Good Ideas for Seniors -- Get Ready

We all know the value of preparation, whether for an important meeting, a big game, hosting a party, insurance needs – and especially for emergency situations. By evaluating the state of your health, your current needs and what you might require in the event of a disaster, you can be ready for almost anything. Here are some things to consider: Identify the resources you use daily and what you might do if they become limited or unavailable. Make sure that you have an adequate supply of all your medications, to last you for a short period when refills may not be available. Prepare an emergency supply kit (review our section “Stocking Your Supply Kit”) Know the safest places in your home for each type of emergency and learn the best escape routes as well. Plan in advance for a temporary place to stay, in case you are forced to evacuate. If you own a pet, consider where that pet may stay if it is not allowed to accompany you to a shelter or to someone’s home where you will be a guest. Know where all of your medical, insurance and other important documents are located, and make sure they can be accessed quickly. If you have a communication disability, be sure that your emergency information explains the best way to communicate with you.

Our lives are enriched by good and loyal friends. This is especially clear during an emergency crisis. So create a support network of friends who can provide assistance for you, should you need it. Share every element of your disaster plan with your support network. Arrange for members of your support network to immediately check on you, should a disaster occur. Provide an extra house key to a member of your network. Provide copies of your important emergency documents, as well as a health insurance card. Let your support network members know where any emergency supplies are stored. Agree to a specific communication system for contacting one another. Let your support network members know when you are going out of town, and they should do the same for you. Practice your emergency plan together in a show of mutual support.

Hopefully, you will not have to leave your home in the event of a disaster. But even if you are instructed to stay at home, there are certain items you should have and precautions you should take. Keep an adequate water supply of at least one gallon per day. Water should be stored in unbreakable containers. Store non-perishable foods that are nutritious, easy to carry and ready to eat. Keep a manual can opener in one of your drawers. Have non-perishable food available for any pets that live with you. Make sure that you have a working flashlight, with backup batteries. Keep your cell phone charged so that you can use it if your land line becomes temporarily disconnected. Store a first aid kit in your home.

One of the most terrifying experiences is to be trapped by a fire. No matter which way you turn, you sense that there is no way out. But don’t panic…all is not lost, especially if you remember these few words of advice. Drop down to the floor and crawl because the air there is cleaner and less toxic. Most fatalities in a fire occur from smoke inhalation. Feel all doors before you open them; if a door is hot to your touch, look for an alternate way out. If your clothes catch on fire, drop to the floor and roll over and over to suffocate the flames. Do not stay around to “fight” the fire; call the fire department instead from a neighbor’s house or from your outdoor patio. If you are trapped in your house, move next to a window; try to signal for help. Never return to a burning building.

We all love the familiarity of home, where we can enjoy our certain routines and little pleasures. But there are times when it makes sense to leave home, at least for a little while. In fact, it could be a matter of life or death. Some of the more common indicators for evacuation are these: Your area is without electrical power for a prolonged period. Flood waters are rising. A chemical emergency is affecting your area. Your home has been seriously damaged. Emergency personnel instruct you to evacuate.

Many seniors are strong, healthy and capable of taking care of themselves. Others, however, may be ill or disabled, in need of assistance when an emergency situation occurs. If you are helping a senior during a disaster situation, keep these points in mind: Be calm and soothing, especially in situations where the elderly person may have become confused or disoriented by the disaster. Offer a comforting tone, as many elderly individuals are very hesitant to leave their homes, even when “riding out” the disaster is dangerous. Remember to ask the person you are helping whether they have any pets that need assistance too. Make sure that the senior you are assisting has all of his/her medications so those can be moved to safety as well. Be patient; keep in mind that elderly people move more slowly and stop occasionally.

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Get Ready Teachers

Class is in session, the day is moving forward uneventfully…then disaster strikes! Students are screaming, alarms are ringing and it seems as if you’re surrounded by circumstances totally out of your control. But wait a minute…take stock of the situation and act intelligently and decisively. Here are some important guidelines:

• In the event of an earthquake, teachers should give “drop, cover and hold” instructions.
• Evacuate the building in case of fire or immediately after an earthquake has occurred.
• Hold students in an assigned yard area, take a roll call and wait for further instructions. Report if anyone is missing.
• If telephones are working, call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.
• Set up and coordinate your first aid center
• In the event of a random shooting, try to lead students to the nearest exit. If that is not possible, lock your classroom door and tell students to duck down under their desks and remain quiet.
• Once the disaster is over, dismiss students to go home only with a parent or other authorized adult.
• Do not re-enter any of the school buildings until the area is pronounced safe.

ASPCA Has Pet Safety Pack

For those of you who are excited about the groundbreaking of the east side dog park in El Dorado Regional Park, it is important to remember that we need to get prepared in the event of the next earthquake

ASPCA has a Pet Safety Pack (https://www.aspca.org/form/free-pet-safety-pack?ms=wb_rig_petcaresection-generalsmall-201307&initialms=wb_rig_petcaresection-generalsmall-201307) that you should go on line and get. It includes stickers for your window to let first responders know there is a pet inside your home. The safety pack also includes an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet.

ASPCA has a number of great suggestions of how to get prepared. Check out their special website on this issue: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness

The Red Cross also has a printable check list for pet owners. Check here for the list: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/pet-safety

FEMA has produced an excellent brochure that you can download by clicking: http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/pets_brochure.pdf

Get prepared Long Beach!

Get Ready Business

English: Pass Christian, Miss., April 6, 2006 - Disaster preparedness publications in several languages are available through the FEMA Mitigation Division to show Gulf Coast residents how to minimize damage from hurricanes and other disasters. FEMA Mitigation reaches out to all population groups to encourage pre-disaster planning. George Armstrong/FEMA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Preparedness Planning for Your Business

Businesses can do much to prepare for the impact of the many hazards they face in today’s world including natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and widespread serious illness such as the H1N1 flu viruspandemic. Human-caused hazards include accidents, acts of violence by people and acts of terrorism. Examples of technology-related hazards are the failure or malfunction of systems, equipment or software.

Ready Business will assist businesses in developing a preparedness program by providing tools to create a plan that addresses the impact of many hazards. This website and its tools utilize an “all hazards approach” and follows the program elements within National Fire Protection Association 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs. NFPA 1600 is an American National Standard and has been adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The five steps in developing a preparedness program are:

• Program Management
  • Organize, develop and administer your preparedness program
  • Identify regulations that establish minimum requirements for your program
• Planning
  • Gather information about hazards and assess risks
  • Conduct a business impact analysis (BIA)
  • Examine ways to prevent hazards and reduce risks
• Implementation
  Write a preparedness plan addressing:
  • Resource management
  • Emergency response
  • Crisis communications
  • Business continuity
  • Information technology
  • Employee assistance
  • Incident management
  • Training
• Testing and Exercises
  • Test and evaluate your plan
  • Define different types of exercises
  • Learn how to conduct exercises
  • Use exercise results to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan
• Program Improvement
  • Identify when the preparedness program needs to be reviewed
  • Discover methods to evaluate the preparedness program
  • Utilize the review to make necessary changes and plan improvements

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Smartphone App | FEMA.gov

The White House just sent information on a new app for smartphones from FEMA. Check it out.



Smartphone App | FEMA.gov

Pledge to Prepare

20120325-A-CY398-006 (Photo credit: 29th CAB - Public Affairs)

Interested in preparedness throughout the year? If so, continue here to Pledge to Prepare.  By Pledging you will become part of the National Preparedness Coalition.  There is no cost or obligation in doing so.  As a Coalition Member, you will have access to exclusive resources and be able to collaborate with thousands of fellow members across the country on ways to participate and get your community involved. 


http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/system/register?nextURL=%2Fconnect.ti%2FREADYNPM%2FrequestJoinGroup%3FSHOWREG%3D%26amp%3BCONFIRM%3DN%26amp%3BDONEM

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If a disaster strikes...how to evacuate

It’s smart to think before you act. For something as traumatic as an evacuation, preparing ahead of time can lessen your stress level and improve your state of mind. Determine your most valuable belongings, pack them up and put them by the door or in the car. Take your important insurance, medical and financial documents with you. Fill up your escape vehicle with gas. Turn off gas and water supplies at main switches and valves. Secure all loose yard items such as lawn furniture, barbecue grills, trash cans and planter boxes. Move more valuable items to inner rooms or, in the case of a flood, upper floors. If a hurricane is approaching, you may want to board up the windows of your home with plywood. Have a clear evacuation route in mind before you leave. Notify your neighbors when you are leaving and where you plan to go. If you do not have a vehicle, arrange a ride with a neighbor or call your local City Emergency phone number.

Okay, time to grab your kids, your pets and your most valuable items. If you’ve planned properly, the actual evacuation process should proceed with in an orderly fashion. Here’s what you should do: Turn off your lights and unplug any unnecessary appliances. Load up your car and get all of your family members into the vehicle as well. Remember to put your disaster supply kit in the car. Close and lock all windows and doors of your residence. Check to make sure that you have a good, up-to-date road map. Don’t forget your cell phones, which should be fully charged. Take your checkbook, credit cards and cash with you. Be sure that you have flashlights with extra batteries. Drive away from your home at a safe speed.

For many people, an office building is like a home away from home. We spend a good portion of our waking hours at work. So it’s possible that, at some point, you may get trapped in a building during a fire, an earthquake or some other disaster. Once again, the best evacuations are those done calmly and orderly. Here’s some advice that could save your life when fleeing a building. Go to the nearest fire escape exit when you hear a fire alarm or see a fire. If you need to descend from a higher floor, always take the stairs… never use the elevator. Alert others to the possible danger as you exit the building. Offer assistance to others if it does not threaten your own life. If possible, as you exit avoid areas in the building that might contain chemicals or other flammables. If it is a fire situation, close doors and windows behind you as you leave, as this can slow the spread of fire and smoke. Follow any designated evacuation signs posted in the building. Once you get outside, go immediately to an area that is safely away from the disaster site. When you are safely outside, make a mental note of any people that seem to be missing and notify emergency personnel at the site.

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