8/3/2019 Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

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By Debra Shontz-Stackpole, RN 

We live in a world where a whole range o manmade (intentional or technological) andnatural disasters are o increasing concern tous as individuals, communities and the nation.errorism, foods, hurricanes, res, earth-quakes, winter storms and inectious diseases

are all too possible. Tereore, the purposeo disaster planning and preparedness at theindividual and amily level is imperative to beable to respond to sudden health and saety threats.

One reality is obvious: Families that havenot planned and prepared or such an eventwill be less organized and less eective to acethe problems o such an event than those whohave planned in advance. Becoming inormed,developing an emergency preparedness kit andmaking a amily communications/evacuationplan are necessary steps to best be able torespond to disasters o all types.

Starting out

One o the rst things that we need to do isto determine our potential threats. Tese disas-ters will vary depending on what part o thecountry you live in. In New England we may need to be prepared or snow and ice storms,extreme cold weather, extreme heat waves,power outages, thunderstorms, foods, terror-ism, chemical and biological contamination,pandemics and res caused by drought.

Disaster can strike at any time and usual ly without advanced warning, so to begin to getorganized you need to start in your home. Inmany situations, rst responders may not beable to get to your home or at least 72 hoursand that utility services may be down ormany days. Also know that wells may be con-taminated so you could also be without saedrinking water.

I you need to evacuate your home or areasked to “shelter-in-place,” having the neces-sary emergency preparedness supply kit onhand will make you and your amily morecomortable, calm and able to cope. I you waitto collect the necessary items, or you don’t getadvanced warning o a disaster, local stores may  very well end up selling out o all the criticalsupplies you might need. As a result, advanceplanning is essential. You should also keep amini survival k it in each car as you may not beat home when a disaster strikes.

Establish a communications plan

Next, you need to establish an emergency communication plan in which you choose anout-o-town amily member or riend that youwill all call or e-mail (i you are separated) tobe able to check on each other should a disaster

occur. Select someone who isn’t in your imme-diate area so they may not be directly aectedby the disaster. Let this person(s) know they arethe selected contact. Make sure your childrenand their schools have this contact name andtelephone number as well.

Your amily’s disaster plan should includehow you will nd each other should you bein dierent locations (at work, school, homeor in the car). You should also nd out aboutthe disaster plans at your workplace and yourchildren’s school or day care center. Emergency telephone numbers should be posted by thetelephone (re, police, ambulance and amily telephone numbers). I your children have cellphones, have them put these telephone num-bers into their cell phones.

Conrm ahead o time with your amily apredetermined meeting place away rom yourhome as this will save time and reduce chaosshould your home be aected or your com-munity evacuated. Be inormed o your town’splan or notiying its’ citizens o an emergency.I the local authorities ask you to leave yourhome, you should listen to the radio or V andollow the instructions o the local emergency ocials.

Preparing to shelter

ake your disaster preparedness supply kitto the car and have your amily dress withappropriate clothing that covers their body sothey are as shielded as possible. urn o yourutilit ies i you have the time, but leave on yournatural gas unless you are advised otherwise (asit can only be turned back on by a proessional).Close and lock all windows and doors and thengo to a predetermined sae area. Have youramily work as a team to make this transitionrun as smooth as possible. Discuss ahead o time what each member’s duties are i a disastershould happen. Go over this inormation along

with the emergency communication plan evesix months when you rotate your water suppand any medications that are in your suppkit. Rotate your canned goods, etc., every yeor on their expiration dates.

I you are directed to “shelter-in-place,” yneed to remain inside your home, school oce to protect yoursel. You must close anlock the windows and doors to the outside. uof any appliance that brings in outside air suas ans, air conditioners, heating systems anclose replaces/woodstoves. Go to the roothat you and your amily have discussed as pao your emergency communication plans. Tshould be an interior room without windowi possible, that is above ground level.

ake your emergency/disaster prepareness supply kit and a battery powered radio V into the room to listen to local ocials updated inormation becomes available. Woas a team to seal all cracks around any windowand doors using duct tape and plastic sheetinStay there until you are told that all is sae that you should evacuate the area.

Other things to consider

Do you know where the closest shelter is your home? How prepared are you and yoamily? As you nd answers to these question

as a you work to develop your own emergenpreparedness plan, share your knowledge anexperiences with any amily, riends, co-worers and neighbors who can help spread thword about disaster/emergency preparednewith others.

For more information visit redcross.org

n

Debra Shontz-Stackpole, RN is a member the MNA’s Emergency Preparedness ask ForcIf you would like more information about ttask force contact Chris Pontus at 781-830-57or cpontus@mnarn.org 

Disaster/emergency preparedness: what you need to know

10 May 2009 Massachusetts Nurse

8/3/2019 Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

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Emergency disaster preparedness supplies check list

Personal

First aid kit and rst aid book  Medical inormation list or each 

member o amily  Photo identication (license, passport) Cash/money (AM’s and credit cards

won’t work i electricity is out)

Prescription medications** Glucose and/or blood pressure monitor-ing equipment

Aspirin/ylenol/Ibuproen Antacids Vitamins Anti-diarrheal medication Antiseptic/alcohol wipes Band-aids Termometer Dentures Eye glasses (2 pair)/contact lenses/sun-

glasses Baby Items: diapers/wipes/baby ood/or-

mula Nursing mothers should have a contin-

gency plan or eeding their baby in casethey are separated

Plastic baby bottles/nipples Inant medications/medicine dropper Scissors weezers Feminine hygiene products/BCP Saety pins Facial tissue oilet paper/moist towelettes ooth brush/tooth paste Paper towels Soap/liquid antibacterial hand soap Shampoo Sunscreen Blankets/sleeping bags/pillows or each

person Sturdy shoes or work boots Coats/hats/gloves Rain gear/vinyl ponchos One complete change o warm clothing

per person Books/crayons/games/cards/puzzles or

children IPod(s)

Food

Water (at least 1 gal lon/per person/perday, or 3 days)**

Food (at least a 3-day supply o non-perishable ood that requires norerigeration, no preparation and nocooking/per person)

Canned meats: tuna, sardines, ham,chicken, etc.

Canned ruits and ruit juices Canned vegetables

Dried ruit and canned nutsCanned soup Peanut butterGranola barsrail mixCrackers Breadea bags/Instant coeeCookiesDry cereal Powdered milk  Jelly Your amily’s comort oods

Equipment

Battery powered radio and extra batteriesCan opener (manual)/bottle openerCell phone (charged) and car chargerMaps (plan evacuation route with your

amily) Spiral notebook/pens/pencils/stampsWhistle(s) Plastic utensils, paper plates, hot and cold

cupsAluminum oil/sealable plastic bagsrash bags/plastic ties (or personal sani-

tation use)Needle and threadWork gloves/saety gogglesHammer/nails/ccrewdriver/shovelWrench or pliers to turn o utilities (elec-

tricity & water) Pocket knieWatch or battery-operated clock Non-latex gloves Flashlights/spare bulb/extra batteries Signal fareCompass

Duct tape/plastic sheetingDust/ace masksMatches in waterproo container Permanent marking pen Emergency thermal blanketRope Fire starting suppliesCans o Sterno Fire extinguisher (ABC type)Waterproo plastic container with lid o

important papers (vital records/copies oinsurance policies/identication and banaccount records/passports/birth certicates/video or CD o personal belongingin home)

Additional watertight containers Emergency telephone numbersHousehold chlorine bleach (When dilute

nine parts water to one part bleach, bleachcan be used as a disinectant.)Do not use scented, color safe or bleach

with added cleaners. To purify water add drops of bleach per gallon of water, stir and stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not haa slight bleach odor, repeat the dosage and

stand another 15 minutes. Tis is the only liquagent that should be used to purify water.

Pets

 Pet ood, dry or canned and water Pet supplies/leash(Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pexcept service animals that assist people wi

disabilities.)**Periodically rotate these items so they aexchanged out o the emergency storage bevery six months and replaced with neitems.

Massachusetts Nurse May 2009