Safety Tips
Disasters can strike quickly and without warning. Are you prepared? Take a look at these safety tips for ways to prepare both yourself and your loved ones for a disaster. Because knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility.
Family Disaster Plan
Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere, at work, at school or in the car. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe?
Families can and do cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Follow the steps listed in this brochure to create your family=s disaster plan.
4 Steps to Safety
1) Find Out What Could Happen to You.
Ask what types of disasters are most likely to occur. In our area, thunderstorms,tornadoes, floods, fires and heat waves are the most common.Ask about animal care after a disaster. Animals may not be allowed inside of emergency shelters due to health regulations. Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed. Find out about disaster plans at your workplace, your childrens school or day care center and other places where your family spends time.
2) Create a Disaster Plan.
Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers and plan to share responsibilities and work as a team.
Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.
Pick two places to meet:Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire;
Outside your neighborhood in case you can=t return home.
Everyone must know the address and phone number of both places.
Ask an out-of-state friend to be your Afamily contact.@ After a disaster, it is often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact=s phone number. Also, share this number with other relatives so that, in the case of a disaster, they have someone outside of the affected area that can give updates, as calling into a disaster area is often very difficult.
Discuss what to do in an evacuation.
Plan how to take care of your pets.
3) Complete This Checklist.
Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, poison control, etc.)
Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1.
Show each family member how and when to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
Check if you have adequate insurance coverage. Pay special attention to flood insurance as most homeowners policies do NOT cover rising water.
Teach each family member how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type), and show them where it is kept.
Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
Conduct a home hazard hunt. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is a home hazard. (Example: a bookshelf that can fall.) Inspect your home at least once a year and fix potential hazards. Contact your fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.
Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR community courses.
Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room. Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
4) Practice and Maintain Your Plan.
Quiz your kids every six months so they remember what to do.
Conduct fire and emergency drills at least twice a year.
Replace stored water every three months and stored food every six months.
Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturers instructions.
Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
If Disaster Strikes....
Remain calm and patient. Put your plan into action.
Check for injuries -- give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.
Listen to your battery powered radio for news and instructions. Evacuate, if advised to do so. Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
Check for damage in your home.
Use flashlights -- do not light matches, use candles or turn on electrical switches, if you suspect damage.
Check for fires and various hazards.
Sniff for gas leaks, beginning at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows and get everyone quickly outside.
Shut off any other damaged utilities.
Clean up spilled bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately.
Remember to... Confine or secure your pets.
Call your family contact, then stay off the phone.
Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off.
Stay away from downed power lines.
With these few simple precautions, you can help keep you and your family as safe and ready as possible when a disaster strikes.
Disaster Supplies Kit
Disasters happen anytime and anywhere. And when disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond. Help could be hours or even days reaching you. Would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency until help arrives? One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit.
There are six basics you should stock in your home: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies and special items. Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container, such as a large, covered trash container, a camping backpack or a duffel bag.
Water:Store in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. Store one gallon of water per person per day for drinking, cooking and sanitation purposes. Keep at least a three-day supply for each person in your household.
Food: Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. Some examples of good foods: canned fruits and vegetables, canned juices, staple items (sugar, salt, pepper), high energy foods (peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix), vitamins, comfort/ stress foods (cookies, hard candy, instant coffee), special diet items (for infants, elderly or special need individuals).
First Aid Kit:Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. The American Red Cross offers ready-to-go first aid kits that will work in almost any situation, as well as training in basic first aid for most situations. A first aid kit should include: sterile bandages and pads, adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers, needle, antiseptic, thermometer, lubricant, cleaning agent/ soap, latex gloves (2 pairs), sunscreen, aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever, anti-diarrhea medicine, antacid, Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center), laxative, activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center), and other items.
Tools & Supplies:Paper cups, plates and plastic eating utensils, battery operated radio and extra batteries, flashlight and extra batteries, cash or traveler=s check and change, non-electric can opener, utility knife, toilet paper, soap, feminine supplies, personal hygiene items, disinfectant and bleach are all good items to have.
Clothing & Bedding: Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person. Include also rain gear and blankets or sleeping bags.
Special Items: Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled people. Be sure to include any medications anyone in the family is taking. For a baby, also include formula, diapers, bottles and powdered milk. For adults include denture needs, contact lenses and supplies or extra eye glasses. Include entertainment for the whole family, such as games and books. And don=t forger your important family documents such as your will, insurance policies, deeds, stocks and bonds, passports, social security cards, immunization records, bank account and credit card numbers, inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers (particularly to emergency services such as Poison Control), and family records (birth, marriage and death certificates.) Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container.
For all of these categories, you should personalize your Disaster Supplies Kit to meet your own needs and interests. Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothing, etc. Keeping your family safe is your number one priority. And the key to safety is being prepared.
Make Your Home Fire Safe
* Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.
If people sleep with doors closed, install smoke alarms inside sleeping areas, too.
Make Your Home Fire Safe
Fires can be a problem at any time of year. What can you do to keep yourself and your family safe? Here are some tips from the American Red Cross.
Make Your Home Fire Safe
* Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.
If people sleep with doors closed, install smoke alarms inside sleeping areas, too.
* Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately. Replace all batteries at least once a year.
* Vacuum away cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms monthly.
* Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time. Replace your smoke alarms every ten years.
* Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department in how to use them.
* Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home.
Plan Your Escape Routes
* Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
* Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floor. Learn how to use them and store them near the window.
* Select a location outside your home where everyone would meet after escaping.
* Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
Escape Safely
* Once you are out, stay out! Call the fire department from a neighbor s home.
* If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out. If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke to your exit.
* If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is warm, use your second way out.
* If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at the window.
If there is a telephone in the room, call the
fire department and tell them where you are.
Water Recreation
Learn to swim. This is the best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water.
Always swim with a buddy. Never swim alone. Swim in supervised areas only.
Know your swimming limits and stay within them. Don t try to keep up with a stronger skilled swimmer or encourage others to keep up with you.
Obey "No Diving signs that indicate the area is unsafe for headfirst entries. Enter feet first into water if you don t know the depth. Also, learn the correct way to dive from a qualified instructor.
Watch out for the "dangerous too s" -- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
Use common sense about swimming after eating. In general, you do not have to wait an hour after eating before you may safely swim. However, if you had a large meal, it is wise to let digestion get started before doing strenuous activity.
Alcohol and swimming don t mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance and coordination, especially in the water. It affects your swimming and diving skills and reduces your body s ability to stay warm.
Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies. Remember to CHECK-CALL-CARE. CHECK the scene to ensure it s safe and CHECK the victim, CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number, and CARE for the person until help arrives. To learn more about what to do in an emergency situation, contact the Red Cross about First Aid and CPR community courses.
Heat Wave
Know what these terms mean:
Heat Wave - Prolonged period of excessive heat and humidity.
Heat Index - A number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it really feels when relative humidity is added to the actual air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. They are an early signal that the body is having trouble dealing with the heat.
- Typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a mild form of shock. If not treated, the victim may suffer heat stroke.
- A life-threatening condition where the victim s temperature control system, which produces sweat to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
- Another word for heat stroke.
If a heat wave is predicted or happening:
Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do heavy work, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4:00am and 7:00am.
Stay indoors as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine. Try to go to a public building with air conditioning each day for several hours. Remember, electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help sweat evaporate, which cools your body.
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun s energy.
Drink plenty of water and fluids regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly, but make the heats effects on your body worse. This is especially true about beer, which dehydrates your body.
Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.
Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to doso by a physician.
Signals of heat emergencies:
- Cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache, nausea or vomiting; dizziness and exhaustion. Body temperature may be near normal.
- Hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high -- as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise it will feel dry.
Treatment of heat emergencies:
- Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions worse.
- Get the person to a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victims rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.
- Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting, or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.
Hurricane
Know what hurricane WATCHES and WARNINGS mean:
A WATCH means hurricane conditions are possible in the specified area, usually within 36 hours.
A WARNING means hurricane conditions are expected in the specified area, usually within 24 hours.
Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan.
Identify ahead of time where you could go if told to evacuate. Choose several places.
Keep handy the telephone numbers of those places as well as a road map of your locality. You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads are clogged or closed. Remember also to budget 4 times the amount of time normally needed to reach a specified location.
Listen to local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit .
Prepare for high winds. Install hurricane shutters or pre-cut 3/4 marine plywood for each window of your home. Install anchors for the plywood and predrill holes in the plywood so that you can put it up quickly. Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or damage limbs, then strategically removing branches, so that wind can blow through.
Know what to do when a hurricane WATCH is issued...
Bring indoors lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants, outdoor decorations or ornaments and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.
Prepare to cover ALL windows of your home. Note: Tape does not prevent windows from breaking and is therefore not recommended.
Fill your car s gas tank.
Recheck manufactured home tie-downs.
Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water and medications.
Identify what to do when a hurricane WARNING is issued...
Listen to the advise of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.
Complete preparation activities.
If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows.
Be aware, the calm "eye" is deceptive; the storm is not over. The worst part of the storm will happen once the eye passes over and the winds blow from the opposite direction. Trees, shrubs, buildings and other objects damaged by the first winds can be broken or destroyed by the second, opposite winds.
Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during and after a hurricane passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.
Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. If waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car and climb to higher ground.
After the storm has passed, use flashlights to inspect your home for damage. Avoid using candles or matches.
Winter Storm
Prepare a Winter Storm Family Disaster Plan. Have extra blankets on hand. Ensure that every member of your household has a warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat and water- resistant boots.
Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.
Have your car winterized before winter storm season.
Stay tuned to your local radio and TV stations for storm warnings.
Know what winter storm WATCHES and WARNINGS mean:
A WATCH means a storm is possible in your area.
A WARNING means a storm is headed for your area.
A Blizzard WARNING means strong winds, blinding wind-driven snow and dangerous wind chill are expected. Seek shelter immediately!
When a WATCH is issued: listen for updates and avoid unnecessary travel.
When a WARNING is issued: Stay indoors during the storm. If you must go outside, several layers of lightweight clothing will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Gloves and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs. Understand the hazards of wind chill. Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks. After the storm, if you shovel snow, be extremely careful. It is physically strenuous work, so take frequent breaks and avoid overexertion.
Avoid traveling by car in a storm. If you must, carry a Disaster Supplies Kit, keep your car s gas tank full and let someone know your destination, route and expected arrival time.
If you get stuck...
Stay with your car. Do not try to walk to safety.
Tie a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) to the antenna for rescuers to see.
Start the car and use the heater for about 10 minutes every hour. Keep the exhaust pipe clear so fumes won t back up in the car.
Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen.
As you sit, move your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and to stay warm.
Keep one window away from the blowing wind slightly open to let in air. |