In the event of a disaster, emergency medical response may be delayed because of the remoteness of your home or by adverse conditions, such as roads blocked by floodwater or debris. While precious minutes slip by, your emergency training could mean the difference between life and death. Properly administered first aid or CPR can help stabilize an injured or ailing family member until help arrives. Make sure at least one family member is trained in first aid and CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator. It could save a life.

Most of them are between one and two hours, while more in-depth courses run from three to five hours. 

For more information and enroll in one of the classes listed here today, please contact:
 
American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter
Serving Pierce, Thurston, Mason and Lewis Counties  

Health & Safety Department

TEL. (253) 474-0600  Pierce County 
TEL. (360) 352-8577  Thurston County
TEL. (360) 426-3400  Mason County
TEL. (360) 748-4607  Lewis County


Red Cross Courses:

Community First Aid and Safety includes First Aid Basics, Adult CPR, and Infant and Child CPR. The course components can be taken individually or in any combination.

First Aid
This first aid course helps people prepare for and respond to an emergency.

Adult CPR/AED
Hands on skills-training for adult CPR and AED prepares participants to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies.

Adult CPR
Learn how to recognize and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults.

Infant and Child CPR
Designed for childcare providers, teachers, parents and others who care for children, this course teaches how to recognize and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies and how to use the EMS system effectively. Participants take home a refresher skills card as well as information about preventing injuries. This course applies to infants and children up to 8 years. Infant CPR is also available separately as a 3 1/2 hour course that applies to infants up to 12 months; Child CPR (4 hours) is available separately and applies to children age 1 to 8 years.

AED Essentials
Individuals currently certified in Adult CPR learn how to safely use an AED to provide care for victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Injury Control Modules
Focusing on common causes of worksite injuries and key health risks, these one-hour awareness-level modules highlight risks and promote prevention. Self-assessments help employees recognize risky habits. Demonstrations and lively discussions reinforce practical prevention tips. Modules include: Ergonomics; Slips, Trips and Falls; Back Injury Prevention; Workplace Violence Awareness; Managing Stress; and Your Heart Matters.

Preventing Disease Transmission
A training module for employers and employees who, while on the job, may be exposed to blood or other body fluids that could cause infection. Employers can offer this program as part of their compliance with OSHA regulations. Available in English and Spanish.

Pet First Aid is a handy reference guide for cat and dog emergencies. Created by the American Red Cross and The Humane Society of the United States, Pet First Aid provides assistance to people whose pets are ill or injured.

Babysitters Training Designed for 11- to 15-year olds, the Babysitter's Training Course can help you interview for a babysitting job, choose safe and age-appropriate toys and games, perform first aid, learn diapering and feeding techniques, handle bedtime issues, tips for a safe babysitting experience.

• Check the scene and the victim.
• Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number posted by the phone.
• Care for the victim.

Purchase an A-B-C rated fire extinguisher and teach all responsible family members how to use it.

However, the Red Cross strongly recommends that you visit your local fire department to practice using a fire extinguisher properly. You need to practice to ensure you will remember how to respond when you are forced to react quickly. Also, please remember that most household fire extinguishers are designed to put out very small fires only. Attempting to put out large fires with a household extinguisher can be dangerous. An experienced fire professional will be able to explain the safest, most effective way to use your extinguisher.

Remember, fire extinguishers are for small fires only. When using one, stand back 10 feet from the fire, keep your back to an exit and remember the PASS Sequence:

Pull the pin out
Aim the extinguisher
Squeeze or press the handle
Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire

Shutting Off Your Gas

If you need to have your gas shut off, call your gas company to do it, if possible. However, in an emergency when you need the gas shut off immediately, take these steps:

• Locate the shutoff valve on the riser pipe (the pipe running through the ground or foundation wall to your meter). To turn the valve, you will need a crescent or pipe wrench, or a special wrench available from your local gas company.
  
  
• When the valve head is parallel to the riser pipe, it is in the "on" position. Turn the valve head crosswise to the pipe and it will be in the "off" position. There are also shutoff valves on the lines feeding individual gas appliances.
  
  
• Once the gas is off, leave it off. Call the nearest gas company office when you are ready for the gas to be turned back on. A qualified technician will check your system, turn on your service and relight the pilot for you.

Shutting Off Your Natural Gas

Do NOT turn off natural gas unless you suspect a real emergency, you smell leaking gas, or local officials advise that you need to do so. You will need a professional to restore natural gas service. After a major disaster, it can take days or weeks for a professional to respond.

Your gas company injects an odorant into your gas before it is distributed, so it can be detected. The odorant is so highly concentrated that even the smallest amounts of natural gas can be detected. The odorant gives off a foul smell, like rotten eggs.

Any odor of natural gas inside your home may indicate a leak. Follow these steps if you detect a leak:

• Do open windows and doors.
  
  
• Do evacuate all persons from the building.
  
  
• Do call your local gas company from a neighbor's phone or a phone far away from the building.
  
  
• Don’t use the telephone (including cell phones and other portable communications devices with a battery). These can spark and create an ignition source.
  
  
• Don’t light matches or create any other source of ignition.
  
  
• Don’t turn lights off or on, or operate any electrical switches (either off or on). This could create a source of ignition.

Shutting Off Water

Earthquakes or severe freezing weather can interrupt water supplies. It’s important to turn off the water quickly to avoid flooding or possible contamination of your water system.

Locate the main water valve, often near the wall in a basement or garage. Label it for quick identification. If you need to turn the water off, turn the valve clockwise until it stops.

Shutting Off Electricity

If the power goes out:

1. Check your fuse or breaker box for blown fuses or tripped circuits. If they're okay, check to see if your neighbors are without power.
2. Call your power company immediately to report the outage. Please call only once so other customers can get through.
3. Turn off all electrical equipment, including your water heater, electric furnace or heaters, stove, washer and dryer, stereo and TV, to help prevent overloading the system when power is restored. (Major appliances can be turned off at the breaker box). Do, however, turn on a porch light and one inside light so you and repair crews will know when service is restored.
4. Listen to the radio (battery-powered) for updates on major storm outages. You can also call your power company for information on when power will be restored.
5. If your neighbor's power comes back on but yours does not, call your power company again.
6. If your lights are very dim or very bright once power is restored, turn off the power at the breaker or fuse box and call your power company.

  

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