Build A Better Hurricane Kit

July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Hurricane season is in full swing and it is once again time to put together a hurricane survival kit. Creating a small kit, containing the essentials, is important for anyone who lives in an area that is prone to hurricanes. Taking the time to build your kit can help make sure you and your family can ride out a storm. Luckily, they are pretty easy to build.

First, remember that there is a very good chance you will have no electricity for a good part of the storm clean-up. Be sure your kit has everything you will need to see, cook, and comfort yourself. Keep an extra propane tank ready. Include several flashlights and lanterns, as well as the batteries needed to run them. Your kit should also contain extra storm candles. Matches will come in handy as well.

Next, remember that in many cases there are problems with the water supply. Your kit should include water purification tablets or bottled water. The rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water per person, per day. You want to aim for about 14 days.

You should create a first aid kit as well. You will need band-aids, anti-septic, burn cream, and bug repellent. Include any required medication as well.

Finally, be sure you have plenty of food available. Powered milk is ideal for families with small children. Soup, chili, rice, and any other food that can be cooked on your propane cook top will do. Again, keep in mind you may have no power for multiple days, so plan accordingly.

In reality, you can only be so ready for a hurricane. Always heed warnings from local officials and evacuate when requested.

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Being Prepared for a Natural Disaster

June 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Natural disasters, such as a fire, can occur without warning and cause injury to your family along with extensive damage to your personal property. Preventing them is the first step to protecting you and your family.

One of the most essential things to do in your home is to have a smoke alarm in each room of your home that is occupied. They should be checked annually to make sure they are working and have the batteries switched out. The next step is to lay out an emergency evacuation plan in case of a home fire. Each family member should know the proper escape routes out of the room, have a set meeting area and know how to contact emergency authorities. Practice evacuating your home periodically to keep it fresh in everyone’s mind.

Keep a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen in an easy to locate spot and teach everyone how to use it. It is also smart to keep a container of baking soda nearby in case of a grease fire on the stove. Small appliances should only be plugged into GFCI outlets, which are designed to cut off in case of an overload.

Throughout your home, limit the use of extension cords and make sure that they are not overloaded. Too many appliances plugged into an extension cord can cause it to overheat and possible start a fire. They also should never be placed under furniture or carpeting. When you use one, make sure to position it out of the way where people could fall and trip over it. By keeping safety in mind, you can prevent a home fire.

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What to Consider Before a Flood Occurs

June 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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When a flood hits, it can cause damage to property, farm crops and commercial structures. Being prepared before one hits can help you to stay safe and avoid unnecessary hardship.

One item that many overlook is flood insurance, which is essential coverage to have if you are in a high risk area. Flood insurance is often not included in your basic home owner’s insurance policy and must be purchased separately. You should review your policy with your agent and make sure that you are covered. You also need to make sure that you carry enough coverage to protect your personal property, especially if you have made any recent improvements to your property.

Flash floods can be extremely dangerous, causing small stream and rivers to rise unexpectedly. If you hear a roaring noise from upriver near one, move immediately to higher ground. You should also avoid driving into water that has flooded over a road. Flood waters can easily sweep a vehicle away if they are strong enough, no matter how low the water may look. The best idea is to turn around and take an alternate route.

Keep abreast of local weather conditions and keep a weather radio nearby. These can help you to be aware of flash flood watches and warnings, which are extremely important if you live in a low lying area. Have a plan in place to evacuate your family to higher ground in the event of a flood. It is also wise to keep some emergency supplies on hand, such as bottled water, flashlights, extra batteries, a weather radio and a first aid kit.

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Why You Should be Trained in First Aid

June 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

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First aid is one of the most valuable things that you can be be trained in if an emergency were to occur. You can offer a helping hand when the unexpected occurs.

You can get certified in first aid through a class offered by your local Red Cross chapter, ambulance service and from local firefighters. These courses usually last a day, going over basic first aid and CPR. At the end of the class you will take a test that reviews the written material and the methods you learned from the instructor. Your certification is good for a set time, usually one to two years, and then must be renewed.

This knowledge is invaluable if you are in an emergency situation, during a natural disaster or in the case of an accident. You will have the basic knowledge to help someone until the emergency professionals can arrive. Once certified, you should carry your certification with you at all times and periodically refresh your training to keep it fresh in your mind. This way you will be up to date on the latest techniques, which can change over time. These classes take you through approaching a scene, ascertaining injuries and helping the person in the correct manner. Many courses also offer training on first aid and CPR for infants, which is valuable to have as well.

With proper training and certification, you could save a life when you least expect it. The key is to pay close attention in the course and periodically update your knowledge. This gives you the best chance to be of help when needed in an emergency.

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When an Injury Occurs, Who’s at Fault?

May 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you’ve been injured, you may be wondering if there is a possibility to sue someone for the injuries that you’ve received to pay for the medical bills, lost pay from not being able to work, and pain and suffering you received because of your injuries.

So how can you figure out who is at fault? The easiest way is to consult with a Los Angeles California personal injury lawyer to see what he or she thinks about the case, but here are some basics for determining fault.

Accountable for Safety

The first thing you’ll want to determine is who was responsible for your safety. If you were at work when the injury occurred, then it would be your employer. If you were at a retail establishment, then it would be the store you were at. If you were driving and were hit by another car, then it would be the driver of that car.

Were You Acting Responsibly?

The next question you’ll want to ask is if you were acting responsibly or if you were acting negligently. For example, if you were messing around at work by standing on something that you knew wasn’t safe, and then you’d be at least partially responsible for the injuries that occurred. This could mean that you won’t get as big of a settlement, and it could mean you won’t qualify for a settlement at all.

When it comes to who is at fault for an injury, its common sense. If another party could have prevented you from being injured, but through negligence caused your injury, then they are at fault.

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Fires Can Be a Preventable Natural Disaster

May 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Fires are natural disasters that ravage thousands of acres each year. Often, they occur naturally as a result of something like a lightening strike. However, many are preventable. They are man made disasters caused by the carelessness of humans.  Here are a few things to remember when your area is under a burn ban.

Never Burn Trash During a Burn Ban

Many people think that a fire would never get out of control in their yard, but they can, and it happens fast. If you are in an area that is under a burn ban, always follow it strictly. The smallest barrel of burning trash can ignite trees, grass and shrubs with one big gust of wind. Although you may think you’re prepared to keep that from happening, you are no match for nature.  Even smoldering embers in the bottom of a container can start a wildfire.

Don’t Throw Cigarette Butts On the Ground

Cigarettes can easily ignite a fire if the conditions are dry enough. Many smokers don’t even think about it as they toss that butt out of their moving car. Have you ever driven by a little black and burned spot on the side of the road? Think what would happen if someone hadn’t been around to stop that little fire from becoming a natural disaster.

Carry An ABC Fire Extinguisher

Carry an all purpose, or ABC fire extinguisher in your car. If you spot a small fire, you can prevent a major emergency response action. Be ready, when the weather is dry, to stop that natural disaster.

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Always Carry These Things In Your Car

May 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Regardless where you live in the United States, you are likely prone to some sort of natural disaster. It could be a hurricane or tornado, or it could be fires or earthquakes. A blizzard can turn the drive home from work into a serious emergency. Therefore there are five things you should always keep in your car.

Flashlight - Even in non-emergencies, it makes sense to carry a flashlight. If you have to exit your car in the dark, this little light might keep you from stumbling. It will also help you if you need to change a tire in the dark. If you’re stranded, the flashlight can save the car battery by serving as necessary illumination.

Blanket – Folks who are subject to blizzards really understand the importance of this tool. However, in an emergency response situation, your blanket might help a car accident victim in shock.

Hand Sanitizer - You can’t always clean your hands in an emergency. Whether you’re helping with an accident or stranded during a forest fire, keeping clean is key to reducing infection.

First Aid Kit – This is a bit of a no-brainer, but a surprising number of drivers don’t have one.

Paper Towels - Along with hand sanitizer, paper towels are an easy way to stay sanitary should you need to clean up after a disaster or accident.

Finally, make sure you have emergency contact numbers in your glove box and also programmed into your phone. Type in “ICE” along with the number of your emergency contact. First responders will know who to call in case of an emergency.

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When Floods are Unavoidable

May 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Although floods are certainly a natural disaster, sometimes they are initiated by people. Hundreds of years ago, a swollen river could engulf a town, but as more and more people populated the big river basins, engineers learned how to harness those waters and control the release of the abundance.

Dams are designed to control the flow of too much water. They also help supply water energy for electricity. Organizations like the Lower Colorado River Authority dam large rivers, create reservoirs or lakes, and then control how the water flows downstream. The advantage is that awesome recreational lakes are formed, rivers stay more constant, and water supplies are created. The disadvantage is that even river authorities have no control over the weather and how much rain falls in a given amount of time.

If you live in an area that is downstream to a major dam, always follow the emergency response teams instructions about the release of water. Dams allow the emergency personnel a chance to get folks to higher ground. The river authority knows exactly how much water they’ll let out, but if it’s raining downstream, no one can predict how much water will be added to that extra flow.

Water is a powerful force and floods are extremely deadly. Even a swollen creek can kill someone. Never drive across a submerged road, and never try to swim in flooded waterways. Human strength is no match for a rushing, flooded river. If you are warned to leave a low lying area, do so immediately. It will most likely save your life.

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The Hurricane Protocol

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A hurricane can be a rather scary event. It can destroy lives, homes and the community. It can be the kind of thing that can bring out the best and the worst in people. If you are moving to an area that is known for having hurricanes then it is never too late to be prepared. Here are some things you can do in order to get yourself ready in the event of a hurricane.

The first thing you might want to do after you get your supplies is get yourself a chainsaw. You might not immediately associate hurricane with chainsaw, but it can be an invaluable tool. If you are larger trees in the area you might want a chainsaw just so that as you are driving you can help clear the road for others. Many downed trees in the area can make people captive by not giving them a place to go. Having a chainsaw can give them a chance to help themselves and others.

You will also want to make sure that you get yourself a medical bag. This is helpful because in the event of the hurricane you can not count on the emergency services to be able to get to you in time. This is why have an emergency and a portable medical kit can do wonders for you.

Now the best way to do this is to get yourself a tackle box and fill it with the things that you need. You’ll want things to help you with minor first aid needs and you will also want to outfit it with everything you could ever need for cuts and swelling reduction. Make sure it’s something that you can bring with you as you take cover and that it’s something you can bring wherever you need it.

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Getting Hurricane Ready Early

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Let’s say that you are new to an area that has been stricken by hurricanes, then what do you do? It’s easy to panic and feel as if the situation is hopeless but the reality is that there are plenty of things you should and will do in order to keep you and your family safe from the hurricane season.

The key is to be ready from the start. Hurricane season starts in the beginning of June and it ends somewhere near the end of November. It’s a long time and it’s just what you need to do to be prepared. You must know that no matter what you are going to be affected by a hurricane. There is no way to avoid it, but all you can do is try and weather the storm.

You want to be ahead of schedule when it comes to the supplies that you get. Many wait until they hear about the hurricane coming. The problem with that is by the time you hear of it the stores have already been raided by those who are already ahead of you in their own hurricane kit. You are looking for things that will keep you going, even without power. Not to mention the fact that the longer you wait, the further it drives up the price. Getting yourself situated for the Hurricane season early is a very big deal and it could save you a ton of time and grief in the long run. Don’t ever make the mistake again of not being prepared when you should be.

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