American Red Cross Visits SEM Students

This Tuesday two volunteers from the Buffalo chapter of the American Red Cross came into our Scientists for Life class to discuss the work that the Red Cross does in our communities across the nation and the world. Emily and Shirley from the American Red Cross taught us the basic steps the Red Cross follows in an emergency situation, and also how we can be prepared at home. The American Red Cross has many vans stationed across the city of Buffalo, and can have multiple locations on standby in the case that an emergency shelter is needed. One such situation that warranted need for an overnight shelter was the fire in Lockport this last summer. After citizens had to evacuate the area, they were able to stay in a Red Cross shelter for a few nights until they could return home.

We learned that in the case of a "storm watch" that there is a possibility of a storm coming, and we should start preparing for one. A "storm warning" would mean that a storm is in progress and threatening our area.

"How would you define a disaster?" Lauren Pollina asked our Red Cross volunteer. We had been discussing this question in class, and in the words of the volunteer a disaster is defined as people being affected by a situation that is not in their control. The types of disasters we may encounter here in Buffalo include earthquakes, floods, blizzards, fires, and terrorism.

A bit of advice from the Red Cross to help lessen emergency situations during a storm is to stock up on your medicine beforehand; ask your doctor for extra prescription medicine if you know you will run out as a storm is approaching. In case of displacement or relocation during a storm it is also important to have your personal identification documents on you. This way you can easily be identified and allowed home.

Here are a few items you should check your homes for and put in your emergency bag:

-travel size toiletries

-duct tape

-cell phone charger

-flashlight

-batteries

-copies of important documents