From the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Communications Director Dave Skutnick and Regional Communications Manager Alana Mauger, discussed being prepared for an emergency.  We talked about recent tragedies in New York and Philadelphia where families were lost in fires and we discussed their free smoke alarm programs. May 6 through the 21 they will be canvassing neighborhoods installing free smoke alarms in a campaign they call Sound the Alarm. They talked about the need for planning, noting that you have seconds to escape.  They ask us all to have a family plan for evacuation and for a meeting location and tell us to practice it until the youngest child knows what to do when the alarm goes off.  We also discussed evacuation or sheltering in place during an emergency as hurricane season is here.  Dave reminds families to plan for no power with cell phones, batteries, and activities.  We then discussed the current blood supply, as always at this time of year, critically low.  They asked us to become a donor, describing the process, recommending we all download their RAPID PASS blood app to make it even easier to give.  We spoke on the need, for accident victims and surgeries, but also for the chronically ill or cancer patients who rely on the supply. The Red Cross needs to collect 600 units daily to keep up.   You can call 1-800-RED-CROSS to schedule an appointment.   

Finally, a reminder that everything you need to keep your family safe, through disaster, weather emergencies, shelter in place or evacuation, and more, can be found at their website.  If you need alarms, you can visit their Home Fire Safety web page or call 215-299-4029.

REDCROSS.ORG