From the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) comes one of the simplest tips for safety in the home.
Keep a disaster supply kit in your car.
A smaller one, that is, than the one in the home, but just in case of fire or other disaster to the home, you’ll have at ready some emergency food, blankets, lighting source, first aid kit, and water.
Meanwhile, your in-home kit should contain 72 hours-worth of food, water, batteries, cooking and heating supplies, blankets, and more.
This is National Fire Prevention Week, a time to concentrate on fire prevention and emergency planning, should disaster strike.
There’s plenty of documentation on some of the major things people can do to prepare their home or business for fire: prepare an escape plan (and practice it), ensure you have means of communication with family members and neighbors, and check your smoke alarm batteries.
“In a disaster, local officials and relief workers cannot reach everyone immediately,” notes the NFPA on its website. “Help may not arrive for hours or days. You and your family — and don’t forget to include the needs of those with disabilities — need to be prepared ahead of time because you won’t have time to shop or search for the supplies you will need when a disaster strikes.”
Most disasters are natural disasters, the result of some force of nature, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. Some natural disasters can be predicted, such as hurricanes and severe winter storms, while others, such as tornadoes and earthquakes, happen with little or no warning.
Other tips include posting key phone numbers by the phone, quizzing your children every few months on what they should do in case of fire or disaster, and making sure you have a family meeting place a safe distance from your home. Some disasters are the cause of human actions, intentional or unintentional. A disaster plan will help with safety, security, and comfort.
Contact your local Red Cross chapter, visit the FEMA Web site, or Ready.gov to make sure you are aware of the potential for natural disasters in your community. After you have identified the types of disasters that could strike where you live, create a family disaster plan that can apply to any type of disaster – natural, unintentional, or intentional.
How parents react to an emergency gives children an indication on how to act. They see their parents’ fear as proof that the danger is real. A parent’s response during this time may have a long-term impact. Including children in the family’s recovery plans will help them feel that their life will return to normal.
Commented