By Doug Bardwell, American Red Cross volunteer
April 3, 2019- Dominion Energy and the American Red Cross want to make sure you are prepared. This Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., at locations across northern Ohio they will supply you with the right tools. In return for five to 10 minutes of your time, you’ll be rewarded with a free, Red Cross First Aid Kit (valued at $35).
Since 2013, “partners in safety” Dominion Energy and the Red Cross have held an annual Disaster Preparedness Day. Each person or family that agrees to take a short, six-question survey, will receive a quality, first aid kit along with literature stressing home safety. Volunteers from each organization will be available to help people complete their surveys and hand out special co-branded bags with both organizations’ logos.
“Safety is one of Dominion’s core values,” explains Neil Durbin, senior communication specialist at Dominion. “That’s why this partnership is such a great fit for both organizations—we’re both centered on promoting safety. We also happen to each have offices in matching cities across the region.”
Preparing for Preparedness Day turns out to be quite the project itself. John Gareis, regional manager for preparedness at the Red Cross of Northeast Ohio, said that the preparation starts way before the event and involves staff and volunteers from both organizations. Sites have to be reserved, insurance certificates need to be provided, negotiations have to occur with vendors, five pallets worth of specially branded kits need to be received and then combined with handouts, and cases of assembled kits need to be transported to local chapters. Volunteers then need to be recruited, trained and equipped for the day of the event. When volunteers walk in that Saturday morning, everything will be there ready for them.
This Saturday, more than 3,000 first aid kits will be presented to families at nine locations across northern Ohio. “We hope that people will take the information they learn on the survey and share it with family and friends,” said John. “In that way, each year, in just four hours, we hope to touch the lives of up to 10,000 people. It’s a lot of work on our part but to be able to reach that many people in one weekend, it’s certainly worth the effort.”
One of the key messages that volunteers will be stressing is that gas appliances should be professionally inspected each year. “While people usually think about having their annual inspections done in the fall, summer is an ideal time to schedule them, when heating contractors aren’t as busy,” suggested Neil. You’ll probably save some money and you’ll certainly have more flexibility scheduling your appointment.
“No matter how much insurance you have or no matter how safe you think you are going to be, anyone can have a disaster at any given time, which is unfortunate,” explained John. “We’d rather put the effort into teaching or reminding people what to do, rather than responding after a disaster happens.”
Disaster Preparedness Day locations:
- Belden Village Mall – Canton
- Chief Supermarkets – Lima
- Eastwood Mall – Niles
- Great Northern Mall – North Olmsted
- New Towne Mall – New Philadelphia
- Target – University Heights
- Walmart – Ashtabula
- Walmart – Stow
- Walmart – Wooster
Red Cross volunteers can still sign up on Volunteer Connection to assist at some locations. Residents are encouraged to come out and get a quality first aid kit, which is ideal for home or auto. Sometimes they go quickly so come early, if possible.
Edited by Glenda Bogar, American Red Cross volunteer
member in an emergency. But first aid for your pet? It may not be something you think about until you find your dog ate that dark chocolate bar you left out on the counter. Or your bug-swatting cat got stung by the bee he was playing with.
their own pace. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete the course. Participants can stop and pick up where they left off if the course can’t be completed in one sitting. The interactive course includes:
veterinarian or animal poison control expert before giving to your pet), ice pack, disposable gloves, blunt end scissors, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, oral syringe or turkey baster, liquid dish washing detergent (for bathing), towels, flashlight, alcohol wipes and artificial tear gel.
Every eight minutes, the Red Cross helps someone affected by a disaster. Last year, Red Cross disaster workers—90 percent of whom were volunteers—helped millions of people during a second consecutive year of record wildfires, hurricanes, tragic shootings and other large crises—all while responding day and night to home fires in communities across the country.
counties, chapter executives and volunteers numbering nearly 100 attended. They were welcomed with opening remarks and words of appreciation from Lake to River’s Executive Director Karen Conklin, who introduced Regional Disaster Officer Tim O’Toole.
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