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Emergency

How to Prepare for a Fire

A fire can be devastating to your home, but if you prepare ahead of time, you can either minimize the potential damage, or prevent it entirely.

When you buy a new home, buy one with a sprinkler system installed. Many new constructions offer this option and it goes a long way to preventing a fire from spreading.
Make copies of important documents and keep one copy in a fireproof container and the other at a friend’s or family member’s home.
Have an escape plan ready in the event you must evacuate the home.
Have smoke detectors installed and in working order on all levels of your home.
Keep combustible materials away from the furnace, water heater and outlets.
Have fire extinguishers in various places around the home, and also have a Class k extinguisher for grease fires.
Make sure exits like doors and windows aren’t obstructed and are in working order.
Clean and inspect your chimney regularly.
Have the fire department perform an inspection on your home and follow their instructions and advice.
Practice escaping during a fire ahead of time and have a ladder capable of reaching the ground from the second floor.

How to Prepare for a Flood

Every year flooding occurs throughout the United States; but there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for when one occurs.

Before the Flood

During spring runoff or heavy rains, listen to warnings and advisories on radio and television.
Prepare your residence for an extended leave of absence in case you are evacuated. Collect personal items, clothes, cash, medications and medical supplies, important papers and identification, and leave it where you can grab it quickly.
Remove valuable items from your basement and lower level living areas; place them on the second floor if possible.
Charge your cell phone.
Inquire at kennels for your pet in the event you must leave your home, many shelters don’t take pets.
Evacuate as soon as you are ordered to do so and head to the nearest shelter or friend’s home outside the flood zone.
Secure boats and loose items on piers and docks.

During a Flood

Shut off electricity to your home, furnace and outside gas values if you are able to safely.
Do not try to cross a flooded street or area on foot and do not try to drive across a flooded street.

How to Prepare for a Tornado

Tornadoes are one of the most destructive natural forces on Earth. It is possible to survive one if you follow these steps in preparing for a potential storm.

Long before tornado season, gather emergency supplies such as food, medication, bottled water, batteries, flashlights, important documents, maps and have your car always full of gas.
During a severe storm, listen to updated advisories and warnings; if a tornado is approaching, get inside your home immediately or inside a sturdy building.
Take shelter in the basement, preferably in a small bathroom or closet; or on the first floor interior bathroom or small closet. If you have a tornado shelter, go there right away.
Stay away from windows and doors; if you are in a main room, get under furniture and cover your head with a pillow, blanket or cushion.
If you are driving, stop your car and get into a ditch (if possible and there is no flooding), do not hide under an underpass or overpass.
Leave your mobile home and head to the park’s shelter immediately.
If you are caught outside, find a low lying area, gully, or ditch.
Don’t try to outrun a tornado; cars and large trucks have been blown over by strong winds.

How to Prepare for an Earthquake

No matter what magnitude an earthquake in your region is, there are simple steps you can take to prepare ahead of time. If you follow these steps exactly, you will increase your chance of surviving even a large earthquake.

Before an Earthquake

Have a plan ready – where to meet, contact numbers, teach children how to dial 911 and have an outside communication person in case communications goes down in your area. Also identity safe places outside and inside the home (under tables, sturdy furniture etc.)
Fasten all shelves securely to the wall, place heavy objects on lower shelves, store breakable items in lower, closed cabinets.
Secure all heavy furniture, water heater, light fixtures, pictures etc. and don’t have pictures over beds or back of chairs or couches.
Have all family members know how to turn off the gas, electricity and water.
Keep disaster supplies on hand, this means batteries, medical supplies, first aid kit, drinking water and food, cash, sturdy shoes and clothes.

During the Earthquake

Take cover under sturdy furniture like a table or against an indoor wall, away from windows and glass.
Stay inside the building until the shaking stops.
If outside, move into the open away from buildings and any poles and utility wires.

How to Prepare for a Volcano

Thousands of people live in the shadow of a dormant volcano and there is a chance those citizens could see an eruption in their lifetime. How can you prepare for a potential volcanic eruption?

Create an Emergency Supply Kit

If a neighboring volcano erupts you will either have to shelter in place or evacuate and you need to have emergency supplies on hand; portable so you can take them with you. You should have an evacuation plan in place long before any threat of eruption occurs if the need arises. Your kit should include:

First Aid Kit
Flashlight and extra batteries
Emergency canned food and water bottles
Non-electric can opener
Medicines
Sturdy shoes and changes of clothes
Breathing protection or respirator
Eye protection (goggles)
Battery powered radio

Evacuate When Told To

If local authorities tell you to evacuate, then do so right away. Always listen to the radio or television for updates on the eruption and listen to disaster sirens or warning signals. When you evacuate only take essential items with you, take clean water and place your car under cover if possible. If you have pets, make sure any shelter you may go to will accepts animals as many will not.

If you shelter at home, stay away from windows and stay in the interior of your home; close the fireplace damper and turn off air conditioning and the furnace. Keep all doors and windows closed and locked and stay inside until you get the all clear from the local authorities.

How to Prepare for Lightning

Lightning is one of nature’s most dangerous yet beautiful aspects. There is enough energy in a single bolt to power a city the size of New York City for approximately one month. This also means a lightning strike is incredibly dangerous to your health. How can you prepare yourself or your home for a potential lightning strike?

If you find yourself outside, seek shelter immediately. This doesn’t mean under a tree, as tall trees are often hit by lightning; especially if they are the only standing object in a field. Instead, seek refuge in a car or building at the first sign of lightning or when you hear thunder.
When you are inside your home, avoid taking showers or baths, washing dishes and turn your TV off and don’t use a landline phone. Try not to use any appliance that uses electricity.
Stay inside your home or building for at least 30 minutes after you last see a flash of lightning or hear thunder. It is possible to still be struck from a storm that is as far as 10 miles away.
If you do find yourself outside with no car or possible shelter to go to, stay away from lakes, rivers or other bodies of water and trees. Try to find a low area or depression on the ground, like a ditch if it’s not flooded and crouch down, with your feet flat, don’t lie down.

How to avoid drowning

Beach is absolutely the best place to visit during warm weathers, the blue water, playful waves, and relaxing ambiance surely helps you unwind. However, there are lots of risks in swimming in an open sea and there are lots of things to consider in order to have a safe, fun, and relaxing swimming.

Here are some very useful tips on how to avoid drowning at sea and some helpful guidelines on how to be extra careful when you are at it, especially when you have kids:

Choose a beach with lifeguards – It is highly advisable to choose a beach that is patrolled by professional lifeguards. This surely adds to your security and peace of mind when swimming. Although extra precaution should still be observed especially with children. Usually, patrolled beaches place yellow or red flags to serve as a warning for all the swimmers and sometimes, it also acts as the symbol of safe zone.
Trust your instinct – If you feel something weird or bad about a certain sea do not proceed with the swimming. This usually happens if you are unfamiliar with the particular sea, if you feel nervous or what not, stay out of the water to avoid accidents or any other unfortunate event from happening. There are lots of things that you can enjoy while on the beach except swimming such as sunbathing while zipping fruit shakes, make sand castles with the kids, and many more.
Keep an eye to each other – This is very important in ensuring your family’s safety around the beach. Try to have swim buddy if you are planning to go far and make sure that all kids and those who do not know how to swim are all in the shallow part of the sea. Make sure to keep an eye to family members to ensure their safety all the time.
Do not Panic – This is perhaps one of the most important things that you should remember just in case you experience muscle cramps or any other accident at the sea. This is not easy, but you need to try your best to relax and raise one of your arms to get someone’s attention. You need to remember that the more you struggle, the more likely for you to be drowned and it would be more difficult for someone to save you.
Orient all your companions – Being prepared is definitely the best prevention. Before you go to the beach, make sure that all your companions and family members are well oriented on the things that they have to do just in case any accident at the sea happens. It is very important that they know the risks in swimming at the open sea, not to scare them but in order for them to attain self-awareness. This totally helps them to become extra careful when at sea.

Swimming at sea is indeed a very fun activity, but it might also be very dangerous if you are not careful. By following these guidelines you are sure to have additional protection while at sea.