How to Prepare Your Home for Emergencies
Posted: Monday, March 01, 2010
by Gabriella Gometra
Nowadays, with all of the natural disasters happening in our world, one can never know when and where the next one will strike. This is why it is very important to be prepared for anything at all times, so that you won't be caught off guard. Just a little preparation could save you and your family's life, so don't be hesitant in preparing for emergencies.
Everyone in the family should know where to find the first-aid kit, the emergency supplies, and any other necessities that they will need during an emergencies. Make sure that everyone has a flashlight and shoes underneath their bed in case of an earthquake. Draw a map of your home and mark the best paths and exits to go through in case of an emergency. If in case your family gets separated in case of an emergency, set a place to meet up if you need to evacuate your house.
It is very important to pay special attention to your children's needs when preparing for an emergency. Make sure that they are there when you talk about emergency preparedness and safety. Help them remember their vital information in case they get lost and need to find their guardians. You should make an emergency identification card including their last name, address, telephone number, parents' numbers, and other important information. Teach your children about 911 and how to call them. You can have role-plays to show them how to call.
Give them proper lessons on what not to do during an emergency, such as touching electric wires on the ground or going into unsafe places. Teach them what to do if they cannot find their parents, and teach them the exit routes. Also, make sure that they know the basic Drop, Cover and Hold, Stop Drop and Roll procedures.
When an emergency occurs, things inside your house can be dangerous. But there are many ways that you can make your home safer with just some simple methods. Firstly, make sure that your beds are away from windows and that you have smoke detectors in every floor of your house with charged batteries, along with ABC type fire extinguishers. If there are any mirrors or pictures hanging on your walls, make sure that there are no couches placed beneath them. And if you have shelves, put the heaviest objects on the lowest levels. Keep chemicals like bleach and ammonia away from each other and safely sealed since these are dangerous, especially when mixed together.
These are just a few of the ways you can prepare your family and children for emergencies. Take advantage of all the learning materials offered to adults and children at your local fire station or police station. Reinforce what your children learn in school about emergencies by having conversations with them and practices, like fire drills, at home.
Author Credit: Gabriella Gometra, stay-at-home mother and writer, builds sites on a diverse number of topics, such as the large parrot cage for cockatoos and macaws and hanging bird cages for smaller birds.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)An interesting article which presents some straight-forward yet vital advice.This has definately opened my eyes to potential dangers in my home that I had never considered would be dangerous. Going to move the mirror from above my sofa in the living room today.Thank you, keep up the good work.Aww. Thanks for the comment. It is nice to know that I may have helped someone.Aww. Thanks for the comment. It is nice to know that I may have helped someone.
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