Helpful Tips
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Practice Know how to protect yourself and your family during an earthquake, no matter where you are. Practice taking cover as if there were an earthquake and learn the safest places in your home and work. Practice getting out of your home and check to see if the planned exits are clear and if they can become blocked during an earthquake. Practice turning off your electricity and water. Know how to turn off the gas, but do not practice this step. In the event of an earthquake, once you turn off your gas, have only your utility company turn it back on for safety reasons.
If you woke up one morning and found that your home was in the path of a natural disaster, like a wildfire or a hurricane, would you know what to do to stay safe? In these scenarios, there is often little time to react, so having a plan before it happens can be critical to your safety and survival. Do you know what to do to be prepared? Natural disasters have far-reaching, devastating consequences. Globally, natural disasters kill an average of 90,000 people each year and affect 160 million more. FEMA estimates that 25 million Americans – nearly 8 percent of the U.S. population – were affected by natural disasters in 2017. These staggering numbers are a testament to the sheer power of nature. Add to this the modern risk of active shooter disasters, and it's clear that danger is always a possibility. This guide is intended to give you the tools you need to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Remember, after a disaster, emergency professionals are stretched thin. They may not be able to address your particular need quickly as they tend to those who are severely injured or trapped. By learning what to do, you can improve your chances of surviving the next disaster in your area. Whether you are in an area that is prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards, tsunamis or wildfires, you can have a plan for these events. You can even be prepared for encountering an active shooter, which is something anyone could experience in today's society. Read on to learn more about how to stay safe, even in the midst of a serious event. Hurricanes and TornadoesHurricanes and tornadoes are both powerful storms that can cause widespread damage due to high winds and damaging rains. In coastal areas, hurricanes are the biggest risk, while in the central part of the country tornadoes are a bigger problem. Both types of catastrophes pose serious health risks that can lead to loss of life. Four hurricanes made landfall and an estimated 1,406 tornadoes touched down in the United States in 2017, killing more than 450 people and costing the country $306.2 billion. If you live in an area that is prone to either one of these types of storms, you smut know how to protect yourself. Here are some important health and safety tips that will ensure you know what to do to stay as safe as possible while dealing with these severe storm events. Know the Risks The key to being safe and healthy in the midst of a storm is knowing the risks a storm poses. For hurricanes and tornadoes, these tips will help: According to Dr. Mary A. Williams, R.N. and Doctor of Chiropractic, the most common signs of infection are redness, heat, swelling, pain, pus, and/or loss of function. “A wound may have some or all of these signs at the site of the wound,” Williams said. “A wound may also cause systemic infection with fever, malaise, and generalized discomfort/pain. Any redness or streaks visible on the skin between the wound and the heart should be reported to medical personnel immediately. This is an early sign of the infection becoming systemic.” · Protect the spinal cord if back injuries are suspected. After a serious wind storm, spinal cord injuries are common. Using a backboard to transport someone can help limit the impact of these injuries. Preparing for the Storm If you know you're going to be facing a hurricane or know that tornado season is approaching, there are some steps to take to ensure you're as safe as possible. Here are some of them: During the Storm If a hurricane hits, here's what you need to do: · Go to the basement. This is the safest place in a tornado. If your home doesn't have a basement, head to an interior room, like a bathroom, or a closet. Stay away from windows and doors. · Prepare for power outages. You will want battery-powered lighting and a radio to ensure you can be safe. Consider keeping a portable battery charger on hand during tornado season so you can charge your phone. · Put on shoes. Should the tornado hit your neighborhood, you may not be able to find your shoes. Put on sturdy shoes so you are not injured walking on broken glass, wood, nails and other debris after the storm has passed. · Add a whistle to your disaster supply kit. In tornadoes, it's highly likely that you will become trapped if your home is hit. A whistle will help you signal for help. · Crouch and cover during the worst of the storm. If the storm is hitting your home or neighborhood, head to your shelter, crouch low to the ground, and cover your head with your hands and arms. After the Storm After a hurricane or tornado, be aware of the risks that are still around you. Many of the deaths and injuries in these types of storms occur not during the storm, but rather during its aftermath and cleanup efforts. Here's how to avoid disaster and stay healthy.
· Watch for mental health concerns. The aftermath of a storm can cause depression and anxiety. Seek help if you need it after a serious event. Make sure children have a place to talk about their own concerns and fears. For more information about health, first aid and safety before, during and after hurricanes and tornadoes, visit: · FEMA: Respond to Tornado Injuries with First Aid Training · Online CPR Certification · Missouri Storm Aware: Preparing for a Tornado · CDC Hurricanes: Family Health, Safety and Preparation · Union Mutual: Hurricane Safety and Planning · Red Cross: The Top 6 Red Cross Preparedness Tips to Stay Safe This Hurricane Season Earthquake and LandslideEvery year, an average of 15 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or greater hit around the globe. While this number seems small when compared to events like tornadoes, which happen more frequently, the long-term effects of an earthquake combined with the challenges of predicting them make these particular disasters quite devastating. Landslides can have a similar impact on the areas they hit, destroying buildings and injuring people. No matter where you live, you are at risk for an earthquake, but if you live near a known fault zone, that risk increases. And if you live in a mountainous area, a landslide is always a risk. To make sure your family can stay healthy and safe, even with these risks around you, here are some tips to help. Know the Risks What are the health and safety risks connected with landslides and earthquakes? Consider these:
· Watch for signs of mental health risks in the days and months following an earthquake. The trauma of an earthquake can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and thoughts of suicide. Preparing for the Possibility of an Earthquake or Landslide Earthquakes are random and often come with minimal warning. However, there are steps to take to prepare for the possibility of an earthquake if you live in an area where they are common. During a Landslide or Earthquake If you experience a landslide or earthquake, here is what you need to do to stay safe. After the Event In the aftermath of a landslide or earthquake, keep these tips in mind:
· Be aware of aftershocks or additional slide risk. After an earthquake or landslide, the risk is not over. Both can have after effects, including additional slides or aftershocks. · OSHA: Earthquake Preparedness and Response · USGS: Landslide Preparedness · Weather Underground: Prepare for a Landslide · Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency: Earthquakes and Landslides · Virginia Department of Emergency Management: Earthquakes and Landslides Wildfires, Blizzards, and TsunamisWildfires, blizzards, and tsunamis each carry their own health and safety risks. While some first aid tips apply to all three, each has its own unique set of problems that you need to be aware of if you live in an area prone to these problems. General First Aid and Safety Tips Being prepared for disasters means knowing proper first aid and safety precautions. Some are universal to all disasters. Whether you are facing a tsunami, wildfire or blizzard, keep these tips in mind: Before, During and After Wildfires In 2017, wildfires consumed 9.7 million acres of land in the United States, destroying homes and businesses along the way. While this was a record-breaking year for wildfires, this statistic shows just how widespread these disasters can be. If you live in a dry area with natural regions nearby, wildfires are always a risk. Here are some health and safety tips to help keep your family and home protected: “It’s an old wives’ tale that butter is a good remedy for a burn injury. Butter is great on toast, but never appropriate for a skin burn. Burns have a tendency to continue to trap and radiate heat. Placing butter over a burn traps the heat in the soft tissue and is not a sterile or even sanitary substance to put on injured skin,” Dr. Mary Williams said. “Ice is great in lemonade, but has no place on burned skin,” she added. “Ice can cause further tissue damage by impairing circulation to the point of tissue destruction. Cool water is the best initial treatment for a burn. Ointments and sprays designed for treating burns can be used AFTER the initial cool down period with water.” · Do not peel off clothing that is sticking to burned skin. This causes an open wound and further damage. Leave clothing in place if it is stuck until help arrives. “A scarf, bandana or even your shirt pulled up over your mouth and nose will help,” Dr. Mary Williams said. “Smoke from fires contain numerous toxins which may include cyanide, carbon monoxide, particulates and other toxic gases. You can’t see those chemicals, and breathing them can cause serious respiratory distress. People with respiratory disorders (asthma, COPD) are especially vulnerable.” · When cleaning up after a wildfire, wet debris. This helps reduce the amount of dust particles that get stirred up. Those dust particles will have smoke mixed in, which can cause breathing irritation. · CDC: Wildfires · National Geographic: Learn More About Wildfires · OSHA: Wildfires · Insurance Information Institute: Wildfires · National Fire Protection Association: Wildfires Before, During and After a Blizzard Winter storms typically come with a little warning, but that doesn't mean they are not potentially devastating. When ice and snow blanket an area, services shut down, power lines snap and people are trapped at home. You need to know how to be prepared to protect yourself and your family when a winter storm hits. · Accuweather: Blizzard Survival Guide – These Tips Could Help Save Your Life · Popular Science: How Not to Die in a Blizzard · National Weather Service: Winter Storm Safety Tips and Resources · Ready.gov: Snowstorms & Extreme Cold · Weather.com: How to Survive if You Are Stranded in a Blizzard Before, During and After a Tsunami Tsunamis occur when underwater earthquakes or volcano eruptions cause huge waves that crash to the shoreline. Close to80% of the tsunamis in the world will happen within the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean. The waves can be over 100 feet tall, causing serious flooding and damage along the shoreline. In the United States, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii are at the biggest risk. Many countries around the globe also face serious tsunami risk, and the impact can be devastating. If you live along the coast, you should know how to handle yourself in the event of a tsunami. Here are some first aid tips to consider: · Tsunami Safety Booklet from the State of Hawaii · 911 for Kids: Tsunami · International Tsunami Information Center: After a Tsunami · Tsunami Early Warning System: Be Prepared · Conserve Energy Future: Tsunami Facts Active Shooter ScenariosActive shooter incidents have tripled in the past decade. There are now roughly 20 active shooter incidents each year in the U.S. compared with 6.4 incidents annually between 2000 and 2007. Active shooters have targeted schools, universities, workplaces, corporations and even theaters and large events. Because of this, you need to know how to best protect yourself and those in your care if you are involved in an active shooter event. While there is typically little warning when these events happen, here are some tips that can help you and those you care for stay safe. Preparing for an Incident Since there is rarely warning for an active shooter event, you need to be prepared for the potential of experiencing one. Here are some tips. · RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Surviving an Active Shooter Event (video) · Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers: Law Enforcement First Responder Training Program for Active Shooters · Strategic HR Inc: Preparing for a Potential Active Shooter Incident · Homeland Security: Active Shooter Preparedness · Iowa State University: Prepare for Active Shooters For Disasters, Preparedness and Training is KeyYou cannot plan for a disaster, because all of these events come with fairly minimal warning. While you may have enough time to flee to safety for some types of natural disasters, there are times when you get no warning at all. In these instances, you will need to be prepared both to protect yourself and to help others. With first aid and disaster preparedness training, and a little understanding of the risks associated with various types of disasters, you can be safer even if you are given a serious problem to handle. Sources |