American Red Cross emphasizes importance of preparing for emergencies, disasters

By Sun Advocate

The American Red Cross stresses the importance of preparing for possible disasters or emergencies.
Preparedness will help families and neighborhoods become safer as well as more equipped to handle emergency situations in the event a disaster should occur.
Carbon County residents should consider following several emergency preparedness suggestions.
The disaster and emergency preparedness recommendations outlined by the American Red Cross include:
•Purchasing smoke alarms for every level of the house, especially in outside bedrooms, in the hallway and near the kitchen.
People who already have working smoke detectors installed at key locations in homes should establish a time marker and replace the batteries on a regular annual basis, explained the American Red Cross.
•Purchasing a carbon monoxide alarm.
Carbon monoxide alarms are especially important during winter months, when homes are shut up tight.
People should place the detection devices in hallways throughout the home.
It is also a good idea to install carbon monoxide alarms inside travel trailers and recreational vehicles.
•Purchasing a fire extinguisher.
People should consider installing A-B-C type extinguishers in the home and teach family members how to use the devices.
•Purchasing a fire escape ladder.
Escape ladders are crucial for people who reside in homes with second stories, stressed the American Red Cross.
For residences with basements, people should consider placing a step ladder, stool or chair in each room near a door for household members to escape into the window well.
The chairs can be lifted into the window well and used by family members to climb out of the home.
•Organizing or purchasing a 72-hour emergency kit.
For a list of supplies to include in the kits, residents may check the Internet or the county USU Extension office.
•Assembling a disaster supply kit for pets.
Hurricane Katrina helped people residing at locations across the United States realize how important pets are and how important the animals’ safety and well-being are to the family, noted the American Red Cross.
•Purchasing a weather network radio receiver and/or a hand crank AM/FM radio.
Having a radio will help people follow the most up to date information on pending or existing disaster situations.
•Purchasing a first aid kit.
Because the first five minutes of a medical emergency are critical, every individual and family should have a first aid kit in their homes and vehicles, emphasized the American Red Cross.
•Attending first aid and CPR training.
All Carbon County residents and adult members of a household should know how to appropriately stop bleeding, apply pressure, treat shock and correctly apply chest compressions.
People should consider asking a nurse or an emergency medical technician to spend 15 to 20 minutes with their families and teach the members of the household the basics, advised the American Red Cross.
Information on administering first aid at the scene of an emergency is also available on the American Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org.
•Purchasing and mounting house numbers.
All residences should have address numbers posted clearly on the front door, next to or above the entryways so emergency responders can easily locate the homes.
•Purchasing a reliable flashlight.
As simple as a flashlight is, it can become a very important tool during and after disaster strikes, explained the American Red Cross.
In addition, people should keep reliable flashlights in their 72-hour kits.
•Creating an emergency telephone number list.
All homes should have a list of emergency numbers posted near the phone or in the front of a phone book.
Disasters and emergencies can strike quickly and without warning. Following the suggested steps will help prepare Carbon County residents to handle the situations, concluded the American Red Cross.