Thursday, August 20, 2009
Family Emergency Plan
You and your family should be prepared for an emergency, including an influenza pandemic. You can
start by making an emergency plan and sharing it with members of your family.
Staying in touch: Your family may not be together when an emergency strikes so discussing and
deciding on a plan in advance is important.
- Make and update emergency phone lists and be sure every family member has the numbers.
- Decide how you will contact one another. Discuss several means of contacting each other as
- phone lines may be down or overloaded.
- Establish a place where you will meet.
- Ask about the emergency plans at places where your family members spend time like work,
- school and daycare centers.
Supplying your home:*
- Store a two- to four-week supply of water and food. This can be helpful if you cannot get to
- stores due to power outages or if stores are unable to maintain a supply of non-perishable foods.
- Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.
- Have nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach
- remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes and vitamins.
- Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick and
- what special needs they might have (e.g. prescription medications, portable oxygen).
Staying healthy:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and model the correct behavior for children.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or your sleeve and model that behavior for your children.
- Get an annual flu shot.
*Examples of food and non-perishables
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits,
- Vegetables, beans and soups
- Protein or fruit bars
- Dry cereal or granola
- Peanut butter or nuts
- Dried fruit
- Crackers
- Canned juices
- Bottled water
- Canned or jarred baby food and formula
- Pet food
*Examples of medical, health & emergency supplies
- Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment
- Soap and water, or alcohol-based (60-95%) hand wash gels
- Medicine for fever, i.e. acetaminophen/ibuprofen
- Thermometer
- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Vitamins
- Fluids with electrolytes
- Cleansing agent/soap/bleach
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Battery-operated portable radio
- Manual can opener
- Garbage bags
- Tissues, toilet paper, disposable diapers
