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Ready in 3
- Three Steps to Prepare for an Emergency
Make a Plan
- for you, your family & your business
Make a Kit - for home, car & work
Listen - for information about what to do & where to go
Make a Plan
Develop an emergency plan for you & your family - your entire family
should know the plan. Talk about how you will reach each other in different situations. Consider contacting the
same friend or family member by phone or email. Think about making the contact an out-of-town relative, as a long distance
phone call may be easier to make during an emergency.
Plan for two situations - sheltering in place or evacuating.
Watch TV or listen to the radio for information
Use common sense
Try to stay calm & keep your family calm
Sheltering in Place
Before an emergency, decide which room in your
house will be safest if you have to stay - normally an interior room with the fewest windows and doors. A couple things
to keep in mind: There should be enough space for all people and pets; and exterior doors should be locked.
In an emergency where poisons are in the air, you may have to seal the room
as best you can. This involves:
- Closing windows, air vents, and fireplace dampers
- Turning off air conditioning, forced air heating systems, exhaust fans,
and clothes dryers
- If instructed, seal doors and air vents with heavy-duty plastic sheeting
and heavy-duty tape
- Keep emergency supplies in this room
- Listen to the TV or battery-powered radio for information
Evacuation
Sometimes it may not be safe to stay in your home.
Plan where family members can meet. Know where you will go & how you will get there.
- Plan several different routes
- If driving, keep windows & vents closed, and air conditioning &
heat off
- Bring ID, such as drivers license, state ID or insurance card
- Bring an emergency supply kit with you (see below)
- Turn everything off & lock doors/windows - remember your keys
- If you can, bring your pets -many public shelters won't allow pets (plan
for your pet's care in case you cannot bring your pet with you)
Make a Kit
If an emergency happens, you might not be able to get food or water for days or weeks, or your electricity may not be
working. Try to have a three day supply of food & fresh water for each person - at least one gallon of water for
each person/day (more if space is available).
Food & water aren't the only things you need to have on hand. The following items should be part of your emergency
kit. Keep the items in a container that can be easily carried in case you need to leave home - a large bag, plastic container,
a trash can with a lid.
Basic Supplies
- Water and canned or dried foods
- Radio (battery or windup)
- Clock (battery or windup)
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries for the radio & flashlight
- Prescription medicine
- First-aid kit
Car Supplies
(Keep a small, portable supply kit in your car at all times. In addition, you should include
a small, personal supply kit with these items:)
- A gallon of water
- Several cans of food & a manual can opener
- A sleeping bag or extra blanket
- Extra money
- First-aid supplies
Listen
It is important to stay calm in an emergency. Get as much information about the situation as possible. Many
of us rely on TV, radio & the internet for news, but some emergencies may knock out the electricity. Make sure to
have a battery-powered or windup radio. City, county, state & federal officials have developed emergency plans.
During an emergency, it is important to follow their instructions and advice.
Remain Alert
Your plan is in place, your emergency supply kit is stocked & ready, you've talked to friends & family.......now
remain alert. Review your plan regularly.
Remember - emergencies can affect anyone, but by being Ready in 3, you've taken an active
role in your safety & the safety of your loved ones.
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ICE - In Case of Emergency
8 of out 10 people aren't carrying information that
would help if they were involved in an accident. Storing next-of-kin details in your mobile phone can assist the emergency
services if you are unable to tell them who to contact.
How does it work?
Simply use your mobile phone book to store the name
and number of someone who should be contacted if you have an emergency, but insert the letters 'ICE' in front of their name.
ICE stands for 'In Case of Emergencgy'. It's what
the emergency services will look for if you're involved in an accident and have your cell phone.
Getting Started:
On most cell phones you simply need to select "Contacts"
and choose "Add New Contact", then enter the letters "ICE" in front of the name, followed by the telephone number of your
next of kin. Make sure you choose a number that's easy to get in touch with, a home number could be useless in an emergency
if the person works full time. We recommend that you enter daytime and evening numbers where possible.
What should I do next?
Make sure the person whose name and number you are
entering has agreed to be your "ICE Partner". You should also make sure your ICE partner has a list of people to contact
on your behalf, such as your place of work. In addition, they'll need to know about any medical conditions that could
affect your emergency treatment, including allergies or medication.
If you're under 18, your ICE partner should be your
mother, your father or an immediate member of your family authorized to make decisions for you if you're admitted to the hospital.
Storing an ICE number makes it easier for everyone
if you are in an accident. It takes a few minutes, do it today!!
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