Donate blood today, save a life tomorrow: June 14 is World Blood Donor Day

Blood is always in demand. But after a disaster, that demand increases. Recent natural and human-made emergencies in the U.S. — from the Oklahoma City-area tornadoes to the Boston bombings — have shown the importance of a strong blood supply.

In fact, the American Red Cross must collect at least 17,000 pints of blood per day to assist patients at more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Health providers must be prepared to respond to emergencies with blood products 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, so it’s important we do our part. Donating blood is a vital part of preparedness.

June 14 is World Blood Donor Day, an annual observance that reminds people around the globe to give the gift of blood. Globally, about 92 million blood donations are collected annually, but more are needed.

No matter where you live, donating blood is important. Find out how you can donate blood or host a blood drive via the American Red Cross. For a list of World Blood Donor Day events, visit the World Health Organization website.

Be on alert for summer storms

If you live on the East Coast, you may have been caught up in some severe thunderstorms this week. In fact, much of the country has been experiencing storms lately.

Thunderstorms can happen at any time, but are particularly frequent in the summer. Severe storms can bring heavy rain, high winds, hail, lightning and flooding.

Ready.gov advises that you be prepared for storms and stay safe by following these tips:

• Begin preparing ahead of time by putting together an emergency kit and making a family communications plan.
• Secure outdoor objects that can be blown away or can cause any injury or damage.
• Shut all windows and secure outside doors.
• Limit outdoor activities.
• Unplug electronic equipment before the storm.

During the storm, following these tips can help you keep safe:

• Listen to local news or the radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, such as darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing winds.
• Keep away from electrical equipment, wiring and water pipes.
• Stay away from water sources.
• Stay indoors, says the American Red Cross. If outside, seek protection and get low — don’t be the tallest object in the area! Also, stay away from trees.

There’s also a good chance that the power will go out during a severe storm. To be prepared for a power outage, download and print our fact sheet now and save it with your emergency supplies.

Preparing for hurricane season: New podcast features tips from National Hurricane Center

The 2013 hurricane season is now officially underway. To help Americans be prepared, the Get Ready Report Podcast team spoke with staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center.

According to NOAA, there’s a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms this season, well above the seasonal average of 12. The agency says as many as 11 of those storms could become hurricanes.

Hurricanes can cause three major hazards: strong winds, storm surges and inland flooding, according to James Franklin, branch chief at the National Hurricane Center.

“People need to know what those hazards can do, and then know which of those hazards you’re particularly vulnerable to, depending on where you live,” Franklin says in the new podcast.

Anyone who lives along the East Coast from Texas to Maine is at potential risk. But Franklin notes that hurricanes are not just coastal threats, citing 2012’s Hurricane Sandy as an example of when wind gusts were produced as far as Wisconsin.

Here are some tips to use this hurricane season:

• Become familiar with information and alerts from both the National Hurricane Center and your local weather center. 
• Understand the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning. During a watch, prepare your home, review your plan for evacuation and listen closely for instructions from local officials. During a warning, finish preparations and immediately leave the threatened area if directed by officials.
• Develop a plan that includes an evacuation strategy and an emergency supply kit, including enough water and nonperishable food to last at least three days, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, a battery-operated radio, extra batteries and medical supplies. 

 For more tips on how to prepare for hurricanes, check out our Get Ready hurricane fact sheet.

Tips for staying safe this tornado season

As this week’s devastation in Oklahoma shows, tornadoes are among the most violent storms. The tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla., on May 20 left many residents injured and without homes and cost numerous lives.

Unfortunately, tornadoes can strike with little or no warning, destroying entire neighborhoods in just a few minutes. But there are some things you can do to improve your safety.

• Know the signs. Tornadoes often happen during thunderstorms. You should look out for dark, greenish skies; large hail; a large, dark, low-lying cloud; a visible, rotating funnel; or a loud roar. Get to know your local warning system and keep a battery run radio ready to go. If there’s a tornado watch, listen for weather updates and be prepared to shelter. If there’s a tornado warning, it means a tornado has been sighted and you should act now to find shelter.
• Prepare your home. Pick a safe room in your house that is most secure for your family and pets. Ideally, it should be underground or in the basement. If that’s not an option, then you should pick somewhere with no windows. Put together an emergency stockpile kit and store it somewhere easy to access in an emergency. And be sure to practice your drill.
• Know where to go. If you're in a car, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If there is flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park. As a last resort, you can stay in your car with your seat belt on, lowering your head down below the windows and covering it with your hands and a blanket, if available. Another last resort option is to get out of your car, find a place that is noticeably lower than the level of the road and lie in it, covering your head with your hands. Your choice should be decided based on circumstances.

Check out our Get Ready tornado fact sheet for more information and get tips for preparing a safe room from Ready.gov.

‘Hey, where is everyone?’ Communicating with your family during disasters

Have you ever planned an event with your friends or family? You decide where to meet and how to reach one another if someone is late or gets lost. You also pick someone to be in charge of transportation. Having plans in place ahead of time helps create a successful gathering.

Getting your family ready for an emergency is kind of like organizing a family activity. There are many similar things to think about: Do you have a plan if something goes wrong? Do you have supplies? Do you know where to meet or how to contact one another?

Chances are not all family members will be together when a disaster strikes, so it’s important to plan ahead. Talk to your family about what to do in advance of a disaster. This will help reduce fear and anxiety when things are tough.

Here are a few key tips for communicating with your family before and during disasters:

1. Meet with your family about why you need to prepare for disasters.
2. Talk about the types of disasters that are most likely to occur in your area.
3. Pick three places to meet based on each situation.
4. Develop a communications plan in case family members are separated from one another. Complete a contact card for each family member and place it in their wallet, purse, book bag or backpack.
5. Communicate with text messages during a disaster, as cell phone service may be out. Text messages often go through when a phone call might not.
6. Program your cell phone with your “ICE” contact, short for “in case of emergency.” Emergency workers will check for ICE contacts if something bad happens.  If you have put a lock on your phone, you might want to think about putting a sticker with your ICE contact on the back of your phone.

Everybody’s needs are different, but we can each take important steps to prepare our families for disasters. And communication is key.

For more information on preparing families for disasters, check out  American Red Cross’s Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be Informed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Develop a Family Disaster Plan and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Family Emergency Plan Template.

APHA’s Get Ready campaign also offers a fact sheet for parents in English and Spanish to help your family make a plan.