Your Survival Blog
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Just a Few Steps to Help you Thrive
Recent tornadoes and extreme winter weather across the United States serve as grim reminders of the unpredictability of Mother Nature. Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez offers some helpful tips to prepare your household and family before a disaster strikes, as well as some tips if you did not prepare as much as you would have liked.
Emergency managers, contingency planners and disaster preparedness educators nationwide sing a common refrain; the need for a coordinated disaster preparedness effort is not news. The need for meaningful and effective disaster preparedness funding is not a recent revelation. The Institute of Medicine and the National Academies of Science have published three reports calling for increased funding, more coordinated planning, effective and meaningful drills and the widespread adoption of High Fidelity Immersion Simulation by the medical community and the rest of the disaster response community. Outspoken advocates for the American people form a cacophonous symphony of concern. But is anyone listening as this band plays on?
What can you do when disaster strikes?
Well, if you didn’t prepare ahead:
1. Don’t panic – this is easier said than done. With a few must-haves you’ll be able to survive at least 72 hours. By then communications should be back up and help will be on its way.
2. Use common sense – if it ain’t yours, don’t touch it. If the power line that fell is not yours, don’t touch it, and if the stray dog isn’t yours, don’t touch it. This will help you remain safe.
3. Don’t wander – wherever you are from, you know the dangers there. This is not the time to learn something new. See rule one.
4. Seek help – talk to neighbors, friends, and other family members. Don’t go it alone. There is safety and strength in numbers.
But since it is always better to plan ahead, here is a short list of “must-haves”:
1. Tarp – Not one for your roof. If you’re outside you can create shade; if your shelter is gone, it provides shelter, and condensation to collect and cool drinking water.
2. Crank- or shake-type flashlight – when it’s still overcast and there is no moon, nothing is darker than dark.
3. Crank-type radio with cell-phone charger – receive information and send messages through wireless.
4. First aid kit – small personal ones for each person in the family that you can carry in a backpack.
5. Backpack packed before disaster strikes – list of basics can be forwarded.
6. Water – most people think food and water, but this one is left until the end on purpose. Obesity is found in more than 50% of the population. Most can live off what they have stored for 3 to 5 days. However, water is not stored in the human body, it must be replenished. Two gallons per person per day is ideal which will cover only drinking, not flushing or washing; two quarts is minimum.
With these few steps, you can ensure that while others are fiddling, you are thriving.
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