In
an effort to increase awareness on a range of different emergencies, National
Preparedness Month features a different type of emergency each week.
Week 1: September 1-5th
Flood
Week 2: September 6-12th
Wildfire
Week 3: September 13-19th
Hurricane
Week 4: September 20-26th
Power Outage
Be Prepared
Anyone can be impacted by an emergency such as a natural
disaster, act of terrorism, or disease outbreak, for example. You can take steps now to help you
prepare for an emergency and cope if an emergency happens.
1. Get
a Kit
If a disaster strikes your community, you might not have
access to food, water, or electricity for some time. It’s important to maintain
an emergency kit with enough supplies for at least 72-hours. It is important to
consider your family’s unique needs, like medications or food for your pets.
2. Make a Plan
Families can cope with disasters by preparing in advance and
working together as a team. If an emergency were to occur, it is imperative to
know how family members will contact each other, where members would go to stay
safe, and what to do in general during any different variation of an
emergency. Planning what to do before a
disaster strikes provides the best protection.
3. Stay
Informed
It is important to understand what emergencies are likely to
occur in your area and specific ways to respond to each one. You should also
understand the ways you can get information about potential threats, such as
through text alerts, emergency sirens in your community, or other methods.
4. Get
Involved
The best way to ensure your family and your community are
prepared in the case of an emergency is to get involved. Find opportunities to
support your community’s preparedness so that everyone can stay safe when the
unexpected occurs.
Stay Safe
Emergencies can be both stressful and dangerous, and they
can expose us to dangerous situations. It is important to remember that
there are things you can do to keep yourself safe during an emergency.
Emergencies can expose us to dangerous situations where we
could be injured. It’s important to use caution at all times, and learn basic
first aid skills before an emergency. Stressful situations may trigger a heart
attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event in some individuals. The most
important thing you can do during an emergency is to be able to recognize the
signs of a cardiovascular event and act immediately by calling 9-1-1.
It’s important to keep meat, poultry, fish, and eggs
refrigerated at or below 40°F and frozen food at or below 0°F. This may be
difficult when the power is out. A refrigerator will keep food safely cold for
about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for
approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains
closed. When in doubt, throw it out – just be sure to throw it out somewhere
safe so it doesn’t attract wildlife.
Be Healthy
Emergencies will impact everyone differently. However, some
people with chronic medical conditions may be more vulnerable during an
emergency. There are a few simple yet powerful things all of us can do to
improve our health:
•
Exercise at a moderate intensity for at
least 150 minutes a week, and live an active lifestyle as much as possible.
• Eat
healthy by following the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines.
• Avoid
tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. These substances can weaken an immune system
and cause a person to become ill, as well as cause many other chronic diseases.
• Get
a flu shot every year.
