Emergency Preparedness and Safety Information

It's very important for families to be proactive when it comes to safety. It's vital to educate family members about safety and to implement safety and security measures. These things are a crucial part of every family's emergency preparedness plan. Every member of the household should be aware of key risk factors and know how to stay safe at home and elsewhere, as well as what to do if someone else gets hurt or if an emergency arises.

Key Household Safety Considerations

Parents and kiddos alike, as well as any other individuals who live in the family home, should know important safety information relevant to the household. It's a good idea to include home safety training or household safety videos in family meetings from time to time. For example, National Fire Prevention Month is the perfect time for the family to review fire safety tips together. Other key safety considerations include:

• Implement home security best practices and make sure each family member knows how to do their part to keep themselves, and the rest of the family safe.
• Stock your home with important safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, and an emergency power supply.
• Make sure everyone knows how to properly use, store, and organize common household equipment to avoid injuries due to kitchen hazards or other home safety hazards.
• Ensure that everyone knows the safest route to exit the house in the event of a fire emergency, and that the adults and teenagers know how to put out a fire.
• Every home should have an emergency phone list posted in printed form. It should also be available to every household member digitally, such as via a shared Google Drive document.
• Make sure everyone knows how to stay safe in severe weather emergencies, such as what to do in the event of a flash flood, or how to stay safe in a tornado.

Family Emergency Preparedness Kit

Every home should have a well-stocked emergency preparedness kit that goes beyond basic first aid supplies. It's also a good idea to keep a similar kit in each family member's car, in case something goes wrong while you are traveling, or your family has to leave home in a hurry.

• To build your disaster preparedness kit, start by making a list of survival supplies that your family could need in the event of an emergency.
• Be sure to include nonperishable food and a way to purify water, as well as medicine, clothing, blankets, batteries, flashlights, and pet supplies.
• Consider special items based on risk factors in your local area, such as items for an earthquake emergency kit or hurricane supplies.

Plan Today for a Secure Future

The proactive safety and emergency preparedness steps you take today can help keep your family safe now and into the future. The best time to put a plan in place and prepare for a worst-case scenario is before a problem arises. That way, if disaster does strike and you find yourself facing a state of emergency or a shelter-in-place order, you and your family will be ahead of the crisis. You'll already have the necessary equipment, tools, and supplies on hand, so your group will already be prepared to deal with whatever comes your way.