Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Certified Senior Advisor and Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. I just moved to Illinois and am not used to the weather changes. How can I prepare for an emergency situation?
A. We donāt plan for emergencies, yet when they are āclose to homeā like they can be with the weather for example, we can be fearful because we may not really be prepared. Itās best to prepare as best we can before it happens. I have a 3-step emergency preparedness plan that is easy to work through. My plan involves time to PREPARE, PACK, and STOCK.
Prepare
The first step is to prepare and think about the type of emergencies that have the likelihood of occurring. You have already noticed how our weather is very unpredictable here in Illinois at times. With threats of rain, hail, or severe winds, it would be a good idea to plan ahead for an area of your home that you would retreat to in those situations. If you donāt have access to a basement, take cover in an interior room without windows, such as a bathroom, and consider using the bathtub as a place to take cover during a severe storm warning.
Plan
There are other types of emergencies that donāt involve the weather or nature, such as a trip to the emergency room. In this case, I recommend the second step, which is to pack an emergency bag that would include basic medical information about yourself (medications, drug allergies, medical history, etc.), contact information for your family and doctors, power of attorney information or living will, proof of insurance, and identification. I recommend that this emergency bag also include change of clothing, pajamas, robe, slippers, small travel size toiletries, and toothbrush. This bag will now serve a dual purpose of assisting in a health emergency or sudden evacuation.
Stock
Third, prepare an emergency stock box filled with canned goods, non-perishable foods, and bottled water. Be sure to have at least 2 flashlights and plenty of spare batteries to use in case of a prolonged power outage. Other items to include are: battery operated radio, blanket, plastic bags, matches, an extra house key, and an extra phone charger. Store this box in a basement or that interior room without windows.
So, the simple steps are PREPARE, PACK, and STOCK. Creating an emergency plan may require time and a little bit of work on your part but following the simple steps I described will help you with your plan and will give you peace of mind.
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