For a family to truly be prepared for emergencies, basic preparedness recommendations must be adapted to fit the needs of the people and animals in the home. Households with children, senior or disabled persons, pets and/or service animals should personalize their plans and supplies to suit their specific needs.
Children
- Disasters can be very traumatic to children. Learn how to best teach your kids about emergencies in advance and help them cope during and after one strikes. The American Red Cross offers important steps parents can take to prepare their kids, and a free Monster Guard app as a fun way for kids aged 7–11 to get involved in preparedness. www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html
- If you have a child with special health care needs, make a personalized go bag for him or her. It can be a bag your child takes to school every day or it can be kept with the family’s emergency kit.
Seniors and People with Disabilities
- Create a support network of people who can assist you during an emergency. Share your disaster plans with them. Make sure they have a key to your home, know where you keep emergency supplies and how to use lifesaving equipment or administer medicine.
- Look for hazards that could block or hinder your movement away from a dangerous area. If you have heavy furniture pieces that could fall over in an earthquake, have them secured to a wall.
Pets and Service Animals
- Include your pets and/or service animals in your emergency plans. Make sure you have your animal’s licensing information, veterinary records, and service animal documentation.
- Make an emergency kit for your pet. The kit should also contain pet food, bottled water, medications, food dishes, cat pan/litter, first aid kit, spare collar/tags, and manual can opener.
- Include a secure pet carrier, leash or harness so that if he panics, he can’t escape.
Farm Animals
- Make a disaster kit and keep it in a central location. Check the kit’s contents regularly.
- Keep a list of your animals and supplies for temporary identification.
- Include a basic first aid kit, handling equipment (halters, cages and appropriate tools), water, feed and buckets.
One Step Ahead
- Label medical equipment with your name and contact information. Do this for items such as canes, walkers, oxygen tanks and wheelchairs.
- Keep hearing aids, eye glasses, and other assistive devices near the bedside while sleeping.