American Red Cross: Leavenworth County Chapter

Sudden cardiac arrest causes 250,000 deaths each year. As many as 50,000 of those lives might be saved with the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)

More children die each year from drowning than from firearms. (Source: National Safety Council)

According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 81 workplace fatalities in Kansas in 1999. Clearly, injuries and even deaths happen in the workplace, but the American Red Cross Workplace Safety Training is one step businesses can take to protect their employees.

Contact the American Red Cross to learn more about how its health and safety training programs can prevent injuries and save lives.

About the American Red Cross:

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

Babysitting Class February 4th & 5th 9am-1pm both days required for certification. Please call 913-682-6222 for more information.

The Leavenworth County Chapter has been busy. In May, 3 of our volunteers went out on assignment. One volunteer went to Cedar Rapids, Ia. and two went to Chapman, Ks. to help with the tornado victims. While they were busy helping out else where, the Chapter was busy taking care of 4 families locally, whom where flooded out of their homes. We provided these families with shelter and food allowance and once the water receded we gave them clean up kits, to help with the daunting task of cleaning up after Mother nature. Though the disaster locally was deemed small, we were there for those families.

We are able to be there, because of the generous donations and support of the Leavenworth County community. We thank you for this support.

Are You Ready for a Flood or a
Flash Flood?
Here’s what you can do to prepare for such emergencies
Know what to expect
Know your area’s flood risk—if unsure, call your local Red Cross chapter, emergency management office, or planning and zoning department.

*If it has been raining hard for several hours, or steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of a flood.
*Listen to local radio or TV stations for flood information.
Reduce potential flood damage by—
*Raising your furnace, water heater, and electric panel if they are in areas of your home that may be flooded.
*Consult with a professional for further information if this and other damage reduction measures can be taken.
Floods can take several hours to days to develop—
*A flood WATCH means a flood is possible in your area.
*A flood WARNING means flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area.
Flash floods can take only a few minutes to a few hours to develop—
*A flash flood WATCH means flash flooding is possible in your area.
*A flash flood WARNING means a flash flood is occurring or will occur very soon.
Prepare a Family Disaster Plan
*Check to see if you have insurance that covers flooding. If not, find out how to get flood insurance.
*Keep insurance policies, documents, and other valuables in a safedeposit box.
Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit containing—
*First aid kit and essential medications.
*Canned food and can opener.
*At least three gallons of water per person.
*Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.
*Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
*Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
*Written instructions for how to turn off electricity, gas, and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you’ll need a professional to turn natural gas service back on.)
Identify where you could go if told to evacuate. Choose several places . . . a friend’s home in another town, a motel, or a shelter. When a flood WATCH is issued—
*Move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home.
*Fill your car’s gas tank, in case an evacuation notice is issued.

When a flood WARNING is issued—
*Listen to local radio and TV stations for information and advice. If told to evacuate, do so as soon as possible.
When a flash flood WATCH is issued—
*Be alert to signs of flash flooding and be ready to evacuate on a moment’s notice.
When a flash flood WARNING is issued—
*Or if you think it has already started, evacuate immediately. You may have only seconds to escape. Act quickly!
*Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks, and storm drains. Do not drive around barricades. . . they are there for your safety.
*If your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground.

Prolonged rainfall over several days or an ice jam can cause a river or stream to overflow and flood the surrounding area. A flash flood from a broken dam or levee or after intense rainfall of one inch (or more) per hour often catches people unprepared.
Regardless, the rule for being safe is simple: head for the high ground and stay away from the water. Even a shallow depth of fast-moving flood water produces more force than most people imagine. The most dangerous thing you can do is to try walking, swimming, or driving through such swift water.
Still, you can take steps to prepare for these types of emergencies. Have various members of the family do each of the items on the checklist below. Then hold a family meeting to discuss and finalize your Home Flood Plan.

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
National Weather Service: www.nws.noaa.gov
Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov

This Page Last Updated: January 13, 2010