Emergency Preparedness: for You and Your Family

Despite our perennially optimistic outlook on life, we are alost realists... and with our 21st century world changing at breakneck speed, it is presumptuous to think that negative contingencies are not possibilities of everyday living. This said, emergency preparedness is as simple as planning ahead. And it's extremely inexpensive relative to its irreplaceable value. Go over the checklist below with your housemates to determine how you can take control in case of an emergency. Check and update your kits at regular intervals, making sure they are always complete and ready to go.


What to have in Your Home Emergency Kit
   Keep enough supplies in your home for you and your family to survive unreplenished for at least three days.
If possible, keep materials in an easily accessible and separate container or special cupboard. You should indicate to your housemates that these supplies are for emergencies only, and are therefore not to be used for regular consumption.

*Three liters of drinking water per person per day
*Non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned foods and manual can opener
*First-aid kit, medications and prescriptions
*Flashlight, battery operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries
*Whistle
*One quart of unscented bleach or iodine tablets (for disinfecting water) and an eyedropper (for adding bleach to water)
*Personal hygiene items
*Sturdy shoes, heavy gloves, extra clothes, a blanket and lightweight raingear
*Child care supplies or other special care items
*Basic Tool box


What to have in your hand
   Every home should consider assembling a To Go Bag with an assembly of items required in the event of the need to suddenly evacuate. Each of your housemate's To Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy, easy-to carry container such as a backpack or suitcase that can be easily grab and carry around. A To Go bag should be easily accessible if you have to leave your home in a hurry. Make sure it is ready to go at all times of the year.

*Copies of important documents in a waterproof and portable container (insurance cards, birth certificates, deeds, photo ID's,etc.)
*Extra set of  keys to you home and car
*Cash in hand, in small amounts
*Bottled water and canned goods
*Medication for at least one week and other essential personal items. Be sure to change medications before they expire. Keep a list of your housemate's medication and their dosages, or copies of all your prescription slips
*First-aid kit
*Contact and designated meeting place of your household as well as small regional map
*Child care supplies or other special care items


What to have in your hand
  Consider developing a disaster plan with your housemates to prepare for what to do, how to find each other and how to communicate in case of an emergency.

*Decide where your household will re-unite after a disaster. Identify two places to meet: one right outside your home and another outside your neighborhood, such as a library, community center or such.
*Make sure everyone knows the address and phone numbers of your second meeting place.
*Know and practice all possible exit routes from your home and neighborhood.
*Designate an out-of-town friend or relative that housemates can call if separated during a disaster. If local phone circuits are busy, this out-of-town contact can be an important contact can be an important way of communicating between housemates. When local phone circuits are busy, long-distance calls may be easier to make.
*Account for everybody's needs, especially seniors, people with disabilities and people who don't speak the language you use at home adequately.
*Practice your plan with all housemates.
*Ensure that housemates have a copy of your household disaster plan to keep in their wallets and backpacks.


In case of fire
   If your smoke detector goes off or if you notice a fire starting, remain calm. Do not try to fight a major fire.
*If your clothes catch fire, STOP where you are, DROP to the ground and ROLL OVER and over to smother the flames.
*If a fire breaks out in your house or apartment building, get out as quickly as possible using pre-determined escape routes that each housemate's should know about.
*Carefully feel doors with the back of your hand before you open them. If they are hot, find another way out. Stay as close to the floor as possible - smoke and heat rise and the air is clearer and cooler near the floor. Close doors behind you.
*If you are unable to get out for any reason, stay near a window and close to the floor. Keep the door closed and stuff the bottom with a towel to minimize the amount of smoke getting in. If possible, signal for help by waving a cloth sheet outside the window.
*Do not stop to get anything
*Do not use the elevator
*To prevent minor fires from becoming out of control, keep reputable brand fire extinguishers and working smoke detectors in the house.
*Have the fire extinguisher ok-certified once a year. Check batteries of the smoke detectors AT LEAST twice a year.
*Consider renter's insurance if you rent an apartment.
Finally, bear in mind that all of the above listed items and strategies may not be possible for your total compliance. If that's the case, assemble as much or as many of it as possible - if you can't be totally prepared, it's better to be partially prepared than not at all.