By Dr. Matthew Levy

As a veteran disaster medical responder with nearly three decades of field experience, an emergency medicine and EMS physician and longstanding member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, Dr. Levy has experienced the realities of disaster response.

When most people think about disaster preparedness, they think about bottled water, flashlights, batteries, generators and evacuation plans. Those preparations matter. But after years of leading disaster response teams through hurricanes, floods, extreme heat events, wildfires and mass-casualty incidents, I have learned that one of the most important preparedness tools is often overlooked: people who know how to administer lifesaving skills.

Disasters place extraordinary strain on communities. Roads can become impassable, power outages can disrupt critical infrastructure, communications systems can fail and emergency responders can be stretched thin across multiple crises. In those moments, professional help may be delayed, leaving neighbors, friends and family members as the true first responders.

That reality makes CPR, AED and First Aid training essential components of disaster preparedness.

Disasters are not only emergency management and logistical challenges, but also major public health events. A large review led by Harvard Medical School researchers found that extreme heat, hurricanes, tropical storms and other climate-related weather events are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, particularly among older adults, low-income communities and other vulnerable populations. Physical strain, psychological stress, smoke exposure, disruptions in healthcare access and interruptions in medication management as contributing factors.

The relationship between disasters and heart health is striking. A study examining 31 years of U.S. tropical cyclones and hurricanes found that cardiovascular disease remained the leading cause of death among affected populations. Cardiovascular deaths peaked during the month a hurricane occurred and the month following a tropical cyclone. The risk also increased with each additional storm affecting a community, suggesting that locations repeatedly exposed to severe weather may face growing health consequences over time.

Sudden cardiac arrest does not pause during a disaster. In many cases, the circumstances surrounding a disaster can make an emergency even more challenging to manage. In those critical moments, knowing what to do and being willing to act can make the difference while first responders are on their way. In fact, immediate action can triple the chance of survival after a sudden cardiac arrest. Without it, survival rates drop by 10% every single minute.

First Aid skills are equally vital during disasters when access to professional medical care may be delayed precisely as injuries and health emergencies increase. Under normal circumstances, emergency medical services reach a patient an average of about seven minutes after dispatch. In rural communities, response times average roughly 13 minutes and can exceed 26 minutes in some cases. During a disaster, it is potentially even longer.

In those critical minutes, bystanders may be the only source of immediate care. People may need help controlling severe bleeding, caring for wounds, recognizing and responding to a serious allergic reaction, treating dehydration, identifying heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, or assisting someone experiencing breathing difficulties due to poor air quality or wildfire smoke. First Aid skills can help stabilize an individual and prevent a medical emergency from becoming a tragedy.

Wildfires provide another example of why preparedness must extend beyond the emergency kit. Wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular health risks. Health effects that can persist long after a disaster has ended, particularly in communities repeatedly exposed to wildfire smoke.

These realities reinforce an important truth: preparedness is not just about surviving the disaster itself. It is about protecting health during the emergency and throughout recovery.

A well-stocked emergency kit can help sustain a household. A trained person can help save a life.

Community resilience is built not only through infrastructure and emergency plans, but through people. If everyone learns these skills, knows what to do and when to do it, and has the confidence to do it, we could not only help more people, but we could have more resilient communities. 

As disasters become more frequent and severe, our definition of preparedness must evolve. We need communities that are stocked with supplies, equipped with plans and filled with people ready to act.

5 Things You Can Do Today to Be Prepared

1. Stay informed and make an emergency plan with your household.
Knowing what disasters are most likely to occur in your area can help you prepare and respond safely. Sign up for local emergency alerts through your community's emergency management or public safety website so you can receive important updates by text, email, or other communication channels when threats arise. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency app for real-time alerts, expert advice in both English and Spanish, and available disaster shelter and support locations.

Create a family emergency plan that outlines how you will communicate, where you will go if evacuation is necessary, and how you will support children, older adults, pets, or anyone who may need additional assistance. Make sure everyone in your household understands the plan and practice it regularly so you're prepared before an emergency happens.

2. Build and regularly check your go-kit and stay-at-home kit.
Keep your go-kit stocked with at least three days of supplies you can carry, including backup batteries and chargers for essential devices. Your stay-at-home kit should include two weeks of food and water and a one-month supply of medications and medical supplies. Replace expired food, water, medications and other items, and make sure batteries are charged and equipment is working. Revisit your kits whenever your household’s needs change.

3. Take a CPR, AED and First Aid class.
The most important step is learning the skills before an emergency happens. Find a class through the American Red Cross at RedCross.org/take-a-class.

4. Know where the AED is.
At home, work, school or other places you regularly visit, learn where an AED is located and understand that you do not need to be a medical professional to use one. AEDs provide voice and visual instructions to guide users through the process.

5. Turn preparedness into a community effort.
Encourage family members, coworkers, neighbors and friends to learn CPR, AED and First Aid. The more people who know how to respond, the stronger the safety network becomes when an emergency strikes.

You cannot predict when a disaster, or a medical emergency, will happen. But you can decide today whether you will be ready to help.