By Toni McPherson
Special to the Turnagain Times
As a kid my daydreams included various versions of me playing superhero, in a vein similar to Ralphie’s fantasies in The Christmas Story. I’d swoop in and rescue my family from the sharks, the fire, the hurricane, the flood, the bad guys, the avalanche, whatever, thereby becoming the hero, a title that, in my young mind, would garner me all sorts of unnamed rewards.
Fast-forward to adulthood and the idea of being the one who must save the day is more the stuff of nightmares than a daydreams. Imagine someone depending on me to save his life. Am I prepared for that? Are you?
Living in Alaska increases the odds that we will be called upon to help others in what could be a life-saving situation. The 49th state regularly leads the nation in accidental deaths per capita, because of the inherent environmental dangers and the tendency of residents to indulge in potentially dangerous activities, often without the right equipment or training.
You can start building your resume of rescue and preparedness skills on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the “Become an Everyday Hero” Emergency Preparedness Fair at Loussac Library. Anchorage Public Library, in partnership with the Municipal Office of Emergency Management and the North America Outdoor Institute, will stage the third annual Preparedness Fair which includes a variety of booths with emergency equipment and information, with the ultimate goal of making you and your family safer.
Anchorage Police Department Chief Mark Mew will kick off the fair with a brief statement and will announce the winners of the
“Who’s Your Hero” contest and the Youth Emergency Action Poster Contest. Attendees at this family event will be eligible for a variety of prizes. Among this year’s participating booths are the Earthquake Cottage which simulates the shaking of an earthquake, the Alaska National Guard “Get Fit” balloon challenge, the Red Cross and the Blood Bank of Alaska.
This year, the free fair includes an obstacle course where you will be challenged to practice skills learned at the various booths. Obstacles include things like: putting out a fire with a fire extinguisher, shutting off the natural gas line (similar to the one outside your house), locating an avalanche victim using a transceiver, packing an emergency supply kit, administering basic first aid or performing dexterity tests after your hands have been submersed in Alaska cold water.
A lot of people equate heroism with guts, but lift the curtain behind the actions of so many heroes and you find it all comes down to preparedness and training. The first response to a dire situation is fear—the deer in the headlights syndrome. You freeze and frantically search your memory for the right thing to do. But if you are prepared for emergencies that hesitation is a fraction of a second instead of precious minutes. Knowledge powers action. By being aware of potential dangers in your life and preparing for them you are setting yourself up to become an everyday hero.
Look for emergency preparedness handouts and displays at all Anchorage Public Library branches throughout September. For online resources on preparedness, go to www.anchoragelibrary.org.
Note: All branches of Anchorage Public Library will be closed Sept. 4-6 for the Labor Day holiday.
Toni McPherson is the Community Relations Coordinator for the Anchorage Public Library.
