(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska – September is National Preparedness Month and PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center is sponsoring a First Aid class and two seminars this week for the public to learn ways to help and to cope with a disaster. All are free and do not require registration beforehand.

“Children in Crisis: Behavioral Issues of Children in Crisis Events” will be Friday 3-5pm. “Crisis Standards of Care and Ethical Issues in Disasters” is also Friday from 7-9pm. Both sessions will be conducted by LeMay Hupp RN, MPH, Coordinator of Alaska Respond. The classes will be in the third floor conference room at the Medical Center, 3100 Tongass Avenue. Two free Continuing Education credits are available for each.

“Disaster First Aid” is Saturday from 9am-3pm at the Education Room at the Plaza Mall, Suite 201. LeMay Hupp will also conduct this class which will cover how to prioritize injuries, and anticipate and treat early-stage shock, control bleeding, splint and immobilize fractures, and sprains and joint injuries.

Also to be discussed is the development of an “Action Outline-Master Plan” for the first hours after a disaster – how to improvise first aid supplies from common materials and what to do in the first days after a disaster including infection control, sanitation and protection from environmental hazards of heat and cold. Four free Continuing Education credits are available.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that only 57% of people have readiness items set aside in their homes for use in a disaster; 34% have readiness supplies in their car and less than half of household have an emergency plan.

Source of News: 

PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center
www.peacehealth.org/ketchikan

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