GeneralReadiness:IndividualandFamilyReadiness

ReduceTheRiskTRAINING

ParticipantBooklet

Asyoutakethiscourse,usethisinstructionalbooklettocompletetheassignedtasksandwritenotesorreminders.Takethisbooklethome

andplaceinasafesecurelocationforfuturereference.ThankyouforyourinterestinWorldCaresCentertraining.

www.worldcares.org

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org2

WorldCaresCenter(WCC)trainslocalleaderswhowillemergeasdisastermanagerswhentheircommunityisstrickenbycrisisofferingdisastermanagementtoolsasapracticalapplicationinresponse.Theresultisaproactivecommunityabletoreducesufferingbyrespondingimmediatelytotheneedsoftheirneighbors.Workingwithlocalgovernments,WCCprovidesplanningsupportandtrainingforsupportteamssuchasCERT.Theseteamsarepreparedtoworkwithcommunityleadersandtheirconstituentsextendingthecapabilitiesoflocalgovernmentstointerfaceandconnecttograssrootscommunitiesduringcrisis.WCCprovideworkshopssothatcitizensemergeassafeandeffectivedisastervolunteers.Followingtheplansdevelopedwithleadership,constituentslearnofvolunteerrolesinresponseandhowtoimplementthemsafely.

AbouttheFounderWorldCaresCenterwasfoundedbyLisaC.Orloff,athoughtleaderindisastermanagementspecializinginspontaneousvolunteermanagementandcommunityengagement.Orloffhas15yearsofexperienceinthefieldandintheclassroom.Shehasauthoredafieldguideonthetopic.OrloffhasbeencalledupbytheDepartmentofDefense,theSriLankanMinistryofHealth,multipleOfficesofEmergencyManagementaswellas

grassrootsgroupsasanadvisor.Orloffhasrespondedtonumerousdisastersgloballyfromthe9-11-2001reliefefforttotheHaitianEarthquake,HurricaneIreneandSuperStormSandy.SheistherecipientoftheMayor’sVoluntaryActionAwardforherreliefworkinandaroundGroundZeroandreceivedlettersofAccommodationfromtheDepartmentofDefenseandtheNewJerseyOfficeofEmergencyManagement.

AboutWorldCaresCenter

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org 3

ü Discoverandrecognizehouseholdhazards.

ü Understandhowthemostcommoneverydayemergenciesoccur.

ü Takeimmediatestepstokeepyourfamilyandyourselfsecureathome.

ü Gaintipsandsuggestionsaswellasactivitiestotakeforspecialconditions.

ü Learnwhattodoinanemergencyandhowtobesafe.

LearningObjectives

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org4

ü Effectivedisasterresponserequirespre-planningthatincludesallcommunitymembers.

ü Allcommunitymembers,leadersandofficialsneedtocultivateawarenessandrelationshipsbeforedisastersstrike.

ü “SelfCare”iscriticaltoensurearesilientrespondercommunity.

ü Socialmediawillsignificantlyimpactdisasterresponsecommunicationsandinformationsharing.

LessonsLearned

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org 5

IdentifyingandEliminatingHouseholdHazards

Fire

Holiday

Gas&CarbonMonoxide

Steam

Chemical

Flood

Electrical

Yard

ReducetheRisk

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org6

PotentialFireHazardsü Flammable

Liquids

ü FlammableCloths

ü ElectricalHazards

ü NaturalGasHazards

• Installsmokealarmsoneverylevelofthehomeandnearallsleepingareas.

• Besuretocheckthemregularly!

• Taketimetolookaroundforpotentialhazards,suchasflammableliquids,oritemsorwiringnearwater.

• Movematerialssuchascurtains,bedding,towels,clothing,bags,boxes,andchemicalsolutionsawayfromstoves,heaters,candles,andfireplaces.

• Donotleavematchesorlighterswithinachild’sreach.

• Neverleaveanopenflame,suchasacandleorfireplace,unattended.

Knowwheretolocateandhowtouseafireextinguisher.

Fire

ChemicalReaction

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org 7

OperatingaPortableFireExtinguisherTheprocedureforoperatingaportablefireextinguisherissimple:

1. Pullthesafetypinlocatedinthehandle,(twisttobreaktheseal).

2. Aimthehoseornozzleatthebaseofthefire.

3. Squeezethetrigger.4. Sweepthebaseofthefirefromsidetoside.Besuretoholdtheextinguisherinanuprightpositionasyoursweep.

That’sallthereistoit–Pull,Aim,SqueezeandSweep(P.A.S.S.)

FireExtinguisher

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org8

• Naturalgasisodorlessandtasteless;utilitycompaniesaddachemicalodorifpresentintheair.

• Neverheatyourhomewithyourgasstoveoroven.

• Ifyousmellgas,donotuseanythingthatcausesasparkincludinglightswitches,phones,orappliances.

• Ifyouareatrisk,leavethehomeimmediately.

• Ifthereislowrisk,openallwindowsanddoorsandventilatethearea.

Whenanaturalgasemergencyispresent,DONOTUSEthefollowingitems.Allarepossiblesourcesofignition!

• Telephone

• LightsandLightSwitches

• DoorBell(Knock)

• GarageDoorOpeners

• Appliances

• Generators

• CellPhones

NaturalGas

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org 9

• CarbonMonoxide(CO)isproducedbytheincompleteburningofcarbon-basedfuels,suchasgas,naturalgas,coal,charcoal,oilandwood.

• Itisanodorless,colorlessandtastelesspoisonousgas.

• COinterfereswiththebody’sabilitytoabsorboxygen.

• Humanscanbepoisonedbyeither:

o SmallamountsofCOoveralongperiod.

o LargeamountsofCOoverashortperiod.

• Themostsusceptiblearetheelderly.

• UseaCarbonMonoxideDetectorwhichwillsoundanalarmwhenitsenseslethallevelsofCO.Thisdetectorcanbepairedwithasmokealarm.

CarbonMonoxide

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org10

• Knowthehazards!Ammonia,bleach,andchlorinearethemostcommon,highhazardchemicals.

• Notethehazardsoflaundrydetergents,toiletbowlcleaners,draincleaners,furniturepolish,paint,gasoline,pesticide,andevenairfresheners.

• Ifachemicalgetsintotheeyes,flushwithwaterforatleast15minutes.Ifpossible,havesomeoneelsecall9-1-1.

Chemical

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org 11

• Ifapoisonisconsumed,findthecontainers(s)andcallthePoisonControlCenter1-800-222-1222immediately.Followthedirectionsthatyouaregiven.

• Vomitingmaynotberecommended,telltheoperatorwhatyouhaveingestedsothattheycaninstructyouastothecorrectstepstotake!

• AddthePoisonControlCenter1-800-222-1222numbertoyourcellphoneoraccessiblepieceofpaper.

Poison

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org12

• Maintainyourappliances.Repairorreplacewhenfaulty.• Donotrunelectricalcordsundercarpetsoroverload

outlets.

• Onlyuseextensioncordsfortemporarypurposes.• Discardoldelectricalcordsandwires.• Besureyourappliancesareturnedoffwhennotinuse

andunsupervised.• Keepelectricalwiresandcordsawayfromwater

sources.• Nevertouchexposedelectricwiresor

wiresinwater.• Call1-800-75CONEDifyouareunsure

aboutanelectricalsituation.

Electric

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org 13

Cooking• Holidaysarefilledwithhomecookedmeals,rememberto

stayinthekitchenanduseatimerwhenfrying,grillingorbroilingfood.

• Createa“kid-freezone”withinthreefeethotfoodanddrinkareas(stove,oven,etc.).

• Incaseofacookingfire,justgetout!Closedoorswhenexiting,geteveryoneoutandcall911.

• Keepalidnearbytosmothersmallgreasefires.Slidelidoverpanandturnoffstovetop.Leavecovereduntilcompletelycooled.

Candles• Keepcandlesmorethan12”fromanything

thatcouldburn.Blowoutcandleswhenyouarenotintheroom.Neverleaveachildorpetalonewithaburningcandle.

• Placecandlesinavotiveorsturdyholderfilledwithsaltorwatersothatifittipsoverthecontentswillputouttheflame.

• Considerusingflamelesscandles.ChristmasTreesandDecorations

• Makesurethetreedoesn’tblockexitsandisthreefeetawayfromallheatsources.

• Unpluglightswhennotathomeorgoingtobed.Replaceworn,brokenbulbsorcords.Neveruselitcandles.

• Driedouttreesandneedlesareafirehazard,keepfreshtreeswateredregularly.Discardsoonaftertheholiday.

• Bringoutdoordecorationsinsidetopreventhazardsandtolastlongeraftertheholiday.

Holiday

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org14

• Thermal–Associatedwiththehightemperatureofthegas.Burnsareathermalhazard.

• Pressure–Thebuild-upinpressurefromthegascancausethestreettocollapseandobjectstobecomeprojectiles.

• SoundandVision–Gasbuild-upwhichcanexplodeandcausedamagehearing.Asteamexplosionandprojectilescanlimitvisionaswellasdamage.

• Asbestos–Acommoningredientinfireproofinsulatingandbuildingmaterials.

Youmaynotalwaysbeabletoidentifyahazardsuchasapressuresurgebuildingwithinthebuilding’spipelinesystem,butyoucantakenoteofanyvisibleconcerns.• Beawareofanyleaks,malfunctions,orfailureinhardware

suchaspipesorboilers.• Ifacontractorisworkinginyourhome,beawareofwhat

theyaredoing.• Knowhowyourbuildingwithstandsheavyrains,and

if/whenthelocalsewersystemhasbeencompromised.• INEMERGENCY:Evacuatetheaffectedareaandremain

upwindofanyplume.

• Call911andstayalertforanyotherhazards.

Steam

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org 15

• Oneofthemostcommonthreatstoyourhomeinahurricaneisflooding.

• Cautionshouldbetakewhenpumpingwaterfromyourbasement.

• Neverenterafloodedbasementwhentheelectricityison.

• Whenfloodwatersarenolongercoveringtheground,youcanbegintothewateroutofthebasement.

• Pumpwaterdown2-3feet,markthelevelandwaitovernight,iftheleveldoesnotrisecontinuethisprocess.Byfollowingthesesteps,youareensuringthewaterpressurefromtheoutsidedoesnotdamageyourfoundation.

• WeofferFREEcomprehensivefloodresponsetraining.Visitwww.worldcares.orgtorequestatraining.

Floods

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org16

• Regularlymaintainyouryardandtrimtreebranchedthataredead.

• Callyourelectriccompanytotrimbranchesthathangoverwires.

• Inpreparationforastormorhurricanesecureinsideallgarbagecans,gasgrills,lawnfurniture,anddecoratesandtheybecomeprojectiles.

• Secureyourstoragesheds.

• Equipmentthatmaybeneeded:

o SumpPumps

o Generators

o Fuel

YardSafety

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org 17

ü Ifyourelyonelectricmedicalequipment,contactyourmedicalsupplycompanyforinformationaboutbackuppower.

ü Askyourutilitycompanyifyouqualifyasalifesustainingequipmentcustomerandseeifyoucansignupforprioritypowerrestoration.

ü Ifyouareonoxygen,talktoyouroxygensupplieraboutemergencyreplacement.

ü Ifyoureceiveregulartreatmentssuchasdialysisorchemotherapy,knowyourproviders’emergencyplan.

SpecialConsiderations

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org18

HouseholdHazardAssessmentDoanassessmentofyourhomeforpotentialhazardsbasedonthetopicsdiscussed:

ü Fire

ü FireExtinguisher

ü Holiday

ü CarbonMonoxideAlarm

ü SmokeandCarbonMonoxideAlarm

ü Steam

ü Chemical

ü Flood

ü Electrical

ü Yard

HouseholdDisasterTreasureHuntEncourageyourfamily,especiallychildren,tomakeyourhomesaferbyhelpingwithfollowingtasks.It’simportantforchildrentoknowthattheyalsocanmakeadifference.

ü Rearrangekitchen.Moveitemsawayfromstoveandothersourcesofheat.

ü Secureandcleanupstorageareasthatholdchemicalproducts.Throwawayunneededorexpiredchemicals.

ü Inspectwiresforfrayingordaisychainsandlookforoverloadedoutlets.Discardwornoroldcords.

NextSteps

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Notes

GeneralReadiness:Individual&FamilyReadiness-ReducetheRisk•www.worldcares.org20

WorldCaresCenterisanot-for-profitregistered501(c)(3)organizationdeliveringfreesafetyanddisasterresponsetrainingandservicesthroughgenerous

contributions.SpecialthankstotheUPSFoundation,ConEdison,ResiliencyAdvisors,RutgersUniversity,andNIEHSformakingthistrainingpossible.

5208thAvenueSuite201BNYC,NY10018Phone:212-563-7570Fax:212-837-2826

E-mail:support@worldcares.orgWebsite:www.worldcares.org

WorldCaresCenterCollaborate.Prepare.Recover.

GeneralReadiness:IndividualandFamilyReadinessReduceTheRiskTraining