An emergency may take many forms: an injury, severe weather, a car accident, an attack, damage to your home or the utilities it uses, and many more. When an emergency occurs, being confused and uncertain can waste vital time and result in dangerous mistakes. Understanding basic emergency procedures can help you be ready to protect yourself and your family.
Evacuate the Area
Many emergencies involve an immediate danger: a tornado, a chemical spill, a fire, or a similar threat. In these emergencies, the first thing you should do is move to safety and make sure that other people in the vicinity are aware of the danger and move to a safe location as well. Call 911 or your local emergency number as soon as you are clear of the danger. Also, if people have been injured, move them away from immediate danger before attempting to administer first aid or CPR.
First Aid and CPR
Basic first aid training and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, training, take only hours to learn, but they can save lives. Contact your local Red Cross for first aid and CPR training sessions in your area. Renew your CPR certification each year.
Plan Ahead
Keep a first aid kit in your home and your car in case of an emergency causing injury. Also, keep an emergency kit with a supply of food and water. The American Red Cross recommends a three-day supply of these items for each person in the family. If you or a family member use prescription medications, keep a supply in the kit, and replace it regularly to prevent the medication from expiring. Finally, plan ahead with your family by designating a safe meeting place for the family to gather if an emergency occurs in your home. Make sure each family member knows the name, address, and phone number of at least one relative outside the home that he or she can contact if an emergency occurs.
