Emergency preparedness open house Friday

The American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter is partnering with the Rural/Metro Fire Department to hold a preparedness open house Friday in Yuma.

The free event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rural/Metro Fire Station 2, 10820 S. Hensley Blvd. in the Foothills.

“Our crews will be providing blood pressure checks to those that want them,” said Rural/Metro public information officer Charly McMurdie. “We're happy to open up our fire station to the American Red Cross and to the public, and we're very much looking forward to the open house.”

Andretta Schellinger, the Grand Canyon Chapter emergency services specialist for Yuma County, will be distributing emergency preparedness resources, and Yuma residents can sign up to volunteer for the Red Cross.

There also will be information on upcoming Red Cross blood drives in Yuma, slated for Nov. 30 at the Homewood Suites and Dec. 1 at the Foothills Branch Library. The Salvation Army will be on hand as well, offering snacks for open house participants.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team also will be there answering questions. Some of the equipment used for rescues will be on display.

According to Brian Gomez, communications specialist for the American Red Cross, Grand Canyon Chapter, the event is a way to raise the importance of emergency preparedness.

“We want to make the public aware of the safety precautions they can take to protect themselves from fires, floods and even earthquakes,” Gomez said.

While the American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter has held disaster preparedness events in Yuma before, Gomez said this is the first time it has partnered with Rural/Metro.

“We are hoping for a really large turnout,” Gomez said.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter at @YSJamesGilbert.