Are You Prepared?

September is National Preparedness Month. Are you prepared? There are three critical things you can do today. Make a plan of what you will do in an emergency, get an emergency kit, and be informed of your community resources.

Your emergency plan should start by including all the members of your household to discuss how to respond to emergencies that are most likely where you live. These events can range from those affecting only you and your family, like a home fire or medical emergency, to those affecting your entire community, like a tornado or flood. Make sure each person knows how to contact each other, including an out-of-area emergency contact person, and knows where to meet if they can't go home. Additional emergency plans should be identified for the places you work or learn.

Your emergency preparedness kit should contain enough supplies for three days in case you need to evacuate. The American Red Cross also recommends having at least two weeks worth of supplies at home. Supplies should include water (one gallon, per person, per day), nonperishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, first aid kit, a 7-day supply of medications, a multi-purpose tool, sanitation and personal hygiene items and copies of important personal documents. The following video shows you how easy it is to build a kit.

Being informed involves identifying how you will get information, whether through local radio, TV or NOAAWeather stations or channels. Learn what disasters or emergencies may occur where you live, learn, work and play. Take proactive steps now because when a major disaster occurs, your community can change in an instant. Those around you may be hurt and emergency response is likely to be delayed. Completing training in first aid and CPR and knowing how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) is an important step in being ready.

The Dallas Area Chapter offers several First Aid with CPR/AED classes. These classes give individuals the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide basic care for injuries and sudden illnesses, including how to use an AED for victims of sudden cardiac arrest, until advanced medical personnel arrive. Register at redcrossdallas.org , by calling Cynthia Gonzalez at 214-678-4816 for monthly classes offered at the Dallas Area Chapter or by calling Andria Butler at 214-678-4320 to arrange on-site training for your company.

In honor of National Preparedness Month, let’s make a plan, make a kit and be informed.