With the unpredictable nature of disasters, people are more encouraged to plan ahead for emergencies. While some people may be planning for a possible hurricane or earthquake, others may be preparing for a crisis in their own lives.
Here are five steps that will help you plan for any emergency.
Make a plan with your family.
This is the first step to taking care of your family or friends in an emergency. It can be as simple as discussing what steps you would take and how you would react. You may want to set up a meeting with your family or friends and let them know what to do if you are incapacitated and unable to communicate.
Setting up a plan before any potential emergency is crucial because it will give everyone enough time to prepare themselves and know what is expected to happen and their role.
Pack an emergency survival kit
An emergency survival kit is essential to have if you find yourself in a natural disaster or other emergencies.
You can pack many things into this bag, including water, non-perishable food, and a first-aid kit. You'll also want to include items like a flashlight, batteries, matches, and a blanket.
Weatherproof your home
While you can't prevent an emergency, you can minimize the impact by preparing your home for what could happen.
If you've recently moved into a new home, it will likely have been built with safety precautions in place; not all homes will have, though. In addition to these features, there are some easy things you can do to prepare your home for emergencies:
Install storm shutters: These will help protect your house from wind and rain damage, as will hurricane proof windows. Make sure they're installed correctly so that windows can still be opened when you need them.
Install tornado shutters: These will help protect your house from tornadoes as well as high winds during storms.
Weatherproof your home: This might seem like an expensive option at first, but covering ducts, pipes, and wires with weather-resistant coverings will prevent water damage in case of a fire or power outage.
Secure items on the ground floor: This includes securing appliances and furniture so that they don't fall over during an earthquake or hurricane.
Have a fully stocked first aid kit
Having a fully stocked first aid kit is always a good idea. Having an emergency kit on hand can keep you and your family safe in the event of an emergency.
Fortunately, it's easier than ever to maintain a fully stocked first aid kit with today's medical supplies. The American Red Cross has created a guide to help you build your own first aid kit with just a few supplies. This guide features guidance on what supplies to include in the kits and DIY instructions for making personal items like band-aids, gauze pads, and more.
Keep a copy of all of your essential information and documents
Keeping a copy of your important documents and information can keep you from stress. It is also essential to have copies of your family's medical records, social security cards, and insurance policies. In the event of a disaster or emergency, you will be able to access these documents when you need them.
There are many ways that this can be done, including keeping a backup on an external hard drive or storing it in the cloud with services like Dropbox. Or simply keeping a physical copy on you.
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