 4:30 pm)— To help ensure the safety of our communities in light of the threat of a pandemic outbreak of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) locally, the American Red Cross is working with leading businesses to educate and prepare our residents.

The Red Cross will offer free public classes on pandemic flu safety and preparedness:
• Tuesday, May 5, 12:00 – 1:00 pm (limited to 100 attendees)
New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)
800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham
• Thursday, May 7, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
SEFCU Headquarters, Dora Maxwell Auditorium
700 Patroon Creek Boulevard, Albany

Registration is required. Interested parties can register in one of three ways and should indicate which free class they wish to attend:
• Call (518) 458-8111, ext. 3009;
• E-mail tavarez@redcrossneny.org; or
• Go to www.redcrossneny.org.

A Spanish language class is being scheduled. Updated information will be released to the media and updated on www.redcrossneny.org.

The Curriculum
“Pandemic Flu Preparedness” is appropriate for workplaces and families to help individuals prepare for a pandemic flu event. It includes the following information:
„X What to expect during a flu pandemic
„X The similarities and differences between seasonal flu and pandemic flu
„X How the influenza virus spreads
„X Steps to help prevent the spread of seasonal and pandemic flu
„X How to prepare for a flu pandemic

The Red Cross recommends that families and organizations review and update their preparedness plans should businesses and schools need to temporarily close. The Red Cross also recommends storing a two-week supply of food, water, and other necessities such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, infant formula, pet food, special nutritional needs, essential medications and medical items. A gallon of water per person per day should be stored in clean plastic containers. Common sense public health practices should be followed. These include covering your cough/sneeze with a tissue, frequent hand-washing, visiting a doctor for flu-like symptoms, and staying home when sick.

“Be assured that the Red Cross is committed to maintaining the blood supply for the public, educating the public on preparedness and safety, and ensuring that we can continue to provide disaster services to those in need,” said Gary Striar, CEO of the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York. “We are grateful to our community partners, NYSUT and SEFCU, who continually demonstrate their commitment to helping our community.”

The Red Cross is making this free course available to any business or organization. To schedule a presentation, contact the Red Cross at (518) 458-8111 ext. 3011 or streun@redcrossneny.org.

About the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York
ARCNENY helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Last year, nearly 1,100 residents of the Capital Region and surrounding areas were provided free, emergency assistance by ARCNENY after disasters such as fires, floods, and power outages. In addition, thousands were assisted by the Red Cross after the December 2008 ice storm; more than 700 victims received shelter with the Red Cross during that time.

The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money and blood from the American people to do its work. An average of 90 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. For more information about your local Red Cross, visit www.redcrossneny.org or call (518) 458-8111.

About NYSUT
NYSUT, a union of professionals, is one of the nation’s largest statewide unions, representing more than 600,000 professionals in education, health care and government. We are committed to bettering the lives of those we serve and improving the communities and institutions in which they live and work. NYSUT and its more than 1,200 local unions are affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, The National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.

About SEFCU
Established in 1934 as the credit union for state employees, today SEFCU is among the 70 largest credit unions in the U.S. with over 1,000 other ways to join, more than $1.7 billion in assets, over 170,000 members, and 34 offices in the Capital Region, Binghamton, Syracuse, and Buffalo. In addition to standard deposit and loan products, SEFCU offers 24-hour banking by phone and Internet, electronic bill payment and eStatements, investment and insurance services, and a full range of business banking services. Follow us on Facebook® and Twitter®.