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Goal for May: Make sure the people who count on you are prepared for a disaster.
Think about who is in your life that depends on you. Do they have all the tools they need to be able to know what to do in a disaster? Do you? Disasters can happen at any time. If you are away from home do you know where to find safe shelter locations? Do you know what the emergency procedures are for your child’s school or for your workplace? Will people who count on you know what to do if you can’t reach them? Know how to make sure you and your loved ones are safe in a disaster, no matter where you are. That is what this month is all about. The three steps are listed below, and we encourage you to visit our website to receive the latest Do 1 Thing news!
Choose one step below out of three to complete and you will be better prepared ahead of an emergency or disaster.
Talk to your employer about emergency plans for the building where you work. Think about other places that you and family members regularly spend time, like your child’s school. Talk to administrators at those places about their emergency plans as well. Ways to be safe at work and school:
Put together basic emergency kits for people who may not be able to do so for themselves or for those who may not think of doing it for themselves. Show them what is in the kit and talk to them about disasters. Make sure the kit meets their specific needs. For instance, if someone takes prescription medicine, include a list of medications and dosages. For a college student, make sure the kit is small enough to store in the space they have available. College Students Talk to your college student about how you will stay in touch if a disaster occurs. Make sure they understand that cell phones may not work during a disaster. Choose an emergency contact who does not live near you or the college. Arrange with your student to call that person if they can’t reach you during a disaster. Visit the website for your student’s college to find out about the school’s disaster plans and procedures. Some colleges will provide a phone number that you can call in an emergency. If you don’t find the number on the website, call the admissions office and ask. Add the number to your emergency contact list. Make sure your student knows to call you if there is an emergency on campus. Also, ensure your student is registered for any emergency notification system on their campus. Insurance Talk to your insurance agent to find out if your policy covers your student’s belongings while they are away at school. You may need to buy an additional renter’s policy. Also check with your health insurance carrier to find out where your student can find covered healthcare at school.
Talk to other people when you are developing an emergency plan for a school, workplace or organization. Get input from people who work there and other people who use the building. It is especially important to include people with disabilities. Think about asking your local police and fire departments to review the plan. Make sure that what you are planning won’t interfere with emergency response. Find out if your community has designated evacuation routes for floods, hurricanes, or other disasters. Include that information in your plans. Make sure that the plans you develop will work for everyone.
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Erika Mahoney, MSA, PEM is the Executive Director of the non-profit Do 1 Thing (www.do1thing.com) which is program that empowers people with the message that emergency preparedness can be easy and affordable, and that even small steps toward preparedness can make a difference. Erika holds two Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Michigan State University in Psychology and Sociology. Erika also has her Masters of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. In 2014 she was named a White House Champion of Change for her work in emergency preparedness. Erika has been featured on other national blogs. To learn more about her visit: http://do1thing.com/members/erika-mahoney
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Goal for May: Make sure the people who count on you are prepared for a disaster.
Think about who is in your life that depends on you. Do they have all the tools they need to be able to know what to do in a disaster? Do you? Disasters can happen at any time. If you are away from home do you know where to find safe shelter locations? Do you know what the emergency procedures are for your child’s school or for your workplace? Will people who count on you know what to do if you can’t reach them? Know how to make sure you and your loved ones are safe in a disaster, no matter where you are. That is what this month is all about. The three steps are listed below, and we encourage you to visit our website to receive the latest Do 1 Thing news!
Choose one step below out of three to complete and you will be better prepared ahead of an emergency or disaster.
Talk to your employer about emergency plans for the building where you work. Think about other places that you and family members regularly spend time, like your child’s school. Talk to administrators at those places about their emergency plans as well. Ways to be safe at work and school:
Put together basic emergency kits for people who may not be able to do so for themselves or for those who may not think of doing it for themselves. Show them what is in the kit and talk to them about disasters. Make sure the kit meets their specific needs. For instance, if someone takes prescription medicine, include a list of medications and dosages. For a college student, make sure the kit is small enough to store in the space they have available. College Students Talk to your college student about how you will stay in touch if a disaster occurs. Make sure they understand that cell phones may not work during a disaster. Choose an emergency contact who does not live near you or the college. Arrange with your student to call that person if they can’t reach you during a disaster. Visit the website for your student’s college to find out about the school’s disaster plans and procedures. Some colleges will provide a phone number that you can call in an emergency. If you don’t find the number on the website, call the admissions office and ask. Add the number to your emergency contact list. Make sure your student knows to call you if there is an emergency on campus. Also, ensure your student is registered for any emergency notification system on their campus. Insurance Talk to your insurance agent to find out if your policy covers your student’s belongings while they are away at school. You may need to buy an additional renter’s policy. Also check with your health insurance carrier to find out where your student can find covered healthcare at school.
Talk to other people when you are developing an emergency plan for a school, workplace or organization. Get input from people who work there and other people who use the building. It is especially important to include people with disabilities. Think about asking your local police and fire departments to review the plan. Make sure that what you are planning won’t interfere with emergency response. Find out if your community has designated evacuation routes for floods, hurricanes, or other disasters. Include that information in your plans. Make sure that the plans you develop will work for everyone.
Vlad Magdalin
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