| Today I see on the TV. That there is another | | | | ways out of the building? (Remember that an |
| food that is being recalled the Tomato has made | | | | elevator is never a way out during a fire.) |
| people sick in seven States this is not the first | | | | Yes/ No Can all members of your family operate |
| but just one more sign that should make us stand | | | | the locks, windows and doors for escape? |
| up and take notice of just how fragile Our World | | | | Yes/ No Does your family understand to leave or |
| and our urban Lives Really Are. | | | | seek shelter when an alarm sounds? |
| Also the floods in the Mid West and the extreme | | | | Yes/ No Does each member of your family know |
| heat in the east, let us not forget the Earth | | | | where to go after evacuating your home? |
| Quakes and the price of fuel going Up. We all | | | | Yes/ No Does each member of your family know |
| need to look around and make an Emergency | | | | who to call for help and are the telephone |
| Plan most of us do not have an Emergency Plan | | | | numbers posted? |
| and most don't have any kind of back up plan if | | | | Yes/ No In a weather-related emergency, does |
| something were to happen. | | | | your family know where to seek shelter? |
| According to the Department of Home Land | | | | Yes/ No Escape planning and smoke detectors |
| Security less than 3% of the people living in the | | | | are essential for getting everyone out safely. Are |
| US have any kind of food storage or emergency | | | | the batteries routinely replaced? |
| preparedness supplies, that figure is ALARMING | | | | Yes/ No Does your family understand that once |
| most of us do not even know how to make a | | | | they are outside, they should stay outside? |
| emergency plan (or what should be on it) below is | | | | Yes/ No Do you have a first-aid kit and is it fully |
| a simple Family Preparedness Checklist. | | | | stocked? |
| Protect your family from emergencies by | | | | Yes/ No Do you have a fire extinguisher and is it |
| developing a home emergency response plan. The | | | | serviced? |
| following check list may help you in developing an | | | | Yes/ No Do you encourage family members to |
| emergency plan for your family to follow in any | | | | take first-aid and CPR classes? |
| disaster. If your responses to the majority of the | | | | Yes/ No If needed, do members of your family |
| questions asked in the checklist are "yes," then | | | | know how to shut off the water, gas and |
| you are well on your way to developing a plan. If | | | | electricity to your home? |
| your answers are "no" to all or most of these | | | | Yes/ No Does your plan cover whom to call in |
| questions, then develop and implement a home | | | | case of a utility problem? |
| plan as soon as possible. | | | | Yes/ No Do you maintain a supply of tarps or |
| Yes/ No Do you have a home emergency plan? | | | | plywood to cover openings created by a storm |
| Does it cover all emergencies like fire, weather, | | | | or fire? |
| etc.? Does your family practice this home | | | | Yes/ No Do you have flashlights, radios, etc., and |
| emergency plan? | | | | more importantly, batteries located in a central |
| Yes/ No Does your plan include smoke, gas and | | | | area known to all family members? |
| carbon monoxide detectors? | | | | Yes/ No Do you have a written inventory and |
| Yes/ No Do you have a weather radio and do all | | | | photographs of all valuable items in your home? |
| members of your family know what the signals | | | | Do you have more than one copy located outside |
| mean? | | | | of your home? |
| Yes/ No Can each member of your family tell | | | | Yes/ No If you have pets, have you provided for |
| you two ways out of your home? If your second | | | | them in your home emergency plan? |
| way out of a two-story home is a window, do | | | | To find out more about getting prepared go |
| you need a safety ladder? If you live in a | | | | to:ezemergencysolutions. |
| high-rise, does your family know and practice two | | | | |