Preparedness

Source Unknown:

ARE YOU PREPARED?

You have your radio equipment ready and charged, along with keeping your portable computer up-to-date…but what else should you have ready to go? What plans should you have made in advance for the possibility of activation, or heaven forbid, evacuation? Are you prepared to take care of yourself, along with your family, if called upon to serve others?
Here are a few of resources to get you thinking of possibly solutions:

Have you taken a CPR/AED/First Aid Course recently? The Red Cross offers this lifesaving skillset through a variety of venues http://www.redcross.org/ux/take-a-class. Check with your local library, firehouse, or hospital for an opportunity to become certified. The American Heart & Lung Association also provides this training: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/CPRAndECC/CPR_UCM_001118_SubHomePage.jsp

Plan to take part in your local Community Emergency Response Team (IS-317) training course. Part of this course is taken online https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-317, and the other half is hands-on. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates individuals about disaster preparedness and trains and organizes teams of volunteers that can support their communities during disasters. The CERT Program offers training in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. With proper CERT training, you can help protect your family, neighbors, and co-workers if a disaster occurs.

Do you have a Family Communication Plan established? Do you have a local, and out-of-state ‘point of contact’ in case there is a lapse in our local communications infrastructure? Visit https://www.ready.gov/ for a list of resources that can assist you to create this plan, along with other checklists for various types of incidences.

Submitted by: KD4WX