Disaster!

Is your family prepared?

Flood experts

Lynne Reismeier (left) loves her Easton home on the Delaware. “It’s so beautiful here, and we can walk out our door and swim, boat, fish and enjoy the river,” she says. The downside: three floods in 22 months. Reismeier and her family (she’s shown with daughter Meridith Gibbons) have learned how to cope. Read her story and flood strategies at here. For a free video on preparing for disasters, call 610-402-CARE.

Your Community, Your Hospital

Since a safe community is vital to good health, we’re partnering with the Pennsylvania Regional Community Policing Institute in Allentown in its efforts to make neighborhoods safe. The institute teaches community members and law enforcement agencies how to recognize and report suspicious activity, address domestic violence and value cultural diversity. It also offers the national program COPS in Schools. In the past year, 1,015 police officers, government officials and community members in Pennsylvania completed the institute’s training.

Most people don’t give much thought to disaster planning, but when something happens, they wish they had. Though it isn’t pleasant to think about, having a disaster plan increases your peace of mind. Whatever the crisis, it’s vital that all family members know how to respond. Here are some topics for your family planning meeting:

Fire
Evaluate your house and take care of fire hazards like faulty wiring or gas lines. Define two escape routes and practice safe evacuation procedures with your children. Make sure family members understand they need to get out as quickly as possible at the first sign of smoke or flame, and not go back for pets or valuables. Set up a meeting place—like a neighbor’s mailbox—where everyone can gather after exiting the house. Don’t try putting out the blaze with a home fire extinguisher.

Flood
Decide where to go if you’re evacuated. Choose a meeting place in case you’re separated and can’t return to your neighborhood. Establish a contact person for all family members to call, someone in another city or state, as you may not be able to phone across town. If your basement floods, don’t attempt to wade through it—the water may be electrified. If your neighborhood is in danger of flooding, get out early and go to a shelter or a friend or relative’s home. Don’t wade or drive through standing water. Debris or live electrical wires could be under the surface, or the road could be washed away.

Winter storm
Pay attention to warnings and stock up on supplies. Plan how to live without electricity for several hours. If you have a portable non-electric heater, be sure it’s approved for indoor use. Don’t go out during the storm. Hazardous road conditions cause accidents, and people can suffer from exposure, have heart attacks while shoveling snow or break bones falling on ice.

Flu epidemic
Make sure everyone in your family is immunized unless your doctor advises against it. Get enough rest; your body is more susceptible to flu when you’re exhausted. If there is a flu outbreak, avoid contact with people who may have the disease. Don’t go to church, the movies or large public gatherings. Seniors and young children need to be especially careful.

Want to Know More about making a family disaster plan and survival kit or preparing for a flood? Click above. About smoke alarms, coping with flu, or how Lehigh Valley Hospital is prepared for disasters? Click on the links in the column on the right side of this page.

A Basic Survival Kit
Assemble a survival kit of items your family will need for 24-48 hours, and make sure everyone knows where it’s kept. Here’s what to include:

• Water—one gallon per person per day
• Food—a three-day supply of nonperishable items
• Can opener
• Extra clothing
• Battery-powered radio
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Sleeping bags
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Prescription medications
• Cash (ATM machines may not be working)

Other things you can do:

• Make sure your address is visible from the street so emergency responders can find you.

Fire

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your house; put one in each bedroom, not just the hallways.
• Change the batteries twice a year, when you change clock settings.
• Have escape ladders handy for exiting upper-floor windows.

Winter Storm

• Stay at least 20 feet from downed power lines and call 9-1-1. Always assume power lines are live.
• Close off unneeded rooms to preserve the heat in one common living area.

Flu Epidemic

• Wash hands often; carry a small bottle of hand-disinfecting gel.
• Use pop-up towelettes to clean phones, keyboards, refrigerator handles and doorknobs.

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