Every Life Secure - Emergency Preparedness Blog

You Don't Have to Be A Survivalist to Be A Survivor

It's true -- you don't have to be a "survivalist" to be a "survivor."  I'm a "survivor" of many disasters, but I'm not a "survivalist."  Though I have learned much from those who are self-identified survivalists and have great respect for their knowledge and skills, I believe all of us as "regular people" can take basic steps that allow us to be a survivor in case of a severe emergency or disaster.

To increase your chances of being a disaster survivor you can:

1) Learn about what to do in various emergency or disaster scenarios.  All of us can identify various kinds of disasters or emergencies that are common to where we live and learn about how to appropriately respond to them.  For example, I live in Illinois and as such should know the basics of what to do in case of earthquakes, tornadoes, blizzards, chemical spills or explosions (freight trains come within a mile of my home), nuclear accidents (we have 11 nuclear reactors in Illinois), and floods.

Such knowledge is readily available on the web (from this emergency preparedness blog among other sources), in books, in pamphlets, from local emergency responders, etc.  You don't need to become an expert in emergency response to learn and remember such basics "Drop, Cover, Hold On" in an earthquake, "get out of your car and into a ditch" in a tornado, or  "have a 72 hour emergency kit in case you have to evacuate or shelter-in-place" in any number of disaster scenarios.

I used to worry about trying to memorize and keep in mind the "10 bullet points for how to respond to each type of disaster".  I have come to believe that one can get and retain most of the "survivor knowledge" they will really need by just occasionally learning about these events and thinking about the key things to do and not do.  A lot of it comes down to common sense once you learn some of the basic principles of response.

When it comes to knowledge of how to respond, you don't have to be a trained survivalist to survive a disaster.

2) Have an emergency kit and emergency supplies.  As I share constantly in this blog and as the U.S. Government has told us for years now, everyone should have an emergency kit and adequate supplies to last for at least 72 hours (3 days) on their own after a disaster.  Hurricane Katrina taught us that even in America, you can go hungry and be thirsty if you are not prepared to meet your own needs after a catastrophic disaster.

I personally am prepared to support my family's basic needs for much longer than 72 hours, but this minimum is a good place to start.  For relatively little money you can either build your own emergency kit or buy an emergency kit that will meet your basic needs.  Remember, its about "sustaining life" not "sustaining lifestyle" for those few days after a disaster.  Your absolute survival essentials can be fit into one backpack.  That same backpack of supplies can be used to help you evacuate or shelter-in-place.

You don't have to own the ultimate survival knife in order to survive most disasters and emergencies. I love cool survival gadgets as much as the next guy, but basic supplies will do for most scenarios.  Any regular person can obtain an emergency kit that may not contain all the high-end specialized gear a trained survivalist may desire, but that will work just fine to help you be a survivor in a disaster.

3) Have a basic plan of how to evacuate or shelter-in-place.  If you have the basic knowledge of how to survive a given catastrophic event, and you have the supplies to meet your basic needs for a period of time, you can top that off by thinking through your emergency plan. 

The appropriate response to most catastrophic disasters will require you to do one of two things to avoid harm or to deal with the event's aftermath: evacuate of shelter-in-place.  If you have to evacuate, you'll need to know how you will gather family members, and where you will go before you actually have to leave.  Evacuation can happen in a real hurry in some scenarios and the time for preparation is over when the time for action has arrived.  Plan in advance.

Shelter-in-place plans also require some forethought.  Thinking through your plans will help you better ensure that you have the right emergency supplies in place to respond to an emergency at a moments notice. 

As in other aspects of emergency preparation, your plans don't have to be elaborate.  SEAL Team Six level planning and practice is not necessary.  Just think through the basics and make sure that all family members or colleagues in the workplace know what the plan is.

Following these basic approaches to emergency preparedness will allow you to survive most of what might come at you in this life in the way of emergencies or disasters.  Don't be intimidated by the emergency preparedness process.  You don't need to be a survivalist to be a survivor.

Every Life Secure

How do we prepare for earthquakes? Lessons from the L'Aquila, Italy Earthquake

Unfortunately, we have seen once again the destructive power of earthquakes in the latest tragic tremor (6.3 on the Richter Scale) in L'Aquila in central Italy.  As of this writing, over 150 people are believed dead with 1,500 or more injured.  With some 10,000 to 15,000 buildings damaged or destroyed, over 100,000 people have been left homeless.

Some takeaways from this tragedy in Italy are:

Disasters can happen at any time of day.  This quake occurred at 3:32 a.m., so most were caught in their sleep -- at their most vulnerable.  The stories emerging speak of many fleeing in their pajamas and barely making it out of their houses and apartments as they crumbled around them.  This speaks to such easy preparedness steps as having a pair of shoes or slippers at your bedside, a light source (light stick or flash light) handy, and a robe or some other covering close by to grab for warmth in case of a need to evacuate without warning.  It also speaks to having your emergency supplies were they can be easily grabbed as you exit your home or workplace.

Basic services were immediately disrupted.  It is clear from images of damaged streets and infrastructure that water, sewer and electricity were instantly cut off to many homes.  As I viewed images of regular citizens helping in the rescue efforts (digging through debris with their bare hands), I noticed one young man with a military style canteen strapped around his waist.  I realized that he was probably among the few that was prepared to hydrate himself during the initial hours of response.  I was reminded that without emergency supplies on hand, we may be left without survival basics for hours, days or longer after a major disaster.

Don't expect the government to be able to immediately respond to your basic needs. One civil protection official was quoted as saying that the key priority was to provide shelter for everyone by nightfall.  One can only imagine the challenge of trying to shelter over 100,000 people "by nightfall".  One can also image that attempts to provide food, water, and sanitation facilities would be less than 100% successful, at least in the short-term. 

Access to basic tools will allow you to aid in rescue efforts.  As video images show many people working with their bare hands to assist professional responders in clearing rubble in an attempt to find survivors, it is apparent that they lack no willingness to do all they can to help rescue others. It is also clear that simple tools and supplies like gloves, shovels, picks, sledgehammers, axes, etc could significantly aid their efforts.  Having your own basic emergency tools will significantly increase your usefulness should you remain among the able-bodied people who survive the disaster.

Medical facilities may not be immediately available to treat injuries.  Sections of the main hospital in L'Aquila had to be evacuated because they were at risk of collapsing in the aftershocks.  People were being treated on the street and in the hospital courtyard.  Many bloodied victims had to await treatment as the facilities and personnel that were available were overwhelmed by the massive need for medical attention.  Each of us should think about having basic first aid supplies on hand to stop bleeding, help someone to start breathing again, splint a broken limb, etc. 

Obviously, basic training in first aid, CPR, and other skills will be invaluable as we help our own families, neighbors and others in the absence of immediate professional medical attention after a disaster.  Be aware that many basic home first aid kits are designed for minor day to day "cuts and scrapes" and provide little to help in more advanced, yet basic life saving situations.  Trauma first aid kits and supplies will be of greater help in a true disaster.  I keep a lot of trauma bandages and supplies on hand at home as even untrained individuals can help stop bleeding if they just have the right basic supplies.  I also figure that I can help resupply professionals if supplies of such basics as blood stopping bandages run low in the initial hours of response.

Here are some links that provide more information on how to prepare for an earthquake and how to respond if you are hit by one:

Selected information from Are You Ready?, FEMA

CDC - Earthquakes - Before, During, After

The greatest lesson from every disaster we witness around the world is that the time to prepare to be secure in an emergency or disaster is BEFORE one strikes.  No measures taken after the fact will fully compensate for lack of preparation before the event.

What are you doing to be prepared for an earthquake or other disaster?  If you are already prepared, how can you encourage and help others to be prepared at home, at work, at school, or on-the-go? 

Comment or email me to let me know what you are doing to help make "Every Life Secure" (even your own).

Every Life Secure - over 190,000 Lives Secured and counting...

Undersea Volcano Erupts Off Tonga Coast - A Reminder of The Need to Be Prepared in the U.S.

The spectacular eruption of an undersea volcano off the coast of Tonga on March 18, 2009 reminds us that we have 169 volcanoes of our own in the United States.  18 of those are considered to be "Highly Dangerous".

It is estimate that about 500 million people live near one of the 1,500 active volcanoes in the world.

Anyone who lives within a hundred miles of a potentially active volcano should make special emergency preparations.  In addition to having a well stocked portable emergency kit to use in case of the need for evacuation or to shelter in place, people living near volcanoes should consider having additonal supplies that would be particularly helpful in the case of an eruption:

- several respirators (good quality dust masks) to protect breathing

- goggles to keep dust and ash out of the eyes

Here are some more tips for surviving a volcanic eruption and its aftermath.

No matter where we live, every one of us needs to be prepared with a minimum of three days worth of emergency survival supplies.  Those who live near volcanoes have one addtional reason to prudently prepare for a potential disaster.  Thanks, Tonga, for the reminder....

Every Life Secure

Emergency Kit - Does Your Emergency Kit Pass the "CLAD" Test? Is it Compact...?

When evaluating your existing emergency kit or considering the components for a new one, you may want to make sure that your kit passes the "CLAD" Test.  

A dictionary.com definition of "CLAD" is "To cover with a protective or insulating layer of... material."  So, with your emergency kit, "Are you properly 'CLAD' to survive an emergency or disaster?" 

Or as we might say, "Does your emergency kit have you covered?"

At LifeSecure we use the "CLAD" Test to evaluate our emergency kit designs (like the Grab-and-Go 1-Person 3-Day Emergency Kit pictured above) to make sure that we are providing an emergency kit and supplies that balance and optimize four key attributes of a good emergency kit:

C - Compact - small enough to reasonably store and transport

L - Lightweight -light enough to be practically transported in difficult conditions by the person who plans to use it

A- All-Hazards equipped - comprehensive and versatile for use in any emergency; with each supply item being as multi-functional as possible

D- Durable - able to perform in the tough conditions that often accompany an emergency

If your emergency kit has the proper balance of these four attributes, you stand a better chance of more successfully and comfortably surviving an emergency or disaster.  These attributes become especially important in any emergency that might require an evacuation from your home or office.

In this first part of a four part series, I'll discuss the importance of making sure your supplies and your emergency kit are compact. 

I was helping a woman on the phone one day as she selected emergency supplies for her family.  After listening to her give me a long list of what she wanted, I asked her a simple question, "How do you intend to carry all of these supplies if you should end up on foot?"  When we discussed the bulk of the total supplies she wanted, she realized that there was not a practical way for her and her husband to carry all these supplies and bring along their two young children.  We pared down her list and ended up with a 72 hour emergency kit solution that was more compact and that better met the practical needs of her family.

The key to keeping an emergency kit compact and manageable, while still making sure that all essential survival needs are met, is making sure that the supplies in the kits are compact.  Two emergency supply items come to mind as excellent examples of this principle. 

The first is a new emergency supply that has just been introduced to the market: the compacted Emergency EZ Towel. 

These compacted emergency towels are activated with a few drops of water, turning the small towel tablet into a 9" x 12" towel for use in emergency sanitation, hygiene, and First Aid (wound cleaning).  These Emergency EZ Towels take the place of a large towel or multiple washcloths.  They are disposable and bio-degradable.

The towels comes in a waterproof tube of 10 towel tablets.  The compact tube is not much bigger than a roll of quarters. 

This video clearly illustrates the compact nature of this product.  A small roll of compacted towels can save a lot of space when compared with the room that a full towel or multiple washcloths might take in a backpack or duffel bag.

The second example of a compact supply is a traditional emergency basic found in most emergency supply kits: the emergency thermal blanket.  This metalized foil blanket measures just 5" x 2.5" x 1" (that's about the size of a man's wallet) when folded but expands to cover 84" x 52" in use.  This compact blanket provides warmth (retains and reflects up to 90 of body heat), a waterproof and windproof shelter barrier, and a covering to help reduce shock when someone is injured.

Emergency thermal blankets have several qualities that, in an emergency, are actually superior to those of regular blankets, and they take up a fraction of the space.  Many traditional blankets would fill almost an entire backpack, leaving room for little else.  So for emergency use, this supply gets high marks for being compact and versatile.

  In addition to choosing compact supplies like those detailed above, it is important to properly size your emergency kits to fit the storage space that you can practically devote to it.  For example, many people may find it difficult to fit a whole backpack in their office or workstation at work.  This doesn't mean that you can't store the essential personal basic supplies to last up to 72 hours. 

Compact kits like the Personal 3-Day Emergency Response Kit or the Personal Grab-and-Go 3-Day Emergency Kit can easily be stored in a desk drawer, on a shelf, or in a cabinet.  While these kits may not be as extensive as a full 72 hour emergency kit in a backpack, they will give you the basics for survival in a very compact storage and transport solution.

When considering supplies for your emergency kits, make sure that you consider products that are compact.  In doing so you'll be able to include emergency supplies that meet all your essential emergency needs without needing a bag or other container that is so big that it is difficult to store or impractical to transport.

What are some of your favorite compact supplies for including in an emergency kit?  Is there something bulky for which you have found a more compact substitute?

Every Life Secure

What Do You Do During a Tornado? How Can You Be Safe Wherever You Are?

LifeSecure.com

I awoke this morning to the news of another deadly tornado.  This one was in Oklahoma and claimed 8 lives and destroyed numerous buildings.  I wondered,"How many tornadoes hit in the U.S. every year?"  Answer: Over 1,200.

Then I wondered, "Which states get hit the most by tornadoes?" Answer: The Tornado Alley states of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and South Dakota.

How about, "Where have the most deadly tornadoes hit?" Answer: Mississippi, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Maryland.

The deadliest tornado of all time killed 689 people along a 219 mile long track in 1925.

So, "Is there any state in the U.S. that is completely safe from tornadoes?" Answer:  No.  Sorry, every US state including Hawaii has experienced tornadoes.  So, no matter which state you live in, its important to know what to do during a tornado.

As I further researched Tornadoes, I saw a video clip of two storm chasers in Iowa taking a direct hit from a tornado while in their car last year (this same tornado killed 4 in a boy scout camp).  These guys stayed in their car and filmed the whole event. I thought, "Aren't you suppose to get out of the car and lie flat in a ditch?"

It's been a while since I last read about what to do in a tornado, so I decided it was time for review.  Hopefully you will find my tornado response review helpful.

Here is what the US Government (FEMA) tells us to do:

If you are in "a structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building) - Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows."

OK, so forget the old advice to open windows "so your house doesn't explode."

If you are in "a vehicle, trailer, or mobile home - Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

No mention of getting out to "lie down in a ditch."  The guys on the video I saw were out of luck because there were no nearby buildings.

If you are "outside with no shelter - Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.

Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.

Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries."

OK, so there is my "lie in a ditch" advice.  But I'm still not clear on if you are out in the open with no chance to get to a building, do you stay inside the car or jump out and lie in a ditch?  ...Ah, here we go.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has the answer:

"On the Road

The least desirable place to be during a tornado is in a motor vehicle. Cars, buses, and trucks are easily tossed by tornado winds.

DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO IN YOUR CAR. If you see a tornado, stop your vehicle and get out. Do not get under your vehicle. Follow the directions for seeking shelter outdoors (see next section).

Outdoors

If you are caught outside during a tornado and there is no adequate shelter immediately available--

• Avoid areas with many trees.
• Avoid vehicles.
• Lie down flat in a gully, ditch, or low spot on the ground.
• Protect your head with an object or with your arms."

Got it!  Bottom line is don't stay in the car.  Get to a sturdy building (never go under an overpass for protection) or if this is not possible, do the "lie in a ditch" thing.

It's hard to remember exactly what to do in every disaster situation, but reading official recommendations periodically, talking with your family about them, and practicing things like where you would go and what you would do at home to protect yourself in case of a tornado are steps that take little effort but could help you and your family survive.

Here are some good links for further information and preparation.

Selected Information from Tornadoes - Are You Ready?: FEMA
During a Tornado - CDC (this had some good detailed information I did not find elsewhere)
Tornado Terms
Before a Tornado
During a Tornado
After a Tornado

If you have survived a tornado (it's one disaster not on my personal list) please email me your secure survivor story so we can share it with our readers: dscott@lifesecure.com.  If you have read some other good tornado advice, please comment below.

EveryLifeSecure.com
An Emergency Preparedness Blog helping to make "Every Life Secure" in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school, or on-the-go.

LifeSecure.com
An Emergency Preparedness website offering emergency kits and emergency supplies to help keep people secure in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school or on-the-go.  Over 170,000 Lives Secured!

How to Prepare for a Wildfire - Australian Wildfire Tragedy Reminds us of the Need to be Ready

LifeSecure.com

As a boy, I lived for two and a half years in Sydney, Australia with my family.  I went to kindergarten, first grade and half of second grade in an Australian public school (uniform with a tie, shorts, knee socks and all).  I had a great natural Australian accent (which I eventually lost).  I was pretty much an "Australian" kid for my few years there (although I could never quite bring myself to try Vegemite). 

Because of my time there, as an "Australian" I have a love for Australia and its people.  Perhaps that's why it made me sick to read of the 135+ people killed there in the last few days in dozens of wildfires that literally wiped out whole towns and killed people in their homes and in cars and on the street as they fled the inferno.  This is the deadliest disaster in Australian history.  See the most recent report I read.

What makes it worse is that some of the more than dozen bushfires that engulfed more than 750 homes are thought to have been purposely set.  That is just so sick. 

After years of drought and a run of temperatures as high as 117 degrees Fahrenheit, the high winds (up to 60 miles per hour) swept the walls of fire so quickly that many just didn't have time to escape.  As I have read some of the miraculous escape stories that are now emerging from survivors, it at least reminds me that there are things that can be done to prepare now to survive such a horrible experience.

Given the much publicized California wildfires of last year and the continuing drought conditions in many areas of the West and elsewhere, it makes sense for those who live in risk areas to think now about how to prepare for potential wildfires.  Here are some links that may help in that wildfire preparation:

Selected information on Wildfire Preparation from Are You read?,FEMA.
Prepare for a Wildfire
Before a Wildfire
During a Wildfire
After a Wildfire

As FEMA encourages in its wildfire information, "Always be ready for an emergency evacuation.  Evacuation may be the only way to protect your family in a wildfire.  Know where to go and what to bring with you." In line with this advice, here are a few suggestions that may help:

• Make sure you have a 72-Hour Emergency Evacuation Kit ready to go at a moments notice

• Be sure to keep copies of important documents in this emergency kit

• Consider having a smoke mask and goggles or fire hood to protect you from smoke as you evacuate.  For more information on smoke masks and fire hoods, see my previous post on Fire Preparedness - Smoke masks and Fire Hoods Can Save Lives)

Here is a full list of LifeSecure products that may help you prepare for a wildfire.

If you live an area that might be impacted by a wildfire, please take some time to prepare now.  Though such preparation might not have saved all those who perished in the Australian bushfires, it may have made a difference for some.  Certainly emergency preparation can saves lives and at the very least can lessen the discomfort and loss experienced in a disaster such as a wildfire.

EveryLifeSecure.com
An Emergency Preparedness Blog helping to make "Every Life Secure" in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school, or on-the-go.

LifeSecure.com
An Emergency Preparedness website offering emergency kits and emergency supplies to help keep people secure in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school or on-the-go.  Over 170,000 Lives Secured!

Earthquake Preparedness - POGO (Pry Off Gas Off) Combination Gas Shut-Off Tool and Pry Bar

The other day I was hustling indoors from 15 degree weather when I about ran into my wife heading out the garage door with a post-it note and a pen.  When I found out she was going out to the gas meter (through 6 inches of snow) to take a reading and contest our gas bill because it was so high last month (turns out record low temperatures will do that), I volunteered to do it for her.  After pushing back the bushes, kneeling in the snow, clearing off the frigid (now mostly dead) ivy that had grown over the meter and straining to read the ridiculously small little dials (I had to turn my head almost upside down to see them), I wondered why I had been so quick to volunteer.

One thing it reminded me of was the need to have a good gas shut-off tool handy to turn off the natural gas in case of a leak caused by some kind of disaster.  In our area, that could likely be an earthquake.  Read my post on the potential for earthquakes in the Central USA.  If you suspect a gas leak after a natural or man-made disaster (smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise), open a window, quickly get everyone out, turn off the gas (use the outside main valve if possible), and call the utility company from a neighbor's phone.  This action can avert a potentially deadly explosion. 

As FEMA says, "Natural gas leaks and explosions are responsible for a significant number of fires following disasters.  It is vital that all household members know how to shut off natural gas."

WARNING: Once the natural gas is turned off, it must be turned on again by a professional.

I you aren't sure how to safely shut off the gas, contact your utility company.  Here is a site that will show you the basics of shutting of the gas.

Assuming you know how to turn off the gas in an emergency, the next most important thing is to have a specific tool handy (in a predetermined place - note: outdoors next to the meter where Joey next door can turn off the gas as a prank may not be the smartest place to store your tool).  There is no way you can turn of the gas without a tool.  Though many kinds of wrenches and other tools may work to shut off the gas, I have a new favorite, the POGO (Pry Off Gas Off).

One of our supplier partners from California (earthquake country where they know the value of a good gas shut-off tool) recently developed what they call the POGO (Pry Off Gas Off) combination gas shut-off and pry bar.  I like it because it combines two important tools that are likely to be needed in the same emergency.  The emergency that caused enough jostling of your home to break the gas line in the first place, can easily bring with it the need for a solid pry tool for dealing with debris, jammed doors, and other search and rescue functions.  So the POGO (Pry Off Gas Off) is a very smart combo in a compact 15 inches (this means it will also fit in most backpacks or duffles - for your 72 hour emergency kit).

Some of the main features we find valuable are:

• Stong, lightweight construction from manganese steel

• Integrated shut-off valve notches (two different angles for ease) for quick and easy gas shut off

• Durable, high visibility powder coating

• Well ground pry tangs for easier prying in tight seems

• Notch for hanging on a nail or screw to keep at-the ready for an emergency

• Compact and easy to handle at just 15 inches (fits in most backpacks and duffles for your emergency kit)

If you are interested in this combination emergency tool, check your gas shut-off valve to make sure the 1 6/16 inch notches will fit your particular shut-off valve.  These notches were designed to fit most gas shut-off valves.

At the end of the day, this is one of my favorite emergency tools because it has several attributes we look for in any disaster tool.  It is compact, strong, lightweight, multi-functional, and versatile.

Click here to see or purchase this POGO (Pry Off Shut Off) gas shut-off and pry bar.

Click here to see all of our emergency preparedness tools.

Earthquake.tel

Every Life Secure
An Emergency Preparedness Blog helping to make "Every Life Secure" in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school, or on-the-go

Blackouts - Candles Pose a Fire Hazard - Use Light Sticks

With blackouts making the headlines once again due to severe winter weather, it is a good time to be reminded of a very important blackout safety tip:

"Avoid using lighted candles."

Over 15,000 residential fires and 150 deaths occur each year in the United states due to fires started by candles.  In a blackout, the use of candles to provide light significantly increases the chances of starting a house fire.  The irony is that the same conditions that caused the blackout in the first place (severe storms) can often delay firefighters in responding to a house fire.

While there are safety tips for use of candles in the home, it is better to avoid them altogether when planning for any emergency, including a blackout.  Some emergency kit manufacturers include candles in their emergency kits, but we do not use them as we think there are better alternatives that do not pose a fire risk.  We have also been guided by the fact that the Amerian Red Cross discourages their use in a blackout because of the fire hazard.

When I was growing up overseas in the Philippines, we had a lot of blackouts.  We typically responded with a combination of candles, kerosene lanterns, and flashlights. While flashlights remain a good solution and battery or crank driven lanterns are another alternative with no associated fire risk, I never use candles or fuel burning lanterns indoors today in the case of an emergency.  There is really no reason to use candles if one is prepared with appropriate alternatives.

If you have a hard time keeping batteries on hand or you don't want to have to "crank" for your light, the best alternative to candles is to use glowing light sticks.  One can find good quality light sticks that will last for up to 12 hours in any camping supply store or on-line from any emergency preparedness company.  Avoid the toy-grade light sticks often sold around Halloween time.

At LifeSecure.com we sell military-grade 12-hour light sticks and pack them in most of our emergency kits because they are:

• non-flammable (generate no heat or spark)

• non-toxic (so they are safe for children to use)

• waterproof (so they can be used in any weather conditions)

We also like the fact that they have a long shelf life - certified to last for 4 years - and are extremely easy to use.  Just bend them in half and the non-toxic chemicals mix and you have instant light.  Most military or emergency grade glowing light sticks put out about as much light as a typical candle.  I have read with them in the dark as well as moved around a dark house with ease.

In a blackout you can easily put one in each room or move them with you for light.  There is no need to shield a flame as you move, keep children and pets away from them, worry about leaving them unattended, or to remember to blow them out when you go to sleep.  I have found that the green (or yellow) glow is actually comforting to children and it is easy for each child to have their own light in a blackout situation.

I also like that they are very thin and compact and many are designed to be worn on a lanyard or hung from a hook or nail if desired.  They are compact enough to stick an extra few just about anywhere you might need them.

I keep several on hand in the house, in my car, and in each of my 72 hour emergency kits.  I always feel better prepared with a combination of a flashlight and some light sticks to provide an instant, reliable source of light.  I have picked up many flashlights in my life only to be disappointed that the batteries were dead, but I have never had this issue with a light stick.  As long as it is within its dating, you don't have to worry about whether its power will be drained when you need it most.

At about $1.50 or so each, they really are a great and affordable emergency lighting solution for a blackout or any other emergency at home, at work, at school or on-the-go.

Every Life Secure
An Emergency Preparedness Blog helping to make "Every Life Secure" in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school, or on-the-go

Secure Suvivor from Latin America - Emergency Preparation Saves the Family

This week I presented a seminar on emergency preparedness and 72 hour emergency kits to an inner city hispanic church congregation.  Their women's auxiliary had asked me to help their group learn how to prepare for potential disasters.  As we started, several people in the audience shared their secure survivor stories.  Given that most of the participants had grown up in Latin America, all but one person in the audience had experienced some type of man-made or natural disaster at some point in their lives.

One story that stood out for me was told by a 40-something year old mother of three who had grown up in a Central American country but has been living here in the United States and raising her family for the last several years.  When she was a teenage girl, her family had been warned that they needed to prepare for an emergency by having food, water and other basics on hand to last for several days.  As a teenager, she had paid little attention to the warnings and found them annoying.  Luckily her parents heeded the warnings and did prepare by storing some basic emergency supplies for survival.

Without warning, her family awoke one day to serious political violence in their city.  They were forced to stay in their home for over a week as people were being shot in the streets by one faction or another.  She knew people who had not prepared for an emergency and had thus quickly run out of food.  When the violence extended beyond just a few days, these families were forced to send family members out to try and find food.  Some of those who went to get food never came back because they were caught in the streets, shot, and killed.

She and her family remained safe inside their home until the violence had subsided.  They were able to safely shelter-in-place because they were prepared in advance of any indication that there was about to be a life-threatening emergency  Their was no need to convince this mother of three to be prepared with basic emergency supplies in case of a disaster.  She was there at my class to learn how to improve upon the supplies she already had rather than to be persuaded to prepare for an emergency.

I find that those who have been through some kind severe emergency or disaster have the need to be prepared pressed into their minds for the rest of their lives.  This is true whether they were well prepared at the time or they had to suffer in some manner because of lack of preparation.  I also find that sharing such stories can help to motivate those who have yet to experience a disaster or severe emergency to become prepared. 

These stories can also share key insight into how to best prepare for certain kinds of disasters.  In this case, having basic supplies (such as extra food) to shelter-in-place for several days was key to the survival of this lady's family.

Do you have a secure survivor story?  If so, please share it with us by commenting or emailing me at dscott@lifesecure.com.  How did you survive a disaster or emergency and what did you learn from the experience that might help others?

Every Life Secure
An Emergency Preparedness Blog helping to make "Every Life Secure" in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school, or on-the-go

Emergency Preparedness at Home - "I have a smoke detector; now what?"

Perhaps the largest step forward for emergency preparedness at home in the last several decades was the introduction of mass produced home smoke detectors in the 1970's and 80's.  Today about 93% of homes have a smoke detector to warn of fire.  Countless lives have been saved by these devices over the years and most people would agree that having one or more in the home improves safety and just makes common sense.

For years we have been encouraged by the government and disaster response organizations to take another step forward in preparing ourselves and our families for an emergency or disaster.  We have been encouraged to have an emergency preparedness kit on hand to provide basic survival supplies to last for at least 72 hours (3 days) on our own in case of an emergency or disaster.  Despite the encouragements, a survey by the American Red Cross and The Council for Excellence in Government indicates that:

"The majority of Americans remain unprepared.  Only 4 percent have taken all of the preparedness actions recommended in the RQ and 23 percent have not taken a single step."

(The RQ, or Readiness Quotient, is a tool used to evaluate one's level of readiness for an emergency or disaster based on several suggested steps including having an emergency plan and an emergency kit.) 

 

View the full survey results.

Test your own RQ - Readiness Quotient.

Tips for increasing your RQ - Readiness Quotient

 

Of 1,000 adults surveyed nationwide, only 42% had some kind of emergency supplies or kit on hand.  Other studies, and my own experience in the emergency preparedness business, indicate a much smaller percentage of people actually have a full three day supply of emergency basics as recommended by the Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross. 

The percentage of individuals and families with a fully stocked emergency kit varies widely from location to location throughout the country.  In many neighborhoods one would be hard pressed to find a single "prepared" family on any given block.  My experience would indicate that well less than 10% of households are fully prepared for a disaster.

The media coverage following Hurricane Katrina brought home the reality that federal, state, and municipal authorities will not be able to immediately help everyone in case of a major disaster.  Just as there is a need to have smoke detectors because we can't each have a firefighter on duty 24/7 in our own home, we each need to prepare to be able to provide for our own basic needs in an emergency or disaster. 

The recommendation to prepare for at least 3 days comes from the fact that experience has shown that it will take at least that long (and maybe longer) for authorities to provide assistance to most of the people who may be affected by any given large disaster.

If you find yourself among those whose current level of preparedness is at the "Well, at least I do have a smoke detector" stage, we suggest that you take the "next step."  The next step as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security on  www.ready.gov is to "Get a Kit".   

A well stocked emergency kit should meet your basic needs for up to three days (72 hours) and should include supplies that provide for the 10 BASIC EMERGENCY NEEDS:

• water
• food
• breathing protection
• first aid
• shelter
• warmth
• communication
• light
• tools
• sanitation/hygiene

Click on each of these links to see checklists from the Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross on what should be included in each in each 72 hour emergency kit. These are the two lists we use to guide our development of LifeSecure home emergency preparedness kits.

Whether you buy an emergency kit ready-assembled by an emergency preparedness company or build your own, beyond the 10 BASICS, you will also need to add several personal items to increase your comfort and preparedness.  Both the Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross lists address suggestions for added personal items.

Though it is helpful to have several items that can be used in your home if you need to shelter-in-place, it is critical to have a compact, light-weight grab-and-go kit in case you need to evacuate.  Consider how much you can realistically carry should you end up on-foot.  We find that many people prefer to have a rolling bag kit in case they need to travel on-foot for some distance.  Some of these bags convert to backpacks or have a shoulder strap should they have to be carried over debris or rough ground.

One other important consideration when preparing an emergency kit is the shelf-life of the components.  Most people don't care to be constantly inspecting and updating their kits nor paying to replace outdated items.  If you value the ability to "buy it once, pack it once, and forget it", make sure that you select food, water, light and communication options that will last for 4 to 5 years or more.  Most comercially assembled kits provide long-shelf life options for these supplies.  Because of their long-life, kits purchased from reputable emergency preparedness companies can help to prepare a family for in the range of only $7.00 to $14.00 per person per year.  That's not a lot of money to spend to secure one's family in case of a disaster.

On the Ready America website, the Department of Homeland Security recommends 3 Steps to be Prepared for an emergency or disaster: Get a kit, Make A Plan, Be Informed.  Getting an emergency kit is a concrete and achievable "next step" for most people to take in increasing their personal and family preparedness for any emergency or disaster.

Need personal help in meeting your home preparedness needs?  Just contact us at LifeSecure.

Every Life Secure
An Emergency Preparedness Blog helping to make "Every Life Secure" in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school, or on-the-go