Disasters may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we might face – whether natural or human-induced.
Emergency Preparedness encourages us to take concrete actions to better protect ourselves and our families during emergencies.
By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere.
Here are things you have to remember:
- Know the risks.
Being prepared means thinking about all the possibilities. Thus, knowing the risks specific to your community can help you better prepare for any kind of emergency. - Make a plan.
It is important to ensure that the entire family is prepared and well-informed in the event of a disaster or emergency. Make a plan and share it with your family and friends. And once everyone is fully aware of it, be sure to practice or have a dry-run so you can see if everyone is acting according to plan. -
Get an emergency kit.
Another important thing to consider during an emergency is to keep a disaster preparedness kit. Have enough supplies to meet your family’s needs for at least 72 hours, in your home. Therefore, having sufficient emergency supplies at home will give you and your family a higher chance of survival. Because this so-called “basic kit” will definitely save your life and your loved ones. Learn more on what an emergency kit should have here.
- Have an emergency communications plan in place.
How will you contact your family members if something happens and you’re separated? Share your emergency plan with neighbors, friends, and relatives so they know how to contact you should an emergency arise. The following will make communicating easier:- flashlight
- weather radio
- spare set of batteries
- power bank
- generator
- Develop a map of resources around where you live and work.
Having a vicinity map will help you and your family gain access to the nearest hospitals, grocery stores, government offices, other city agencies, and power-efficient commercial buildings should the city-wide power be out. In addition, you should also consider adding taxi stands, bus stops, subway stations, and parking lots on the map. - Keep assistive devices and equipment charged and ready to go.
Consider having an extra battery on a trickle charger if you use a power wheelchair or scooter. If available, have a lightweight manual wheelchair for backup, extra chargers, and charging cables for all assistive devices. - Make sure you have access to important documents.
Collect and safeguard critical documents in an event of an emergency. For instance, store electronic copies of your important files on a hard drive or email them to yourself. And you must also keep your money disaster-proof because you’d definitely be needing more of it before and after a disaster.
Experience has shown that individual preparedness goes a long way to helping people cope better.
This holds true both during and after a major disaster. Take concrete actions to be better prepared.
In other words, be responsible and do your part!
To conclude, getting an emergency kit, being knowledgeable, and spreading awareness to your community can make a big chance of survival.