|
Are You Ready?
By Thea Swafford
Life happens.
Nobody got up this morning and said, "Gee, I had better wear clean underwear today,
I'm going to be in a three car collision."
or,
"I'm going to have a heart attack this afternoon, I had better have lunch with someone who knows
CPR."
Life happens, are YOU ready?
The key, is being pro-active; being informed about how your community handles emergencies,
taking the courses offered in your community on
first aid, CPR, infant CPR, HIV, planning and practicing family evacuation drills, and accessing
the information necessary to make educated decisions
rather than frantic guesses about how to safeguard your family and home.
What's that, you don't have children or know anyone with HIV? What about the neighbor child that runs in
front of your car, or the heart attack victim in the check out line in front of you at the store?
What you don't know can kill somebody you love in an emergency situation.
Read the last sentence again.
If, as you read this, the sky is blue and the sun is shining, the time to begin preparing is NOW.
Know what disasters are most likely and prepare to prevent what you can and minimize what you can't prevent.
Disasters are never convenient, but the more that you practice for them, the less traumatic they will be and
the quicker normalcy will be restored after the fact.
Include the children in every aspect of this, you would be surprised how many children have saved their parents in
emergency situations. They will think of things that you would overlook.
Disaster Plan
Decide where to go if at home, school, work, outdoors, or in a car when a
flood, severe thunderstorm, or tornado warning is issued. Update these plans every school year
and as workplaces and residence change.
In the event that you have a person in your home with special needs, be sure that your fire department and
emergency management organizations are aware of your needs. They will aid you in an emergency, not only if
you need to evacuate, but in the event of power outages.
If someone in your home uses oxygen, be sure to always have an emergency supply in house. If the special need
requires power, such as to home oxygen machines and electric lifts make sure that your electric company is
aware, so that you are put on a list to have your power
restored first.
Communication Plans
Designate a friend or relative outside of your town or area as your family contact in the
event you are separated from family members during a flood, tornado, or in case a storm
knocks out your electricity. See that they have
your cell phone number and the number of emergency personnel in your area, in the event that you don't
check in with them in a timely manner.
In the case of a tropical storm or hurricane, designate someone outside the area affected by the
tropical storm or hurricane as your family contact.
Agree upon a place where the family members can meet if separated. See that even the youngest child has
a phone card with the contact person's phone number put on it with permanent marker.
Evacuation Plans
Get a good map and plan various evacuation routes, most local news stations have maps of suggested routes.
Avoid low-lying areas. This is especially valuable in the event of flooding from rivers, streams,
tropical storms, or flash floods. Like the old saying goes, "Head for the hills!" immediately seek higher
ground. Stay out from under trees in high-winds and electrical or ice storms.
Do several test runs of different routes, to be aware of traffic patterns and construction.
For times of extreme heat, or cold identify locations where you can escape weather conditions
for hours at a time: a mall, a movie theater, or the home of a friend or relative.
Most public shelters will not take animals. Make arrangements ahead of time with your
veterinarian or kennel, so that in the event that you must go to a shelter, your pets have
standing reservations.
Disaster Supply Kit
Be sure everyone in the family knows where your Family Disaster Supply Kit is located.
Essentials-
Battery-operated radio
Flashlight
Extra batteries
Cell phone AND phone cards
Fire extinguisher
Do not include candles, which cause more fires after
a disaster than anything else
Water-
3 gallons/person, minimum, in a food-grade, plastic container.
Additional water for sanitation. We fill our bathtub for wash
water and a five gallon bucket for each toilet, when dangerous
weather is close. Even if you don't evacuate, have your water
ready in the event that the ground water is effected.
First Aid Kit-
one for the house, one for each car
Scissors
Sun screen
Thermometer
Tweezers
Needle
Cleansing agent/soap
Latex gloves (2 pairs)
Tongue blades (2)
Moistened towelettes
Assorted sizes of safety pins
2" sterile gauze pads (4-6)
4"sterile gauze pads (4-6)
2" sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
3" sterile roller bandages(3 rolls)
Triangular bandages (3)
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Tube of antibiotic ointment
Insect repellant
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
Laxative
Anti-diarrhea medication
Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
Antacid (for stomach upset)
Activated Charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if
advised by the Poison Control Center)
Poison Control's Phone number
A blanket
Family Medical Needs-
Keep in a plastic container with snap on lid, when danger is near,
snap on the lid and go.
Prescription drugs
Denture needs
Extra eye glasses
Contact lenses and supplies
Food-
Minimum 3-day supply of non-perishable food that
requires no refrigeration or preparation and little
or no water. Take into consideration special diets
and allergies. The following list is just to get you
thinking.
Dry cereal
Peanut butter
Canned fruits
Canned vegetables
Canned drinks (alcohol is not allowed in shelters)
Ready-to-eat canned meats
Ready-to-eat soups (not concentrated)
Quick energy snacks, graham
crackers
bread
Clothing and Bedding-
Sunglasses
Rain gear (poncho)
Hat and gloves
Sturdy shoes or work boots
Blankets or sleeping bags (the new microfleece is
very warm, cuts the wind and is lightweight and easy
to store. We buy it at the fabric store by the yard,
it requires no hemming.)
Thermal underwear
Two complete change of clothing and footwear per
person
Pack each person's belongings in a back pack, for them
to keep track of. You could also put travel size toiletries
in a plastic zip bag in each back pack.
Remember children grow, keep the pack current.
Tools and Supplies-
Whistle(1 per person on lanyards, to signal for help)
Aluminum foil
Crowbar
Compass
Paper, pencil
Plastic sheeting
Medicine dropper
Needles, thread
Signal flare
Matches in a waterproof container
Assorted nails, wood screws
Pliers,
screwdriver,
hammer
Plastic storage
containers
Heavy cotton or hemp rope
Cash or traveler's checks, change
Map of the area (for locating shelters)
Non-electric can opener, utility knife
Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
Tape, duct and plumber's tape or strap iron
Patch kit and can of seal-in-air for tires
Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
Fire extinguisher
Sanitation Supplies-
Disinfectant
Household chlorine bleach
Soap, liquid detergent
Personal hygiene items
Feminine supplies
Plastic bucket with tight lid
Toilet paper, towelettes, paper towels
Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal
sanitation uses)
For Baby-
Formula
Diapers
Bottles
Medication
Powdered milk
For Pets-
Food
Leash, harness or carrier
Records of vaccinations
Non-tippable food and water containers
Important Family Documents-
We keep an extra copy of each of the following documents
in an ammunition box. They are handy plastic water-proof
boxes that are easy to store.
Important telephone numbers
Record of bank account numbers
Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
Inventory of valuable household goods (Video Tape)
Copy of will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds,
stocks and bonds
Record of credit card account numbers and companies
Copy of passports, social security cards, immunization
records Back up copies up important information in your computer
Computer program CDs
Medical How-Tos
Yes, free. The complete unabridged version of
Survival and Austere Medicine: An Introduction. Over 200 pages of
up-to-date survival medical information written by doctors and other
medical personnel.
http://www.aussurvi
valist.com/
downloads/
AM%20Final%
202.pdf
Entertainment-
Games and books
Laptop computer w/charger
Depending on where you live and what type of situation you
live in will determine how you will have to modify the above
information.
Other helpful links:
http://www.ready.
gov/america/
index.html
http://www.whitehou
se.gov/news/
releases/
2007/08/20070830
-4.html
http://www.redcross
.org/article/
0,1072,0_
507_5658,
00.html
http://www.fema.
gov/news/
newsrelease.
fema?id=29538
Remember, life happens, know what to do and how to do it.
|
|
|
|
