Bio-Preparedness
When an emergency occurs in your building or neighborhood, be sure to check on neighbors who may need assistance, especially seniors and people with special needs.
Emergencies can present additional challenges for seniors and people with disabilities. When a disaster occurs, your personal needs, such as replacing medications and equipment, may not be met right away. By planning ahead, you will feel more confident about protecting yourself in any emergency, whether it is a house fire, power outage, hurricane, or terrorist attack.
THINK ABOUT YOUR NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF YOUR NEIGHBORS
To make an emergency plan, you must assess your personal needs. Determine if the resources you use routinely will be adequate during emergencies like flooding, extreme heat, or . For example, determine if you rely on caregivers, special medical equipment, medicine, or service animals. If you are a caregiver, help your clients evaluate their environment and identify their vital resources.
DEVELOP A PLAN
Develop a disaster plan for each place you spend time — home, work, school, and in the community. Consider the following recommendations to ensure your plan best meets your needs:
• Establish a personal support network with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and determine how you will help each other in any emergency. Do not depend on one person only. Ask those who form your support network to:
o Know how to contact you anytime critical information becomes available.
o Check on you immediately after an emergency.
o Keep a spare set of important keys.
o Know where your emergency supply kit is kept.
o Have copies of important documents, such as information about medication and dosage, equipment, and other needs.
o Learn about your personal needs and how to help you in an emergency.
• If you receive home-based care (e.g. homecare attendant, home health aide, visiting nurse service), include caregivers in developing your plan and familiarize yourself with your homecare agency's emergency plan.
• If you have a pet or service animal, also plan for his or her needs (i.e. temporary relocation, transportation, etc.).
• If you rely on home-delivered meals, always stock nonperishable food at home in case meal deliveries are suspended during an emergency.
• Have a plan with your doctor to get emergency prescription refills.
• If you receive dialysis or other medical treatments, find out your provider's emergency plan, including where your back-up site is located.
• If you rely on medical equipment that requires electric power:
o Contact your medical supply company for information regarding a back-up power source such as a battery. o Follow the manufacturer's directions when installing and using the equipment.
o Check with local fire and building officials for regulations governing generator and fuel use.
o Ask your utility company if the medical equipment qualifies you to be listed as a life-sustaining equipment customer or if you are eligible to register for a priority power restoration program.
• If you rely on oxygen, talk to your vendor about emergency replacements.
• If you receive Social Security payments, consider signing up for direct deposits in case you cannot leave your home. Go Direct is a program that offers financial assistance for those who collect Social Security (www.godirect.org).
PLANNING FOR OUTSIDE THE HOME
Get involved in emergency planning for all places you spend time, such as school, work, or senior centers. If there is no plan, encourage managers or administrators to develop one. Make sure they are aware of any needs you or those you care for may have. Also make sure you are included in decisions regarding equipment and procedures that might affect you.
ASSEMBLE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT
Everyone needs emergency supplies. Keep enough supplies in your home to survive on your own for at least three days. You may also consider additional supplies and equipment when compiling your kit, based on your special needs. These items may include:
• Back-up medical equipment (oxygen, medication, scooter battery, hearing aids, mobility aids, glasses, etc.)
• Style and serial numbers of medical devices (such as pacemakers) and usage instructions
• Supplies for pets and service animals (food, extra water, bowl, leash, plastic bags)
• Contact information for your doctors and pharmacist
PUT TOGETHER A GO BAG
Assemble a GO BAG – a collection of items you may need if you have to leave in a hurry. Consider additional items such as:
• Copies of your important documents in a waterproof container (insurance cards, Medicare/Medicaid cards, photo IDs, proof of address, marriage and birth certificates, etc.)
• Extra sets of car and house keys
• Copies of credit and ATM cards and cash, especially in small denominations
• Bottled water and nonperishable food, such as energy or granola bars
• Flashlight, battery-operated AM/FM radio, and extra batteries
• First-aid kit
• Include a list of the medications you take, why you take them, and their dosages
• Sturdy, comfortable shoes, lightweight raingear, and a Mylar blanket
• Small regional map
• Instructions and extra batteries for any devices you use
• Notepad and pen
• Emergency health information card
• Aerosol tire repair kits and/or tire inflator to repair flat wheelchair or scooter tires
• Supplies for your service animal (food, extra water, bowl, leash, plastic bags)
• Back-up medical equipment
• Items to comfort you in a stressful situation
• Instructions for any device you may use
• Aerosol tire repair kits to repair flat wheelchair or scooter tires and/or tire inflator
BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE
Evacuation should be addressed as part of your emergency planning efforts, both for your home and all places you spend time. Seniors and people with disabilities should take the following considerations into account when making evacuation plans:
• Determine if you will need assistance in an emergency evacuation, including how you will get to a safe place or shelter.
• Determine all usable exits from each room and your building. Make a habit of identifying exits whenever you are in a new location (i.e. shopping mall, restaurant, movie theater, etc.).
• Know evacuation plans for all places you spend time. Often buildings have floor marshals who are responsible for evacuation plans. Be sure to let floor marshals know what special assistance you or those you care for may need in an emergency.
• Practice dealing with different circumstances and unforeseen situations, such as blocked paths or exits.
• Teach members of your support network how to operate your equipment in an emergency (e.g. how to disengage gears of a power wheelchair and how to best lift or transfer you).
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, practice having members of your support network — both at home and at work — communicate important information to you through pre-designated gestures, flashcards, or other means.
• If you are blind or have low vision, have members of your support network practice guiding and directing you.
• Include service animals in all drills so they become familiar with exit routes.
DISASTER SHELTERING
If you are directed to evacuate, try to make arrangements with friends or family outside of the affected area. For evacuees who have no alternative shelter, the County will open shelters.
SHELTER IN PLACE
In some emergencies, you may be advised to stay where you are. When evacuation to shelters is either inappropriate or impossible, you may be instructed to stay where you are, or Shelter- in- place.
NATIONAL RESOURCES
Department of Homeland Security www.ready.gov
This link offers a logical framework of information for families, business and children. This site offers a wealth of information and checklists to be ready for different and distinct disasters. The keys to preparing a disaster kit, making a family emergency plan, and links to activities in your state or hometown are easy to access. In addition, learn more about National Preparedness Month and read testimonials of individual and business preparedness plans and outreach activities taking place this month.
The American Red Cross www.redcross.org
This link offers information on preparedness efforts for a wide variety of emergencies and disasters, from hurricane and tornadoes to infectious diseases such as pandemic flu. There is the link to determine your Readiness Quotient (RQ) , a “ simple, comprehensive and consistent tool to actually measure how prepared “ the public is to handle emergencies. The RQ lets you see how you compare to the national average and offers specific steps you can do to improve readiness for yourself, family and community.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov
This is the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of the public and the site is intended to increase the nation’s ability to prepare and respond to public health emergencies. Click onto Emergency Preparedness and You and you will see host of information divided into key topics: Bioterrorism, Chemical, Radiation, Mass Casualties, Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather ; and Recent Outbreaks and Incidents.
The CDC formed the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) in 1951 after the Korean War. For an overview of infectious diseases and epidemics, see the EIS Timeline, from 1950 to 2000, at www.cdc.gov/eis/about/timleine.htm.
Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov
FEMA as of 2003 became part of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) . The primary mission of FEMA “ is to reduce the loss of life and property, protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery and mitigation,” Use this web site to learn about different types of disasters, emergency declarations, determine your risk, protect your property and plan for emergencies.
FEMA – ARE YOU READY? www.fema.gov/areyouready/index.shtm
The FEMA has prepared a comprehensive source on individual, family and community preparedness. It offers in-depth information on specific hazards and what to do before, during and after each hazard. It is also available in Spanish. Check out the web site to order your free copy.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services www.dhs.gov
This is the site for the nation’s health, safety and well-being resources. The HHS is a conglomerate of service agencies, including CDC, AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), NIH (National Institutes of Health), SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) and ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). There are numerous emergency preparedness guides and Tips on this comprehensive link. Check out the School Preparedness Section and school bus safety.
National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov
The National Hurricane Center, part of NOAA /NWS (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Services), provides the latest storm activities, advisories, warnings and three and five day cones, and other vital information for use in preparing and planning.
Citizen Corps www.citizencorps.gov
The Citizen Corps asks you to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief and community safety. You can locate the nearest Citizen Corps Council to you and consider getting involved in your community
Pandemic Flu www.pandemicflu.gov
This is a very important resource and offers full access to the United States plans for pandemic influence. There are links to the World Health Organization (global activities) and for all levels of planning and response activities and checklists including: Federal planning, State and local planning, Individual planning, Workplace planning, School planning, Health care planning, and community planning.
American Public Health Association www.getreadyforflu.org
The Get Ready campaign, sponsored by the American Public Health Association (APHA), provides information, resources and tools so that all individuals, families, and communities are more prepared for the potential of an influenza pandemic, an emerging infectious disease or other hazard or disaster.
Vulnerable Populations www.preparenow.org
This website offers information and links to support the needs and concerns of vulnerable people and individuals with special needs at times of emergency and disaster.
Preparedness www.72hours.org
This easy to use link is from the City of San Francisco and offers information on a wide variety of topics using icons to select to learn how to prepare a plan and go bag.
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