American Red Cross graphic: How to celebrate an extra hour of sleep: 1) Check your smoke alarm; 2) Install a smoke alarm; 3) Volunteer to install smoke alarms.
The value of each life — your life— is why the American Red Cross not only helps people during emergencies, but continuously shares knowledge to help you help yourself. The American Red Cross provides life-saving tips for all types of emergencies — How to Prepare for Emergencies.
As we approach Daylight Saving Time, fire safety becomes top of mind for our American Red Cross communities. Fire experts say you may have as little as two minutes to escape a home fire, so let’s take some moments to “turn and test” your smoke alarms and increase your fire safety awareness.
Visit the Red Cross website to learn how to make an escape plan with your family and access additional resources. You can also download the FREE Red Cross Emergency app to your smartphone or tablet for safety tips on-the-go (just search for “American Red Cross” in the app store).
Trick or Treat crescent moon decoration. Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross
With ghosts in the window and pumpkins on the porch, it’s time for Halloween. The National Safety Council has tips to help keep you and your children safe.
Costume Do’s & Don’ts:
Check the label. From head to toe, including wigs, dress in a costume resistant to fire. For handmade costumes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends fabrics made of polyester or nylon.
Masks are fun but can make it tough to see. Covering your face with non-toxic makeup may be a better choice.
Test a small amount of makeup on your arm before wearing it to make sure it doesn’t cause a rash, which could be a sign of allergy.
Wash any makeup off before going to sleep so skin and eyes don’t get irritated.
Don’t wear contacts that change your eye color unless you have a fitting by an eyeglass professional. Contacts that aren’t FDA approved can cause infection or even blindness so making your eyes glow or look like a werewolf isn’t worth it.
Trick or Treating Common Sense:
If your kids are going outside at dusk or nightfall, make sure they are easy to spot. Have them wear reflective tape or stickers on their costumes or treat bags. Glow sticks and flashlights work too.
Don’t let young kids go alone. Know where older kids are going, including a specific route. It’s best to go with friends and stick to locations they know.
Give kids a curfew so you know when they are expected home.
Remind your kids to not go inside the homes or cars of strangers.
Instruct your child to cross the street without running and not to get distracted by their phone.
Haunted house Halloween decoration. Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross
Road Rules:
The National Safety Council says kids are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than at any other time.
Watch for children walking in the road, across medians and over curbs. – Be careful and alert entering and leaving driveways.
If your teen is a new driver, Halloween is not the night to drive.
Candy Confidence:
Kids need to wait until they get home to eat their candy so parents can inspect it.
To check for signs of tampering, look for wrappers that are torn, faded or have tiny holes. Unsure? Throw it out.
If your kids are young, remove any choking hazards like gum and nuts from their treat bags.
Food Allergies:
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns Halloween can be challenging for people with food allergies.
Always read food labels and don’t accept anything that isn’t in a commercial package.
Be aware that “fun size” or “mini” candy may have different ingredients or be produced on different equipment than candies that are regular sized. Even if your child ate the brand of candy safely before, the smaller sizes could cause an allergic reaction.
If your child is old enough and knows how to use it, encourage them to carry epinephrine with them and don’t leave it at home. Make sure it is not expired.
If epinephrine is given and allergic symptoms seem to have resolved, your child still needs to go to the emergency room to make sure.
Happy Halloween decoration. Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross
July 13, 2012. Be Red Cross Ready First Aid Kit open. Photo by Dan Bittinger
A first aid kit is a very handy, and borderline necessary, item for a person to have in their possession. These kits, assuming that you pack them adequately and with proper due diligence, serve as a means of protection against a plethora of both emergency and minor, ‘just-in-case,’ scenarios. Remedies that help to treat burns, cuts, abrasions, stings, splinters, sprains, daily sicknesses, and strains are commonly included in these kits. Plenty of first aid kits are offered for commercial sale, but personalized ones can be made in order to serve specific, self-determined, purposes.
Below is a brief guide on how to make your own first aid kit, based upon commonly included items and their functionalities.
Aloe Gel – This is good for alleviating the pain of minor sunburn, cuts, burns, and rashes.
Adhesive Tape – This therapeutic tape is designed to help treat strains and sprains, primarily.
Antibiotic Ointments – These are meant to be applied to cuts and abrasions in order to prevent and/or help heal infections.
Bandages – These are a staple of first aid kits. Bandaids are simple and can always be useful in the case of a minor cut.
Book on First Aid – A guide to performing a plethora of medical techniques can never hurt when carrying a medical kit. You can also download the free Red Cross First Aid app to have this information at your fingertips.
Breathing Barrier – These are considered to be a necessity for those who know how to perform CPR, especially. You never know when you may be in need of protection in order to complete the breathing portion of the CPR process.
Emergency Blanket – Get an emergency blanket that reflects heat and can be used to signal for help.
Gauze – This is another item which is almost always included in first aid kits. Gauze is utilized to wrap cuts which cannot be completely covered by a bandaid alone.
Insect Repellant Bands – This item is common for people who frequently travel to wooded areas. Putting on one of these wrist bands each day keeps the bugs away!
Instant Cold Compress – These are utilized in order to help combat heat-based illnesses and/or fevers.
Latex-free Gloves – These are important for protecting yourself and keeping cuts and scraps you may be treating clean.
Medication(s) – It is important to pack other-the-counter medications, such as Advil, Tylenol, and/or Aspirin. These items help to combat the symptoms of illness and general pain. Antidiarrheal medications, such as Pepto-Bismol, are also recommended as an addition to the kit.
Oral Thermometer – These are important to include as a testing method for illnesses.
Petroleum Jelly – Similar to aloe gel, petroleum jelly can be utilized to help treat minor sunburn, cuts, burns, and rashes.
Swiss Army Knife – These versatile tools can come in handy in almost every scenario which requires any sort of physical effort. Swiss army knives often come equipped with at least a flashlight, knife, scissors, and tweezers.
More items can certainly be added to a first aid kit, based upon personal preference and necessity. However, the listed items, along with a portable storage unit to encapsulate them, are the basis for a useful and properly-equipped first aid kit. Make sure to keep this kit within a near vicinity at all times; it is always better to be safe than sorry!
It’s Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer and time for one last holiday celebration before the fall season begins! What better way than a picnic and barbecue in your backyard, beach, or campground. The American Red Cross asks you to take a few minutes and think about picnic and grill safety.
Grilling Safety
Grilled hot dogs and hamburgers are a must for many picnics. When you roll out the grill, be sure you have read the manufacturer’s instructions for proper operation. And follow these simple rules:
Never grill indoors.
Keep the grill away from the house, deck, tree branches, camper, tent, or anything that can catch fire.
Never add starter fluid to hot coals in a grill. It will dangerously flare up.
Always supervise the grill and make sure everyone stays away including pets. A curious child can reach out and touch the grill, an active dog could tip it over, or food on the grill may accidentally catch fire.
To protect the chef, long-handled utensils are the safest option when handling food on the grill.
Food Safety
How do you keep food safe to eat when preparing your picnic? First, wash your hands before food preparation. Always make sure you keep salads, fruits, vegetables, and side dishes separate from raw and grilled meat and poultry as well as plates and utensils used for preparation. Use a food thermometer to ensure meat and poultry are thoroughly cooked. Keep hot food hot and perishable foods and drinks cold in a cooler packed with ice or in the refrigerator. Do not leave food in the hot sun.
Heat Safety
This summer has been extremely hot! Say hydrated and drink plenty of fluids. Alcohol will dehydrate you, including popular beverages with less alcohol and caffeine. If people at the picnic drink alcohol, designate someone who does not and will safely bring those who do home. Don’t forget your pets and make sure they are safe from the heat. Keep them in the shade and cool area, give them plenty of water.
The American Red Cross wants you to follow these tips and have a safe and delicious picnic with friends and family. Download these Red Cross apps for first aid, pet safety, swim safety, and disaster preparedness. Have a safe holiday!
School bells will be calling students back to the classroom soon and the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region has steps everyone can take to help kids remain safe as they head back to school.
As parents get ready for the start of a new school year, it’s a good time to think about emergencies, such as weather-related disasters, and draw up an emergency plan for their household. Know what the emergency plan is at your child’s school and develop a family emergency plan so everyone will know who to contact and where to go if something happens during the school day. Details are available at redcross.org/prepare.
“There are a lot of things to think about for the start of a busy new school year, but don’t forget to include safety,” said Jennifer Graham, Executive Director for the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. “We ask parents and guardians to consider familiarizing their children with these measures to help keep them safe as they head back to school.”
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports distracted walking can be dangerous, even deadly. Teach your students the following: • Don’t text or talk on your phone while walking. If you must text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk. • Never cross the street while using an electronic device. • Do not walk with headphones in your ears. • Drivers can be distracted too. Never use a phone while driving. Help keep children safe by eliminating all distractions
TAKING THE BUS
Students should get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive. Young children should be supervised.
Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant instructs them to get on. They should only board their bus, never an alternate one.
All students should stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.
WALKING TO SCHOOL
Cross the street at the corner, obeying traffic signals and staying in the crosswalk.
Never run out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards.
Parents, walk with young children and those taking new routes or attending new schools, for the first week to ensure they know how to get there safely. Arrange for the kids to walk to school with a friend or classmate.
GOING BY CAR
Everyone should always wear a seat belt.
Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”), and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.
If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that they use seat belts.
RIDING A BIKE
There may be more young people on bikes as the school bells ring. They should:
Wear a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing.
Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, in a single file.
Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street.
Stay alert and avoid distracted riding.
SLOW DOWN
Drivers should slow down, especially in residential areas and school zones, and know what the yellow and red bus signals mean. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is getting ready to stop, that motorists should slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign indicate the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off.
.Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. This includes two and four-lane highways. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
KEEP LITTLE ONES SAFE
Keeping all students safe is the primary concern for everyone, but there are special steps for parents of younger kids and those going to school for the first time:
Make sure the child knows their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to call 911.
Teach children not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.
Finally, download the free Red Cross First Aid app for instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies. You can find it by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in your app store or at redcross.org/apps. Learn and practice First Aid and CPR/AED skills by taking a course (redcross.org/takeaclass) so you can help save a life.
When you plan for a nature outing, you might prepare to bring some food and drink. But what can make you the host of a party you never want?
Bugs.
Those little creatures do not pay rent to land on your skin. As seasonal blood-lovers, ticks and mosquitoes swing to full parasite mode during spring, summer, and fall. As transcontinental free-loaders, ticks and mosquitoes steal your blood – and give you problems ex-post. Ticks transfer Lyme disease while mosquitoes cause multiple issues including body muscle aches, fever, headaches, joint pain, rash, neck stiffness and even in rare instances paralysis.
As you make your ways in the great outdoors, skip the bug problems and still have fun. Several ways to do that: avoid high grass, standing water, and weed-filled forests. Use insect repellant with 20-50% DEET chemical to hide your human scent from ticks and mosquitoes. Permethrin is a super-charged bug spray like 94 octane gas is to cars but permethrin is only for clothes – not your skin.
Before you trek, remember that clothes can make the difference. For example, light colored clothing makes the ticks easier to spot than dark colors. (Also, in the summer light colors keep you cooler than dark because sunshine is reflected).
If a tick finds you, take action. Never allow the free-loader to burrow in your skin. Yank any tick with tweezers immediately. Wash the skin area where the tick was. Later, a washing machine’s hot water will kill any unseen clothing-bound ticks. See a doctor if you develop any vector-borne disease.
Some other steps to practice in your outdoor space:
Do not let water stand;
Discard debris in ditches; and
Cover equipment.
Being aware, taking the aforementioned precautions, and taking action will raise probability of summer health well-being. For additional first aid safety tips on treating things like tick and insect bites, download the free Red Cross First Aid app.
Excessive heat is the most dangerous type of prolonged weather condition that the U.S. faces each year, commonly throughout the summer season. Forecasts for these intense periods of heat are often given via the public-accessible provision of outlooks (3-7 days prior to the projected heat wave), watches (24-72 hours prior), and warnings/advisories (less than 12 hours prior). It is critical to keep on the lookout for these alerts; a majority of news and radio stations cover the latest updates on the weather forecast at several times throughout the day.
Being unprepared for high temperatures and the radiating sun can lead to harmful consequences, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
Heat cramps normally involve the painful spasming of muscles in your legs and abdominal region, although can expand to impact the rest of your body, as well. Excessive sweating is also common as an accompanying symptom to the aforementioned spasms. Heat cramps are often the initial sign of potential heat-related illness. In order to alleviate these cramps, pressure, in the form of a light massage, should be applied to the aching area. If the suffering person is not experiencing nausea, water should be consumed at small increments, as well. If the cramps persist for over an hour, or are extremely painful at any point, professional medical attention should be sought.
Heat exhaustion is the ‘next level,’ in terms of severity, of heat-centric malady, following heat cramps. Symptoms often include, but are not limited to, heavy sweating, feelings of weakness and imbalance, a weak pulse, nausea or vomiting, fainting, and/or headache. In order to alleviate such symptoms, the person should immediately be moved to a cold(er) setting, such as a room with air-conditioning or an ice bath. Water should also be provided, if the person is capable of intaking liquid without symptoms of nausea or vomiting. It is normally advised that if vomiting occurs, and/or the person does not begin to feel better within an hour, medical assistance should be called for. Similar to heat cramps, if the symptoms are extreme, professional assistance should be requested immediately.
Heat stroke is the most serious level of heat-related illness, and warrants an immediate 911 emergency call/a visit to the closest hospital. Heat stroke combines the painful symptoms of heat cramps and heat exhaustion with a body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, red skin, a rapid pulse, and possible loss of consciousness. Sufferers should immediately be transferred to a cooler environment, and should not be provided with any liquids. People around the sufferer should pay constant and very close attention to the sufferer’s condition as they await the arrival of medical personnel.
In order to avoid the often agonizing and uncomfortable symptoms which are attached to each of these ailments, summer activities should always be accompanied by higher levels of water intake. Exposure to direct sunlight should be limited from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., primarily. Protective clothing and applications are also commonly recommended to combat the effects of UV rays.
Visit our website for American Red Cross heat safety information. You can also download the free Red Cross First Aid App to learn how to treat a wide variety of illnesses and injuries.
Independence Day is just ahead, and your plans might include fireworks displays, a backyard picnic, or perhaps fun at the beach. The American Red Cross offers these tips so you can enjoy a fun-packed, safe holiday.
“We’re all looking forward to the 4th of July holiday. It’s a time for fun with friends and family,” said Jennifer Graham, acting CEO, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania region. “We here at the Red Cross want everyone to enjoy their celebration and to be safe.”
FIREWORKS SAFETY
The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public firework show put on by professionals. Stay at least 500 feet away from the show. Many states outlaw most fireworks. Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks. If you are setting fireworks off at home, follow these safety steps:
Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
Keep a supply of water close by as a precaution.
Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight “a dud.”
Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
PICNIC SAFETY
Wash your hands before preparing the food.
Don’t leave food out in the hot sun. Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.
If you are going to cook on the grill, never grill indoors. Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
Always supervise the grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited. Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to keep the chef safe.
Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
BEACH SAFETY
Watch the weather and get out of the water at the first sign of lightning or the rumble of thunder. Stay indoors and away from water for 30 minutes after the last lightning flashes or thunder roars. Plan ahead for aquatic activities:
Swim only at a beach with a lifeguard, within the designated swimming area. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards and ask them about local conditions.
Always designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.
Children, inexperienced swimmers, and all boaters should wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
Protect your neck – don’t dive in headfirst. Walk carefully into open waters. Watch out for and avoid aquatic life.
If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then, turn and swim to shore. If you can’t swim to shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore. Draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.
Thunderstorms are not uncommon this time of year, but that’s no reason to be complacent. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which means every thunderstorm is dangerous. For that reason, the National Lightning Safety Council designates June 19-25 as Lightning Safety Awareness Week – the perfect time to review some important safety tips.
According to the National Weather Service, there is no safe place outside when a thunderstorm is in the area. If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be in danger from lightning. Move inside at the first clap of thunder and stay inside at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap. Don’t wait to seek shelter until the storm is overhead or it starts to rain!
Here’s more tips to keep your family safe:
Be Red Cross Ready Before a Storm
Learn about your local community’s emergency warning system for severe thunderstorms.
Discuss thunderstorm safety and lightning safety with all members of your household.
Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during a thunderstorm This should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail.
Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a severe thunderstorm.
Make trees and shrubbery more wind resistant by keeping them trimmed and removing damaged branches.
Protect your animals by ensuring that any outside buildings that house them are protected in the same way as your home.
Listen to local news or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.
Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning are not in the area where rain is occurring.
If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter in a substantial building or in a vehicle with the windows closed. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds.
Be Safe During a Storm
Shutter windows and close outside doors securely. Keep away from windows.
Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing.
If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle. NEVER drive through a flooded roadway.
If you are outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe.
Learn more about thunderstorm safety at redcross.org.
Pedro, the Penguin exclaims “Prepare means get ready!” and the children stop and listen. A small sentence from a friendly character that can lead to big things like a hopeful tomorrow.
Prepare with Pedro is just one of American Red Cross Youth Preparedness Programs that are designed to help children and their families to “BE PREPARED and TAKE ACTION.” Kathy Mullen, a Youth Preparedness Lead for the American Red Cross of Southeastern PA (SEPA), shared that “a simple item like a working smoke detector can save a family from loss of property and more importantly, a life. These programs have been taught within the SEPA region for several years and we are looking to expand our services across the region.”
Kathy teaches and organizes volunteers for two key programs and would like to share her passion for driving fire safety education to elementary age children in the area. Prepare with Pedro and The Pillowcase Project create awareness and offer experiential activities to help young children learn the importance of fire safety.
Prepare with Pedro is a 30- to 45-minute preparedness education program for grades K-2 that teaches students how to BE PREPARED and TAKE ACTION for either home fires or a local hazard.
Pedro, the Penguin is the featured guest and is ready to help students learn through a storybook and activities. Pedro also shares a helpful safety checklist to reinforce the knowledge. To help students practice, they are encouraged to share with their families what they have learned. This is a great starter program to begin the fire safety learning journey and is perfect for schools and after-school programs.
This program is available in 40-to-60-minute formats and focuses on home fire, safety, and preparedness for grades 3 – 5. The ‘go bag – Pillowcase’ activity is the cornerstone of the program and has students use a pillowcase to pack personal belongings in case of an evacuation. It teaches students about personal and family preparedness, safety skills, local hazards, and basic coping skills. Using the “Learn. Practice. Share.” framework, the students experience preparedness skills, practice those skills in class, and are encouraged to share those critical lifesaving learnings with their family.
Volunteers relate the process for learning safety as similar to familiar activities to the children like dance, music, and sports. The program builds upon their current knowledge and introduces basic coping skills so they are calm should an emergency situation arise. Additionally, children are provided a more detailed understanding of weather conditions across the United States and the criticality of understanding weather to determine what is needed to be prepared for those conditions. This program is great for schools, after-school programs, Girl and Boy Scout troop meetings and other learning environments. The classes are free of charge and all supplies are provided by the Red Cross.
Our youth preparedness programs are now being offered in-person or virtually to students nationwide. Contact your local Red Cross for more information.
