General Emergency Planning pdf version
1. Think about your child's special needs in an emergency.
In an emergency, we all have to plan to be self sufficient, and possibly spend several days without utilities, medical aid or communications.
Consider your child's needs if there was:
- No electricity, telephone, heat, air conditioning, computer
- No water
- No local access to prescription refills or health products
- No refrigeration
- Separation from family
- Evacuation to a shelter or elsewhere
- Confinement to home
- Limited health care access
- Lack of transportation
- Limited emergency rescue services
2. Plan for Special Needs
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Talk with your family about different types of emergencies, how to prepare for them, and how to care for your child with special needs during an emergency.
Talk with your child's doctor or health care team about how to care for your child during different types of emergencies. Develop a plan for how you will communicate with your child's care team during an emergency. |
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Learn about emergency plans at your child's school or child care. Learn their plans for shelter-in-place emergencies and how your child will get treatment, medications etc. Get their emergency contact numbers (these may be out of state). |
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Store extra medicines and equipment at your child's school. |
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Plan for back up sources of heat, refrigeration, and electricity. For more information go to: Using a Generator When Disaster Strikes. or Life Support Systems and Alternative Power Sources. Your family can use an emergency shelter for storing medicine, charging equipment, help with medical needs, getting a meal and more. You do not have to be staying in a shelter to use its resources. |
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Create and practice an escape plan for your home. Are there clear exit paths for a child who uses mobility devices or has vision loss? |
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For each person in your home, keep a pair of shoes stored under their bed to use in an evacuation. |
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If your child depends on dialysis or other life sustaining treatment, know the location of more than one facility and find out their plans for emergencies and how your child will get treatment, medications etc. Get their emergency contact numbers (these may be out of state). |
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Talk to your local police and fire departments to see if they have emergency services or plans for people with special needs. |
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Plan for your child's service animal. |
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Obtain a medical alert and/or identification bracelet for your child. |
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In the event of a large scale disaster, listen to your emergency radio station (710-AM KIRO for King, Kitsap and North Mason counties). |
Create a Support Network
A support network may include family, neighbors or friends that can help you and your child. They may be your first source of help in an emergency.
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Tell your support network about your child's special needs and where your emergency supplies are stored. |
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Give a trusted member of your network a key to your house or apartment. |
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Agree upon a system with your neighbors to signal for help if phones and electricity are not working. |
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Show others how to handle your child's wheelchair or other equipment. |
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Talk to other families who have a child with the same condition as your child about ideas and tips. |
3. Pack Emergency Supplies
Special needs supplies include:
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A copy of your child's up to date Emergency Information Form and care plan (sample forms at In Case of Emergency and www.aap.org/advocacy/eif.doc). |
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Current medical information and important records stored in an easy to carry format such as a CD or flash drive. Keep at least one paper copy in a waterproof bag. |
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Two-week supply of medical supplies such as syringes, dressing materials, nasal cannulas, or suction catheters. |
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At least a 3 day supply of medications-fourteen days is ideal. It may be a challenge to get extra medications for emergencies, so talk with your child’s doctor about how to obtain an extra supply. Keep prescription information in your wallet, car, and survival kit, along with the name, location and phone number of an out of town pharmacy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to properly store medication for use in an emergency. In a disaster, if you can’t contact your doctor or pharmacy, you can ask for help from emergency responders or staff at emergency shelters or service centers. You can also call your local Red Cross or the Washington State Information Network 211 |
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Back up power support (generator or battery back up) for electrical medical equipment. Due to deadly fumes, only use generators, camp stoves or grills outdoors. (see Alternative Power Sources) |
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Get an AC adaptor for your car that can run small electrical equipment such as a nebulizer. Know how long your battery will last while using the adaptor. |
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Have a way to charge your cell phone without electricity. You can use a car adaptor or a hand crank radio/flashlight that includes a cell phone charger. These are available at home and hardware stores. Look for battery powered or travel versions of medical equipment your child uses. |
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Manual wheelchair or other non-electric equipment. |
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Extra contact lenses, glasses, and lens supplies. |
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Batteries for hearing aids, communication devices. |
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Special dietary foods and supplies. |
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Cooler and chemical ice packs for storing medications that must be kept cold. |
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Items that calm or entertain your child. |
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Identification to be carried by each child in case your family gets separated. |
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Proof of service animal status to insure a service animal can go with you into a shelter. |
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Pack a smaller "to go" version of items for use in an evacuation. See link below for more information. |
Store your supplies in waterproof and pest-proof containers that are easy to get to. Update supplies each year and replace water every six months. Update emergency contact and medical forms. Store batteries out of devices until ready to use.
Links to Other Emergency Preparedness Resources for Special Needs
- The American Red Cross. www.prepare.org/disabilities/disabilities.htm
Includes tips for people with:
- cognitive disabilities
- communication disabilities
- disabilities and medical concerns
- environmental or chemical sensitivities
- hearing loss
- life support systems
- mobility concerns
- psychiatric disorders
- visual disabilities
- service animals
Instructional video on emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities and special needs.
General Emergency Planning pdf version
General Emergency Supplies
First Aid Kit
Pack a "To Go" Kit
National and Washington State General Emergency Preparedness Resources
Resources in Other Languages
Helping Children Cope with Disaster
General Emergency Planning
Adapted from disaster preparedness information from the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA).
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Plan for and adapt your supplies for natural disasters that may occur in your area. |
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Teach children how and when to call 911. Put emergency numbers by all phones in your home. |
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Enter emergency and important contact numbers into your cell phone. |
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Teach older family members how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity. |
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Choose an out of town emergency contact. It can be easier to make long distance calls during an emergency. Give family members a copy of the contact's phone number and email address. Keep one non-electric phone in your home. It can continue to work if the power goes out. |
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Choose an emergency meeting place outside your home and a second place outside your neighborhood in case you can not return home. |
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If you can, keep your gas fuel tank more than half full at all times. |
General Emergency Supplies
Water
Food
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Three-day supply of non-perishable food, can opener, scissors |
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Supplies for pets and service animals |
First Aid Kit
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Band-Aids |
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Sunscreen |
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Safety pins |
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Triangular bandages (30) |
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Soap and sanitizer |
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2" and 4" sterile gauze pads |
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Two pair latex gloves |
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2" and 3" sterile roller bandages |
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Over the counter medicine for adults and children: |
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Eye pads |
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Aspirin or Tylenol |
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Scissors |
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Anti-diarrhea medicine |
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Tweezers |
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Antacid (for stomach upset) |
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Needle and thread |
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Syrup of Ipecac |
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Moistened towelettes |
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Laxative or stool softener |
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Antiseptic |
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Activated charcoal (to be used only if advised by the Poison Control Center) |
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Thermometer |
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Anti-itch cream |
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Tongue blades |
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Petroleum jelly or other lubricant |
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Medicine dropper |
Clothing and Bedding
Include one set of each of these items for each person in your family
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Change of clothes and shoes |
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Rain gear |
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Hat, gloves, coat, sunglasses |
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Blanket or sleeping bag |
Documents and Records
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Copies of important records such as insurance policies, titles, deeds, property records, birth certificates, inventory of possessions, passports. Store original documents in a bank safe deposit box. |
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Cash, travelers checks and change. |
Tools
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Wrench for turning off water or gas |
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Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs |
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Whistle |
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Radio with extra batteries or hand crank |
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Snaplight sticks, a safe alternative to candles |
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Tube tent, a small emergency tent without poles |
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Plastic sheeting |
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Pliers, tape, utility knife |
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Local and state map |
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Waterproof matches in waterproof container |
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Emergency manual |
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Aluminum foil |
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Fire extinguisher |
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Plastic storage containers |
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Compass |
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Signal flares |
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Paper and pencil |
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Sanitary Items
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Toilet paper, towelettes |
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Garbage bags with ties |
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Soap, antibacterial detergent |
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Plastic bucket with tight lid |
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Feminine supplies |
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Communication
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Cell phone |
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Back up batteries |
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Walkie-talkie |
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Car cell phone chargers |
Supplies for Infants and Children
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Baby food and formula |
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Pacifier, comfort items |
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Bottles |
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Diapers, wipes, plastic bags, diaper ointment |
Entertainment
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Books, games, cards, toys |
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Pack a "To Go" Kit
You can order a ready-made "To Go" kit from the Red Cross at
www.redcross.org/shop/?wt.srch=1&gclid=CP-x9oaRmooCFSNQYwodSyvxmQ
or you can make up your own. Pack items in a backpack or duffle bag, and store the bag near your door or where it will be easy to grab on your way out in an emergency. A 3-day kit should include:
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Flashlight and batteries |
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First aid kit |
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Battery powered or hand crank radio |
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Roll of duct tape |
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Emergency blanket |
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Water (2 quarts) |
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Food bars |
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Water container (2.5 gallon) |
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Work gloves (one pair) |
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Whistle |
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Moist towelettes |
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First aid book |
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Surgical mask |
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Medications |
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Plastic sheeting (10' x 10') |
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Copies of emergency information forms |
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Rain poncho |
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Light sticks (3 each one lasts 12 hours) |
National and Washington State General Emergency Preparedness Resources
Pandemic Flu Preparedness
Helping Children Cope with Disaster
- Children can become frightened during a disaster. Fear can cause temporary behavior changes at any age. Learn about behavior changes and what you can do to help your child cope. www.fema.gov/pdf/library/children.pdf
Resources in Other Languages
We wish to thank the Washington State Family to Family Health Information Center, the Family Advisory Board of Seattle Children's Hospital, and American Red Cross, Serving King and Kitsap Counties.
