Keep doing #Just1Thing to Prepare

National preparedness month has ended and so has our annual #Just1Thing Campaign. We know that getting ready can be overwhelming, so even though September has ended we hope you will continue to do just one thing (at least once in a while). We will to do our best to help and highlight great new things we find like the 2yr shelf stable Tactical Sammich, the Carzor and the SwissRoomBox. However, our friends on twitter have some great and practical ideas as well (this is just a sampling and by no means inclusive of all the great ideas posted):

wordygirl11 @RedCrossPDX Fun ER prep today! I added Snickers bars to our Go Bags. In an ER, a treat will go a long way towards cheering me. #just1thing

bryanspalate @RedCrossPDX #just1thing meet your neighbors & if disaster strikes check that they are okay too #teameffort #community

nicgranum @RedCrossPDX "I updated an out of state contact to call in a disaster" #just1thing

jasonjamieson @RedCrossPDX #just1thing My little something is storing 3600 calorie emergency bars in my office along with several cases of water.

ClarkCountyFood @RedCrossPDX #just1thing making sure we have band aides in different sizes, shapes and antibiotic cream!

ljsgecko @RedCrossPDX We keep a to-go bag in each of our cars' trunks just in case we're at work or out and about when we need to be ready.

lindatrigg @RedCrossPDX Bought extra flashlights and stocked up on batteries #just1thing

BrandiLAX @RedCrossPDX create a trained "Go Team" equipped with stored "Go bags" for first response.

livingsimply69 @RedCrossPDX Weather radio is a must have!! #just1thing

Well be sending out our fabulous prizes soon thanks to Public Health Emergency Preparedness program at the Oregon Health Authority. But remember, even though our contest has ended it’s not too late to do #just1thing!
We don’t know when disaster will strike, be it a hurricane, an earthquake or a velociraptor, but we do know being prepared could save a life - maybe even your own.

(*Notepad in photo can be purchased at PrettyBitter.com)

Surviving An Emergency that Required No Toilet Paper

My Emergency Prep. Kit: Made out of a Widmer Beer box. Ready to help you calm down.

On a recent sabbatical, I experienced the kind of family emergency that requires no canned foods, protein bars or radio.  As a result, I reached into my emotional emergency preparedness kit which is based on: (1) Lifeguard training, (2) a false alarm in a hotel throughout which I screamed "I'm too young to die," and (3) a Fireman's advice.

The first, Lifeguard training, propelled me to isolate the victim's movement and call 911.

The second and third are closely related through a thread of panic.
As an 8 year old, I responded to the supposed fire with a natural, albeit highly unhelpful panic reaction.  Panic fuels the fire of an emergency.  Luckily, it was the advice of a Fireman (AKA my Grandpa Al) that ultimately made me a helpful partner in the emergency at hand.

The Advice? 

"You are going to Panic, Decide to Panic Later."

The goal of this message is to get you to stop reacting, and start acting (Roddey, 2011).
The goal is to help you focus on the task at hand AND the next step towards your safety.

"Panic Later" became my mantra I yelled at myself over and over as I followed the ambulance to the hospital.  My only job was to arrive safely to accompany my family through the scary ER and what turned out to be a successful recovery.

"I Want to Panic, But I'm Going to Panic Later." This should be your mantra during an emergency.
Repeat it, and teach it to your kids and friends.

I suggest placing the phrase "Panic Later" on the inside of your emergency pack and repeating it when you are inevitably scared and upset as an emergency rears its ugly head.
 

Are your kids and pets prepared?

We are well into National Preparedness Month and also halfway through our annual #just1thing contest. We want to help you prepared and thanks to our great partners at the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program at the Oregon Health Authority we still have two great preparedness kits to give away to lucky winners. To enter send a tweet to @RedCrossPDX with whatever you're doing to get prepared and use the hashtag #just1thing or visit RedCrossPDX on Facebook and post your #just1thing on our wall. You'll then be entered in a drawing to win one of the follow kits:

Sept. 22-28: Kid Kit
Sept. 29-Oct 5: Pet Kit

Need help with ideas? Check out our Be Red Cross Ready Online Training.

All participants are welcome, however only Oregon residents are eligible for prizes, to be awarded via random drawing. Sorry to our friends across the country and around the world, but this is one of the stipulations since we're partnering with the State of Oregon. The contest is free and there are no requirements to purchase anything to participate.

*photo courtesy of Film-Exposed