• Have extra blankets on hand.
• Ensure that each member of your household has a warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat, and water-resistant boots.

• First aid kit and essential medications.
• Battery-powered NOAA Weather radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
• Canned food and can opener.
• Bottled water (at least one gallon of water per person per day to last at least 3 days).
• Extra warm clothing, including boots, mittens, and a hat.
• Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit for your car, too.
• Have your car winterized before winter storm season.

Stay Tuned for Storm Warnings...

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio and your local radio and TV stations for updated storm information.

Know What Winter Storm WATCHES and WARNINGS Mean

• A winter storm WATCH means a winter storm is possible in your area.
• A winter storm WARNING means a winter storm is headed for your area.
• A blizzard WARNING means strong winds, blinding wind-driven snow, and dangerous wind chill are expected. Seek shelter immediately!

When a Winter Storm WATCH is issued...

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, local radio, and TV stations, or cable TV such as The Weather Channel for further updates.
• Be alert to changing weather conditions.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.

 When a Winter Storm WARNING is issued...

• Stay indoors during the storm.
• If you must go outside, several layers of lightweight clothing will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Gloves (or mittens) and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs.
• Understand the hazards of wind chill, which combines the cooling effect of wind and cold temperatures on exposed skin.
• As the wind increases, heat is carried away from a person's body at an accelerated rated, driving down the body temperature.
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy, sidewalks.
• After the storm, if you shovel snow, be extremely careful. It is physically strenuous work, so take frequent breaks. Avoid overexertion.
• Avoid traveling by car in a storm, but if you must...
  • Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk.
  • Keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
  • Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.

• Stay with your car. Do not try to walk to safety.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) to the antenna for rescuers to see.
• Start the car and use the heater for about 10 minutes every hour. Keep the exhaust pipe clear so fumes won't back up in the car.
• Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen.
• As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and to stay warm.
• Keep one window away from the blowing wind slightly open to let in air.

• Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions. Access may be limited to some parts of the community, or roads may be blocked.
• Help a neighbor who may require special assistance--infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations.
• Avoid driving and other travel until conditions have improved. Roads may be blocked by snow or emergency vehicles.
• Avoid overexertion. Heart attacks from shoveling heavy snow are a leading cause of deaths during winter.
• Follow forecasts and be prepared when venturing outside. Major winter storms are often followed by even colder conditions.
  

• Keep all potential fuel sources (decorations, evergreen trees, wreaths) at least three feet from heat sources (candles, heat vents, fireplaces, portable heaters and radiators).
• Turn holiday lights off and extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
• After entertaining guests, walk around your home ensuring that candles and smoking materials are properly extinguished.
• Keep anything that can catch on fire—pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove top.
• Ensure that smoke alarms are installed outside of each sleeping area and on each level of your home.
• Use the test button on your smoke alarms to test them once a month and replace batteries once a year.
• Create or review your fire escape plan. Identify two escape routes from every room on your home and choose a convenient meeting place a safe distance from your home. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year with all family members.

• Purchase flame retardant metallic or artificial trees and wreaths.
• If you purchase a real tree, make sure that it has fresh, green needles that aren't easily broken. Keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water.
• Keep trees at least three feet away from heat sources, including fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles.
• Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove.
• Safely dispose of trees as they become dry and needles begin to drop.

Dispose of trees through recycling centers or community pick-up services. Dried-out trees should not be left at home or in a garage, or placed against the home or garage.

Holiday Lights and Decorations

• Make sure that any light strings or other decorations are in good condition and follow manufacturer's instructions for their use. Do not use anything with frayed electrical cords.
• Always unplug holiday lights (including tree lights) before leaving home or going to bed.
• Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets by not linking more than three light strands. 
• Use decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
• Place decorations at least three feet away from fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles.
• Holiday Candles
• Remember that lit candles are fire. Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree.
• Keep candles at least three feet away from trees, evergreens, holiday decorations, and other items that can catch on fire like clothing, papers and curtains.
• Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Place candles only where they cannot be reached or easily knocked over by children and pets.
• Consider using battery-operated "flameless" candles that are scented and have a flickering effect.
  
  Prevent Food-Related Accidents
  Since the holidays usually involves preparing lots of food, cooking safety should be a priority.

The Red Cross offers the following tips to prevent home cooking fires:

• Monitor your cooking at all times. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of Thanksgiving Day home fires.
• Keep potholders and food wrappers at least three feet away from heat sources while cooking.
• Wear tighter fitting clothing with shorter sleeves when cooking.
• Make sure all stoves and ranges have been turned off when you leave the kitchen, and that ovens are turned off when you leave the house.
• Set timers to keep track of turkeys and other food items that require extended cooking times.
• Turn handles of pots and pans on the stove inward to avoid accidents.
• Follow all manufacturer guidelines regarding the appropriate use of appliances.
• Ensure working smoke alarms

Burns, Choking
Even with the best preparation and precautions, accidents can happen. Cooking-related burns are a common hazard of the Thanksgiving holiday. For a superficial burn, cool the area by running it under cold water until the heat eases and then loosely cover the burn with a sterile dressing to help prevent infection. A critical burn requires medical attention.

Choking is another threat to a happy holiday dinner. Common causes of choking include talking while eating; eating too fast; and trying to swallow large pieces of poorly chewed food. If you feel as if food may be caught in your throat, never leave the room-stay where others can see you and help if your airway becomes blocked.

To help someone who is choking, remember "FIVE-and-FIVE Can Keep Them Alive." First, ask the person if they are able to breathe and if you can help. Once you know the person is unable to cough, speak or breathe, have someone call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

Lean the person forward and give FIVE sharp back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If the obstruction isn't dislodged, stand behind the person and give FIVE quick, upward thrusts into the abdomen. Repeat back blows and abdominal thrusts as necessary. If you are alone, you can perform abdominal thrusts on yourself, just as you would on someone else. Thrusts can also be administered by leaning over and pressing your abdomen firmly against an object such as the back of a chair.

 

American Red Cross President Visits and Thanks Atlanta Supporters

Just a few, short months into her new job as 30th president of the American Red Cross, Gail McGovern made her way to Atlanta October 13-14 to visit with the governor, corporate and community partners, donors, volunteers and staff.

McGovern, who held top management positions at AT&T Corporation and Fidelity Investments and taught Marketing at Harvard, now leads a national Red Cross network of more than 700 chapters that mobilize one million-plus volunteers and 30,000 employees to respond to nearly 70,000 disasters annually.

She also oversees 900 blood regions that provide 40 percent of the U.S. blood supply. Last month, in response to a mounting number of disasters and decreased financial contributions, McGovern launched a national fundraising campaign to raise $100 million for the depleted Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.