Americans still unprepared for disaster - Brief Article

AORN Journal,  Nov, 2003  

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More than half of American families have not assembled a disaster kit or created a family emergency plan (58% and 59% respectively), according to a Sept 4, 2003, news release from the American Red Cross. A poll conducted with 1,000 US adults also found that the public is more confident about disaster preparedness at home than at work, and people in the Northeast and North Central parts of the country are less prepared for disaster than those in the South and West.

The American Red Cross recommends five proactive steps to help Americans prepare for disasters and emergencies. These include

* making a disaster plan,

* preparing a disaster kit,

* becoming trained in handling disasters,

* volunteering, and

* giving blood to help ensure their families and neighbors will be safer.

American Red Cross Poll Shows Public Needs to Be More Prepared for Disasters (news release, Washington, DC: American Red Cross, Sept 4, 2003) http://www.prnews wire.com (accessed 5 Sept 2003).

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