There are some things that people may neglect to discuss, until the unthinkable happens. One uncomfortable conversation can make a lot of difference when it comes to dealing with an emergency.
Talking about difficult scenarios such as losing a family member or natural disasters is definitely not a common thing that we do, but being prepared is better than the alternative.
With this step-by-step family emergency plan, you can ensure that you will always know what to do in times of emergency.
Family Emergency Kit
Also known as a Ready bag, it contains important items that will help you in an emergency and is on standby for when you need to evacuate your home.
Every member of your family should know where the Emergency Kit is kept. It should be stored in an location that’s easily accessible in the dark, for scenarios like power outages.
Ensure that all items are kept up-to-date and in good condition. Take note of expiry dates for medication, first aid essentials, batteries and other similar components.
Roles And Responsibilities
A good practice would be to have regular emergency drills where everyone can carry out the full family emergency plan.
This will prevent confusion during an actual emergency, where every second spent figuring out what to do can mean less time to get to a safe place. Parents should also prepare their children by running through possible scenarios and guiding them through the steps to take.
Emergency Contact List
Compile all emergency contacts into a single document. Choose at least 3-5 contacts and clearly list down their full contact details.
An important item to include should be a list of specific instructions for them in the event of an emergency. This can be especially useful for families with young children or pets should an alternative guardianship be needed.
To assist medical officers, particularly if there are more than one casualty from the same family, a must-have document to prepare is a full list of the family members from the same household.
This should include full names, email addresses or phone numbers, ages and medical conditions if applicable. It should be clearly labelled and attached together with the emergency contact list.
Juggling your family’s safety while navigating the emergency is no small feat. While fear and panic are emotions that will definitely run high during such situations, having clear communication with one another and a detailed family emergency plan to follow will help to ease the way.
It is always better to be overprepared than not prepared at all.
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