Be Ready! Disasters are hard to avoid, but you can prepare now
Third in a National Preparedness Month series
September is National Preparedness Month. This year, we’ve partnered with the Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning (CIEP) to offer preparedness tips for people with disabilities, access and functional needs.
This week’s theme is “Be Ready.” Check out this month’s other blogs in the series: “Be Alert” and “Be Connected.”
Keep important documents handy
In an emergency, you won’t want to dig through files looking for important papers. Copy, scan or save important documents on a thumb drive, CD or other portable media device. Keep them in a password-protected folder. That way, you can grab it and go. Important documents include:
- Medical papers.
- Insurance cards.
- Power of attorney.
- Identification, including passports.
- Tax returns.
- Lease, mortgage or deed.
- Vehicle titles.
You may also consider creating a computer backup system for storing important data off site.
Store hearing devices nearby
Store hearing aids or cochlear implant processors where you can find them easily, even in the dark. You could keep them by your bedside in a container that’s attached to a nightstand or bedpost with string or Velcro. Replacing or fixing devices will be difficult shortly after a major disaster.
Other items to store with emergency supplies:
- Extra batteries for hearing devices.
- Old hearing devices that still work.
Keep your pager, captioned telephone, and other wireless communication devices charged. Invest in a solar or hand-crank charger to power your devices. They can be found in outdoors stores or online. Maintain batteries and store extras for your other communications equipment. Check the owner’s manual for directions.
Ensure you can leave
In an emergency, you may need to get away from your home, so it’s important to prepare for that possibility.
- An emergency kit can save your life after a major disaster. Build a basic emergency kit with water and nonperishable foods — enough to last the household up to two weeks. Buy a little at a time each month until you have a full kit, and add other items specific to your needs.
- Put a smaller three-day kit in your car or a backpack.
- Store emergency supplies in a pack or backpack attached to a walker, wheelchair, or scooter.
- Store needed mobility aids (canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs) close to you in a consistent, convenient, and secured location. Keep extra aids in several locations, if possible.
- Keep a pair of heavy gloves in your supply kit for wheeling or making your way over broken glass or debris.
- If you use a motorized wheelchair or scooter, consider having an extra battery. A car battery can be used as a wheelchair battery, but it will not last as long as a deep-cycle wheelchair battery. Check with your vendor to learn how to charge batteries. Some connect to a vehicle battery by jumper cables or to a converter that plugs into your vehicle.
- If your chair does not have puncture-proof tires, keep a patch kit or can of “seal-in-air” to repair flat tires, or keep a supply of inner tubes.
- Store a lightweight manual wheelchair, if available.
- If you use a cane or a walker, keep extras in your emergency kit and other secured locations at work, home, school and volunteer sites to help you get around obstacles.
Know your surroundings
Do what you can now to make getting around, and out of your home, easier in an emergency.
- Arrange and secure furniture and other items for barrier-free travel.
- Anchor special equipment and large pieces of furniture, such as computers and shelving.
- If you frequently use elevators, plan and practice using alternative methods of leaving. If needed, ask your personal support network for help.
- If you cannot use stairs, discuss lifting and carrying techniques that work for you. Wheelchair users might need to leave chairs behind to exit a building safely.
- Sometimes moving someone using stairs is not practical unless two or more strong people can control the chair. Be ready to give brief instructions to your helpers on how to move you safely and the safest way to transport you if you need to be carried. Alert helpers to any areas of vulnerability. For example, the traditional “firefighter’s carry” may be hazardous for people with respiratory problems.
Develop alternate mobility cues
Place security lights in each room to light paths of travel. These lights plug into outlets and light up when there’s a power loss. Some types will operate for up to six hours. Some can even be detached and used as flashlights.
- Keep high-powered flashlights with wide beams ready. Store extra batteries.
- Anticipate losing your usual auditory cues after a major disaster, and plan accordingly.
- Be prepared to use alternative ways to navigate your environment.
- If helpful, mark emergency supplies with large print, fluorescent tape or Braille.
Stock up on medications and medical supplies
- Always keep a three-day supply of all your medications handy. And don’t forget to include any consumable medical supplies you need, such as bandages, ostomy bags or syringes.
- Store all your medications in one location, and in their original containers. Plan how to keep medications like insulin cold, if needed.
- Keep a list of medications so you can get refills during emergencies. Include the name of the medication, dosage, frequency, and the name of the prescribing doctor.
- Don’t forget durable medical equipment, consumable medical supplies, and pet medications.
Plan to power up electric medical equipment
- If you depend on electricity for a CPAP machine, oxygen, or other home medical equipment, consider investing in a generator or a backup battery system. Identify alternate sources and locations of electrical power, in case you need to leave home.
- For all durable medical equipment requiring electrical power — beds, breathing equipment or infusion pumps — check with your medical supply company about alternative power sources.
- If you use a generator, never use it indoors, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Know if your infusion pump has a battery backup, and how long it would last in an emergency.
Ask your home care provider about manual infusion techniques in case of a power outage. - Attach written operating instructions to all equipment.
Breathe easier with oxygen and breathing equipment
- If you use oxygen and/or breathing equipment, have an emergency supply for at least three days, including tubing, solutions and medications.
- Securely brace your oxygen tanks so they do not fall over. Call your medical supply company for bracing instructions.
Getting connected before an emergency strikes can help save lives. Check out these other general preparedness tips, tips for people with access and functional needs, and this handy brochure, “Make It Through.” Watch for more tips later this month on how to Be Aware.
Written by guest blogger Jim House, Emergency Planning Disability Integration Manager, Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning (CIEP). CIEP is a statewide advisory group that focuses on access and functional needs (AFN) issues before, during, and after a disaster. CIEP is a program of the Washington State Independent Living Council (WASILC) and is funded by DOH.
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