When I was young, one of my favorite things about heading back to school after a relaxing summer vacation was the opportunity to shop for new school supplies. I used to enjoy browsing the store aisles for brightly colored folders (one for each subject) and making sure I got my favorite kind of pens, highlighters and, of course, a cool backpack to keep them all in. While I couldn’t prevent the start of classes in the fall, at least I could be prepared for them.

When you think about it, we take similar steps to prepare to start school each fall as we do to prepare for disasters or other emergencies. Gathering your school supplies in one place is sort of like gathering disaster supplies in one place - the first step to Be Red Cross Ready for disasters and other emergencies!

The American Red Cross recommends three simple actions you and your family can take to Be Red Cross Ready: 1) get a kit; 2) make a plan and 3) be informed. This September is National Preparedness Month and the perfect time to sit down with your family to view a new online education module available at www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady that will explain each of these action steps and provide downloadable checklists to help your family get prepared.

They say it’s important to make sure that you are prepared in all the places where you spend a lot of time. And boy, do we spend a lot of time in school. So, once your family is prepared, ask your teacher about your school’s emergency plans.

Taking action to get prepared today can make you feel more confident and better able to respond to a disaster or emergency. Now that’s a smart lesson to learn.