Planning for an Emergency
Adapted from an article by Hilary Gibson, Today's Caregiver
If you are among America's 24 million caregivers, knowing how a loved one can take shelter or be evacuated during an emergency may not be as easy as just stepping out a door or crawling out a window. Your loved one may have mobility challenges and physical problems that you need to take into account when planning how to evacuate during a fire or take shelter during a tornado or hurricane.
For example, most people head for a basement or interior room during a tornado or hurricane warning. However, many of these "safe" areas are not wheelchair accessible. What modification will you need to make, or can you use an alternative location that is easier for your loved one to get to?
It is a good idea to create more than one exit for a loved one confined to a wheelchair, in case the primary exit of your home is blocked in a disaster. Make sure you know how to connect or start a back-up power supply if needed. Know how to access and turn off water, gas and electricity at main valves or switches.
During a disaster, anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is considered to be an added hazard. Before an emergency situation happens, go around your home looking specifically for items that might pose a danger during a disaster. Make sure shelving is securely fastened to the walls and that any large, heavy objects are placed on lower shelves or on the floor. Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds or bolt them to the wall. Repair any electrical wiring that is defective. Invest in smoke alarms and smoke detectors.
If your loved one is a client of Bay County Council on Aging, your case manager can help you devise an emergency plan and register you for transportation in the event of an evacuation. If your loved one is not a client, you can contact the Office of Emergency Management at 784-4000 to register to be contacted in the event of an emergency.