A recent presentation from an American Red Cross representative reminded me of how totally unprepared most of us are in the event of an emergency. Emergencies can include everything from pandemic influenza to winter blizzards to hurricanes and earthquakes. Public health professionals across the country deal with unique emergency situations depending upon their geographic locations. For example, Californians deal with earthquakes, Floridians handle hurricanes, and our area is most likely affected by major winter storms.
While almost all of us have survived such inclement weather, the majority of us are not fully prepared for it. In fact, the Red Cross noted that less than 10 percent of us are fully prepared to handle a serious emergency – one that would shut down the city, cause massive power outages, close all roads, and halt all normal activities of daily living. It is the job of those in the public health field to keep communities safe during such emergencies, but it is also the responsibility of families to prepare for such disasters.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most critical step to survive a winter weather disaster – the most likely emergency to affect our area – is to be prepared well in advance. They have published an Extreme Cold Weather Guide that is available free from its website at www.cdc.gov/disasters. This 15-page book provides a guide to prepare your home, your car and your family for any type of winter weather emergency.
This guide contains critical information on extreme weather conditions as well as wind chills and how they affect the human body. It also discusses how you can prepare your home for the winter, preparing your car for traveling through inclement weather, indoor and outdoor safety concerns, and dealing with medical concerns such as hypothermia or frostbite.
Another guide is available through the American Red Cross’ emergency services division. Their “Be Red Cross Ready” program offers any community members. In fact, their three-step plan may be one of the easiest to follow now in order to prepare future emergency situations. The steps are 1) Get a Kit; 2) Make a Plan; and 3) Be Informed. You can obtain more information at www.redcross.org.
According to the Red Cross presentation I recently attended, the most important issue for personal safety is to put together a survival kit in the event you are trapped at home without power or phone. It can also serve as a three-day supply for you if evacuation is required. It is strongly suggested to obtain a plastic bin or something waterproof that will serve as your emergency preparedness kit.
Regardless of which guidebook you obtain, it is critical that you prepare for harsh weather that is commonplace in our region. Being prepared will help you, your family and your community survive such disasters.
Emergency Preparedness Kit for your home should include the following basic items:
1. Water (plan for a 2-week supply; one gallon per person per day)
2. Nonperishable, easy-to-prepare food items (two week supply)
3. Flashlight
4. Battery-powered radio
5. Extra batteries for both the radio and flashlight
6. First aid kit
7. Medications and other needed medical items
8. Multipurpose tool
9. Sanitation and personal hygiene items
10. Copies of personal documents such as passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.)
11. Cell phone with chargers
12. Family and emergency contact information
13. Extra cash
14. Emergency Blanket
15. Maps of the area
*It is also important to prepare for taking care of any pets you may have. And, if you need to evacuate, please take them with you. Never abandon your pets.
Winter Survival Kit for your car should include:
1. Blankets
2. First Aid Kit
3. An empty can and matches (to melt snow for water)
4. Windshield scraper
5. Booster cables
6. Maps
7. Mobile phone
8. Compass
9. Paper towels
10. Cat litter or sand (to help with traction should you get stuck)
11. Tow rope
12. Tire chains
13. Container of water
14. Collapsible shovel
15. Flashlight and extra batteries
16. Brightly colored cloth (to place on car in case your vehicle is disabled)
Heating your home safely:
1. Make sure fireplaces and furnaces are properly vented before using them
2. Do not burn paper in a fireplace
3. Use only the type of fuel for which your heating unit is designed
4. Do not place a space heater within three feet of anything that could catch fire
5. Never place a space heater near water or on top of the furniture
6. Never leave children unattended near an operating space heater
7. Store a multi-use fire extinguisher near your heating unit
8. Never use generators, grills, or similar devices indoors to protect against Carbon Monoxide poisoning
References
American Red Cross. (2011). Preparedness fast facts. Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed. Retrieved December 21, 2011 from http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=fc56d7aada352210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Extreme cold. A prevention guide to promote your personal health and safety. Retrieved December 21, 2011 from http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/pdf/cold_guide.pdf.
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