CPR Training to Prepare for a Natural Disaster

No one wants to think about natural disasters, but they are an inevitable fact of life. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), in 2018 extreme weather events affected 61.7 million people worldwide. These natural disasters included earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes and storms, volcanoes, landslides, and wildfires. Knowing what you can do to help in the face of a natural disaster can help so many people. In many cases, having CPR training during a natural disaster can increase the survival rates of those around you.

The American Red Cross notes that the most common types of natural disasters in the United States include hurricanes and winter storms in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions; tornadoes, landslides, hurricanes and earthquakes in the South; tornadoes, earthquakes and wildfires in the Midwest region; earthquakes, wildfires and winter storms in the Mountain West region; and earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, volcanoes, tsunamis and landslides in the Pacific West region.

As natural disasters are prevalent across the country and around the world, how can you best prepare for them?

Learn CPR

One of the most important things that you can do to prepare to be able to help in the event of a natural disaster is to learn CPR. Knowing the right way to provide immediate attention to those in need of cardiovascular help is vital to saving lives in all types of natural disasters.

Luckily, you don’t have to leave your house or place of business to learn CPR. National Health Care Provider Solutions, provides online CPR, AED and First Aid Certification. This training is done 100% online and you will receive a printed certification when you have completed the course.

Plan Ahead

Especially if you live in an area prone to natural disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes or wildfires, but even if you don’t, you should always plan ahead so that you will know exactly what to do if havoc strikes.

• You should have an emergency supply kit that includes first-aid items; a week’s supply of medications for you and your family members (and pets, if applicable); batteries; at least one flashlight; blankets; cell phone chargers; copies of important documents like birth certificates, passports and insurance policies; and at least three days of non-perishable food items for everyone in your family.
• Plan your escape route for yourself and your family, and know where you will meet if you get separated. Think about the best way to get out of the danger zone, where any shelters will be located within your community, who will pick up children from school, and where everyone will gather.
• Ready your vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is full of gas and topped off with fluids before a natural disaster strikes.
• Keep your cell phones charged. In case you lose power during a natural disaster, your family’s cell phones may be your only ties to helpful information to keep you alive.
• Prepare your pets. If you have pets, make sure you have designated a family member who is responsible for getting them and their gear out safely. Have their carriers, food, and supplies in a place where they are easy to remember.

During the Natural Disaster

If you are still in the area during a natural disaster and have already made sure that your family is safe, volunteer to help with the first responders. Let them know that you are trained in CPR and can assist them as necessary. Remember to check on the elderly, the very young, and the sick first, to ensure that they can get to safety with assistance.

Here are some tips for what to do in the face of specific natural disasters:

• Explosion: If you can’t get away before the explosion occurs, take cover under a sturdy shelter such as a table or desk and leave the building/area as soon as possible.
• Fire evacuation: Plan ahead and make sure all family members know how to get out of the house no matter what room they are in. If you have a second story, have escape ladders installed to enable family members to descend through windows. Don’t open a door if it is hot, as there is likely fire on the other side.
• Earthquake: Drop to the ground and get underneath a sturdy shelter. Stay there until the ground ceases to shake.
• Tornado: Designate a shelter room in your home, such as an interior room without windows, or the basement. Keep away from doors, windows and exterior walls. If you are outdoors and can’t get inside, lie flat in a low area such as a ditch.
• Hurricane: Cover your home’s windows and make sure outdoor objects are secured. Be ready to evacuate to a designated safe shelter when given notice. Turn off utilities in your home before evacuating.
• Flood: If told to evacuate, do so immediately, don’t wait. Get to higher ground if you can’t get to a designated shelter area.

Above all else, listen to and follow instruction from the authorities who are responsible for disaster coordination in your area. They will have the latest information and know what to do in case of additional disasters.

After the Natural Disaster

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, spirits will be down and many will be bewildered, not knowing what to do or how to help. The most important thing you can do is keep a clear head and remember your CPR training, as it could still be needed. Some other points to remember:

• Identify disaster relief groups in your area and pitch in to help. Your CPR training is a valuable asset.
• In case of floods or standing water, do not touch electrical equipment or downed power lines. Water is a conductor for electricity, which can kill.
• Try to avoid walking through standing water. Bacteria and diseases can lurk among flood waters.
• Don’t tie up cell phone lines if they are working. Reserve your phone for emergencies, to save battery and be able to receive updated information on the disaster.

One of the best ways to prepare for a natural disaster is to get CPR training. Visit NHCPS today to get your free online CPR training certification.