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Now is the Time to Be Informed
As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, don't forget to be informed and get Red Cross Ready.
By Katie Lawson, Staff Writer, Redcross.org
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 — National Preparedness Month reminds us of the importance of being prepared, but preparedness should be an important part of everyday life. The Red Cross can help you and your family take action to prepare for the unexpected disasters and emergencies that could happen in your area.
There are three actions anyone can take to Be Red Cross Ready: 1) get a kit, 2) make a plan and 3) be informed. By now, you and your family should have already assembled your disaster supplies kit and made your family communication and evacuation plans. The next important step to being Red Cross Ready is to be informed.
“Gathering information on what can happen in your area is key to preparing you and your family for disaster,” says Darlene Sparks Washington, director of preparedness for the American Red Cross. “Learn what you can do to prepare for these events and share what you have learned with your friends and neighbors.”
Be Informed
The first step to being informed is to find out exactly what types of disasters can happen in your area. You can contact your local Red Cross chapter or local office of emergency management for an idea of what could come your way.
It’s important to learn the different ways in which you can get important information during or following an emergency in your home, school or workplace. After a disaster strikes there is often some confusion so it’s important to know the best way to stay informed about what to do in certain emergency situations. There may be several ways to get the information you need. You can watch TV, listen to the radio or monitor your local emergency warning system.
Find out what is best for you and what to do following each type of emergency in your area. Also, find out what plans your workplace or children’s school may have in place.
“Don’t wait for big disasters to strike to get important preparedness information,” says Sparks Washington. “Talk to someone at your local Red Cross chapter and compile helpful tips for what you and your family should do during or following a disaster.”
Get Trained
In any emergency situation, there is a chance that someone could get hurt and require immediate medical attention. One of the best ways to be prepared is to acquire the first aid and CPR skills that could potentially save a life.
Professional medical teams could be delayed or unavailable for an undetermined period of time during or following a disaster or other emergency. Those with basic first aid and CPR skills can be a valuable resource to someone who may require immediate medical attention. Contact your local Red Cross chapter today to find a class near you.
Even those without formal training can help in an emergency. In any first aid emergency, follow these three emergency action steps:
- Check – Check the scene for safety and for clues as to what happened, who might be injured and who can help. Never enter an unsafe scene where you could potentially be injured as well.
- Call – Dial 911 or your local emergency number. This could be the most important thing you can do for a person who is seriously injured or ill. If you can’t make the call yourself, be sure someone else does and then reports back to you so you know the call has been made.
- Care – Care for the person by providing first aid or CPR. Call your chapter today to get trained.
Remember, you should definitely call 911 if someone is unconscious, having trouble breathing or experiencing chest pains, or if there’s a possibility that someone may have a head, neck or back injury. Stay on the line and be prepared to provide important information to the operator such as your name and number you’re calling from, your exact location and what happened.
You can get a free introduction to first aid and learn more about what it means to be prepared by visiting www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady and taking the free, online tutorial.
“Being informed may be the last step to take to ensure you’re Red Cross Ready, but it’s certainly not the least important,” concludes Sparks Washington. “Build your kit, make your plan and be informed. That’s all it takes to Be Red Cross Ready.”
**This is part three of a three part series on Redcross.org**
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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