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Re: David Banks’ Jan. 31 commentary, “Hard lesson in Haiti: Be prepared”:
I found it comforting and encouraging learning about the many ways our government and emergency personnel are continually updating their information and skills to increase their readiness for disaster should it be needed.
The writer gives us information on what is being done to assist large numbers of folks affected by a disaster, but it seems to me each of us needs to do the same at the individual level. We need to be responsible for ourselves so that we are part of the solution rather than adding to the problem.
As a speaker for the American Red Cross presenting Community Disaster Education, I regularly give talks regarding that very thing and there is always room for increased readiness. Whether we are a senior citizen with a pet or a family with two working adults (at two different workplaces) and three kids in two different schools, having a plan is the responsible thing to do. Having the right supplies — water, food, important documents and medicine — are part of that plan. Knowing how to use that information and even practicing (the emergency responders practice) so that it is fresh in our minds and agreed upon with others in the family should also comfort and encourage those of us can to help ourselves and leave the responders to assist those who need it most.
The Red Cross program of “Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed” is a good one and each of us can improve our own readiness simply by organizing it a little better, adding a few more supplies, arranging the priorities and sharing our plan with our loved ones or neighbors, and increasing all of our own ability to get through it.
As we see the tragic victims of the huge earthquake in Haiti, what we don’t see are those who did survive and how they have managed to assist each other and begin their own recovery. That could be you or I.
— Jill Wiley of Newbury Park is a volunteer for the American Red Cross of Ventura County.
Local Red Cross
To learn more about preparing for a disaster, log on to http://www.arcventura.org/. |
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