Be Informed

Know what can happen and how you can help

Learn what disasters or emergencies can occur where you live, work and play. These events can vary from those that affect only you and your family, such as a home fire or medical emergency, to those that affect your entire community, such as a hurricane or flood.

Identify how local authorities will notify you during a disaster and how you will get important information, whether through local radio, TV or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio stations or channels.

Learn what you can do to prepare for disasters. Learn about First Aid, CPR and disaster training. Learn basic first aid techniques so you will have the skills and confidence to help when someone in your home, neighborhood or workplace is injured.

If a major disaster occurs, your community will change in an instant. Loved ones might be injured and emergency response might be delayed. Make sure that at least one member of your household is trained in first aid and CPR and knows how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Disaster preparedness presentations provide more specific information on how to prepare for disaster in your community.

Share what you have learned with your family, household and neighbors and encourage them to be informed, too.

• NEXT STEP: Schedule BE RED CROSS READY for your neighborhood, organization or business. Contact us by email.