Saturday, 25 April 2009

Emergency Plan

By Eric Vanderham

Every person and family should have established their own individual emergency plan based on future possibilities of unexpected catastrophes such as forces of nature. Many of us live in locations prone to earthquakes, Midwest tornadoes, southern hurricane seasons, flood zones, tsunami coastal areas, and even active volcanoes. The students learn what to do in the school building if an earthquake strikes, but we need a pro-action emergency plan for our home environment.

The list you should go through with your children and spouse or partner would ideally cover the following concerns:

- contact persons nearby and out of town.

- health information and where documents are stored.

- a designated meeting place to reunite with family members.

- a person designated to pick up your child or family if you are unable to.

- the location of the gas valve, electrical box, water valve, fire extinguishers, floor drain.

- the decisions involving pet safety, what to do with them, and the priority of personal safety before pet safety, which can be a touchy subject for those who love their pets like family.

Times to call 9-1-1. Your family needs to be know when to use this remarkable service. Those times to call are when reporting crimes, reporting fires and when saving a life.

In the event of an emergency, stay tuned to the radio and television for alerts and evacuation plans, have your emergency kit ready to go, and follow your plan.

One important mistake we make is forgetting about designated someone to pick up family members. Children should be assigned a password, in order for them to know when it is okay to go with someone else. This password should be frequently tested in order to ensure they do not forget it. They need to know they cannot share this password with anyone. Its very funny providing scenarios and seeing them handle themselves with a password, but in real life, it is not funny if they are vulnerable to leave with someone they shouldnt. Practice scenarios so they know what to do regardless of what the person tells them.

The 72-hour emergency plan is a worldwide disaster planning phrase that allows people to think of what they would need for the initial three day period and to be absolutely ready and stocked with supplies for that time period.

Having an emergency plan also includes identifying safe areas in the home in the event such as an earthquake or a tornado. Identify the most heavy furniture to drop under, how to cover your head and torso to protect from flying objects and heavy items falling, windows and outer walls to stay away from. When outdoors, keep away from trees, walls, power lines and buildings. If you are in a car, keep off of bridges, away from buildings, power lines, and park the car off the side of the road until the tremors have stopped.

Radio Stations " a shortwave radio with antenna should have 3 - 12 mhz, decent radio should be able to pick up on AM 530 " 1710 khz, FM 88 " 108 mhz.

Television Stations " VHF channels and Weather Alert channels.

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