Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
With the active hurricane season and Earl to bring heavy rain tonight, we are reminded once again of the veracity of his words. But, it isn't only hurricanes that threaten us. Things like bridge fires can also occur, and did, this past week. An overturned truck can block traffic and people can be stuck in an area with no egress, which also happened here in Gloucester recently. On the more serious side, there can be everything from earthquakes to terrorist attacks, and, while no one is suggesting that we panic about those possibilities, it does make sense to take at least some elementary precautions.
We all know that we should have a "grab 'n' go" bag in case of emergency or evacuation, but how many of us really have one? We know that we should have some survival supplies in our cars, but do we? If not, it may be time to rethink how seriously we have taken the idea of being prepared.
September is Preparedness Month, so what better time than now?
So, what should be included in an emergency supply kit? Most authorities agree that it's sensible to have these items:
Non-perishable food; at least a 3- to 5-day supply for each person in the household.
First aid kit with manual.
Battery-powered radio and extra batteries.
Flashlights and extra batteries.
Sleeping bags or "space blankets."
Water purification supplies (chlorine or iodine tablets or ordinary household chlorine bleach).
Toiletries.
Supplies for babies or pets.
Medication or other medical supplies.
Copies of important documents and phone numbers.
For your automobile, add booster cables, maps, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, work gloves, writing supplies, extra cash, a change of clothing, an extra jacket or sweater, wool hat (people lose most of their body heat through the head), and some basic tools.
A pet "grab 'n' go" bag should have pet waste disposal bags, extra collars and leashes with ID tags on the collars, copies of health and vaccination records, cloth muzzles or gauze (in case of pet injury so that helpers don't get bitten), blankets for warmth, soft or folding crate for each pet (you may not be admitted to people shelters, and your pet may have to be crated to be accommodated somewhere else - shelters run out of crates fast!), food and water for each pet (at least a 3-day supply), a couple of toys and some treats, and a pet first aid kit.
Of course, people, and pets, have different needs. Young families may have to plan for a baby's needs. If someone is disabled, physically or mentally, they may need assistance with preparedness from other family members. The key is to start! After all, as Howard Ruff points out, "It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark."
For more information on preparedness, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's site: http://www.ready.gov/. Information is also available from the Department of Health and Human Services at: http://www.phe.gov/emergency/Pages/default.aspx. That site includes disaster-specific information on how to prepare for, and survive, various occurrences, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme heat, tsunamis, etc.
For information specific to Massachusetts, residents can visit the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) site at http://tinyurl.com/navua. Massachusetts residents can also use the statewide 211 telephone system for non-emergency information about disaster relief services. The system is in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Of course, residents should use 911 if they encounter an emergency situation.
Anne Springer is the public relations director of SeniorCare Inc., your local area agency on aging. To reach SeniorCare, call 978-281-1750.
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