How Do I Keep My Family Warm?

Last winter we had quite a few major wind/snow storms. The winds reached 85 miles per hour one night! It was a bit frightening to sit in a quite home in the middle of the night, hoping a tree wouldn’t crash into our window. In the morning that followed, that major storm was over in our town, but across the state, it was still raging. People were losing power where the wind storms had caused massive rolling blackouts. It got me wondering, how in the world are those people staying warm in the middle of winter with no heat? So I decided to do a little research on my own to protect my family from any such disasters. 

First of all, dress warmly to conserve as much body heat as possible. If it is extremely cold, your bed is a good place to stay. Cover up with as many blankets as possible. Sleep with your family huddled together this way. You can also purchase space blankets that are very inexpensive and lightweight. They are made to keep heat trapped under them, and will help to keep your body temperature at a more normal level. 

There are ways, other than electrical heating units, that can be used to warm your home. Safety is extremely important when trying to use alternative heating methods. You should not burn anything in your home larger than an average candle, unless you have good ventilation to the outside. Possibilities include fireplaces, camp stoves, a wood, gas or oil heater, or a gas run hot water heater. 

The best way to stay warm in your home is to confine the heat source to one room. Make sure it is ventilated properly for the heat source you are using. Choose a room on the side of your house that won’t have a majority of the winds blowing on it, and a room with smaller windows. If you have a basement, the earth may act as insulation in the winter.  Keep the doors to your heated room closed at all possible times. Cover the windows with heavy bedding to prevent drafts. 

If you can’t stay warm in your house by following these suggestions, pack up and go! Find a shelter with a generator that can keep you safe. Don’t forget to take your 72-hour kits with you.

Are You Prepared?   
 

If your city’s alarm system went off right now, warning you of immediate danger and requiring the evacuation of your family, would you be ready? If you haven’t thought about that, maybe it’s time that you do. In today’s world there are so many disasters that could strike in a moment’s notice. From natural disasters to a terrorist attack, we should be ready to protect our families by being prepared for these emergencies. 

In an immediate emergency, what do you need to survive? Experts tell us that we should have a “Go-bag” or “72-Hour Kit” ready for each member of our family in case of emergency. Something we can take with us right at the moment, that’s packed with essentials and ready to go. It’s a great idea to set aside a backpack for each member of your family for this purpose. 

There are many different options with regards to what to put in your go-bags. These are some of the basics. First of all, make sure each family member has an I.D. tag in their bag. You would also want to have a card listing their allergies (medication, food, stings) and copies of your insurance cards. If you have members of your family who wear glasses, try to have a back up pair in the bag. Emergency cash, in fairly small quantities is good; especially quarters for phone calls. 

Also in each bag you should include: A flashlight, extra batteries, a whistle, a pocket knife, a local map, a permanent marker and paper, a bit of twine, list of emergency phone numbers, toothbrush and toothpaste, an extra key to your home and vehicle, and some basic food and water. You can purchase food bars that have 2400-3600 calories per bar. They have a shelf-life of 5 years, and are specifically formulated to not cause thirst when eating them. A smart way to pack water easily is to purchase water pouches. They also have a 5 year shelf life, and you can pack one per meal. They are 4.227 ounces of water each, which is exactly the amount the Red Cross recommends you should drink per meal in an emergency. 

Don’t forget to put your go-bags in an easily accessible location. Do not hide them away under all the other junk in your garage. Make sure each family member knows where they are stored, and knows what is inside of them. Go over a family emergency plan. Pick a location to meet at in case you are not all together when the emergency first occurs. There are many other things you can do to prepare your family for an emergency, but this is a great start to help give you peace of mind in these turbulent times.  

The 4 Step Paper Process

One of the questions I hear a lot is “Where do I start?”  Think about starting your emergency preparedness and food storage on paper before you start buying things you don’t need or already have.  There is a 4 step way to get prepared.

1. Know where you are.  What do you have and what do you need?  Maybe you set up your emergency preparedness supplies when you were single and now you are married with 2 kids.  Your needs change as your circumstances change.
2. Decide what your priorities are.  Do you want to be done and prepared as quickly as possible or do you want to prepare as you can afford it?  Do you have a pet, an infant, or special medical needs?  Your individual needs and priorities will shape your preparedness program.
3. Establish a budget.  Work food storage and emergency preparedness into your monthly budget.  Set aside a specific amount of money each month for freeze-dried food, sanitation supplies, battery-operated lantern, or water containers.  By establishing a budget, you create a path to making your preparedness a reality.
4. Keep a record.  Some of us may think emergency preparedness is important, but when our products arrive, we put the boxes in the basement and forget about it.  You need to keep track of what you have and what you receive so that you can know where you are still lacking.

By taking a few minutes to do this 4 step paper system, you can rest assured that you are getting what you need to prepare yourself and your family members and making every dollar count for what you truly need.

SIRQ:  Part 2

Yesterday we talked about how a pandemic flu would necessitate a self-imposed reverse quarantine, or SIRQ.  So, how do you prepare for something like this?  You can take simple steps to make your family better prepared.  Talk to your employer about what steps the company has in place if a pandemic flu occurred.  Are you able to work from home and telecommute?  Talk to your city about their plan for maintaining services like garbage pick-up, water, and sewer during a pandemic.  By finding out the answers to questions now, you will be better prepared and may help your city develop a plan to deal with the repercussions of a pandemic.
 

Think about the basics your family needs to survive:  clean, drinking water, shelter, sanitation supplies, and food.  Plan to have at least a 3 month supply of each of these things.  Do you have a water filter to purify water?  Do you have feminine hygiene products?  Do you have diapers and wipes for your infant?  Do you have at least a 90 day supply of food?  If you have what you need in your home, you will not need to go outside and expose yourself to infection.  You can also keep masks like the N95 and N100 on hand so that if you must venture out, you have the appropriate protection. 

Essential items to help prevent the spread of disease like soap, rubber gloves, facial tissues, bleach, and disinfectants also should be a large part of your pandemic preparedness. 

What if you have children and schools were closed for 6 months?  Consider keeping age-appropriate workbooks around.  If you don’t use them, they can become a summer study program.  Have a variety of books on your bookshelf at home covering topics from science to social studies to history to fiction.
 

Part of surviving any kind of disaster is having the right mindset.  If you have the peace of mind that comes from being prepared and knowing that you have done everything within your power to protect yourself and your loved ones, you are more likely to have a positive attitude even in the face of extreme adversity.

SIRQ

OK, so I wanted to talk a little bit about pandemic flu.  The flu happens every year.  Because some people have immunity to various strains of the flu, it doesn’t infect everyone.  But a pandemic flu is a worldwide epidemic.  Virtually no one in the world is immune to pandemic viruses, meaning that many more people become ill and die during a pandemic than during a yearly outbreak of the flu.
 

Pandemics occur about three times every century and we are due for one.  Pandemics are a naturally occurring phenomenon and there is little we can do to prevent one.  But we can take steps once we know a pandemic is out there to protect ourselves and our loved ones. 

The way it will happen is that the CDC will make an announcement that pandemic flu has been confirmed in the United States.  At this point, the flu is already out there.  Estimates are that it took only a couple weeks for the Spanish flu of 1918 to spread across the country and we are obviously much more mobile that in 1918.  Scientists cannot even predict how quickly a pandemic would spread. 

Your best strategy for staying healthy is SIRQ which stands for self-imposed reverse quarantine.  During a quarantine, ill people are separated from the healthy population, but in a reverse quarantine, the healthy are quarantined.  The government may take action such as closing schools and church meetings as well as large public gatherings.  Once the news is out that a pandemic flu is in the country, it is too late to go grab a few gallons of milk or run to the store to stock up on toilet paper.  You need to be able to stay in your home with no contact with others for about 3 months.
 

Tomorrow we will focus on what we can do to prepare for a pandemic and the consequences of one.

Emergency Water

Water is an essential part to your emergency preparedness. Water can also be pretty heavy. One gallon of water weighs 8 pounds, so a 5 gallon water container is going to weigh 40 lbs. That is probably the most weight I feel comfortable carrying and I probably wouldn’t get very far with that.

But don’t just think about how you would carry all that weight. You might be forced to evacuate, but be able to take your car. In that case, you can load up a bunch of water if you already have it stored. I love the 5 gallon stackable water containers for this purpose. You might be forced to evacuate on foot, but think in terms of a modern-day handcart and use strollers, wagons, garden carts, or even wheelbarrows to transport your water.

Don’t just think about carrying water, think about carrying a weigh to purify water like an MSR miniworks water filter or aqua purification tablets. They are both lightweight and take up little room, but allow you access to clean, drinking water whenever you need it. Water is one of the most important parts of emergency preparedness and can be done without breaking your back if you take the time to think things through and formulate a plan.

The Value of Taking Stock

Regardless of how much you might prepare for disaster, it may not be enough. If disaster strikes, it pays to be prepared for the aftermath.

When the California wildfires threatened to destroy their Escondido home, Costco members Tana and Damian Jackson were able to maintain a degree of calm, knowing they would weather the storm. They knew they couldn’t stop the fire from destroying their home–ultimately, it didn’t–but they were reassured by having a complete, verified inventory of everything in it to give to their insurance company. . .

The Jacksons offer these reasons why businesses, and homeowners, should compile an inventory:

1. Forty percent of small and medium-sized businesses do not reopen after a catastrophic event because of a lack of resources

2. Insurance companies rely on a documented inventory of belongings to process a claim. They may not require it but they do recommend it.

3. Without an inventory, you claim will likely take longer and your benefit will be smaller.

4. You are probably underinsured, and you will not realize it until it is too late. An inventory may help you determine what coverage is really needed.

5. It is easier to add now than by memory after a catastrophe.

The number 3 is a magic number when it comes to emergency preparedness. You can survive for about 3 hours without shelter, about 3 days without water, and about 3 weeks without food. So, to keep with the magic number, we should try to find 3 ways to deal with each of those situations.

For shelter, there may be circumstances where we can shelter in place and use our home as a shelter. Other times we may be stuck in our cars. Keeping some basic items in our car in case we need to use it as a shelter can be life-saving. Some water pouches, survival food bars, hand warmers, emergency blankets, a Ready candle, and waterproof matches can help us keep warm in a winter storm situation. And what if a major earthquake made sleeping in your home impossible? Consider a backpacker dome tent or even a tube tent plus emergency sleeping bags.

Next is water. You can store a lot of water in your home by using the 30 gallon barrels and then adding the water preserver so you only have to change the water every 5 years instead of every year. You can also think about portable water in case evacuation becomes necessary. The 5 gallon stackable water containers are great for this purpose. And what if you had access to water, but it was contaminated? Think about potable aqua and an MSR miniworks water filter. The miniworks can filter up to 500 gallons of water, so it is a great tool to invest in.

Last is food. Survival food bars are compact enough to store in your car or even in your desk at work. You can store MREs and freeze-dried pouches in your 72-hour kits. And the #10 cans of freeze-dried food are terrific to store in your home for longer term food storage.

Emergencies and disasters don’t always happen how we plan, so by taking steps to resolve these 3 essential issues in at least 3 ways, you can feel secure in your emergency preparations.

Many of us work on our emergency preparedness and food storage a little at a time.  A first aid kit here, some freeze-dried fruit there.  But often we fail to properly inventory and track what we have and we often fail to think about how much food we really need and set a goal with a due date.  So, I guess my challenge to everyone is to first, truly assess what you have and what you still need.  Do you have a dozen flashlights, but are missing essential sanitation supplies like a portable potty lid with chemicals and bags?  Do you have a 72 hour kit, but need to put one in your car?  Do you have MREs for your 72-hour kit, but are lacking in longer term food storage?  So now that you know what you have, you can better determine what you need.

My second challenge is to set a goal.  If you are just now starting, set a date to have your 72-hour kits completed.  Then when you have that done, turn your attention to having a 2 week supply of water.  Finished with that?  Look at the needs of your family.  Do you need to stock up on freeze-dried fruit or do you have a bunch of dinner choices, but no breakfast options stored?  Set a goal and stick to it.  We often think that food storage is a good idea, but how often do we make it a priority and say, “I will have a year supply of food by June 30^th?”  We have to make it a goal, make it a priority, and then take steps to make it a reality.

We don’t know when a disaster like a flood or earthquake will hit or when a personal disaster such as a disability or job loss can strike, but we can take steps to prepare ourselves and our loved ones so that we can be ready for whatever may come our way.

The number 3 is a magic number when it comes to emergency preparedness.  You can survive for about 3 hours without shelter, about 3 days without water, and about 3 weeks without food.  So, to keep with the magic number, we should try to find 3 ways to deal with each of those situations.

For shelter, there may be circumstances where we can shelter in place and use our home as a shelter.  Other times we may be stuck in our cars.  Keeping some basic items in our car in case we need to use it as a shelter can be life-saving.  Some water pouches, survival food bars, hand warmers, emergency blankets, a Ready candle, and waterproof matches can help us keep warm in a winter storm situation.  And what if a major earthquake made sleeping in your home impossible?  Consider a backpacker dome tent or even a tube tent plus emergency sleeping bags.

Next is water.  You can store a lot of water in your home by using the 30 gallon barrels and then adding the water preserver so you only have to change the water every 5 years instead of every year.  You can also think about portable water in case evacuation becomes necessary.  The 5 gallon stackable water containers are great for this purpose.  And what if you had access to water, but it was contaminated?  Think about potable aqua and an MSR miniworks water filter.  The miniworks can filter up to 500 gallons of water, so it is a great tool to invest in.

Last is food.  Survival food bars are compact enough to store in your car or even in your desk at work.  You can store MREs and freeze-dried pouches in your 72-hour kits.  And the #10 cans of freeze-dried food are terrific to store in your home for longer term food storage.

Emergencies and disasters don’t always happen how we plan, so by taking steps to resolve these 3 essential issues in at least 3 ways, you can feel secure in your emergency preparations.

We all remember exactly where we were on September 11, 2001. That terrifying, devastating day will stay with us forever. An attack on our soil, an attack on our freedom, an attack on Americans. What if it happens again? We’ve been told to prepare for “not if, but when.” Today, it is still a scary thought. Many people just want to put terror out of their minds, just not think about it and hope it goes away. I wish we could.

Today people are expressing concern over the threat of “dirty bombs.”  These weapons are not nuclear, but can still do massive damage to life and property. Dirty bombs are bombs that are made by using an explosive, combined with radioactive pellets or pieces. When the bomb ignites, the small radioactive pieces are hurdled through the surrounding area, making buildings and lands unsuitable to use for a long time. Not to mention the damage that can be done to human life. Hopefully, these types of attacks will never happen. In the chance that they do though, this information may help you be a bit more prepared for how to best handle the situation.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that nearly 70 percent of all terrorist attacks in the USA between 1980 and 2001 were bombings. This is why it is very important to always have a family plan for emergency situations. Go through the plan with your family at least once a year to keep it fresh in your minds. Make sure you have emergency contacts, places to meet up in the chance that you get separated, and 72 hour kits on hand and a portable radio in case you need to evacuate quickly.

If you are in a bombing, leave the area immediately. Avoid crowds as much as possible. If the attackers are still in the vicinity, a large crowd of people might be where they attack again. Stay away from damaged buildings that might contain broken glass or falling debris. Follow directions that are being given by people in authority: Police, Fire Rescue, or Military. Help others who are hurt if you are able to do so without endangering your life. Follow your family’s disaster plan and meet at your designated meeting area when it is safe to do so. Use your portable radio to find out more information when possible. If you are hurt, go to a hospital or clinic.

No one likes to think about the possibility of another terrorist attack. It is frightening and hard to process. The best way to prepare is to be informed. Know the dangers involved and talk with your family and loved ones about them. Make a plan in case of emergencies, terror attacks or otherwise, and it will give you some much needed peace of mind in these troubled times.

As a mom, screaming kids in the middle of the night is not the most welcomed situation! It was, indeed, the middle of the night though; A very dark and stormy night. Thankfully, my children had all been sleeping through the terrible winds that had been howling outside for the previous 2 hours. I was 8.5 months pregnant with our fifth baby, and so I wasn’t sleeping well anyway. I had been laying in bed listening to the wind kick up, wondering when it was going to get better, when instead…it got worse. All of a sudden, I heard a large “C-R-A-C-K!” Immediately, all the power went out…and that’s when the screaming kids began.

Luckily, the crack I had heard was not something that had fallen down and landed on our house, but the winds were so bad that we couldn’t even open our front door without being pummeled by flying debris, so we had to check the situation outside later. (We eventually found out that the winds were up to 88 miles per hour that night.) My children always slept with fans blowing in their rooms to drown out noises. They also had night lights in their rooms to keep the boogie man away. But as soon as that power went out…it was silent…For about 3 seconds! Then they all started crying at once. It was bad enough that they didn’t have the fans going anymore, but not having any light around was torture to them! It was pandemonium!

My husband and I tried to soothe them and huddle them all together as we shimmied our way down the hall to the kitchen to find the flashlight. Digging in the cupboard behind piles of papers, pens, loose bandaids, and my secret stash of chocolate, I finally found the flashlight. My kids would take it and play with it in their “forts” under the bunk bed, so I eventually had to hide it from them so they wouldn’t waste the batteries. When I switched it on, I realized that I had let them play with it one too many times. The batteries were dead. OH, more sobs!!! And of course, we had no extra “C” batteries lying around, so what were we to do? I went cupboard scrounging again and eventually found some matches. I grabbed my lovely decorator candles, you know, the ones that just look pretty and never actually get used, and lit them up.

Needless to say, it wasn’t the easiest night we had ever gone through as a family. Eventually, we got the kids settled down and laid with the little ones until they fell asleep again. We found out later on that we were definitely the lucky ones. Many trees had fallen during the night, some right through our neighbor’s houses! Our power came back on after a few hours. Other people had to wait for weeks!

So, let me give you some advice so you don’t have to go through a situation like mine. BE PREPAED! It doesn’t take much to have a good back up light source in case your power goes out. A flashlight is a wonderful tool; just make sure you have batteries for it that aren’t dead! Keeping the batteries out of the flashlight until you need to use it is a good idea. It helps the batteries to last longer. It’s also an excellent idea to keep a flashlight in your car. If you’ve ever tried to change a tire on the side of the road in the middle of the night, you’ll understand why! You can also purchase candles that last up to 115 hours. They are odorless and smokeless, so they are very safe to use indoors. Another excellent option is to buy some of those neon lightsticks. Kids LOVE those things, and they will last for up to 12 hours without wasting any batteries.

Don’t put off basic preparations until it’s too late. All of those options are very inexpensive and easy to acquire.  Make it a priority to get your family prepared, and you won’t end up in pandemonium like we did!

Sometimes we may have a plan for evacuating or dealing with issues like the loss of utilities.  But sometimes those plans are not feasible in an emergency situation.  A friend lost power and heat for several hours during a major snowstorm.  Her husband was trying to make it home during the inclement weather and she was at home with their 2 daughters.  While she was prepared and able to care for her children, their family emergency plan was that they would stay with family in the nearby area who still had utilities if a situation like that was to occur.

The problem was that they were unable to follow the emergency plan since roads were impassable.  So, what is the back-up plan?  They didn’t have one as most of us don’t.  Luckily, the power outage only lasted a couple of hours before the lack of heat became a real concern.  Play a “what if” game and see what kind of scenarios you can come up with.  What if a trucking strike meant grocery store shelves were empty and we didn’t know how long it would last?  What if there was a local natural disaster and grocery stores were damaged?  What if there was a power outage and gas pumps didn’t work?  What if there was a chemical spill and we had to evacuate?

By planning and discussing possible scenarios, you will be better prepared to deal with the stress and complications that can occur during a disaster situation.  By taking steps to prepare now, you can meet challenges before they arise.

We often don’t think about the challenges we will face when a disaster strikes.  We may think about the basics, but not realize what we will need specifically.  The area where I live in encountered a severe winter storm that knocked out power for several hours, right before dinner time.  While we were prepared, we realized a few things.

While we have the GE Krypton lantern and used it, we could have used a couple more.  The lantern worked great while we were all sitting at the dinner table eating, but when our kids wanted to read books and play games in different rooms, we realized what a pain it was to hold a flashlight the whole time.  I also will get a headlamp so that I can see better to do tasks like wash dishes and change a baby’s poopy diaper without trying to hold a flashlight at the same time.

Due to the conditions of the storm as well as several car accidents, it took my husband over two hours to drive the 12 miles from his office to our home.  While I knew where all the emergency supplies were and how to use them, my husband was stranded in his car.  He has a basic kit, but he has started carpooling recently and has 2 additional people in his car.  I realized that I needed to add some water, emergency blankets, and survival food bars so that if they were trapped, there would be enough for everyone.

My husband and his co-workers made a stop at our house to use the restroom before attempting to head home.  I realized that we need to be almost overly prepared, so that if we had to care for additional people that it wouldn’t be a huge drain on our resources.  By having an extra 72-hour kit, some additional water, and extra flashlights, we would be able to assist people who were caught unprepared.

Consider doing a disaster dry run.  Shut off the power, don’t use any faucets or the toilet.  By doing this for even a few hours, you may learn that you need more  entertainment items like a deck of cards and some board games or that the batteries you have for your flashlight are the wrong size.  By practicing your preparedness skills, you will discover any problems before the real things occurs.

After a bone chilling winter, I am definitely ready for a bit of warmth to hit my face! Spring brings out the flowers and green grass, but it’s really summertime that I crave. Even so, the beauty of warm summer days can still bring danger if we are not prepared. Extreme temperatures, over-exercising, or prolonged sun exposure are just a few of the risks involved in those gorgeous summer days.

In high heat and high humidity, evaporation is slower and your body has to work harder to keep a normal temperature. In a heat wave, you are exposed to prolonged periods of heat. These situations can bring on the possibility of heat-induced illness. Here are a few of those illnesses, their symptoms, and how to treat them.

Sunburn: Skin redness and tenderness, possible headache, fever, swelling and blisters. Treat a sunburn by showering in cool water to get rid of oils that might be blocking your pores. This will help your body to cool off better on its own. Apply aloe vera to the burn, if it’s available. Apply sterile bandages to any blisters, and seek medical help if necessary.

Heat Exhaustion: Heavy sweating, even if the skin might be pale or cool, weak pulse, faint or dizzy, nauseous, exhaustion, and headaches are possible. Treat heat exhaustion by getting the victim to a cool place immediately. Loosen clothing, or remove if possible. Put cold, preferably wet, cloths on the victim, but make sure the cloths stay cool. Have victim sip cool water if they aren’t unconscious, but make sure it is sipped slowly. If they are vomiting, do not give more water. Get immediate medical help if they are vomiting.

Heat Stroke: Extreme body temperature (usually over 104 degrees Fahrenheit); dry, red skin; fast, weak pulse; shallow breathing, possible unconsciousness. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. If you suspect that the victim has heat stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Move the victim to a cool area until help arrives. Remove their clothing and try sponging them with cool cloths. Make sure they continue to breathe, and use extreme caution.

Hopefully none of us will ever be in these situations, but in the possibility that we are, make sure you are prepared with information that can help save your life. Also make sure you keep a kit handy in your car, such as a basic 72-hour kit. Or at least keep a few water pouches or bottles of water in your trunk in case you get stranded on those hot summer days.

When I was a senior in high school, my family and I moved to Las Vegas….In the MIDDLE of JULY!!! Wow! Talk about hot! With temperatures ranging, on average, between 102 degrees and 117 degrees, well, let’s just say it wasn’t the most comfortable summer I’ve experienced. Not only did we move there in the worst part of the season, but we also moved there with a car that had NO air conditioning! How we survived that summer, I couldn’t tell you, but I know now how to be prepared in case I am ever in a situation of extreme heat.

Extreme heat can kill. Simple as that. We see it all the time on the news…children being left in cars “just for a minute.” There are many things you can do to prepare you and your family in case of extreme heat. Most heat disorders happen when the victim has been over-exposed to heat or has over-exercised for his or her physical ability. Older adults, younger children, and those who are sick are more likely to suffer from heat disorders.

If you live in areas of the world that are prone to extreme heat, try using these ideas to help you prepare your home.

• Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
• Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
• Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect the heat back outside.
• Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.)
• Keep storm windows up all year.
• Also, it’s a great idea to check up on your elderly loved ones who might be in extreme heat situations. Make sure they are taking proper precautions to stay cool and healthy.
• And always, always make sure you have water stored in your car in case you are stranded in the heat.

I have to admit, when I first heard about the bird flu, I thought, “Why do I need to worry about a flu that people have on the other side of the world? How could a flu like that be a problem to me and my family?” But as I started to watch more coverage on the news, I realized that, just like any other emergency, I should really be prepared for it. I started my preparation by researching the flu and learning what I could about it.

The bird flu (Avian Influenza or H5N1) became a threat to humans when it became apparent that cases of the flu were being transferred from birds to humans. (Humans can potentially become affected with the bird flu by coming in contact with infected birds.) If you are not immunized against the bird flu, it is extremely hard to survive it. Also, experts have declared that it could very easily become a pandemic. This means, if the virus were to gain the capacity to spread easily from person to person, a worldwide outbreak of disease could begin. So, how do we prepare for that possibility?

The immunization that is available to protect humans from the bird flu is not easy to get your hands on. The few companies that make it have been making it as fast as they can, but are still not able to make it fast enough for the demand that is on them. So, the best way we can prepare ourselves for this emergency is by doing some of the same things you do to protect yourself from any other contagious disease.

Rule number one, wash your hands! We all learn it in kindergarten, but it’s so important to thwarting disease. Also, make sure you take proper food safety precautions. Never eat uncooked or undercooked poultry, and always wash anything in your kitchen that comes in contact with it. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to stock up on good face masks for your family. If there indeed ever was a pandemic, you would not want to leave your home with out one! My family stocked up on “N100 Particulate Respirator” masks. They filter out nanoparticles, including viruses and bacteria. You may also want to purchase high quality nitrile gloves. A stash of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer is also good for protection.

Luckily, we haven’t had to deal with a pandemic of the bird flu, but, just like any emergency, we never know if, or when, it will strike. The best bet is to be prepared!

There are some disasters and emergencies where you need to get out of the area immediately while other situations may require that you are prepared to shelter in place.  An example of a situation where you might need to evacuate include a chemical spill or a wildfire.  You need to get out of the area to get away from harm.  In a situation like this, you need 72 hour kits that are easily available (like hanging on a hook in your garage and not on the highest shelf in the basement closet).  You should also realize that the need to evacuate may occur while you are at work or driving the kids to school.

Being prepared wherever you are is essential to truly being prepared.  At the very least, you want to make sure you have a first aid kit, a light source, and drinking water.  You can store a few pouches of drinking water, a 12 hour light stick, and a basic first aid kit in your desk drawer or the glove compartment in your car.  These simple preparations can be extremely helpful in the event of an emergency.

The basic needs you have: food, water, sanitation, light, shelter, and communication are the same regardless of if you evacuate or shelter in place.  But having additional supplies to shelter in place allows you to stay safe where you are for a longer period of time.

A situation where you might need to shelter in place include an outbreak of pandemic flu.  The government and health organizations have all declared that the best way to avoid getting the flu would be to stay in your home, away from public places where you would be exposed to the illness.  By the time we get confirmation that the pandemic flu is here, the time to prepare is long gone.  You don’t have time to run to the grocery store to stock up on things.  You will need to live on what you have stored in your home.  Having a portable potty with bags and chemicals as well as N95 and N100 particulate respirator masks to help prevent infection are invaluable.

Consider starting a shelter in place kit by looking at what would make your family comfortable.  Stocking up on items like tissues, toilet paper, disinfectant, and soap can help prevent the spread of illness.  Other items like freeze-dried food can provide essential calories without requiring excessive preparation.  Make a list as to what would work best for your individual situation and then take steps to make your shelter in place kit a reality.

I remember as a child, sitting in a circle on the living room floor with my parents and siblings.  A big pile of supplies was in the middle of the circle and each of us were holding backpacks with our names on them.  We were preparing our 72 hour kits in case of an emergency.  Each person took turns picking out the items we would carry as our parents explained how to use them.  The things I remember most were the Twinkies, which everyone knows last forever, and my little film canister filled with quarters.  With AT&T leading the way in giving up the pay phone business, that little roll of quarters wouldn’t do much good these days.

Now as an adult with a family of my own, it is my responsibility to make sure that each member of my family has a 72 hour kit and knows how to use them.  Some of the items, such as water, toothbrushes, and toilet paper are self explanatory, but other items need to be explained, especially to younger children.  A great way to explain the different items is to turn it into a game.  For example, with the emergency whistles you can have each family member take turns at finding a hiding place in the house and then blowing the whistle so the rest of the family can find them.  Then explain that this is what they should do if they get separated from the family.

Emergency blankets can be demonstrated by laying a blanket flat on the ground.  Then have a family member lay on the blanket leaving about a foot of material below their feet.  Fold the blanket up over the feet and then fold the sides in across the body.  Explain that this blanket is not like traditional blankets in that it is not meant to warm you up, but rather to keep you from losing body heat until help can arrive.

With older children you could write down the name of all the items in your kit on separate pieces of paper.  Have each family member take turns drawing slips of paper.  Allow time for each member to research their items.  Then everyone takes turns demonstrating or explaining the use of the items.  All of the items included in 72 hour kits are easy to use, but if you take the time to explain and demonstrate them to your children, when the time comes to use them your children will be familiar with the items and feel less anxious with the situation.

I’ve been carrying the same “emergency pack” with me every time I’ve gone hiking for the last several years.  I enjoy going to the mountains best in early spring because it’s not too cold and not too hot.  Although every once in awhile, I’ll get caught in some unusually cold weather for that time of the year.

Even though the weather has never gotten to the point of unbearably cold, I’m happy to know I have my emergency blanket available in case I may need it someday.  It’s so compact I can fit it into my pocket folded up and at the inexpensive price it doesn’t make sense not to have one.

The most important thing to know is how to use it because the blanket can be nearly worthless if not used correctly.  For the blanket to reflect up to 90% of a person’s radiant body heat, there must be a layer of “dead air” between him/her and the blanket.  This means the blanket won’t work properly if there is nothing between it and the user’s skin, like clothing for example.

I always make sure to bring an extra set of clothing in my emergency bag, which I can change into, if for some reason I can’t use the clothing I’m already wearing.  Then, if I ever have to pull out my emergency blanket, I can be assured it will work effectively because I have that extra layer between the blanket and me.