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 St. Louis, Friday, August 26, 2005 – Working to make preparedness a priority for every household, workplace and community, the American Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are co-sponsoring the second-annual National Preparedness Month, a nationwide coordinated effort launching September 1, to encourage Americans to take simple and proactive steps to prepare themselves for potential disasters and emergencies where they live, learn and work. While providing valuable resources to assist them in the effort, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter is encouraging residents to embrace the message of National Preparedness Month by pausing from their busy schedules to assess their personal readiness.
Together We Prepare:
Recent national polling conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide and the American Red Cross indicates that only 2 in 10 Americans say they are prepared for a major disaster or emergency, yet 82% say they would get prepared if they knew what to do. As a result, the American Red Cross has outlined five simple steps through the Together We Prepare initiative, designed to guide individuals as they prepare for an unexpected event, natural or man-made: 1. make an emergency plan, 2. build a disaster supplies kit, 3. get trained in lifesaving First Aid and CPR, 4. volunteer in the community and 5. give the gift of life through regular blood donation.
“Preparing for a disaster or emergency begins with the individual,” said Nick Farruggia, manager of disaster preparedness and client services for the St. Louis Area Chapter. “Emergency management agencies are here to help citizens through uncertain times, but an individual must be able to sustain themselves in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Whether an evacuation is ordered or a family is required to shelter in place until help is available, being prepared requires proactive steps that must be taken well in advance of the crisis situation.”
For More Information:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, nearly 900 Red Cross field units will participate, support and host a variety of events designed to bring the preparedness message home to the communities they serve. In the St. Louis area, residents are encouraged to contact the St. Louis Area Chapter for additional information regarding personal readiness at 314.516.2800 or online at www.redcrossstl.org.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter provides emergency and preparedness assistance more than 397,000 times each year. The Red Cross depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and 140 staff to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, adult daytime professional care, services to military personnel, assistance to homeless families, and support for blood services. The Chapter provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois.
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