NHS/Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Event Information

By on June 3, 2014

The Nebraska Humane Society and the Red Cross of Nebraska/SW Iowa Region want you and your pets to be prepared in case of Disaster! The two agencies will be holding a joint event Thursday, June 5th from 4-7 pm at the Nebraska Humane Society.

  • NHS will provide  microchips for dogs and cats for just $10 apiece.   (Microchips provide permanent identification and are invaluable in reuniting pets and their people after tornados, floods or other disasters.) Microchip Participants should bring cats in carriers and dogs on leash
  • The Red Cross will have App Gurus on hand to showcase their  99 Cent Pet First Aid App, which gives iPhone and Android smart phone users instant access to expert information on pet health and what to do during emergencies.
  •  The Red Cross will also provide checklists for disaster preparation with pets.
  • NHS will be collecting donations of disaster supplies to have on hand should the need for temporary sheltering become necessary.  *please see attached list of items you can donate!

 

“We know that preparation  is key to weathering a storm,” says NHS CEO Judy Varner, “So if we can amass needed supplies, and also help the community be proactive with pet information and identification, we’ll be better able to respond should a tornado hit.”

 

About the Red Cross Pet App

The personalized pet profile includes valuable information for both owners and emergency workers during times of a disaster, such as tag identification number, photos, list of medications and instructions.

History shows that people have not evacuated during disasters because they did not want to leave their pets behind. The Red Cross app contains resources to help owners include pets in their emergency action plans. Pet owners may also take a Red Cross Pet First Aid course so they can practice the skills and receive feedback.

“Pet owners learn how to recognize health problems and when to contact their veterinarian,” said Tina Labellarte, Region CEO. “The Pet First Aid App provides step-by-step instructions, videos and images for more than 25 common first aid and emergency situations including how to treat wounds, control bleeding, and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies.”

Additional topics include burns, car accidents, falls and what to do for cold- and heat-related emergencies.

Other features in the app allow pet owners to:

  • Use the list of early warning signs to learn when to call their veterinarian.
  • Use “click-to-call” to contact their veterinarian.
  • Find emergency pet care facilities or alternate veterinarians with the “animal hospital locator.”
  • Locate pet-friendly hotels.
  • Test their knowledge with interactive quizzes and earn badges that they can share on their social networks along with their favorite picture of their pet.

People can go to redcross.org/takeaclass for information and to register.

The Red Cross has made great strides in making emergency information available whenever and wherever people need it. The Pet First Aid App and other Red Cross apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

 

 

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