05 Mar Emergency Preparedness Family Activities

You Must Have a Plan

1. Choose a secret code word – to be used if a message or instructions needs to be sent to family member by a third party, to know that the message was truly from the family member and it is safe to follow. (Example – Your mother told me to pick you up from school and you are to bring your “Eagle” jacket – Eagle being the code word.
2. Prepare a Family and/or neighborhood emergency calling list with names and phone numbers and one person designated to report to. Each person calls the next name on the list – to pass along information or to check on safety and to report back any needs. This method can contact more people with a minimum amount of phone calls. Keep this list in your emergency kit.
3. Plan a family gathering location outside of home in case of evacuation. Write it down and keep it in your emergency kit.
4. Plan a family gathering location and contact person to call outside of the area, in case of local damage. Write it down, including phone numbers, and keep it in your emergency kit.
5. Collect current family and individual pictures, addresses and phone numbers. Write them down and keep a copy in each Family emergency kit.
6. Make a copy of all important papers, and keep a copy in your emergency kit. – Birth and marriage certificates, Deeds, Mortgages, Credit Card accounts, Bank Accounts, Stocks, Bonds, IRA accounts, 401-K accounts, Life Insurance, Car insurance, Will, Medical Records, List of Medications each family member takes, Church records and family histories, Addresses and Phone numbers of all important people you wish to contact. Add Money – both bills and coins to your emergency kits.

Prepare for Fire

1. Conduct a Fire Safety Inspection of your home.

• Look in the yard for Fire Fuel in the form of trash, weeds or brush that could burn, and get it removed.
• Look in closets, attic, basement, garage for unused items that could burn, and remove them.
• Look for any flammable fluids stored indoors, that don’t have to be and remove them.
• Check for overloaded electrical circuits, worn plugs on appliances, or worn wall plug blade receptacles, due to over use. Replace with new.
• Check for worn out or dangerously placed extension cords.
• Check smoke alarms. Do they work? Do they need new batteries?1.

2. Make an Evacuation Plan.

• Know how to escape from every room. Can a child open windows and doors for escape?
• Practice crawling to stay low below smoke level.
• Practice rolling to smother flames in case clothing is on fire.
• Establish where your family will meet outside your home.

3. Know Fire Safety.

• Know how to call 911. Do children know their address?
• Learn how to use a fire extinguisher and where it is located.
• Learn how to turn off electricity and gas.
• Review safety rules:
• Do not use elevators
• Do not put water on oil, grease or electrical fires
• If a door is hot, do not open it
• If your clothes catch on fire, do not run. Drop to the floor and roll to smother the flame.
• If the room is full of smoke, stay close to the floor and crawl out.
• Salt is very good to smother a small fire on the stove.

Prepare for an Earthquake

1. Conduct an Earthquake Safety Inspection of your home.

• Tall furniture, such as book cases, grandfather clocks, china cabinets, etc. should be secured to the walls.
• Water heater needs to be tied securely to studs with nylon or metal straps.
• Doors of cabinets should be secured to keep items on shelves from falling out.
• In storage areas, paper and light weight items should be stored on top shelves while breakable and heavy items should be on lower shelves.

2. Have a Plan

• Determine where to meet outside your home away from buildings.
• Determine a contact telephone number away from your area for family members to call if separated, or for information.
• You will probably be on your own for at least 72 hours. Each person needs a 72 hour emergency Kit. that includes food, water, first aid, shelter, and family phone numbers. Comfort items are also important. This kit should be kept in an easy access area where it can be reached quickly.
• During a quake learn where to go:

If inside buildings:

• Protect your head.
• Stand in a doorway, against an inside wall or hallway, or crawl under a desk.
• Stay away from windows, bookcases, ceiling fixtures, and cabinets with glass in.
• Do not use elevators.
• Do not rush the exits.

If outside:

• Stay outside.
• Stay away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines and poles.
• Stay away from beaches and waterfronts. Tidal waves are very possible.
• If driving:
• Stay away from underpasses and overpasses.
• Stop in a safe place.
• Stay in your vehicle.

3. Review Earthquake Safety Rules:

• Keep a battery operated light and radio handy and ready to use at all times.
• Keep shoes, and a flashlight close by your bedside. Take time to put on shoes, there will probably be broken glass.
• If you smell gas, turn off the main gas valve. Don’t turn gas valve off unless necessary. It must be turned back on by the gas company. Do not use candles, matches, lighters, or turn on light switches or use the telephone until you are sure there is no gas leak. A spark could cause an explosion from a broken line.
• Shut off all electrical power if there is damage to your house wiring or lines that lead to your house. Damaged lines could cause a fire.
• Turn off the water where it enters your home. Do not flush toilets or pour water down drains until you know that sewer lines are not broken. Sewage plants operate on electricity, so sewage could back up into your home.

These are a few of the basic steps you need to take to prepare for these and other situations you might encounter, and is not meant to be a comprehensive listing. This is a solid basic attempt to empower you. You must have a Plan so that Panic will not immobilize you to inaction.

These steps above work for almost all disasters.  Change the name of the disaster above and look at the items. most apply and need to be answered and worked through if you feel that you live in an area where that type of disaster could happen or does. Remember Knowledge is Power since it lessens and neutralizes Fear and Fears Sister, Panic.  R & R Note.