When it comes to emergency response planning, you need to make sure that you are ready for anything. But, everyone has different lifestyles, and sometimes, responding to the emergency depending on what you do is important to learn and understand. Here, you’ll learn how to improve your emergency response planning based on your lifestyle, and tips to help with this.
Understand Your Environment and Make a Plan
You need to make sure first and foremost that you know your environment. Do a sweep around the house. Look at your workplace and see if they have an emergency plan in place. Remember, you’re putting your life on the line here, and one big part of an emergency evacuation plan is to make sure that you know the environment, where the exits are, where to go in case there is a fire or natural disaster, and what you need to know. Plan this ahead, and create a plan.
You should also know what where to take shelter, where to evacuate to, if you have a shelter in place, and also any lockdown assistance that is needed. If you are living in an apartment, you should discuss this with the building manager to see what they have in place too.
With your home, you should make sure there are at least two different evacuation areas for your building, and enough light to navigate. If there are any hazards, move them around, and make sure that you can get through wherever you need to go.
Have contact information on Hand
This isn’t just calling the emergency services; this is also informing your emergency contact that you’re in trouble. Have a list of contacts you can talk to in the event of an emergency, and make sure that information is on hand, whether it is in a card, on a phone, or wherever. Make sure that you know this, and make sure that if possible, you know how to contact them as fast as you can. This is very important because if you do have any medical or personal issues, you’ll want to talk to them and have someone who can help you. If you have pets, make sure that you have their contact information and records on hand, and if you have kids, have their medical records on hand.
Run you Plan
Next, actually walk through the plan. Know what to do in case if there is an emergency, look at every place you use, and make sure there are no hazards. Make sure you know just how far you need to go in the event of an evacuation. If you have natural disasters, such as tornadoes, test out going into the space and sitting in there, and make sure it will realistically hold you and work for you and your family. You should also make sure that any emergency kits are always stocked, and all information is put into the proper bags.
Keep Emergency Supplies on hand at all times
If you need proper emergency supplies, such as food, medications, any other items that can be used in an emergency such as sandbags for floods and the like, make sure you put them in a place where you can get them. I don’t advise putting them in a basement because they could be rendered unusable if a flood happens, but instead put it in a location that’s easy to access. You can create bug-out bags and you can even put these in your car or office. By making sure you have the supplies on hand, you’ll be much safer, and happier as well.
Get Your Family and Friends Involved
Finally, make sure your family and friends know your emergency plan as well. Friends should know in the event that they have to help you out, and family should know for obvious reasons. If you’re in trouble, you should make sure to let others know, and by helping the family understand how to get out of every single situation, it allows for the family to be just as prepared as you are, so that they’re kept safe in the event of an emergency. They can run the plan with you, and they should know where to go in case disaster strikes and you’re not around.
Preparing for disasters is something that’s quite important, and if you’re not ready to face a disaster, you should make sure that you take some time and make a plan. Emergency plans can ultimately save your life and the lives of your family and friends, so always make sure that they know how to go about getting to where they need to go in the event of an emergency, and any protocol that should be taken whenever a disaster strikes.
