Red Cross encourages preparedness during September
Families should get prepared during National Preparedness Month

[September 12, 2014]  CENTRAL ILLINOIS – It’s National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross wants households across the country to come up with a game plan to make sure their household is ready for the next emergency or disaster. By definition, emergencies are an unforeseen combination of circumstances that call for immediate action. They happen quickly, sometimes giving someone only minutes to react.

GET PREPARED Planning ahead can help keep everyone safe. During National Preparedness Month, families can take some steps to be ready should disaster strike. Each household should make a plan, build a kit and be informed.

MAKE A PLAN Planning together is important. Everyone in the household should help develop the emergency plan and know what they should do if something occurs. The plan should include ways to contact and find one another.
Include two places to meet – one near the home in case of a sudden emergency like a fire, and one outside the neighborhood in case circumstances prevent people from returning home. The plan should also identify an emergency contact person from outside the area in case local telephone lines are overloaded or out of service.

GET A KIT Another step to get ready is to build an emergency kit. Use an easy-to-carry container so the family can use it at home or take it with them if asked to evacuate. It should contain a three-day supply of water (one gallon, per person, per day), nonperishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, a 7-day supply of medications, a multi-purpose tool, sanitation and personal hygiene items and copies of important personal documents.

BE INFORMED Everyone also needs to stay informed about what types of disasters are most likely to occur where they live or where they plan to visit, and how officials will communicate with you during an emergency. It is also important to take a first aid and CPR/AED course—a vital component of disaster preparedness in case emergency help is delayed.

RED CROSS APPS People can be ready for whatever comes their way by downloading the free Red Cross apps for mobile devices which not only help people during emergencies, but offer help creating their emergency plan. The apps give people vital information to use during emergencies, even if they can’t connect to the internet. The apps can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross.

For more Red Cross preparedness information, please visit redcross.org/prepare.

[Text received; ERIN MILLER, AMERICAN RED CROSS - CENTRAL ILLINOIS REGION]The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.