Leaving your home quickly during an emergency can be difficult for anyone. If you live with a disability, the task may seem daunting. Careful planning, plus a fully stocked emergency toolkit, can make you prepared for almost any crisis situation.
If you have a disability, here are a few things to keep in mind:
• Keep the emergency kits accessible and close to your exit.
• Store back-up equipment at your emergency meeting location (in case you cannot get to your kit at home).
• Label kit locations on your emergency plan. Inform caregivers of the locations.
• Include written instructions for all medical equipment and supplies.
• Mark bags with fluorescent tape or large print if you have difficulty seeing.
• Do not forget service animals! Pack their supplies in your kit.
• Keep a contact list in a watertight container in your kit.
Last month we focused on generic items for emergency kits. Only you know what special things you need to add, but here are some ideas to get you started:
Go Bag (Short-term, less than 24-hours)
• Three-day supply of medications with a current medication list
• Food that fits your diet (feeding tubes, eating utensils, etc.)
• Special medical supplies (dialysis, urinary, ostomy, diabetic, etc.)
• Pen and pencil to communicate if you have difficulty hearing
• If you are in a wheelchair, heavy gloves to use when wheeling over debris and a patch kit if you don’t have puncture-proof tires
Kit (Long-term, up to 72-hours)
• 10-day supply of medications and medical supplies, including oxygen and manual infusion equipment
• Batteries/generator as back-up power supply for medical equipment
• Extra adaptive equipment (walker, cane, hearing aids, braille communication cards, headphones to decrease auditory distractions, etc.)
Goal:
Build a toolkit for your special needs.
Things to Do:
Walk-through a typical day, what supplies do you use? Add these to your emergency kit.
Think manual: have back-up equipment for everything that runs on power.
Inform all caregivers of where the kits are stored. Include written instructions on how to use all of your medical equipment.
Be Informed:
emergency.cdc.gov
do1thing.com
ready.wi.gov
Caregivers – How can you get involved?
Make the toolkit accessible and easy-to-read for your loved one.
Know where your loved one’s kit is located and indicate this on your emergency plan, so your contacts know as well.
Consider including duplicates of the items your loved one needs in your kit.
For more information on building a kit, go to www.ready.wi.gov
