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Every person and family should have established their own individual emergency plan based on future possibilities of unexpected catastrophes such as forces of nature. Many of us live in locations prone to earthquakes, Midwest tornadoes, southern hurricane seasons, flood zones, tsunami coastal areas, and even active volcanoes. The students learn what to do in the school building if an earthquake strikes, but we need a pro-action emergency plan for our home environment.

Go over the following list with your children and spouse to cover the following:

- a contact person in or out of town.

- health information and where it is stored.

- a designated person who you are comfortable picking up the children if you cannot.

- a designated person to pick up the children if you are unable to.

- the location of the gas valve, electrical box, water valve, fire extinguishers, floor drain.

- location of fire extinguisher, electrical box, gas valve, floor drain, water valve.

9-1-1 calls: Teach your family when to call these services and when to call the services in the phone book. 9-1-1 is for reporting fires, reporting crimes, and when saving a life.

During an emergency, follow your emergency plan, take your emergency kit which you should have put together ahead of time, keep a listening ear on the radio and television for alert updates and evacuation orders, stay where you are until all is safe or until evacuation is ordered.

One important mistake we make is forgetting about designated someone to pick up family members. Children should be assigned a password, in order for them to know when it is okay to go with someone else. This password should be frequently tested in order to ensure they do not forget it. They need to know they cannot share this password with anyone. Its very funny providing scenarios and seeing them handle themselves with a password, but in real life, it is not funny if they are vulnerable to leave with someone they shouldnt. Practice scenarios so they know what to do regardless of what the person tells them.

The 72-hour emergency plan is a worldwide disaster planning phrase that allows people to think of what they would need for the initial three day period and to be absolutely ready and stocked with supplies for that time period.

Having an emergency plan also includes identifying safe areas in the home in the event such as an earthquake or a tornado. Identify the most heavy furniture to drop under, how to cover your head and torso to protect from flying objects and heavy items falling, windows and outer walls to stay away from. When outdoors, keep away from trees, walls, power lines and buildings. If you are in a car, keep off of bridges, away from buildings, power lines, and park the car off the side of the road until the tremors have stopped.

Radio Stations ” a decent radio should be able to pick up on AM 530 ” 1710 khz, FM 88 ” 108 mhz, Shortwave 3 -12 mhz with antenna.

Television Stations ” VHF channels and Weather Alert channels.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 9th, 2009 at 3:20 am and is filed under health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.