Looking for a thoughtful and inexpensive gift that saves lives? Why not give the gift of healthier indoor air by buying a radon test kit as a stocking stuffer for family and friends? Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers.

“You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home,” cautioned James McNees, director of the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Radiation Control. “The cold winter months when homes are closed and radon levels are likely to build to their highest concentrations are the perfect time of year to test.”

Radon claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Surgeon General urge all Americans to protect their health by testing their homes, schools and other buildings for radon.

The Alabama Power Foundation has awarded about $24,000 in Good Roots grants to fund planting of trees across central and southern Alabama.

Good Roots is coordinated with the Alabama Urban Forestry Association and awards up to $1,000 per grant for the purchase of trees for planting in cities, towns, communities and by non-profit organizations. Good Roots is designed to help keep communities beautiful and vibrant.

“The Alabama Power Foundation has a goal of strengthening the communities we serve by giving back and supporting local organizations through our grant programs,” said John Hudson, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. “Communities are still feeling the impact from the April 2011 tornadoes.

On the heels of a major drought and busy wildfire season, the American Red Cross has released its official Wildfire App. The app puts lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in or who visit wildfire prone areas.

This free app—available in English or Spanish—is the fourth in a series created by the American Red Cross, the nation’s leader in emergency preparedness, for use on both iPhone and Android platforms. The Wildfire App comes after the highly successful First Aid, Hurricane and Earthquake Apps, which have more than 1.2 million users.

“The Wildfire App gives Alabama residents instant access to our ‘Blaze Tracker’ features so they can prepare their households and businesses and make critical decisions that can save lives.” said Billy Baxter, Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Alabama Region.

This year, the Red Cross has launched 11 wildfire relief operations spanning 10 states.