| There are many steps that can be taken to prevent | | | | and can be accomplished by all family members. This |
| harm to your family when a disaster strikes. The | | | | is especially important when smaller children or elderly |
| primary key to ensuring the safety of your family is | | | | are within the home. The designed emergency plan |
| to plan ahead. While every disaster is different the | | | | should be tested under various pretend emergencies |
| steps that need to be taken for safety purposes are | | | | to make sure it is suitable for all major emergencies |
| very similar. A simple cycle will help prepare you and | | | | or to let you know that the plans need to be revised |
| your family for what needs to be done. This cycle | | | | under certain circumstances. |
| includes four easy step, planning, testing, practice, | | | | Now that the plan has been designed, tested, and |
| and maintenance. | | | | ready to be used in case of emergency, it is time to |
| The first portion of this critical cycle is of the utmost | | | | remind all the members of the family of what needs |
| important. It is planning an evacuation or reaction plan | | | | to be done. We never want an emergency to occur, |
| appropriate for the natural disaster. If a fire was to | | | | but when it does it is time to get down to business. |
| take place in your home an evacuation plan would be | | | | To make sure there is no delay in family response, a |
| more suitable while if a hurricane was approaching a | | | | monthly test should be run. This way all the |
| safety plan directed at the in home safety would | | | | procedures stay fresh in everyone's mind. So when |
| prove to be more valuable. For this reason, it is | | | | that emergency does occur there is no doubt that |
| advised that an evacuation plan and severe weather | | | | everyone knows exactly what they need to be |
| plan be created. A few things to remember when | | | | doing. |
| creating your emergency plan is to designate a single | | | | Finally, the last part of the cycle is maintenance. The |
| location for all the family to seek out when an | | | | portion is just as important as the first. The reason |
| emergency arises. This will make is easy to account | | | | being for maintaining your emergency plans is that |
| for all family members and help save valuable time in | | | | sometimes house layouts change, family members |
| trying to move the family to a safer location. | | | | switch rooms, or they simply become ineffective. |
| Secondly, this plan needs to be discussed on a regular | | | | This is also a good time to check those first aid kits |
| basis with the whole family to make sure everyone | | | | and emergency supplies such as bottled water, |
| understand the plan and also knows the importance | | | | canned goods, and conditions of the home. An |
| of following the plan and not deviating from it. Finally, | | | | emergency plan should be evaluated annually to make |
| a good way to help refresh younger members of the | | | | sure you and your family are doing all that they can |
| familys memory is by posting your emergency plans | | | | to stay safe in a state of emergency. |
| on the refrigerator and in their bedrooms. That way | | | | This cycle will help keep you and your family safe. |
| there in a stressful situation when it is time to | | | | Just remember those four easy steps: planning, |
| implement these plans they can easily be located and | | | | testing, practicing, and maintenance. Following those |
| followed. | | | | rules will make sure your plans are not haphazard and |
| Before the final plan is put into place, it is important | | | | will keep your family safe. |
| to test the plan and make sure that it is effective | | | | |