Since the September Eleventh attacks, U.S. officials have called on Americans to be ready for disasters and emergencies in their own neighborhoods. Among those answering the call are some senior citizens in New Hampshire. Recently the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, began training its members to teach disaster preparedness around the state. NHPR's Trish Anderton has this report.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU SAW A HOUSE ON FIRE?
WHO WOULD YOU CALL IF YOU CAME ACROSS SOMEONE WHO WAS SEVERELY INJURED?
TERRY GOLDBLATT OF THE RED CROSS POSED THOSE QUESTIONS TO SOME FIFTEEN VOLUNTEERS AT A RECENT TRAINING IN TAMWORTH.
has anyone heard of the three C's? check call and care. That's the three things you do first when you come on an emergency situation or a scene where theres been an injury .
THAT IS, CHECK THE SITUATION TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE.
CALL FOR HELP.
THEN CARE FOR THE VICTIM AS BEST YOU CAN.
THAT COULD MEAN TREATING FOR SHOCK OR EXPOSURE, OR TRYING TO SLOW THEIR BLEEDING.
If you press your arm just right, you CAN slow the blood down and you'll feel it! When you hit it, you know it.
CARING FOR INJURIES IS JUST ONE ASPECT OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
GOLDBLATT ALSO COVERS BASICS LIKE WHAT KINDS OF SUPPLIES TO KEEP IN YOUR HOME.
THE LIST INCLUDES THREE DAYS WORTH OF WATER, NONPERISHABLE FOOD, AND A RADIO WITH EXTRA BATTERIES.
SPEAKING AFTER THE CLASS, GOLDBLATT SAYS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD BE PREPARED.
30 22. In your own family you shd have a disaster plan. You shd have a disaster kit. You shd have mtg places, contact names, a contact person in state and out of state.
YOU COULD CALL THIS THE 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF THE OLD DUCK-AND-COVER EXERCISES KIDS USED TO DO IN SCHOOL.
BUT UNLIKE THAT DRILL, THIS ISN'T FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON THE THREAT OF ATTACK.
THE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING MENTIONS SOME TERRORISM CONCERNS, LIKE ANTHRAX.
BUT ORGANIZERS SAY THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO EXPLOIT PEOPLE'S FEARS, OR DRUM UP ANGER AGAINST TERRORISTS.
THEY WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING FROM A BIG STORM TO
A CHEMICAL SPILL.
THE VOLUNTEERS WILL GET MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTION IN THE WEEKS TO COME.
THEN THEY'LL GO OUT AND TEACH.
THEY'LL GO TO SCHOOLS, NURSING HOMES, AND ANYPLACE ELSE THEY CAN REACH GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
CATHY MCKENNA DIRECTS THE COOS COUNTY BRANCH OF RSVP.
25 124 we want people to be prepared and resilient in face of disaster. 27 00 That way police and emerg responders can take of those who haven't been educated, who are seriously injured, who are incapacitated, they can take care of the really needy first.
MCKENNA AND OTHER RSVP DIRECTORS WON A GRANT EARLIER THIS YEAR TO FUND THE TRAINING.
THE IDEA CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP.
IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT BUSH CALLED ON SENIOR VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE PART IN REBUILDING AMERICA POST 9-11.
CARROLL COUNTY RSVP DIRECTOR BENNY JESSEMIN SAYS OLDER PEOPLE ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO HELP.
28 30 we have a lot of very talented retirees // We have retired nurses, retired teacher. And they have skills to go out and teach this to others.
JESSEMIN SAYS VOLUNTEERS GET THE SATISFACTION OF HELPING OUT AND BEING ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
VOLUNTEER DOUG SHAW AGREES.
SHAW LIVES IN MILAN.
HE USED TO TEACH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN CALIFORNIA.
22 58 I can save a life or help someone else save a life. I worked in an
emergency room for 7 yrs and theres no greater high.
SHAW WORRIES PEOPLE IN HIS REMOTE NORTHERN TOWN HAVE A FALSE SENSE OF SAFETY.
HE SAYS THEY DON'T THINK A RURAL AREA LIKE THEIRS COULD BECOME A TARGET.
Some people don't recognize needs today, the real possibility of terrorism. They've been living in a protected enviro and they need to be brought up, maybe kicking and screaming, to the real dangers
SEVERAL OTHER VOLUNTEERS SAID THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT GRANITE STATERS ARE COMPLACENT.
THEY HOPE TO CHANGE THAT.
FOR NHPR NEWS I'M TRISH ANDERTON IN TAMWORTH.
