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 Members of the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce learned five steps to save their families in case of an emergency on Tuesday.
The five steps are to make a plan, build a kit, get trained, give blood, and volunteer. President and CEO of the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross Joe White said that these “essential” measures could save hundreds of lives everyday.
White said that families need to make a plan of where to meet in case a disaster strikes.
“There needs to be two locations,” White said. “One needs to be outside of your house and the other needs to be outside of the neighborhood in case the area is evacuated.”
White said that by making a plan and practicing it twice a year, families could save time in case of an emergency by knowing where everyone is located. Also, White said that people should not rely on cell phones because connection might be difficult if everyone is using their phone.
The second step is to build a kit that would be good for each person in the household for three days.
“These kits need to include water, food, flashlights, cash, pet supplies and medications,” White said. “The kits need to be accessible in a hurry.”
The next two steps are to get trained in first aid techniques and to give blood.
“Both of these can be done at the nearest American Red Cross facility,” White said. “Every two seconds someone needs a blood transfusion. And blood is always needed.”
The final step, to volunteer, is one of the most important things a person can do to help others.
“We call on about 4,000 volunteers in this area alone,” White said. “Without volunteers we wouldn’t be able to provide the services that help so many people.”
White, who has been with the Red Cross for two years, said that many people do not understand the daily services the Red Cross provides.
“People think of blood and flood when they think of us,” White said. “However, the Red Cross offers so many life saving necessities on an everyday basis.”
The Red Cross responds to any sort of disaster whether it be man-made or natural, according to White. Also, White said that the Red Cross does not receive any government funding, therefore they rely on donations and grants from businesses and individuals.
There are 1,000 single-family fires a year in the St. Louis area – that is three fires per day.
“These fires always seem to happen at two in the morning, in February and it’s freezing,” White said. “We are there to help the victims and assist the firefighters and emergency response persons.”
White said the Red Cross arrives on the scene within 15 to 20 minutes and stays to make sure the victims have food, shelter, clothes and money.
“These people are just sitting on the curb watching everything they have burn to the ground,” White said. “After the fire is out, the firefighters leave. I’m not being harsh, it’s just that their job is finished – they aren’t there to get those people off the curb. That’s where we come in.”
It costs the agency $2 million a year to help people in single-family fires.
White said the second mission, helping armed forces, is very important to the St. Louis Red Cross Chapter.
“It’s not the person being deployed that we look out for, it’s the people that they leave behind,” White said, adding that those deployed are usually the primary or only breadwinner in the household.
The third mission, to help those affected by war, has been successful for the St. Louis Chapter according to White, who said that they reunited twin women after World War II just a couple of years ago.
“We are the only agency in the United States that can perform those types of services,” White said.
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