CHUG: September is Emergency Preparedness Month: Preparing for the Unpredictable
CHUG: SEPTEMBER IS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH: PREPARING FOR THE UNPREDICTABLE
Are you aware that September is National Emergency Preparedness Month? What did you do to prepare? In 2020, there have been 281 declared disasters compared to 101 declared disasters in 2019, and a total of 108 declared disasters in 2018. 2020 has definitely demonstrated to be the year for disasters, and there are still three more months left.
INDIVIDUAL PREPAREDNESS
Individual preparedness is an integral part of your and your family’s safety in the event of a disaster or incident. Yet, according to an online research study conducted by the American Red Cross and Harris Interactive in April of 2007, only 7% of Americans were “Red Cross Ready”.
The American Red Cross states that there are three basic steps to become “Red Cross Ready” they involve;
Get a Kit
Make a Plan
Be Informed.
Additional findings of the study demonstrated that 90% of Americans who had a kit felt prepared, but only 28% had a kit. 37% of households with a pet did not include a plan for their pets. 64% of Americans have no evacuation plan yet 27% have had to leave home for at least one night due to a disaster or emergency. These statistics demonstrate how ill-prepared Americans were. It makes me wonder if we are more prepared now for the increased disasters we are experiencing?
EMERGENCY KITS ARE A MUST
As founder, and CEO of the Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group, we urge our member organizations to have an Emergency Kit which consists of everything they might need for a disaster, but many times we find that they do not have a kit. In addition, we find that many of the staff do not have family emergency plans or individual preparedness kits.
A PERSONAL STORY TO SHARE
Reflecting back on the Chicago Blizzard of 2010, many hospitals and skilled nursing facility staff were left stranded at work without personal emergency kits. That left the hospitals running out of toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, laundry supplies – scrubs, bed linens, towels etc. Some staff had no plans for child care or pick up of children from school. In addition, some individuals were left stranded on Lake Shore Drive without food, water, and proper winter weather clothing.
Even individuals with the best-prepared emergency plans and kits can not always be prepared for the unexpected. I had experienced the loss of my individual kit during a flooding disaster. I had one in my car and my home. A family member had cleaned my car and had removed my kit from my car and put both of my kits in the basement. Not knowing that my kit was not in my car, I left for the CHUG office where I thought I would have my kit that I would need to shelter-in-place for two-three nights.
When I arrived, I found no kit, which meant no clothes, no personal hygiene products, no food or water. To make matters worse, the office did not have a pillow or a sleeping bag anymore. Luckily, I went to a local Target and was able to get some supplies to last me but many of the shelves were bare because people had waited until the disaster happened.
Preparing plans and a kit is as easy as “Red Cross Ready” 1. Get a Kit, 2. Make a Plan, 3. Be Informed. What do you need for a kit? CHUG has prepared a tip sheet for making a kit for individuals and for businesses:
MAKING A PLAN
Everyone should know their workplace emergency plan and should create a family plan that should address the following questions:
How do family members receive alerts, notifications, and warnings from work, schools, family members?
What is your family’s evacuation route and where is our family gathering place?
How do we communicate with family members? The plan should prepare for the event where there is a loss of cell phone communication.
Plans to update your emergency kits every six months.
Due to COVID, Emergency Kits should now include Personal Protective Equipment including masks, gloves, goggles, and disinfectant.
Your family emergency plan should have a sheltering-in-place plan comprising of essential elements needed to stay for at least three days or more depending upon the disaster.
Don’t forget to include plans for pets.
Don’t forget to include plans for family members that may need functional support services.
BE INFORMED
Know what types of disasters effect your community.
Be aware of how the local authorities notify you during a disaster and where you can obtain more information via TV, websites, radio, NOAA weather radio, and social media.
Recognize the differences between watches and warnings and how to respond to them.
Understand the actions that should be taken to protect yourself during disasters.
One or many of your family members should be trained in first aid, CPR, and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). These trainings may be useful in disasters, urgent and emergency events.
Emergency Contact List and Cards should include family member information work, school, and cell phone numbers. These should be kept in individual preparedness kits, work kits, wallets, provide to human resources at work, family/friends outside your local area or state, and wallets, backpacks, or purses.
REMEMBER, IT’S NOT “IF” IT HAPPENS, BUT WHEN
We live in a very unpredictable world with declared disasters doubling in the last year. Our planet is changing, causing more frequent natural disasters. The scenarios that you could possibly face are endless. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety, and losses, besides it is the right thing to do! Celebrate September’s National Emergency Preparedness Month by preparing your family and yourself.
For more information, CHUG offers workshops on emergency preparedness for individuals, families, and businesses.
— Connie Polke, founder, Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group