Categories
Uncategorized

Southern California is overdue for a major earthquake

According to a study released Friday Southern California is overdue for a major earthquake along the San Andreas fault.

The long-awaited study came after scientists spent years studying the geology of the Carrizo Plain area of the San Andreas, which is about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles. It found that earthquakes along the San Andreas fault have occurred far more often than previously believed.

One researcher commented: “People should not stick their heads in the ground. There are storm clouds gathered on the horizon. Does that mean it’s definitely going to rain? No, but when you have that many clouds, you think, ‘I’m going to take my umbrella with me today.’ That’s what this research does: It gives us a chance to prepare.”

Preparing means a few things:

1. Getting the facts. Understand what can happen in your area and what affect it could have on you.

2. Learn about what resources are available in your area if a disaster should strike

3. Make a plan. Talk to your family and make a plan as to what you will do in the event of an emergency. Will you shelter in place? Will you need to evacuate? If so…where will you go and what route will you take? Have your plan include what you will do if you are apart.

4. Consider buying an earthquake kit or other emergency preparedness kit. Now is the time…don’t wait until something happens to figure out you don’t have the supplies you need.

While many studies are being done….earthquakes don’t give advance warning. They can strike at anytime. Taking some time to prepare now can pay off in dividends later.

Categories
Fundraisers General Preparedness Preparedness Planning

Survival Kits are a Great Item for a Fundraiser

If you are with a religious group, school group, C.E.R.T. Team, volunteer fire dept., ambulance corp. or any other group looking for a great fundraiser idea you should consider selling survival kits, blackout kits and other emergency preparedness items in your community.

Emergencies and disasters can happen anywhere. They can affect every person in every neighborhood. For many years the government has preached the message: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Ready. This is a way to take that message directly to the members of your community while raising money for your group or cause.

Here are just a few reasons why these items make for a great fundraiser:

*Everyone is a potential buyer of the kits. They are needed in every home, office and car

*By selling/promoting these items you will be making the members of your community better prepared

*You will be helping to raise the level of preparedness in your community

*The more people who are better prepared with the right survival gear and information…the easier it will be on our rescue personnel.

*You can raise great money for your cause

*They are very simple to promote and sell

Your group can promote/sell this preparedness kits through a variety of ways: door to door, flyers in your community, email marketing to people you know, organizing a preparedness event in your town.

Most items I purchase from a group doing a fundraiser I don’t really need. I buy the items to support the cause. These items can be bought to help support the cause and be very important to the people who buy them.

1-800-PREPARE.com can help you if you or your organization is interested in this type fundraiser.

Categories
First Aid Personal Preparedness Personal Stories

First Aid Kit’s

When people think of emergency preparedness they often think of earthquake kits or survival gear. In my opinion…one of the most important things to have…and certainly one of the most frequently used is a first aid kit. In the coarse of our normal, everyday lives there are literally dozens of different things that can happen where having a first aid kit would come in handy. Below is just a small list:

*Cuts from sharp objects

*Scrapes or cuts from slips or falls

*Playground accidents

*Minor or even major vehicle accidents

*Sports Injuries

*Bee stings or other Animal Bites

*Headaches or Nausea

*Splinters

*Sprains or broken bones

*Bloody Nose

I personally keep a number of different first aid kits in my home, office and in my car. I also keep one in each of my sports bags. A week doesn’t go by where I don’t have to pull out one of my kits for myself or someone I am with. Again…this isn’t always for something major. However…being able to treat minor injuries is very important.

Here are two quick stories where having a kit came in handy.

*Last night during our softball game one of our players made a hard slide into 3rd base. Both of his knees where cut/scraped up and he was a little sore.  When the inning he was able to clean the cuts and apply an antiseptic to speed healing and prevent infection. He was also able to bandage the area. When the game was over I was also able to give him an ice-pack to help with the pain and swelling. Would it have been life threatening if I didn’t have a first aid kit handy? No. But did it make the situation a bit better with very little effort? Yes.

*Two weeks ago I was away for the weekend and was at a restaurant. An older woman walked into the restaurant and slipped and smashed face first into the floor. She immediately started bleeding and had severe pain in her nose. The restaurant did not have a first aid kit. I ran outside to my car and brought in mine. We were able to stop the bleeding, clean the area and bandage her up until she could get to the hospital. I was also able to give her an ice pack for the ride. Again…not a life threatening event. Just an simple situation that could happen to anyone at anytime.

If it happens to you, a family member, a loved one or friend…you will feel much better if you have what you need to deal with the situation. Preparedness is an everyday thing. Take some time to think about how you can be better prepared.

Categories
Uncategorized

It’s Important to think about better Preparedness

Preparedness is something we all need to take personal responsibility for. By being prepared, we free up important resources, making it much easier for our first responders to assist those who are in the greatest need.

Personal preparedness can extend to helping neighbors and friends. It is  more likely that your friends or neighbors will reach you first, than emergency responders.

It is important to prepare now before something happens. Your family may not be together when an emergency happens and you may not have access to cell phones, gas for your vehicle, supermarkets orother things that you are used to having every day.

Make a plan, Get an emergency supply kit, Stay informed of situations in your area.

Disasters can happen at any time, so it is important for you to be prepared at places where you spend time. This includes your home, your office, and in your car. Get the right survival gear and make sure you have enough for everyone.

You should also have an understanding of local hazards and the appropriate response individuals and families should take during an emergency situation. Think about what may happen in your community.

Categories
Uncategorized

Everyday Preparedness

When people think of “preparedness” they often think of being ready for major events like a hurricane, earthquake or tornado. For most of us..these are situations we will likely never have to face. However, there are things that can happen to all of us during the course of our everyday life that we can and should be better prepared for. I am certainly not talking about running around paranoid all day. I am simply suggesting that is you take a little time and do a little preparing you will face some of these “what if’s” a little better.

Some examples of things we could all face:

*A broken down car (Do you have flares, a flashlight, a flat tire fixer)

*A fire in the home or office (Do you have extinguishers, detectors, escape ladders)

*An injury at or away from home (Do you have a first aid kit or supplies)

*A blackout (So you have candles, flashlights, matches, lanterns)

*Child proofing a home

*A robbery either of our home, office or vehicle

*Someone choking or in need of CPR

*A lost child or elderly person

Preparedness is a broad topic and one we shouldn’t be afraid to think about. Having the right emergency plan, emergency kit, preparedness supplies and taking the time to think about what you might do is a great step and one that will make you feel more at ease.

Please share your story here on how being prepared helped you with a specific situation.

Categories
Uncategorized

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month. It is sponsored by the Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council. It is held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.

This is a great time to take a look at your own personal level of preparedness. It is also a good time to sit down with family members, business associates and friends to discuss these important topics.

Some things to think about and discuss:

*What types of events may happen in your area

*Putting together plans for how to deal with each situation.

*Plans for evacuating or sheltering in place

*What supplies and/or emergency kits should you have on hand

*How to deal with a situation where people may be separted

*How you plan on communicating

*Does your office, neighborhood or community have any plans in place

*Putting together a preparedness checklist

If you have taken the steps to better preparedness this is a great opportunity to share what you have done with others and encourage them to do the same. If you have any special knowledge or skills you could consider organizing your own preparedness awareness event in your area.

Categories
General Preparedness Preparedness Planning

Preparedness Drills

One important step to better preparedness that is often overlooked is basic drills. If you have lived in a certain community for any length of time there is a good chance that you will know many of the types of emergency situations that could arise. This could include: earthquakes, floods, wild fires, tornadoes, blackouts, hurricanes and for just about everyone house fires.

Taking some time to come up with a plan, discuss it with your family and practice it a few times will go a long way to keeping you safe. The time to figure out what to do isn’t right before or during the emergency.

When putting together your plan some things to consider would be:

*What situation might you face

*What would the impact be

*Will you need to flee or shelter in place

*What type of emergency kits of supplies would you need

*Who will need to react. If small children….how will they be handled

*How long might you need to be prepared for

*If you need to shelter in place…what room or rooms will you use

*What if any utilities will you need to turn off

These are just some ideas. Once you have thought about these things you should take some time to discuss it with everyone in your family. Everyone should know what to do and where to go if a situation arises. Having a drill every 3 to 6 months just to keep it fresh in everyone’s mind is important. Here you can answers questions, refresh any supplies and/or change things as needed.

By discussing these things and practicing you will help reduce the chance the panic and hopefully make yourself and your loved ones a little safer.

Categories
General Preparedness

Blackout Kits

With severe weather hitting around the country  many communities have experienced sudden power outages. In some cases the power returns in a matter of minutes or hours and in some cases it lasts for many days. For some, a power outage can be just a mere inconvenience while for other who rely on electricity for vital equipment it can be much more dangerous.

Having some basic supplies on hand can help you and your family better deal with the situation. For most people the important things to consider are lights (flashlights, candles), warmth (hand/body warmers, sleeping bags, adequate clothing) and first aid in case of injury. If you have young children you may want to add light sticks as kids enjoy them and they help keep their mind off the situation.

Our recently adding blackout kits put many of the items you may need in one place for quick and easy access. Below is a list of some of the items included in a basic kit. You may want to add other items that you think you and your family may need.

Flashlights

Water Proof Matches

Candles (be careful as candles pose a severe fire hazard)

Hand Warmers

Emergency Sleeping Bags

Emergency Radio

First Aid Kit

While many people already have these basic items in the home, it is recommended that you have a set put aside specifically for a blackout or other emergency. During a blackout you don’t want to have to look around your home for these items. In addition…the batteries in the flashlight may be dead and the first aid kit could be out of some of the items you need. Having an “emergency kit” of these items for use ONLY during an emergency, stored in a place everyone in the home knows is a smart decision.

For those with special needs that require power you may want to investigate having a generator for your home. There are many different types and you should consult with an electrician as to which is best for you and your home.

Categories
Earthquake Preparedness

Some Tips on how Senior Citizens Can Prepare for Earthquakes

With so many earthquakes happening across the world, you may be thinking about your own preparations for one where you live. As a senior citizen, you have to take more steps than others to gather the supplies you need in advance and to take cover during the earthquake.

Plan to Take Cover

During an earthquake you may have to take cover under sturdy furniture. A work desk or table will do, and picking one out ahead of time is important. You don’t want to have to worry about figuring it all out when an earthquake happens. Do a “take cover” drill once a month, so that going to the desk of choice becomes a habit, and doing a drill makes your plan easier to remember. It will also give you a chance to remove things that are blocking your way or would be dangerous to have nearby during an earthquake. For example, if the desk is located near a shelf that has heavy objects, you’ll have to remove those objects to a lower shelf away from the desk. During an earthquake, those could fall on you and cause serious injuries.

Anchor Equipment

Heavy objects on high shelves are not the only things to worry about in an earthquake. Some of the special equipment you use on a daily basis, such as oxygen tanks and other life support equipment need to be anchored to the wall or floor. You will avoid the risk of your equipment crashing into you or falling on you when the ground shakes.

Extra Walking Aids

If you need assistance walking, it’s important to buy and store extra canes, walkers or other walking aids around your home. An earthquake may cause you to stay in one part of your home for a while, and it would be good to be able to move around when it’s safe. If you couldn’t get to your walking aid in time, you could be stuck.

Keep an Emergency Kit Where You’ll Take Cover

You’ll need a well stocked emergency kit to help you survive an earthquake. It should include enough food and water, medical and first aid supplies including prescription drugs, eyeglasses and hearing aids and other things you’ll need to stay alive and well for at least three days. If an earthquake happens, your kit will already be in the place you plan to take cover. You won’t have to worry about finding it first.

Communications

A pre-made commercial emergency kit will include an AM/FM radio. You’ll need one to find out the status of the earthquake in your area. In addition to a radio, phone lines may be down. Planning a chain of communications ahead of time will help friends, family and others know that you are safe or need help. Talk with a neighbor that you trust to check in with you after an emergency. Share that person’s cell phone and land line numbers with family in case there’s an opportunity to communicate using a phone. Have one or two other neighbors lined up to do the same. If one person is unable to come to your aid, at least you’ll have a backup or two.

Any area can be hit by an earthquake. Don’t ignore preparations just because you believe you live in an area that is not high risk. Getting some basic preparedness supplies, an earthquake preparedness kit and learning a little bit about what to do will pay dividends later.

Categories
Uncategorized

General Items in an Emergency Kit

Just some of the main items you should have in your emergency kit

  • Water and water purification tablets (at least a 3 day supply)
  • Food Bars (high in calories, but make sure the ingredients are safe for you to eat based on any medical conditions)
  • Radio (battery operated or hand cranked)
  • Flashlight (preferably one that doesn’t require any batteries)
  • Emergency candle (one that will last for 30 hours or more)
  • Waterproof matches and lighter
  • Whistle (to help rescuers and others find you if you’re stuck in your home or other location)
  • Emergency sleeping bag (these are compact and lightweight)
  • Lightweight poncho
  • Multi-function knife
  • Dust mask (N95)
  • Hygiene kit ( including items such as toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorant)
  • Tissue packs
  • First aid kit (including alcohol pads and bandages of varying sizes)
  • Entertainment (cards, pencil, notepad)
  • Waste bag
  • Some cash in case ATM’s aren’t working or available

You should also be sure to add personal items specific to your needs. This can include prescription glasses, contact lenses, medicines you require or any other items you would like to have with you. It is also a good idea to keep a list of emergency contacts and at least a copy of important documents.

Please add your comments here if there are items you think should be added.