adovr_d87389c80da99bef8f38776d3f905184 Articles medical and health: Packing Disaster Preparedness Kits For Your Family

Packing Disaster Preparedness Kits For Your Family

By Janine Hughes


Devastating disasters like earthquakes, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods can change your life in an instance. Man made emergencies like chemical poisoning, terrorism and bomb attacks also happen without warning. Protecting the young and old in your family requires adequate preparedness. This means having ready disaster preparedness kits that cater for the needs of the every family member over the emergency period.

There are important issues to consider when preparing for an emergency. Since all disasters are not similar, it helps to identify what disaster is likely to affect you. Check whether your area is prone to floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. Each requires a different approach.

An emergency kit does not mean that you are absolutely safe. It helps to identify resource centers within your community and how disasters are announced. Some areas use TV stations, weather broadcasting stations, social media and radio stations to announce. There are procedures for evacuation and comprehensive plans for any emergency center. Know the signs of disaster and the action that is expected of you.

Identify the routes you will use to escape from the house or area. Ensure that they are not related in terms of direction and terrain so that you have alternatives. Test your preparedness once or twice a year and ensure that it is efficient. For easy coordination, assign roles to each family member in case you need to escape. An assembly point should be identified away from the site so that you can escape as a team. If you live in a storied house, invest in a ladder that is easy to use.

Responding to disasters requires effective communication. Identify the best communication mode to notify all members and coordinate escape. The method chosen should be least reliant on established networks since they also might be damaged.

The items that go into the kit will determine your survival after escape. Non-perishable foods that would last several days must be included. Clean drinking water is mandatory as well as a first aid kit. Include a flash light with batteries and some warm clothing or blanket. Matchboxes should be packed in a waterproof wrapper.

Disasters displace families for sometime which might require movement and replacement of documents. The kit should therefore include photocopies of crucial document like identification and credit cards. Include a substantial amount of money in note and coin form since your cards might be lost or financial systems destroyed. Consider the medical needs of your family members including the need for hearing aids, medical supplies, contact lenses, etc.

It is important to maintain your emergency kit if it is to serve its purpose. This includes replacing expired food items and ensuring that canned foods remain in a cool and dry place. Boxed food should be protected from invasion by pests and insects. Evaluate the content every year with the aim of updating depending on changing family size and needs.

Write an emergency health and contact card for each family member and pack it within the kit. The information to be written includes immunizations, medication, blood type, allergies and communication difficulties, if any. Clearly indicate the name of family members and where possible include a photo.

At least one family member should know basic first aid procedures including use of AED and CPR. The needs of sick, elderly and disabled like wheelchairs, hearing aids, accessories for blindness and personal care items should be included. Plan for the pet if you own one.




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