NCM 72 DISATER NURSING RLE
Resource for Structured Health Teaching
Introduction:
Regardless of the event, disasters have several key elements in common.
• They are relatively unexpected, with the little or no warning or opportunity to prepare.
• Increased demands for resources may initially overwhelm available response personnel and
emergency services.
• They endanger lives, health, and the environment.
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, needs are often greater than professional emergency services
personnel can provide.
Assembling and Storing Disaster Supplies
You can cope best by preparing for a disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is to assemble
disaster supplies in multiple locations. After disaster strikes, you may not have time to shop or search for
supplies. If you have gathered supplies in advance, you and your family can endure an evacuation or
home confinement.
To Prepare Your Disaster Supply Kit
1. Review the checklists on the next few pages.
2. Gather the supplies from the list. Remember that many of the items needed for your kits are already
in your household. It is possible to assemble these items in appropriate locations for quick access in an
emergency but use under normal circumstances whenever needed. For example, keep a wrench in your
kit to shut off gas at the meter in an emergency, but also use the wrench for everyday tasks. Just be sure
to return it to the emergency kit.
3. Place the supplies you are likely to need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container. These
supplies are listed with an asterisk (*).
Notes Regarding Your Disaster Supply Kit:
Water
• Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles.
• Look for the triangular recycling symbol with a number 1 on the bottom of the bottle, as those are best
for water storage. Avoid using containers that will degrade quickly or break, such as milk jugs or glass
bottles.
• Wash the bottle with soap and warm water, fill with water from your tap, and store in a cool, dark area
away from direct sunlight.
• Replace your emergency water every six months by repeating the process as all plastic degrades over
time.
• Keep in mind that a normally active person needs to drink at least 2 quarts of water each day. Hot
environments and intense physical activity can double that requirement. Children, nursing mothers, and
ill people will need more.
• Store at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day (3 quarts for drinking, 1 quart for food preparation
and sanitation).
• Keep at least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your household. If you have questions about
the quality of the water, purify it before drinking. You can heat water to a rolling boil for 1 minute or use
commercial purification tablets to purify the water. You can also use regular household liquid chlorine
bleach if it is pure 5.25 – 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite (see Table 1.3). (Do not use perfumed bleach!)
After adding bleach, shake or stir the water container and let it stand 30 minutes before drinking.
*Note: If water is cloudy, double the recommended amount of bleach.
Food and Kitchen Items
Store at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration,
preparation, or cooking and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of solid gel fuel. Select
food items that are compact and lightweight. Avoid salty foods if possible as they increase thirst. Table
1.4 includes a selection of foods to include in your disaster kit. Check expiration dates biannually.
First Aid Kit*
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.
Special Items
Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or those with access and
functional needs.
General
Supplies marked with an asterisk (*) can also be used for evacuation.
Family Disaster Plan
In addition to knowing immediate protective actions that you may need to take, you should also create a
family disaster plan. These plans can mean the difference between life and death in a disaster.
Important considerations for your family disaster plan include:
• Where will you meet family members? You should have a location outside the house and another
location outside the neighborhood;
• Identify an out-of-state “check-in contact;”
• Plan for all possibilities—extended stay, sheltering in place, or evacuation;
• How you will escape buildings where you spend time—your home, workplace, school, and place of
worship; and
• What route (and several alternatives) will you use to evacuate?
• Do you have transportation?
Family safety is the most important factor when a disaster strikes. To make the most informed decision
regarding your family’s safety, you should first consider what option is best given the situation. It is also
essential to practice your plan with your family— such as evacuating the home and contacting all family
members using your “check-in contact.” Practicing your plan now will improve your performance when
it matters most
SOURCE: [Link]
Basic/CERT+Basic_Unit+1+Participant+Manual_English.pdf