First Day of Fall Project: DIY Emergency Survival Kit

by Sydney Holt, volunteer contributor

Y’all may not have even realized, but today is the first day of the fall. While the start of this colorful season typically signifies cooler weather, those of us in Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding areas are still experiencing highs in the upper 90s and even 100s! I don’t know about you but I don’t plan to spend my Autumnal Equinox digging sweaters and jeans out of my closet when I won’t need them for another few weeks, even months.

Instead, I plan to catch up on a few do-it-yourself projects, one being a DIY survival kit. Not handy? Don’t sweat it – this project is easy and can be done completely inside. 

Below are a few tips for helping you get Red Cross Ready for the entire year. 

1. Grab A Container! While a shoebox or extra container might seem like the easiest option, remember to choose an easy-to-carry, durable container such as a backpack or lightweight container with handles.

2. The Minimum. At a minimum you should have the following supplies. 

• Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit 
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area

3. Comfort Items. While the bare necessities are absolutely your first priority, having an array of comfort items is always a good idea – especially when dealing with children and pets. Examples include:

• Small games (non-electronic), puzzles, coloring books, cards
• Rain gear
• Blankets, sleeping bags and pillows
• Pet supplies – food, toys, carriers and sturdy leash or harness
• Wet wipes
• Towels
• Bug repellant

4. Awareness. Finally, be sure your kit is easy to access and all members of your household are aware of its location. Use this time to talk about your plan in case of an emergency situation and review the FREE Red Cross resources, such as our suite of mobile apps and the Plan & Prepare section of our website.

For more on what goes in an emergency survival kit, check out RedCross.org. Hint: It shouldn't look like this.

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National Preparedness Month: Getting Red Cross Trained Can Save Lives

by Mary McCormack, intern contributor

Red Cross volunteer instructor
Natalie Steadman

This September marks the tenth year for National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross is reminding our community how to stay safe, develop disaster plans and get information on being prepared during a disaster.

Locally, the Red Cross provides classes that help those how to become prepared for everyday emergencies. Classes such as CPR/AED training, water safety, babysitting training and disaster training courses are available at local chapters and sometimes even online.

Natalie Steadman, a professor at Texas Tech University’s Health Sciences Center and a volunteer instructor for the South Plains Chapter in Lubbock discusses the importance of why somebody should be prepared.

“It’s important to know even some of the most basic health traning,” Steadman said. “Just taking some simple courses can help you save somebody that you love.”

Steadman receives first aid training for her job every two years. She was able to use her training to help a man she did not know and ended up saving his life.

Littlefield, a small town outside of Lubbock, was hosting a football game one Friday night and Steadman happened to be on the sidelines. A photographer was also nearby when he started having heart complications and became unresponsive.

“I never thought that day would ever come,” Steadman said. “I always wondered, would I freeze when it came down to it, or would all of my training knowledge kick in?” 

Every month, the American Red Cross offers many classes that teach basic skills on how to save somebody who needs immediate medical attention. Without this training, Steadman would not have been able to save someone’s life.

“I’ve learned that the American Red Cross is all about helping those people in need at the very worst times in life,” Steadman said. “They have so many things to offer on how you can help, and I do my best to be an advocate.” 

You can search for health and safety classes near you on RedCross.org. See upcoming class schedules for DFW here.

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Preparedness in Your Pocket

by Catherine Carlton, volunteer contributor

Earthquake? Tornado? Hurricane? Fire? 

There’s an app (to prepare) for that. 

The American Red Cross actively uses technology – to educate and prevent emergencies as well as during emergency situations. The American Red Cross app series already has 3 million downloads. 

“These aps have truly changed how people get information at critical times,” said Anita Foster, regional chief communications officer. "We've used them ourselves and know them to be very helpful in emergencies." 

September is National Preparedness Month so there's not better time than now to get ready for the next event. The app series is at RedCross.org/mobileapps; all apps can be downloaded directly from iTunes or Google Play app stores. 

• Tornado App: The Tornado app puts everything you need to know prepare for a tornado – and all that comes with it – in the palm of your hand.
• Hurricane App:  Monitor weather conditions in your area or throughout the storm track, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out. 
• Shelter Finder App: The Shelter Finder displays open Red Cross shelters and their current population on an easy to use map interface. 
• First Aid App:  The official American Red Cross First Aid app offers videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know first aid. 
• Earthquake App: Get notified when an earthquake occurs, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out.  
• Wildfire App: Get the latest state-by-state Wildfire news and updates, prepare your family, home and pets, let loved ones know that you are safe even if the power is out.
• Team Red Cross: Volunteer App: Make a difference, support your community and join Team Red Cross! 

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Workplace Preparedness

As National Preparedness Month comes to an end, let’s focus on workplace safety preparedness. You should have an escape plan, locate emergency tools, know where the safe area is located, and know how to handle urgent medical emergencies.

An escape plan prepares you to calmly exit the building in case of a fire or other emergency that threatens the safety of your building. Practice evacuating by walking the exit route and knowing where you are supposed to go once outside of the building.

Locate the closest emergency tools to your work area. Know where the fire alarm, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and automated external defibrillator (AED) are located.

Locate the designated safe area in case of a natural disaster, such as a tornado. Be familiar with lockdown procedures to secure your work environment from other threats.

You should know how to handle urgent medical emergencies or know who in your workplace is trained. The American Red Cross offers a variety of training courses to prepare you. Contact your Dallas Area Chapter coordinator Andria Butler at 214-678-4320 to arrange on-site training for your company.

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What would you do?

Let's say a friend of yours has run 70+ marathons. You hand her the baton and she collapses.

What would you do?

This actually happened to Kathy and her Heart N' Soul teammates as they competed in the 2007 Hood to Coast race.

Watch the video, then check out our website for upcoming First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) classes.

Hood To Coast Movie - Red Cross CPR from HoodToCoastMovie on Vimeo.

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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.

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Month in Review: What a Wild September!

The weather must know this is National Preparedness Month. To say the least, it's been testing us. And we're only half way though.


We've seen Hurricane Earl, which side-swiped the east coast.


Tropical storm Hermine made us run for cover from the tornadoes downtown and impacted nearly 250 families in the DFW area.


We watched footage of the devastation, including the state-wide flooding. It was an all-to-close reminder of F5 - a mini-movie that deals with the scenario that an F5 tornado hits downtown Dallas.








Of course, this was coupled with the fires in Colorado and explosion in San Bruno, California.


Suffice to say, the American Red Cross has responded to each of these disasters, in addition to other specific disasters such as house fires.


But we can't exhale yet... There are three more storms - Hurricane Igor, Tropical storm Julia and a third unnamed storm - looming in the Atlantic and Caribbean.


We could not do it without the support of our volunteers and donors. The American Red Cross is asking people who have not been affected by the storms to help the Red Cross by making a financial gift to help others.


There are three easy ways to donate:

• Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10.

• Call 1-800-REDCROSS

• Go to www.redcross.org

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September is National Preparedness Month

If you've been reading this blog long, you know I love a good celebration. Well, this month is reason enough to celebrate - it's National Preparedness Month!

As you know, no matter how overwhelming or unimportant it may seem, it's vital to "Be Red Cross Ready" a.k.a. prepared. By taking these three steps, you can be ready to respond and stay safer in an emergency situation:

1. Get a kit
2. Make a plan
3. Be informed

Take the Readiness Quotient Survey to get your preparedness score and see where you should start.

Then, Pledge to Prepare and get involved here.

For more information about National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross' involvement, click here.

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CBS11 and TX21 Keep the Red Cross Ready With $5,000 Donation

This past spring we announced that CBS 11 and TX21 were going to promote NOAA weather radios sales at area Walgreens stores to benefit the D/FW Red Cross chapters.

Well we're pleased to report that yesterday CBS 11 Chief Meteorologist Larry Mowry(middle), presented Jessica Dunn, Dallas Area Chapter (left), and Patricia Thomson, Chisholm Trail Chapter (right) with a check for $5,000. We are so excited and so grateful for their support!

We're also proud of the CBS 11 and TX 21 viewers that purchased weather radios.

September is National Preparedness Month, a time set aside for the last seven years to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities.

The American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter urges North Texas residents to make a renewed effort this month to prepare for emergencies such as fires, floods or storms. Our free online education program, Be Red Cross Ready, can walk you through the three key preparedness steps: getting an emergency kit, making an emergency plan and being informed.

You can start by purchasing a weather radio for your home, if you have not already done so.

Learn more about being prepared by visiting www.redcrossdallas.org/.

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DFW Under the Gun for Severe Storms

Once again, the chance for severe thunderstorms containing high winds, damaging hail and isolated tornadoes is possible across North Texas. The time to prepare is now. The American Red Cross offers the following tips to keep families safe:

 Pick a safe place in your home where family members could gather during a tornado or straight-line windstorm. The safest place to be is underground, or as low to the ground as possible, and away from all windows. Make sure there are no windows or glass doors in your safe place and keep this place uncluttered.

 Check with your employer to determine where to seek shelter during the workday. Make sure your employer has a battery operated radio or a weather radio and essential supplies in the company safe room(s).

 If you live in a mobile home, choose a safe place in a nearby sturdy building. Mobile homes are much more vulnerable to strong winds than site-built structures. If your mobile home park has a designated shelter, make it your family's safe place.

 If you are in a vehicle, get out immediately. Find a sturdy nearby structure and take shelter. If there is no building nearby, go to a low-lying area until the storm passes. Taking cover under bridges is not recommended.

 If you are in a high-rise building, pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building. You may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor. Center hallways are often structurally the most reinforced part of a building.

 Check with your children's schools and day care centers to learn tornado emergency plans. Every building has different safe places. It is important to know where they are and how to get there in an emergency. Do NOT drive to your child’s school or day care center during a severe storm outbreak.

 Conduct periodic tornado drills so everyone remembers what to do when a tornado is approaching. Practice having everyone in the family go to your designated area in response to a tornado threat. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking time during an actual emergency situation.

 Discuss tornadoes with your family. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members are not together. Discussing disaster ahead of time helps reduce fear and lets everyone know how to respond during a tornado.

 BE RED CROSS READY. Follow 3 Action Steps for Preparedness—Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed. A free online education module is available at www.redcross.org/BeRedCRossReady to guide users through the three preparedness steps. The ten minute presentation, available in English and Spanish, includes a downloadable disaster supply kit checklist and emergency contact card.

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