Check out these great American Red Cross FIrst Aid Kits!

The American Red Cross and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) serve communities throughout the United States in a variety of ways before, during, and after emergencies. But while both programs accomplish a great deal individually, they can do even more when they work together. As partners, CERT and American Red Cross programs and volunteers can work to advance their mutual goals of increasing the preparedness and resilience of local neighborhoods and communities and offering vital assistance and support in the aftermath of disasters.

CERT Gear

The FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division invites you to join a webinar that showcases successful partnerships between local American Red Cross regions and CERT programs. Three sets of American Red Cross and CERT programs serving three unique jurisdictions will discuss how they are working together to make their communities safer, stronger, and more resilient. Presenters will share how they established their partnerships, what lessons they learned from the experience, and how their collaboration benefitted their programs and communities. The webinar will conclude with a question and answer session.

Title: Local Partnerships Between the American Red Cross and CERT

Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Time:  3:00 - 4:30 p.m. (ET)

This webinar will feature American Red Cross and CERT guest speakers from the following jurisdictions:

• Delaware County, PA
• Denver, CO
• Detroit, MI

How to Join the Webinar:

• Adobe Connect Registration Web Link.
• Please register for the event.  Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting.
• This webinar will offer closed captioning.

We hope that you will be able to join us on September 9! If you can’t make it, we will post the recording, transcript, and slide deck of the presentation on this page, under “Citizen Corps Partners/Affiliates”: http://www.ready.gov/preparedness-leader/webinar-library. You can also view our most recent webinar on including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs in CERT training at: https://icpd.adobeconnect.com/p1onuoh5wic/.

Summer.. Heat, Sun, Sweat.

Dehydration can be deadly. Lean how to Beat the Heat:

• Extreme Heat and Your Health
• Heat and Heat Related Injuries and Illness ??
• Heat Safety Tool
• Heat Stress – Heat Exhaustion – Heat Stroke
• Heat Stress and Heat Related Injuries – Heat Exhaustion / Heat Stroke

Heat Stress & Heat-Related Illness

What is heat illness?

The body normally cools itself by sweating. During hot weather, especially with high humidity, sweating isn't enough. Body temperature can rise to dangerous levels if precautions are not taken such as drinking water frequently and resting in the shade or air conditioning. Heat illnesses range from heat rash and heat cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention and can result in death.

Just days away...  National preparedness Month!

September 1 is the first day of National Preparedness Month. We are encouraging everyone to participate in the theme,.. . 

National Preparedness Month culminates with National PrepareAthon! Day (America's PrepareAthon) on September 30 when we turn our attention from awareness to action. If you have not already done so, please use this national day of action to practice your family emergency communication plan, and make sure everyone knows what to do and has the phone numbers they need to stay in touch.

Evacuation... how much have you thought about evacuating in time of need? From Home? From Town? What about in a Home Fire?

If a fire occurs in your home, you don't want to be left without a plan of escape! According to the United States Fire Administration, fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you with as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds.

Fire & Evacuation Essentials = Everyone knows you need Fire Extinguishers , but what about the other things not often considered? Fire is the most common disaster to strike... are you and your loved ones ready?

Creating a family escape plan is easy! A great way to start is by following these steps:

• Walk through your home with your family and identify all possible exits and escape routes;
• Draw a floor plan of your home and mark two escape routes from each room using an escape planning grid;
• Get children involved in escape planning;
• Have a meeting place outside of the home; and
• Practice your plan at least two times a year.

Your first priority in any emergency is keeping yourself and your family safe. You can find more information about escape planning and fire safety by visiting the U.S. Fire Administration. Plan and practice home fire drills at least twice a year. Make sure you know two ways out of each room... also, be sure to watch this special public service announcement:

What is home security? What sort of steps does one have to take to achieve it? What simple ways can one change their home to be more secure? This article will answer these questions and more, detailing a variety of secrets, tips and tricks which will secure your home for good.

Walk outside of your home at night and see what is visible through your windows. If you have a clear view of your valuables, especially easily stolen electronics, then so do potential thieves. If you don't want to rearrange the interior of your home, simply make sure that blinds or drapes block the view.

Do you have an outside dog? If so, the dog house can be a terrific spot to keep a spare key. id in a warm climate with not actual dog house, you can attach your key to your dog's collar in order to keep the key hidden. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed, but it is highly unlikely a thief can safely obtain the key.. (Keep you Dog Safe!)

If your home has glass doors, you should install a sensor in order to be safe. In many areas, burglars seek out houses with glass doors since they are easy to break. Installing shatterproof glass is a very expensive option, so you should consider having a motion or vibration sensor put in.

Make sure all exterior wiring is well protected or covered. Copper wiring is a favorite object for theft as it is often accessible from outside the home and can be sold for a great deal of money. Air conditioners are a prime target for copper thieves. Also make sure exterior power and phone lines are protected and not easily cut.

Be sure your valuables are not visible from the outside of your house. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. Keep your curtains drawn to keep your valuable items safe.

Even if you are not going to be gone long, keep your home locked. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. An intruder can cut the wires if he can find them. Instead, make sure the wires are hidden. Your system will be far more effective this way.

Be aware of what's being talked about in the neighborhood. The more you know about the people you live near, the more you can be sure of your home's overall security. You may here something strange through the grapevine. But beyond that, all your new found neighbor friends make excellent watchdogs for keeping your property safe!

If you are going on vacation, do not change your answering machine telling everyone that you are going to be away. Burglars can call this number and see that it is open season on your house. Keep your regular message and advise friends and family members to call your cell phone when you are away.

Pepper spray enables you to defend yourself while keeping a safe distance from an attacker. A one second burst to the face will cause temporary blindness, choking, coughing, and nausea-bringing the attacker to his knees.

Be careful sharing vacation plans online. This is especially true when it comes to sharing plans on social networking sites and posting updates while on vacation. You don't really know is reading your plans on these sites. Anyone could be planning on breaking into your home uninterrupted since you are not there because you have told everyone that you are not there.

Plant a sign that discourages people from soliciting near your house. This will prevent people from coming to your door that you do not know. If you have this sign posted and there is someone who wants to rob your house, they may feel uncomfortable coming up to your door as it will look suspicious.

If you are the only person in your home, take your keys to bed with you. The remote to your car has an "alarm"

OK - we all know that every College Student needs some Red Bull, Top Ramen and a First Aid Kit. If they're staying in a Dorm, you can't forget the XL Twin sheet set. But what about sex?

Sexually transmitted infections can be prevented. They are also treatable, and many are curable. Half of all new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur among young people under the age of 25. College students and others who are sexually active should get tested for STDs and HIV to know their status and protect themselves and their sexual partners.

Pepper spray enables you to defend yourself while keeping a safe distance from an attacker. A one second burst to the face will cause temporary blindness, choking, coughing, and nausea-bringing the attacker to his knees.

Remember, too, Sexual assault happens on college campuses as well as in communities. One in 5 women have been sexually assaulted while in college and 80% of female victims of completed rape experienced their first rape before the age of 25. Students should know their rights, and seek help immediately if they or someone they know is the victim of violence.

 

With National Preparedness Month around the corner, we wanted to share one of our favorite resources with our readers.

Most often, on thinks of FEMA, Ready.gov, or America's PrepareAthon when thinking "Preparedness" - but what about the CDC?

The Centers for Disease Control and prevention offer a wealth of free resources on the subject of preparedness... here are a few:

According to the CDC, mosquito-borne illnesses are a serious threat - especially in these humid Summer to Autumn transitional days.

1. Use insect repellent: When used as directed, insect repellent is the BEST way to protect yourself from mosquito bites.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents are safe for even children and pregnant women. All the EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated for safety and effectiveness.
   • DEET: Products containing DEET include Cutter, OFF!, Skintastic.
   • Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin): Products containing picaridin include Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, and Autan outside the United States).
   • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD: Products containing OLE include Repel .
   • IR3535: Products containing IR3535 include Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition and SkinSmart.

2. Treat clothing and gear: Treat items such as boots, pants, socks, and tents with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
   • Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings. See product information to find out how long the protection will last.
   • If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions carefully.
   • Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.

3. Mosquito-proof your home: Take steps to avoid having mosquitoes enter your home.
   • Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
   • Use air conditioning when available.
   • Keep mosquitoes from laying eggs in and near standing water around your home.
     • Once a week, empty, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers both inside and outside your home.

Insect Repellent & Sting Relief Products

While National Preparedness Month doesn't begin for another week, that is not excuse for not making certain you are ready - especially for Hurricanes if you are in a Coastal area (watch out - it is that time of year!) How is your Hurricane Readiness?

If you live in coastal areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to prepare for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year.
Please follow these important hurricane readiness tips from CDC:

• Preparing for a Hurricane : Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Emergency Supplies You Will Need : Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a Plan : Create a family disaster plan.
• Prepare to Evacuate : Never ignore an evacuation order.
• If You Are Ordered NOT to Evacuate : Get through the storm in the safest possible manner.
• Protecting Older Adults : Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protecting Pets : Ensure your pet's safety before, during, and after an emergency.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm : Place generators outside at least 20 feet away.

After you have read these tips, please review the other resources available on the CDC Hurricanes website.
CDC strongly recommends that you print all important resources before a hurricane strikes. Power outages during and after a hurricane can prevent you from accessing information online when you most need it. Preparing now can help keep you and your family safe.

You can't stop a tropical storm or hurricane, but you can take steps now to protect yourself and your family.

• Hurricane Awareness 🌀
• Hurricane Watch / Hurricane Warning 🚩
• Dorothy: this is Kansas. #HurricanePrep #PrepareAthon
• Heads up to Hurricanes and Disaster Preparedness