Elder Care Safety: Emergency Kit Checklist for Weather Emergencies

Elder Care in Wayland MA

June is National Safety Month. It is also marks the beginning of summer when the risk for weather emergencies increases. This makes it the perfect time to put the proper measures into place to keep your elderly parent safe should one of these weather emergencies strike. Putting these methods into place now enables your parent, a non-medical caregiver, and you to all get accustomed to the plan and confident in how to handle such an event.

One of the most important steps in keeping your aging loved one safe and healthy during a weather emergency is to pack a supply kit. This kit will contain the items that your elderly loved one will need in order to get through a weather emergency in the safest, healthiest way possible. This kit should contain enough supplies for your parent and you may also want to include an extra set of these supplies to protect a non-medical caregiver in the event that they are in the home with your parent with the emergency occurs.

Use this checklist to help you create an emergency kit to help your parent through a weather emergency:

• Potable water. One of the greatest dangers of weather emergencies including hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and severe thunderstorms, as well as power outages caused by other conditions, is the loss of water or the contamination of water sources. Prepare for this by making sure that your parent has enough potable water for at least three days. One gallon per person per day is minimum. For added protection, consider adding water purification tablets so that they are available in case the emergency persists longer or there is additional need for water.
• Non-perishable food. When a weather emergency hits your parent might not have access to any type of cooking and may lose all of the food in their refrigerator and freezer. It is important to have enough non-perishable food in their kit to give them energy and strength throughout the course of the emergency. This should be food that does not require heating and that can be eaten with little to no preparation. Energy bars, dried fruit and nut mixes, and packaged items such as emergency rations are all effective options. You may also include items such as individual servings of applesauce, beef jerky, and crackers if you will replace the items frequently.
• First aid kit. Weather emergencies can lead to minor injuries and illnesses. A first aid kit should have the supplies that your parent would need to handle such issues. This can include bandages, over the counter medications, alcohol swabs, antibacterial cream, tweezers, gauze, scissors, and pain relieving spray or gel. If your parent takes medications, these should be included as well.
• Communication devices. It is important that your parent is able to communicate with those outside of their home during an emergency. Be sure that they include an extra battery or emergency charger for your parent’s cellular phone to ensure continuous connection to those who can provide help throughout the emergency.
• Comfort items. While your first priority should always be keeping your parent safe and healthy during an emergency, keeping them comfortable is also important. Include items such as clothing, blankets, towels, shoes, toiletry items, and simple entertainment such as cards and books to carry them through.

Source
https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
https://www.ready.gov/kit
http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/be-red-cross-ready/get-a-kit