As a caregiver, one of your most important responsibilities is to keep everyone safe and to have a plan of action for emergency situations. When a crisis happens (medical emergency, natural disaster), you have to be able to think about the person you are caring for, and how you might best help them in that emergency situation. Sometimes we go into shock and cannot think of the most logical thing to do, or sometimes we cannot easily find medical or emergency supplies that would be helpful in that situation. Putting together an emergency preparedness plan in advance is crucial. Below is a list of important ways in which you can be prepared in any emergency:
- Make and post an emergency list with phone numbers and a plan of action. The list should include phone numbers of loved ones and neighbors, as well as local doctors and clinics.
- Make a bag of emergency supplies and place it in a rodent-proof, water-proof plastic bin that is easily accessible.
Fill it with items like:- shelf-stable foods
- manual can opener
- water
- cash
- 3-day supply of medications (both prescriptions and over-the-counter medications like Advil or antacids)
- basic first aid kit
- whistle
- emergency blanket
- flashlight
- radio with extra batteries (or crank-operated)
- Always keep at least a quarter tank of gas in the car, and keep your vehicles parked in a way that allows you access to pull out quickly and safely.
- A list of safe places to go in your area, including police and fire stations and nearby hospitals.
A great resource to help you make an emergency plan is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC. Their website has examples of home emergency kits you can make, emergency numbers and websites to have posted on your fridge, and plans for what to do in an emergency. They have a more elaborate disaster kit you can make at home, and resources for who to call in an emergency. And remember, in some situations we may lose electricity, internet and cell phone service, so having a list of printed numbers, maps and resources is important.