Get Prepared: For Seniors and People with Disabilities
Emergencies can present additional challenges for seniors and people with disabilities. Being prepared for any emergency takes planning. While the Township responds to disasters, only you can take steps to identify the risks you may face and ensure your safety. Plan to be self-sufficient for several days without help or emergency services. When a disaster occurs, your personal needs, such as replacing medications may not happen right away. Work out a plan that fits your needs and is simple to put into action. By planning ahead, you will feel more confident about protecting yourself following an emergency, whether it is a house fire, power outage, hurricane, or terrorist attack.
It is important to know how a disaster my affect you. Determine what resources and supplies you may need, and share this information with caregivers or emergency contacts. The following steps will help you better identify and access your needs and take control or your actions during disasters.
Develop A Plan
Develop a disaster plan for each place you spend time – home, work, school and community. Consider the following recommendations to ensure your plan bests meets your needs.
- Establish a personal support network with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and determine how you will help each other in any emergency. Do not depend on one person only.
- Ask those who form your support network to:
- Know how to contact you anytime critical information becomes available.
- Check on you immediately after an emergency.
- Keep a spare set of important keys.
- Know where your emergency supply kit is kept.
- Have copies of important documents, such as information about medication and dosage, equipment and other needs.
- Learn about your personal needs and how to help you in an emergency.
- If you receive home-based care, include caregivers in developing your plan and familiarize yourself with your homecare agency’s emergency plan.
- If you have a pet or service animal, also plan for his or her needs.
- If you rely on home-delivered meals; stock nonperishable foods at home in case deliveries are suspended during an emergency.
- Have a plan with your doctor that addresses emergency prescription refills, if possible.
- If you receive dialysis or other medical treatments, find out your provider’s emergency plan, including where your back-up site is located.
- If you rely on medical equipment that requires electrical power, contact your medical supply company for information regarding a back-up power source such as a battery. Follow the manufacture’s directions when installing the equipment and battery back-up. If you use a portable generator for emergency power follow the manufacture’s directions for safe operation and check with local fire officials for regulations governing generator and fuel use.
- If you rely on oxygen, talk to your vendor about emergency replacements.
Planning For Outside The Home
Get involved in all places you spend time, such as school, work or senior centers. If there is no plan encourage managers or administrators to develop one. Make sure they are aware of any needs you or those you care for may have.
Assemble An Emergency Supply Kit
Keep enough supplies in your home to survive on your own for at least three days. You may also consider additional supplies and equipment when compiling your kit, based on your special needs. These items may include:
- Back-up medical equipment.
- Style and serial numbers of medical devices and usage instructions.
- Supplies for pets and service animals.
- Contact information for your doctors and pharmacist.
Put Together A Go Bag
Assemble a Go Bag – a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation. Consider additional items such as:
- Instructions for any device you may use.
- Emergency heath information card.
- Medication and other essential personal items. Be sure to refill medications before they expire. Include a list of medications you take, why you take them and their dosages.
- Aerosol tire repair kits to repair flat wheelchair or scooter tires and/or tire inflator.
- Supplies for pets and service animals.
- Back-up medical equipment.
Be Prepared To Evacuate
Evacuation should be addressed as part of your emergency planning efforts both for your home and places you spend time. Seniors and people with disabilities should take the following considerations into account when making evacuation plans:
- Determine if you will need assistance in emergency evacuation, including how you will get to a safe place or shelter
- Determine all usable exits from each room and your building. Make a habit identifying exits whenever you are in a new location (i.e. shopping mall).
- Know evacuation plans for all places you spend time. Often buildings have fire officials who are responsible for evacuation plans. Be sure to let the fire officials know what special assistance you or those you care for may need in an emergency.
- Practice dealing with different circumstances or unforeseen situations, such as blocked paths or exits.
- Teach members of your support network how to operate your equipment in an emergency.
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