News Release

For Immediate Release                 Contact: Sara T. Pappa, Public Information Officer

March 7, 2008                                  937-374-5662/866-858-3588

 

 

Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) Reminds Everyone to

Check Your Emergency Preparedness Kits When You Set Your Clocks

 

Xenia, OH - As we eagerly prepare for the arrival of spring, the American Public Health Association (APHA) and GCCHD want to ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared for a possible public health emergency. With this in mind, the APHA has launched a new campaign aimed at encouraging Americans to make sure their emergency preparedness kits are stocked when they change their clocks for daylight saving time.

 

The “Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks” campaign aims to build on the message of preparedness that already exists with using daylight saving time as a reminder to check the batteries in our smoke detectors.

 

“Since we already use daylight saving as an opportunity to ensure that our families are prepared for an emergency, it’s a great time for us also to make sure that we have a fully stocked emergency kit and that none of the perishable items have expired,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. “When we spring forward this year, we want every American to make sure their family has a preparedness kit to fall back on in the event of an emergency.”

 

In the downloadable toolkit, families can find out why preparing for a public health emergency is important, what to include in an emergency preparedness kit, how to get kids involved, and much more. The campaign reminds people to refresh their emergency supplies before a disease outbreak or disaster occurs. It also serves as a reminder that, if you haven’t created a stockpile yet, now is the time to create one!

 

To download materials and learn more about the campaign, visit the Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks web site at www.getreadyforflu.org/clocksstocks/.

 

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675