As published in the Jefferson County Suburban Journals .

The American Red Cross featured its new preparedness program, "Be Red Cross Ready," during a 30-minute interview on KJFF-AM on Oct. 13.

Alice Gettis, community disaster education specialist for the St. Louis Area Chapter, joined Omar Ruiz of the Jefferson County Service Center to discuss the importance of making emergency preparedness a personal priority. During the interview, the Red Cross also focused on National Fire Prevention Week, its new Pandemic Flu curriculum and free Community Disaster Education presentations available for all ages.

National polling reveals that only two in 10 Americans feel prepared for a major disaster or emergency, yet 82 percent say they would get prepared if they knew what to do. The Red Cross recently streamlined preparedness through its new program, "Be Red Cross Ready."

Gettis and Ruiz outlined the program's three easy steps designed to ensure that communities are as prepared as possible: 1. Get a Kit, 2. Make a Plan, and 3. Be Informed.

The first step highlights the importance of emergency preparedness kits, which should contain at least three days of supplies. Recommended supplies include water, non-perishable food items, a flashlight, a first aid kit, medications, a radio with extra batteries, tools, clothing, personal items such as important papers, money, contact information, pet supplies and a map.

Emergency supplies should be checked every six months to update and replace as needed and should be stored in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers in a place that is easily accessible. Pre-packaged kits can also be purchased from the American Red Cross.

The second step of "Be Red Cross Ready" encourages the public to make an emergency plan. By planning ahead, citizens prepare themselves for the best possible disaster response. This begins by talking with family members about the disasters that can happen throughout the region. Each family member should be assigned responsibilities so the family can work together as a team in case something happens.

Families should plan two places to meet following a disaster. One location should be directly outside the house, in case the disaster occurs while everyone is home. The second location should be outside the neighborhood in case family members cannot return home or an evacuation is ordered.

As part of an emergency plan, family members should practice evacuating their home at least twice a year.

The plan to prepare our communities and ourselves also depends on citizens who regularly step forward to volunteer and give blood. There are many volunteer opportunities available through the American Red Cross Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold.

Volunteer blood donors give the gift of life. Blood is needed in times of emergency, but the ongoing need is also great. Every two seconds, someone in America needs a blood transfusion - cancer patients, accident victims, premature infants, etc. Each blood donation has the potential to help save as many as three lives. Appointments for blood donations can be scheduled by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

The third and final step of "Be Red Cross Ready" focuses on the need for the public to be informed, both in advance and following an emergency situation. To be as informed as possible, individuals should identify how local authorities will notify the public during a disaster and how they will get this important information - through local radio, TV or NOAA weather radio stations or channels.

The Red Cross suggests that at least one person in every household receives training in first aid and CPR. By learning these simple techniques, citizens develop the necessary skills and confidence to help when someone at home, in the neighborhood or at work is ill or injured. The Red Cross trains more than 85,000 people in the St. Louis area each year in CPR and first aid.

Gettis and Ruiz urged families to prepare for a home fire and introduced the theme of Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 8-14): "Prevent Cooking Fires - Watch What You Heat."

According to the National Fire Protection Association, home fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room of the home, and the leading cause of home cooking fires is unattended cooking.

To prevent kitchen fires, the Red Cross recommends that you keep all potential fuel sources, including potholders and food wrappers, at least three feet away from heat sources while cooking. In addition, stoves and ranges should be turned off if the responsible adult leaves the kitchen.

Smoke alarms save lives. Gettis and Ruiz encouraged listeners to install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of the home. The test button on smoke detectors should be used to check the device once a month. All batteries should be replaced at least once a year and smoke alarms should be completely replaced every 10 years, as they become less sensitive over time.

Fire extinguishers and automatic fire sprinkler systems are also important considerations. The public can seek training in the proper use of fire extinguishers from their local fire department.

In the St. Louis metropolitan area, the Red Cross provides immediate assistance such as food, clothing and shelter to more than 1,100 families who lose their homes to fire each year. According to a recent poll conducted by the Red Cross, four out of five Americans are unaware that home fires are the most common disaster in the United States. Only 26 percent of families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.

To further prepare the public for a variety of emergency situations, the Red Cross has developed new educational curriculum to focus on the threat posed by pandemic flu. The Red Cross maintains effective dialogue with both federal and non-governmental agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization to address this emerging threat. The role of the Red Cross focuses on public education.

Free community presentations about pandemic flu are designed to increase awareness about transmission, prevention and healthy practices. The Red Cross seeks to increase the sense of community responsibility as a method of decreasing the risk of transmission. In addition, the Red Cross curriculum provides information about how to care and comfort for those who contract the illness.

Each year, the St. Louis Area Chapter trains more than 72,000 people through Community Disaster Education presentations that help people prevent, prepare for and respond to a variety of disasters and emergencies. These learning opportunities are free of charge and are designed for all ages. The Red Cross presents the information to students, community groups and businesses, while focusing on how to make all community environments as safe as possible - homes, schools and workplaces.

To learn more about "Be Red Cross Ready," Fire Prevention Week, newly designed pandemic flu curriculum, or Community Disaster Education presentations, call the American Red Cross Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold at 636.464.9150 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.

The next Red Cross interview will air live on KJFF-AM at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10. Listeners will have an opportunity to call in with questions.