 St. Louis Area Chapter issues additional safety tips during National Preparedness Month (September)
St. Louis, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 - Each year, more than 82,000 St. Louisans receive free training in disaster preparedness from the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. Community Disaster Education presentations are designed for all ages and are tailored for a variety of emergency scenarios - from home fires, winter storms, earthquakes and tornadoes to thunderstorms, floods and pandemic flu. A recent local preparedness study indicates that most St. Louisans are not prepared for a disaster, and the Red Cross has issued safety tips throughout National Preparedness Month (September) to encourage the public to make emergency preparedness a personal priority.
About Red Cross Safety Tips for the Week:
"We know that disasters can impact us locally. The American Red Cross has opened emergency shelters on three occasions in the last fourteen months," said Joseph C. White, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "The Red Cross wants our neighbors to be safe, and safety can be achieved when citizens take proactive steps to be ready for the unexpected. That process is easier than ever before, thanks to helpful resources implemented by the Red Cross - both here in St. Louis and throughout the country."
About Red Cross Preparedness Resources:
To make emergency preparedness as easy as possible, the American Red Cross has introduced a variety of resources, including the new Be Red Cross Ready online tool now available at www.redcrossstl.org. Be Red Cross Ready outlines emergency preparedness in the following three steps:
1. Get a Kit - Plan to have at least three days of supplies in an easy-to-carry evacuation kit, with additional supplies on hand. Supplies include water, non-perishable and high protein food items, a First Aid Kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, medications, and a battery-operated radio.
2. Make a Plan - Planning ahead will help you have the best possible response to a disaster. Establish responsibilities for each family member and choose two places to meet following a disaster. Families should practice their emergency plan at least twice a year.
3. Be Informed - Learn what disasters or emergencies may occur locally and identify how authorities will notify the public with important instructions. It is important to seek lifesaving training in First Aid and CPR so that people are ready to lend a hand in an emergency situation.
Ready-made disaster supply kits containing basic emergency supplies are available for purchase. Kits range from $40 to $70 and should be adapted for each person's unique needs and circumstances. The Red Cross also helps people build their own kits by providing a comprehensive list of necessary supplies featured online at www.redcrossstl.org.
Online CPR and First Aid training is affordable and available at www.redcrossstl.org, enabling participants to complete all prerequisites and written testing from the comfort of home at their own pace. Once the online portion is completed, course participants demonstrate skills to a Red Cross instructor to achieve certification. Each year, the St. Louis Area Chapter trains more than 85,000 people in CPR, First Aid and the proper use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
About National Preparedness Month and Recent Local Survey:
Throughout September 2007, the American Red Cross has issued a weekly series of preparedness tips as part of its community outreach during National Preparedness Month. This year, the fourth-annual National Preparedness Month, also highlighted by the Department of Homeland Security and other local and national organizations, closely follows the release of the 2007 American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Preparedness Survey. The new study, conducted by Fleishman-Hillard Research and announced in time for the anniversary of the July 2006 windstorm and power outages, reveals that less than half of all St. Louisans have taken the necessary steps to be ready for a disaster. This is despite the fact that more than 70 percent of local residents have experienced some type of hardship as a result of an emergency.
For More Information:
To learn more about the fourth annual National Preparedness Month or Red Cross emergency preparedness resources, please call the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 90 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, 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. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.
# # # |