Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness

Have you ever wondered what you would do in the case of a real emergency, such as a nuclear attack, natural disaster, chemical attack, etc.? Well, it’s not something we like to think about or dwell on, but the fact is that these days the whole country faces a wide range of threats. America has become increasingly aware of the threat of further terrorist action, which was highlighted on September 11 th 2001, and has preyed on the minds of many Americans since that date. However, in addition to the threat of terrorism, there is also the threat of natural disaster.

In order to reduce the risk of harm to ourselves and our loved ones, it is important to ensure that you are familiar with emergency preparedness procedures. The US government is continually working to raise awareness of emergency preparedness procedures, and it is vital that all households and individual familiarize themselves – and prepare themselves – for what could be very real and very possible terrorist and environmental threats.

Firstly you need to ensure that you are informed about the various threats that face us, and how to identify these threats. You should find out more about the following possibilities:

Biological attack where germs or biological substances that can cause illness or death are deliberately released into the environment. A biological attack may not always be obvious, and it may only transpire that there has been a bio attack when health professionals begin to detect disease and illness patterns. You should always be vigilant for any announcements on radio or TV, particularly if there has been a spate of similar illnesses, and in the event of an illness in your family you must seek immediate attention for the person. Also, if an emergency has been declared, you should cover your mouth and nose with a towel or hanky to avoid breathing in contaminated air.

Chemical threat could be identified by the presence of many people in the area having trouble breathing and suffering from watering eyes and twitching. Also, if there is a dramatic rise in the sickness or death of small animals, birds and fish. If you suspect that the air is contaminated you must get to clean air without delay.

Explosions could be caused by a number of things, but it is important to remain calm. You should take shelter against something sturdy, such as a table. You should never use the elevator after an explosion, but you do need to exit the building as soon as possible, checking to ensure that there is no fire.

These are just a few of the disaster that could leave is in a state of national emergency. You also need to ensure that you are well informed about nuclear blasts, radiation threats, and natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes.

Once you are familiar with the disasters that pose a threat to us and how to identify these disasters, you need to prepare an emergency kit. This may seem premature, and many people simply shrug and tell themselves it will never happen in their lifetime. But it could happen, and being prepared could make the difference between life and death. Your kit should contain essentials such as:

• Non-perishable food and can openers/utensils
  
• Bottled water
  
• First aid kit
  
• Necessary medications required by you or family members
  
• Bags and ties for sanitation in case you are restricted
  
• Plastic sheets and tape to seal your shelter-room
  
• Radio and batteries
  
• Flash light
  
• Towels
  
• Dust masks
  
• Infant food and diapers of applicable
  
• Bathroom tissue/tissues/wet wipes

It is also important to think about clothes and bedding, and depending on the kind of climate you live in you may need to pack extra clothes, blankets, jumpers, t-shirts and underwear in your emergency kit. You should basically have everything you need to survive on for at least a matter of days, plus informational tools such as a battery operated radio to stay abreast of what’s going on.

Although we all hope and pray that we never have to use them, these kits and this preparation can be invaluable. Being aware and practising emergency preparedness really can make the difference between life and death.