Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross offers courses to help you and your family prepare for emergencies. We are aware of the hazards that can happen in this area where we live and work, and can provide you with presentations and information that will help you learn how to keep your family and co-workers safe when disaster strikes. Contact CMC by phone (601-353-5442) or email to find out about disaster preparedness presentations available for your community or workplace.

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.

Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross offers a variety of classes for you and your family. Most of them are between one and two hours, while more in-depth courses run from three to five hours. The Red Cross health and safety courses available here in Jackson are listed here. Check the Calendar to find one that is convenient for you and enroll today.

Get Trained at Home

Teach children how to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. Review emergency action steps with all family members:

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

Disaster Preparedness Coloring Books For Small Children

Download pdf files:

• English
• Espanol (Spanish)

Be Ready 1-2-3

The "Be Ready 1-2-3" materials help young children, ages 4 to 7, learn through activities and demonstrations led by "experts" Cool Cat (home fires), Ready Rabbit (winter storms), and Disaster Dog (earthquakes). These materials include the "Be Ready Book," which is designed for children to use as they learn program lessons. The "Instructor's Manual" provides lesson plans and suggested activities for adults or older youth to use with children and deliver the information in the program.
 
Download Be Ready 1-2-3 series (pdf):

• English
• Espanol (Spanish)
• Instructor's Manual

Using a Fire Extinguisher

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

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.

Shutting Off Your Gas

• 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

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.

If there is a strong gas odor in your home, or you can see or hear a break, follow the instructions above. Meanwhile, turn off the gas valve located at the gas meter with a wrench or other suitable tool. If the leaking gas ignites, do not attempt to put out the flames. Get to safety, call the fire department and then call your local gas company.

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.