Family safety and preparedness -Preparedness ... an everyday task for everyday life |28 May 2012

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood, workplace or school or can confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services -- water, electricity or telephones -- were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Therefore, the best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.

Keeping our home environment safe by managing vegetation that can pose a threat to us, installing gutters for better drainage system, and having a First Aid kit in the event of an emergency are some of the important tips that the Divisions of Risk and Disaster Management has been giving to the public through some educational and awareness spots. These spots have been broadcasting on the SBC AM and FM radio as well as on television for the past two months.

Protecting our family from threats of hazards is a shared responsibility and everyone has an important role to play. We hope you will take safety and disaster warnings seriously by reading this Family Safety Emergency guidelines enclosed. The preparing you do will reduce personal and material loss and create the safety net you need when an emergency arises. Before, during and after information is vital. Include it in family meetings.

Here are three basic steps you can take to prepare your family now:
• Be informed - Learn about the types of emergencies that could take place in your community, including where you live, where you work and where your children attend school. Make it your priority to know what you need to do before these emergencies, during these emergencies and after these emergencies.

• Have an emergency plan - Create a family plan with a designated meeting place in the event of a disaster and consider simple steps that will protect your family until you can be with them. Plan should include evacuation when necessary.

• Make an emergency kit - Put together an emergency supply kit by considering your family's unique needs, like eye glasses and prescription medications, baby food, food for the family, water for 72 hours, sanitation, first aid kit, non-prescription drugs(aspirin and other pain relief tablets,tools and supplies clothing and bedding, legal documents.

Preparing together helps everyone to feel safe and secure
As you ready together, you’ll be encouraging everyone in your family to feel empowered and confident. You’ve created a strong, caring and prepared team. This will help all of you respond to any emergency.

Content of an emergency kit
• Water - one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Food - non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Flashlight
• Portable Radio
• Extra batteries
• First Aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents sealed in bag (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
• Games and activities for children
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)

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