Tips For Putting Together A Disaster Preparedness Plan
According to the American Red Cross, natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and forest fires affect more than 200 million people across the world every year. For this reason, it is advisable to protect yourself and your family by preparing for unforeseen natural calamities.
Involve Your Family
When preparing a disaster plan, it is vital to involve every member of your family. Some of the key issues you need to address in regards to a disaster plan include how to evacuate, where to meet, shelter-in-place procedures, and how to contact emergency responders after a disaster. Make sure all family members know where emergency supplies are stored and can access them. If you can, carry a disaster kit in your car because you may need it while driving or while outside your home.
On the supplies front, you should include the following items, many obtainable from TSSi, in your household disaster kit:
First Aid Kit
In the event of a major disaster, it may take days before emergency personnel reach you and other survivors. With this in mind, you should have a first aid kit that you can use to treat injuries. Your kit should have basic medical supplies such as scissors, disposable gloves, burn ointment, anti-diarrhea medication, eyewash solution, sterile dressings, antibiotic wipes and ointment, cleansing agents, adhesive bandages, pain relievers, laxatives, glucose monitoring equipment, blood pressure monitors, syringes, and asthma inhalers. These can help you stabilize an injured person until medical help arrives.
Food
You should have food supplies that you and your family can use for at least a week. The rule of thumb is to buy foods that do not require refrigeration because a disaster such as a hurricane can knock out power. In addition, choose foods that do not require cooking. This includes foods such as canned meats, peanut butter, cookies, dried buts, canned fruits, nonfat dry milk, juices, dried fruits, jam, and biscuits. Most of these foods can last for up to 18 months when stored in a cool and dry place. If you have young children, remember to buy baby formula and store it inside airtight containers. Also make sure you have special foods for those who have specific dietary requirements.
Water
In most cases, disasters lead to contamination of clean water supplies. In such situations, clean water can make the difference between life and death for survivors. Store water that can last you and your family for at least 72 hours. If you opt to buy bottled water, keep it in its original containers. For tap water, replace it every six months. It is wise to buy and store water disinfectants to treat the water after a disaster.
Essential Supplies
Besides food, water, and medicines, you should have a kit that contains essential supplies. This includes flashlights, cellphones, spare batteries, a battery operated radio, map, pocketknife, toothbrush, toothpaste, whistle, dust mask, facemask, goggles, sturdy shoes, identification documents, pen, notebook, spare clothes, cash, cell phone chargers, spare batteries for your cellphone, blanket, two way radios, matches, plastic sheeting, and rain gear. You can pack these supplies in a waterproof duffel bag or backpack.
Although natural disasters such as hurricanes or floods can strike without warning, you can always have a disaster plan and a disaster kit ready. You can find all the latest top-of-the-line supplies at http://store.tssi-ops.com/.
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Posted in: Useful Guides by Guest Author on November 12, 2013 @ 3:00 pm