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Emergency Planning |
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Volume 1, Issue 4 |
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SAFE
Aging Newsletter |
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September 2004 |
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In This Issue:
- Emergency Planning
Principles
- Emergencies and Stress
Management
- Preparing for a Disaster
- Protect Yourself from Carbon Monoxide
Poisoning
- Ask Dr. Vanessa
- Preparing for an Emergency: Natural
Disasters
From the Editor
Last
month, Hurricane Charley cut a devastating path of destruction
across the State of Florida. Charley struck its deadly force
just a couple of hours away from our homes and businesses here
in the Tampa Bay area. With just a slight bend of fate, the
great hurricane focused its deadly force somewhere other than
here. Hurricane Charley killed 27 people in Florida last month
and caused an estimated $7.4 billion in insured damage. It could
have been us, but instead it was them!
We feel incredibly lucky to have been spared the agony and the
terror; and we feel terribly, horribly sad for our unfortunate
neighbors who are still trying to cope with the havoc, pain
and sorrow that accompanied this storm.
 We thought our business and our homes
were prepared for a hurricane, but we really weren’t prepared
at all. This week, once again, Florida was struck with another
deadly hurricane, "Frances". Much of our state was
affected, clean up is just beginning, and for those of us
without damage, we breathe another sigh of relief.
So, this month, in honor of all the people in Florida who have
been dealing with the aftermaths of miserable, life changing,
deadly emergencies, this September issue of SHARP is devoted
to emergency planning. There are terrific resources available
with lots of information. We have included a variety of Internet
resources that we think are useful.
We pray our readers never personally experience
such events, and hope this issue makes a difference.
—Dr. Vanessa M. Dazio, Editor
1.
Emergency Planning Principles
- Be alert to changing weather conditions
(purchase a weather radio or battery operated TV!).
- Have an emergency weather plan in place.
- Rehearse your various emergency plans
every six months.
- Be prepared. Know what to do.
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2.
Emergencies and Stress Management
What is an emergency?
Any emergency, regardless of type, is an event, or series
of events that can cause serious health affecting stress.
Emergencies can be caused by weather conditions such as hurricanes,
tornadoes, floods, cyclones. They can be caused by events
such as cars colliding in a motor accident; terrorism, personal
violence and abuse and other situations. Whatever the cause,
people who experience the event have related feelings that
can affect health, behavior and even safety. An emergency
is traumatic and is often characterized by feeling helpless,
out of control, frightened, horrified, threatened or all of
the above.
Why is emergency planning important?
Being prepared for an emergency can
lessen the anxiety and fear of the unknown. Thinking ahead
about actions that can be taken in the event of a safety threat,
can make a difference in reaction speed, should an emergency
actually happen. Speed can sometimes make the difference between
life or death, serious damage, minor damage or no damage.
Planning ahead makes
good sense and can reduce stress.
What are some signs or symptoms of stress?
The days after an emergency traumatic event can be very rough.
Anger, fatigue, anxiety, sleeplessness, depression are all
very normal reactions after experiencing an emergency. Usually,
these feelings go away with time. But if stress reactions
seem too difficult to handle, a referral to get medical help
right away is suggested.
There are many ways people can experience stress, and there
are many signs that can be observed. It is important to pay
attention to signs and symptoms of stress to assure health
and safety. The following is a wonderful chart that was developed
by the
Center for Disease Control and is included here.
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Common Responses to a Traumatic Event |
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Cognitive |
Emotional |
Physical |
Behavioral |
- poor concentration
- confusion
- disorientation
- indecisiveness
- shortened attention span
- memory loss
- unwanted memories
- difficulty making decisions
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- shock
- numbness
- feeling overwhelmed
- depression
- feeling lost
- fear of harm to self and/or loved ones
- feeling nothing
- feeling abandoned
- uncertainty of feelings
- volatile emotions
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- nausea
- lightheadedness
- dizziness
- gastro-intestinal problems
- rapid heart rate
- tremors
- headaches
- grinding of teeth
- fatigue
- poor sleep
- pain
- hyperarousal
- jumpiness
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- suspicion
- irritability
- arguments with friends and loved ones
- withdrawal
- excessive silence
- inappropriate humor
- increased/decreased eating
- change in sexual desire or functioning
- increased smoking
- increased substance use or abuse
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After An Emergency: Stuff you can say or do to help
 Intense, painful
reactions are common responses many people have after experiencing
an emergency. To help, you can
- Start by giving a long, sincere hug.
- Be a quiet friend.
- "Listen carefully." Listen
to what a person needs and wants to say.
- Be prepared to let the person talk
about personal feelings and reactions, and allow them to
have the feelings.
- Don’t pry or demand details. (Let
the person know you are available to listen when they feel
ready to talk.)
- Offer your personal support and be
available to help.
Ask what you can do to help!
You can help a person by asking about
the simplest of needs. What may seem "simple" may
mean so much to another. Ask what you can do, and see if you
can do it, or arrange to get the task done. For instance,
a person might be very concerned about calling an out of state
family member, relative or friend, or checking on the safety
of other loved ones. Don’t assume, ask what you can do to
help.
Other Helpful Tips
- Take the time to resolve day-to-day
conflicts so conflicts and daily life problems do not build up and
add to their stress.
- Identify other sources of support that could help
including other family and friends.
- It often helps to establish a routine, or try to stick to
routine pattern.
- Look for ways to relax. Find activities to do that could
reduce stress.
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3.
Preparing for a Disaster
Here are a few things to do when preparing for a possible disaster.
Post emergency telephone numbers in large print next to all of your
telephones. This should include police, fire, poison control, family
members, neighbors, and friends who could help you to respond to an
emergency. For a really nice form, refer to our
Emergency Numbers
PDF.
- Have at least one phone accessible in the
event of an accident.
- Learn how to turn off the utilities (water,
gas, and electricity) at the main switches.
- Get a fire extinguisher and know how to use
it.
- Install smoke detectors on each level of
your home, especially near bedrooms.
- Conduct a home hazard hunt. (Need help?
Contact SAFE Aging, Inc.)
- Stock emergency food and water supplies.
- Determine the best escape routes from your
home. Find two ways out of each room.
Make sure all of your medications are
properly labeled, and easy to get, in case of a sudden response to
an emergency.
Keep a list of medications, and ALL drugs
that cause allergic reactions, with the personal items you plan to
take in an emergency. For a good form, refer to our
Medicine Record
form.
Have assistive devices (such as cane,
walker, hearing aids) within easy reach in the event of the need
to make a sudden exit.
Find the safe places in your home for each
type of disaster.
Have a plan where you can go for lodging in
case of evacuation or other disasters which force you to leave
home.
Check your insurance coverage, keep
policies in a water tight place.
Have copies of all of your important papers
together including licenses, health record and information,
medication list, contact numbers, titles, etc.
Make sure you have a will and someone you
have designated in the event of your illness or death.
Keep all necessary emergency equipment in
one safe area. It should be easy to get to at all times. Refer to
our
Emergency Kit
and
Emergency Kit for Your Car
forms.
Other
excellent Internet resources:
Disaster
Management: Provides
federal, state, and local emergency managers on-line access
to disaster management related information, planning, and
response tools. Since its inception in November 2002, DisasterHelp.gov
has registered almost 15,000 user accounts. Services provided
by Disaster Management have been used in 43 actual emergencies
and 226 disaster preparedness exercises to assist first responders
in responding to the needs to citizens.
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4.
Protect Yourself From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning!
By Dr. John Dazio
Carbon
monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause
sudden illness and death. Carbon monoxide is found in combustion
fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline
engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas
ranges and heating systems.
Carbon monoxide from these sources can build up in enclosed
or semi-enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces
can be poisoned by breathing it. In fact, carbon monoxide poisoning
killed thousands last year.
Who's At Risk?
All people and animals are at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Certain groups - unborn babies, infants, people with chronic
heart disease, anemia and respiratory problems are more susceptible
to its effects.
Each year thousands of people in the U.S. die as a result
of gas leaks in their homes. Although hard to believe, if
not properly maintained, home appliances like your stove,
central air heater, and hot water heater can be hazardous
to your health.
What You Should NEVER Do...
- NEVER use a generator inside the home.
- NEVER burn charcoal indoors or in a garage
- NEVER use the gas range or oven to heat a home.
- NEVER leave a car running in a garage.
- NEVER use a inside a home, tent, or camper;
- NEVER service appliances without proper knowledge, skills,
and tools.
- NEVER run any of the following inside any part of the
home, basement, attic, tent or garage or any other enclosed
structure, even if the doors or windows are open. (UNLESS
THE EQUIPMENT IS PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED OR VENTED
- pressure washer
- grill
- hibachi
- lantern
- portable camping stove
- NEVER do ANY of the above actions just outside of an open
window or door where exhaust can vent into an enclosed area
How
Can You Protect Your Family from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
- Install carbon monoxide detectors.
- Make sure appliances are installed
according to manufacturer's instructions and local building codes.
Most appliances should be installed by professionals.
- Have the heating system (including chimneys
and vents) inspected and serviced annually.
- Follow manufacturer's directions for safe
operation.
- Notice problems that could indicate
improper appliance operation:
- Decreasing hot water supply
- Furnace unable to heat house or runs
constantly
- Sooting, especially on appliances
- Unfamiliar or burning odor
What
To Do With a Gas Leak If you suspect a gas leak in
your home:
- Get everyone out of the house immediately.
- Do NOT use your phone to report gas odors or leaks
- Do NOT use lighters or turn electrical switches on or off
- Call the gas company from a neighbor’s house
- Open doors and windows for more ventilation
—Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
—Indoor Air Quality Information Clearing House 1-800-438-4318
—National Institute for Occupational Safety
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5.
Ask Dr. Vanessa
by
Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD, OTR/L, (D) ABDA
Question:
If I have to evacuate my home in an
emergency, I am not leaving without my pet. Do you have any advice?
Answer:
Pets fill a special place in our heart. They
depend on us for food, safety and love. It is obvious you love your
pet very much. You have made a loving and humane decision to take
your pet with you in an emergency. This decision will affect options
you have.
For instance, if you were required to evacuate your home due
to a hurricane or a tornado and had to stay in an emergency
shelter, you would need to know the location of shelters with
space and provisions for pets. Not all shelters accommodate
pets due to health and safety regulations. Unless your pet is
a service animal trained to assist you with your physical disability,
you must find a shelter that has pet provisions. This requires
planning ahead. Have a disaster plan of action in place. It
will reduce stress for you and your pet.
Plan ahead.
- Keep a list of pet friendly places,
including phone numbers.
- Call local veterinarians or boarding
facilities to determine who has emergency shelters.
- Write name names, addresses, phone numbers
and contact names and keep close to your phone.
- Have your pets medical history and detailed
information written and stored in a water tight container (ie. a
large zip lock baggie).
- Contact hotels and motels.
- Check if no pet policies are waived during
emergencies.
- If you have a notice of impending disaster,
call ahead for advanced reservations.
- Record addresses and phone numbers of hotel
chains that have pet friendly policies.
- Ask friends and family if they could
provide emergency care or foster care if needed.
- Make sure all dogs and cats are wearing
collars that are securely fastened and have up-to-date
identification and tags.
- Attach the phone number and address of your
temporary shelter, if you know it, or of a friend or relative
outside the disaster area. (IE. put adhesive tape on the back of
your pet's ID tag, with an indelible pen, to add emergency contact
numbers or addresses in the event you are separated, because even
the most trustworthy pets may panic, hide, try to escape.
- Develop a plan so you know all of the
options you have available to you in different emergencies
For a really wonderful resource, go to
http://www.pets911.com/index.php
DEVELOP
A DISASTER PLAN
- Develop a disaster plan.
- Be prepared for all possible emergencies
- Consider the type of emergency that could
happen, and the options you would have
- Write each option down and your plan of
action
- Prepare a
Small Pet Emergency
Supplies Kit
For more information, refer to the
Humane
Society of the United States.
*Pets 911 consists
of both a web site (www.Pets911.com)
and a toll-free, automated hotline (1-888-PETS-911) that allows
pet lovers to access local information simply by providing
their zip code. You can scan through pictures of adoptable
pets posted by some 950 animal shelters and adoption groups,
and search by breed and other characteristics. You can search
tens of thousands of lost-and-found pet listings from all
areas of the United States. You can also find nearby emergency
veterinary hospitals, pet-friendly apartments, and much more.
Best of all, you
can obtain all this information for free.
http://www.pets911.com/partners/hsus/
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6.
Preparing for an Emergency: Natural Disasters
Preparing
for emergencies should include thinking about all
events that could happen in your life including emergencies
due to bio terrorism, radiation, chemicals, natural disasters
such as hurricanes, flooding or tornadoes, in-home safety and
health emergencies. Find out what natural disasters are most
common in your area. Consider the region you live in, your work,
your home.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has very useful, easy
to read information available about the following natural disasters:
- Earthquakes
- Extreme Heat
- Fires
- Floods
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- Hurricanes
- Landslide and Debris Flow (Mudslide)
- Thunderstorms
- Tornadoes
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- Tsunamis
- Volcanoes
- Wildfires
- Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
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Resource:
http://www.ready.gov/natural_disasters.html
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/index.asp
Preparing For a Tornado
Tornados
are nature's most violent storms and can happen anywhere.
Preparing for Earthquakes
Earthquakes
are often thought of as a West Coast phenomenon, yet 45 states
and territories in the United States are at moderate to high
risk from earthquakes and are located in every region of the
country. Other disasters may be more common in certain areas.
Preparing for Hurricanes
Hurricanes are severe tropical storms
that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf
of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Scientists can
now predict hurricanes, but people who live in coastal communities
should plan what they will do if they are told to evacuate.
Preparing
For a Flood
Flooding
is the nation's single most common natural disaster. Flooding
can happen in every U.S. state and territory.
Preparing
for Extreme Heat
Extremes in temperatures can be life threatening,
especially for elderly, sick, overweight, and children.
Home
Safety
TIPS
in an Emergency
If the electricity goes
off,
- First use perishable foods from the
refrigerator
- Next, use foods from the freezer.** (To
minimize the number of times you open the freezer door, post a
list of freezer contents on freezer door.)
- Finally, use nonperishable foods (canned
and stored staples)
**In a well-filled, well-insulated freezer,
foods will usually still have ice crystals in their centers (meaning
foods are safe to eat) for at least three days.
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SAFE AGING
LEARNING CENTER
This is a reminder to
take a look at the
SAFE AGING LEARNING CENTER. There is something for
everyone in our learning center. There are excellent
resources to learn about safety, health, injury prevention
and other useful resources and information. We add to this
list continually for your
learning pleasure.
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