Here is the text of the worksheet I created for the meeting (you can copy and paste into a Word document):
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A. Consider Family Size and Composition, and take into account specific needs for different individuals:
_____ Children (0-3 years)
_____ Children (3-12 years)
_____ Children (12-18 years)
_____ Adults (18-65)
_____ Adults (65 and over)
B. Get Informed About your area:
__ Local concerns or issues
__ Community Disaster Plans
__ School and Workplace Disaster Plans
__ Emergency Warning Systems
C. Discuss different disaster situations and know which ones apply to your area:
__ Blackouts
__ Chemical Emergencies
__ Drought
__ Earthquakes
__ Fires
__ Floods
__ Heat Waves
__ Hurricanes
__ Mudslides
__ Terrorism
__ Thunderstorms
__ Tornado
__ Tsunami
__ Volcanoes
__ Wild Fires
__ Winter Storms
D. Be sure to know how to care for pets, persons with disabilities, the elderly, or special medical conditions, as they apply for your situation.
E. Pick two places to meet:
Near your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
__________________________________________________________________________
Outside your neighborhood in case of a disaster which prevents you from returning home. Make sure everyone in the family knows the address and phone number.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
F. Choose Emergency Contacts, and make sure family members know contact information:
__ Local
___________________________________________________________________________
__ Out of State
___________________________________________________________________________
__ Out of Country
___________________________________________________________________________
G. Complete This Checklist:
__ Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).
__ Teach children how and when to call Emergency Medical Services number for emergency help. (Remember that 9-1-1 isn't universal, so find out what your EMS number is)
__ Teach each capable family member how and when to turn off the utilities (including but not limited to, water, gas, electricity). This will likely require you to find the utility “mains” to your home.
__ Review your insurance coverage, and make sure that you have contact information for the insurance company.
__ Get training on how to use a fire extinguisher (ABC type), make sure all family members know how to use them, and show them where they are kept. This may mean you need to buy one. You can usually find them at many discount, hardware, and auto stores.
__ Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms and kitchens. Consider installing Carbon Monoxide detectors as well (especially important if you use Natural gas or other utility sources which can produce the fumes).
__ Find and correct any hazards that may exist in your home.
__ Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit (aka a 72-hour kit). Information on what you may need for this kit can be found at www.redcross.org.
__ Place Disaster Supplies Kit in easily accessible area, and make sure everyone knows where it is.
__ Take a first aid and CPR class, and make sure all eligible family members are also trained.
__ Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room. Make sure family members know how to get out of commonally used rooms (family rooms, living rooms), and how to get out their own bedrooms.
__ Find the safest places in your home for each type of disaster, and the fastest route to those places. Make sure everyone knows where to go and how to get there.
H. WRITE YOUR PLAN DOWN!! Make sure you have your plan well documented, and have it somewhere family members can easily look at/access it. For younger children consider adding picture aids to help them understand and remember specific parts of the plan.
I. Practice and Maintain Your Plan
- Remind your kids every few months or so about the plan. Review information they may have forgotten, or information that has changed.
- Commit a weekend, a holiday or other family time to updating telephone numbers, buying or replacing emergency supplies and reviewing your emergency plan with everyone.
- Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills regularly. Consider focusing them around times that are memorable (Daylight savings time switch, holidays, birthdays), so you don't forget to do them!
- Rotate and replace stored water and stored food in your Disaster supplies kits as needed. Make sure to stay on top of expiration dates.
- Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Your local fire station personnel can likely show you how to do both.
- Test your smoke detectors at least monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider scheduling battery changes during memorable times, such as the Daylight Savings time switches (semi-annually).
Remember to make use of the many resources that are available on this subject. If you have questions, most local Red Cross chapters can offer help on making an Emergency or Disaster Plan. Your community may also have resources to help with this planning. Consider contacting your community's emergency management agency for help or information.
You can also visit the following websites for more information:
The American Red Cross
Ready.Gov
Prepare.org
FEMA (also has a section of resources to be used specifically with children)
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Remember to check out the links at the end of the worksheet for a lot of great information. You can usually contact your local Red Cross chapter for detailed information on local concerns or disasters.
Use the resources to help you make a plan that works for your family. Not all the plans will be the same. Even if you just make a fire escape plan, something is better than nothing!
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