September Is National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month, held annually in September, encourages families, businesses, and communities to prepare and plan for disasters and emergencies. In addition to general emergency preparedness, the Maryland Department of Health's Office of Preparedness and Response (OP&R) encourages Marylanders to take steps toward public health preparedness, not only in September, but all year long.
This year's campaign will focus on preparing older Marylanders for disasters and emergencies, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by these hazardous events.
We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.
Watch this special video message from the Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services for the Maryland Department of Health, Nilesh Kalyanaraman:
If you are an older adult, follow these easy steps to make sure you’re protected.
Source: CDC.gov
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards, may force you to evacuate your home or shelter-in-place at short notice. It is important to know what to do in case of an emergency well before disaster strikes.
If you are an older adult, you may face some challenges during an emergency. For example, you may have mobility problems, or chronic health conditions, or you may not have any family or friends nearby to support you. Support services that are usually available, such as help from caregivers or in-home health care and meal delivery services, may be unavailable for a period of time. In addition, older adults may experience challenges that come with advanced age, such as hearing or vision problems or cognitive impairment, which may make it difficult to access, understand, and respond to emergency instructions.
Creating a Plan
The first step in preparing for an emergency is creating a plan. Work with your friends, family, and neighbors to develop a plan that will fit your unique needs.
- Choose a contact person who will check on you during a disaster, and decide how you will communicate with each other (for instance, by telephone, knocking on doors). Consider speaking with your neighbors about developing a check-in system together.
- Create a list of contact information for family members and friends. Leave a copy by your phone(s) and include one in your Emergency Supply Kit.
- Plan how you will leave and where you will go during an evacuation. If you are living in a retirement or assisted living community, learn what procedures are in place in case of emergencies. Keep a copy of exit routes and meeting places in an easy-to-reach place.
- If you have medical, transportation, or other access needs during an emergency, consider signing up for SMART911, or your local county registry, depending upon which service your area uses to helps first responders identify people who may need assistance right away.
Creating an Emergency Supply Kit
After an emergency, you may not have access to clean water or electricity. Make sure you are prepared with your own supply of food, water, and other items to last for at least 3 days.
Click
here for a list of basic items to gather for your Emergency Supply Kit.
Medical-Related Items:
- A 3-day supply of medicine, at a minimum. If medications need to be kept cold, have a cooler and ice packs available.
- ID band (full name, contact number for family member/caregiver, and allergies)
- Hearing aids and extra batteries
- Glasses and/or contacts and contact solution
- Medical supplies like syringes or extra batteries
- Information about medical devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, and oxygen including model numbers and vendor.
Documents (Keep physical copies in a waterproof bag and take photos of each document for backup):
- Contact information for family members, doctors, pharmacies and/or caregivers
- List of all medications, including the exact name of the medicine and the dosage, and contact information for pharmacy and doctor who prescribed medicine
- List of allergies to food or medicines
- Copies of medical insurance cards
- Copies of a photo ID
- Durable power of attorney and/or medical power of attorney documents, as appropriate.
From our partners
More InformationFor great preparedness information all year long, be sure to follow OP&R on Twitter and Facebook.
