National Preparedness Month: Temecula & Lake Elsinore

September is National Preparedness Month, making it an ideal time to talk with your family, practice essential safety skills, and learn how your community prepares for emergencies.

You do not have to complete everything at once. A visit to a local preparedness event can be a simple first step. This month, families and community members in the Inland Empire and surrounding areas have two opportunities to learn from emergency professionals, watch safety demonstrations, and discover practical ways to become more prepared.

The Temecula National Preparedness Fair on September 5 and the Lake Elsinore Emergency Preparedness Workshop on September 19 are designed to help residents move from uncertainty to confidence. After attending, you can continue building your skills through professional Red Cross and HSI training with Code Blue Safety Skills.

Temecula National Preparedness Fair: September 5

The City of Temecula’s annual National Preparedness Fair will take place on:

• Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
• Time: 12–4 p.m.
• Location: Promenade Temecula, 40820 Winchester Road, Temecula
• Cost: Free
• Audience: Family-friendly and open to the public

According to the event information published by Patch, the fair will connect residents with local disaster service workers, emergency response personnel, and regional preparedness organizations.

Families can expect emergency safety demonstrations, preparedness materials, and children’s activities that make emergency planning more approachable. It is an opportunity to ask questions and learn about risks that can affect Southern California households, including wildfires, earthquakes, severe heat, power outages, and other disruptions.

For official event details, visit the City of Temecula event listing and the city’s Office of Emergency Management resources.

How to make the most of the fair

Before you attend, take a few minutes to think about your household’s current level of preparedness. Consider asking:

• Do we have an emergency contact outside our immediate area?
• Does everyone know where to meet if we cannot return home?
• Do we have supplies for children, older adults, and pets?
• Does anyone in the family take medication that should be included in an emergency kit?
• Does everyone know how to call 911 and describe our location?
• Would we know what to do if someone stopped breathing or experienced severe bleeding?

You do not need perfect answers. The purpose of a community fair is to help you identify gaps and find practical resources to address them.

Lake Elsinore Emergency Preparedness Workshop: September 19

Lake Elsinore residents will also have an opportunity to learn about emergency readiness at a local workshop:

• Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
• Time: 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Location: Lowe’s, 29335 Central Avenue, Lake Elsinore
• Cost: Free

The Lake Elsinore workshop announcement describes a hands-on event featuring expert tips from emergency first responders, live demonstrations, and lifesaving tools and gear used during emergencies.

For questions or updated information, the announcement directs residents to contact the City of Lake Elsinore Emergency Services Department at (951) 346-2283. You can also review the city’s Emergency Preparedness resources.

This type of workshop can be especially helpful for people who want to see emergency equipment in action. Reading about a tourniquet, fire extinguisher, emergency radio, or other safety tool is different from watching someone explain when and how it may be used. Demonstrations can make emergency response feel more familiar and less intimidating.

Preparedness is more than supplies

An emergency kit is important, but supplies are only one part of being ready. Preparedness also includes knowledge, communication, and the ability to take action under pressure.

A household may have bandages, flashlights, bottled water, and batteries, but what happens if a family member suffers a cardiac emergency? What if a child is choking? What if someone is injured and bleeding heavily before professional help arrives?

Professional first aid and CPR training helps turn emergency information into usable skills. Participants learn how to recognize urgent situations, decide what to do first, and provide care while waiting for emergency responders.

Training also helps build confidence. Many people hesitate during emergencies because they are afraid of making a mistake. A hands-on class provides a structured environment to practice, ask questions, and repeat essential techniques until they feel more natural.

From a local event to lasting emergency confidence

Community preparedness events are an excellent starting point, but a certification course offers a more complete learning experience. Code Blue Safety Skills provides professional, hands-on, and blended training for individuals, families, businesses, schools, churches, and community organizations.

Available programs include:

• First Aid, CPR & AED for all ages
• Pediatric First Aid & CPR/AED
• Basic Life Support
• Stop Life-Threatening Bleeding
• Certification renewals
• Corporate and group safety training

Courses are available through American Red Cross and HSI training programs, providing nationally recognized certification options for workplaces, schools, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community members.

With blended learning, participants complete the knowledge portion online at their own pace before meeting for an in-person skills session. Classroom-only options are also available for groups that prefer full instruction in person.

Mobile training for families, teams, and organizations

One of the easiest ways to make training accessible is to bring it directly to your location. Code Blue Safety Skills provides mobile training throughout San Diego County, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore.

That means a group does not have to coordinate transportation to a distant training facility. Code Blue Safety Skills can bring the manikins, AED training equipment, course materials, and other supplies to a home, school, daycare or childcare center, church, fitness center, corporate office, healthcare facility, or community organization.

Mobile group training can be a practical option for families who want to train together, employers who need several staff members certified, or organizations that want to create a shared emergency response plan.

Five preparedness steps to complete this month

After attending one of the local events, choose a few actions your household can complete during September.

1. Create or update your emergency contacts. Write down important phone numbers and include an out-of-area contact who can help family members stay connected if local networks become overloaded.
2. Choose meeting places. Select one meeting place near your home and another outside your neighborhood in case roads are blocked or your home is inaccessible.
3. Check your emergency supplies. Review food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, chargers, pet supplies, and copies of important documents. Replace expired items.
4. Learn how to use your safety equipment. If you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, AED nearby, or bleeding-control supplies, make sure adults know where they are and understand their basic purpose.
5. Schedule hands-on training. Consider enrolling your household, workplace, or organization in a Red Cross or HSI First Aid, CPR/AED, Pediatric First Aid, BLS, or Stop the Bleed course.

Preparedness does not require fear. It requires preparation, practice, and a willingness to help the people around you.

Ready to take the next step?

The Temecula National Preparedness Fair and Lake Elsinore Emergency Preparedness Workshop provide accessible ways to learn more about local readiness. Use these events to start a conversation with your family, identify your needs, and discover the resources available in your community.

When you are ready for formal instruction, contact Code Blue Safety Skills for mobile Red Cross and HSI certification training in San Diego County, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore.

Training is by appointment only. To request a class, email d.onori@codebluesafetyskills.com or call (951) 669-4177. Please include the specific dates you want for the class, along with your preferred course and approximate group size.

A prepared community is built one informed, confident person at a time. This National Preparedness Month, take one practical step toward being ready to respond when someone needs help.

Event and preparedness resources

• Temecula National Preparedness Fair announcement
• City of Temecula event listing
• City of Temecula Office of Emergency Management
• Lake Elsinore Emergency Preparedness Workshop announcement
• City of Lake Elsinore Emergency Preparedness resources
• National Preparedness Month resources