September is National Preparedness Month. As parents, we don’t like to think about natural disasters, public health concerns or any other threat to our family. But it’s because we’re parents that we have to.
It’s always good to prepare your family for an emergency, and many moms find peace of mind in knowing that if something were to happen, they are ready. Here are the recommended steps for making sure you and your family are equipped for any emergency that comes your way:
HAVE A PLAN
Teach gently. Talk to your children in a non-alarming way about how to respond to emergencies that may happen where you live.
Plan to meet. Choose a meeting spot outside your house in case you have to get out quickly, and choose one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t go home.
Create contacts. Choose an out-of-town emergency contact person that everyone can communicate with, and program his or her information into your cell phone.
Plan to leave. Choose a place to go if you had to evacuate your neighborhood, like a friend or relative’s house or local motel, and decide on the route you’ll take to get there. (If you have animals, make sure the spot is pet-friendly.)
MAKE A KIT
Here are the recommended items that many families use to put together an emergency supply kit or go-bag. It’s recommended that the kit is stocked to get you through at least three days.
- Water (one gallon per person per day)
- Non-perishable food
- Formula, bottles
- Battery powered or hand-crank radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Diapers
- Baby wipes
- Personal hygiene items
- Cell phone with charger
- Emergency blanket
- Whistle
- Dust mask
- Change of clothes for each family member
- Manual can opener
- Emergency contact list
- Extra cash
- Games and activities for kids
- Copies of personal documents (passport or license, proof of address, insurance policies)