Helping you wisely prepare for the unexpected events in life
Moore, Oklahoma is yet another example of how quickly and unexpectedly bad weather can alter lives. My prayers and thoughts are with all those affected by the destruction and tragedy. As the weather warms and summer comes, it is time to prepare ourselves for the weather-related events that may come our way.
Tornadoes are powerful. Winds can reach a couple hundred miles per hour. They can stay in the sky, touch down briefly or stay on the ground for many miles. F5 tornadoes, the most violent, are as rare as they are impressive, fortunately.
When preparing for any summer storms, awareness is the first step. Looking at the sky is often our first clue to inclement weather, if we are outside. Dark clouds roll in and the birds hush. The quiet stillness before the storm frequently occurs, but you may not be paying close attention. When you’re caught inside at work or in the home, pay attention to weather reports. The technology available today is impressive, and often the most severe of storms will have some amount of forecasting. If you don’t have easy access to television or internet reports, a weather radio is another useful device. It can travel with you, work when the power goes out and give you up-to-date information for your area.
After considering the above, I recommend going through these steps as you approach the summer months.
Have a safe place to seek shelter.
Have some food and water available
Flashlights, candles and matches:
Make a plan!
Tornado drills
Disaster Kit
A few more pointers that come to mind:
Every household needs a first aid kit. If you have kids, you probably understand the importance of this already when you go running for the box of band-aids. If your children aren’t quite to the walking stage yet, don’t worry; it will come before you even realize!
First aid components:
1) Box: large enough to hold what you need, but small enough to store in a convenient location. If you intend to have any medications inside the box itself, that location should be high and out of reach for small hands.
2) Gloves and hand sanitizer: you never know what you’ll encounter or who’s wound you may have to dress. Be safe, wash your hands, and have the sanitizer available for when soap may not be
3) Basic wound supplies: Band-Aids, 2×2 and 4×4 bandages, medical tape, a gauze wrap, an ACE bandage, a few safety pins, tweezers (for splinters), bandage scissors, thermometer (keep out of reach of children– the batteries are dangerous!)
4) Medications to consider having available (Keep out of reach of children, PLEASE!):
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) for pains and fevers, at the appropriate form (liquid, chewable or pills) for your family members
Ointment for wounds (triple antibiotic, Neosporin, etc)
Hydrocortisone cream and benadryl cream for the itchy bites
Immodium and Tums or Maalox for upset tummies
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for bee stings and allergic reactions
Zantac for the heartburn sufferer
Glucose tablets or syrup for the diabetic person
Sting relief cream
Aspirin for someone who may be having a heart attack
5) Advanced first aid supplies: CPR mask or shield (if trained), head lamp (for seeing those sneaky splinters), heating pad, first aid booklet (tons of them are out there; find one that is most readable for you),
6) Important contacts: Emergency numbers, everyone’s doctor office phone number, local hospital, etc.
7) Back-up medication supply: having a couple extra days’ worth of doses for your medications may help you through a weekend if the prescription wasn’t called in on time
8) If a family member has a severe allergy (seafood, peanut, bee sting) you should have EpiPens immediately available at all times. This includes having one at school/work, one in the purse, one in the car, one in the house, and one that goes with the person for trips, visits, etc.
Keeping a smaller version of the first aid kit–with some wound supplies, some cream for wounds and Benadryl (diphenhydramine) at a minimum– is a good idea to have in your car. You never know when the scraped knee or bee sting will happen at the park, baseball game or family reunion.
Most of these supplies are quite inexpensive and available at places like your local dollar store (check expiration dates). All would be available at the local drugstore and likely many grocery stores. If you are on a tight budget, start by getting an item or two every week and work to build up your collection. You will be grateful when the need arises!
As we work through the initial stages of start-up, let us share a little about our goals and ideas.
The purpose of WiseOne Consulting, LLC will be to assist individuals and communities in preparing for emergencies. Some of the ideas that will work towards fruition:
– Hazard identification and mitigation
– Emergency plan development
– Disaster response and recovery preparation