
What should I do if I need help in an emergency?
If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help for yourself, your friends, your family, or your students. If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.
What is the best response to an emergency at home?
The best response always depends on the problem at hand, so let's take a look at frequent household emergencies and your best response. Home emergencies are best planned out before the case of an emergency. Never use water to put out a grease fire – it splashes the grease around and often makes things worse.
What are some common emergencies in the home?
12 Common Home Emergencies and How to Deal with Them 1 Grease Fire in the Kitchen. Home emergencies are best planned out before the case of an emergency. ... 2 Burst and Broken Pipes. Your home has a main water valve – often in the basement or near the front of the house – that controls the flow of water: ... 3 Flat Tire
Are you prepared for family emergencies?
Parents ensure that family members are ready and know what to do when emergencies happen. A little preparation now can make a big difference later. Here are some steps you can take to help keep your family safe and healthy when an emergency happens:

What are the five steps for dealing with an emergency?
Prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery are the five steps of Emergency Management.Prevention. Actions taken to avoid an incident. ... Mitigation. ... Preparedness. ... Response. ... Recovery.
How do I prepare for an emergency home?
Tips to prepare your home for a natural disasterReinforce doors and windows. ... Find water, gas and electrical lines. ... Use sandbags. ... Secure outdoor furniture. ... Prune large trees. ... Secure heavy furniture to the walls. ... Look for fire-retardant plants. ... Create an emergency plan.More items...•
How do you take care of yourself during a disaster?
Take care of your body– Try to eat healthy well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Learn more about wellness strategies for mental health. Connect with others– Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member.
What are specific challenges individuals with disabilities may face during an emergency?
Issues that have the greatest impact on people with disabilities include: notification; • evacuation; • emergency transportation; • sheltering; • access to medications, refrigeration, and back-up power; • access to their mobility devices or service animals while in transit or at shelters; and • access to information.
What is the first thing to do in case of emergency?
First Things to Do in Any Emergency Decide whether it is safer to evacuate or shelter-in-place. Once safely evacuated or sheltered-in-place, call for help using 911 and clearly explain what you know about the situation. Provide first aid for any injured people. Move any people who are injured away from further danger.
What are the examples of emergency preparedness?
For example:Declare emergency.Sound the alert.Evacuate danger zone.Close main shutoffs.Call for external aid.Initiate rescue operations.Attend to casualties.Fight fire.
How do you respond to an emergency situation?
Date: February 1st, 2020Steps to Deal With Emergency Situations. ... Remain Calm. ... Move to a Safe Location. ... Provide First Aid. ... Ask for Help. ... Communicate with the Victims. ... Convey Accurate Information. ... Document Your Progress.More items...•
Why we need to help someone in times of emergency?
Helping people help themselves That is true in our disaster response as well. Collectively, those of us offering humanitarian aid should leverage our efforts and precious resources to bridge the gap between relief and development so we can help families create permanent solutions to the challenges they face.
How can you be able to help someone who experienced a disaster in their life?
Here are 5 of the most effective ways to help disaster victims:Donate to accredited disaster relief organizations. ... Plan a fundraiser. ... Send goods and supplies to loved ones in affected areas. ... Ship supplies into recovery and evacuation zones. ... Give blood.
How can you help a disabled person?
6 ways you can support people with disabilitiesAsk first and follow their lead.Speak clearly, listen well.Speak directly to people.Be aware of personal space.Be flexible to family members of people with disabilities.When setting meetings, check accessibility.
What is the platform that assist person with disability?
HireUp. HireUp is an online platform for people with disabilities to find, hire and manage support workers who fit their needs and share their interests.
How do you plan emergency preparedness?
PrepareAssemble a disaster supply kit.Locate safe places in your home for each type of disaster.Determine the best evacuation routes from your home.Become trained in first aid and CPR.Show each family member how and where to shut off utilities (water, gas, electricity).More items...
Be Prepared
The most important thing you can do is to be prepared for an emergency, so your reaction isn’t one of panic. Make a list of important facts about your elderly patient; keep it updated and in a handy place, and keep a second copy in your vehicle. The list should include the following information:
Stay in Touch
Keep a current list of phone numbers so you can contact anyone who needs to be informed of the situation. While this list may vary, it should include family members, physicians and others involved in the care of your elderly patient.
Contact Your Local EMS
Call your local EMS so they have your address and situation on file. In today’s computerized world, many EMS teams use CAD analytics to monitor response situations, and knowing your location in advance may help them make a faster emergency run. This will also ensure your senior is taken to your hospital of choice when an emergency occurs.
Learn First Aid
If you’re not trained in first aid and CPR, take a class on each. Assemble a first-aid kit so you’re prepared for an emergency that might not require immediate hospitalization, such as minor cuts and scrapes from a fall.
Pack Your Bags
It’s a good idea to keep an overnight bag packed with a two- or three-day supply of things your senior might need during a hospital stay. Nightclothes, incontinence products and extra medications should be included. Add anything such as books, snacks and favorite items which might help your elder retain their daily routine.
Remember Your Own Health
Taking care of a senior citizen can be exhausting, both physically and mentally. In order to stay strong for your elderly patient, you can’t ignore your own needs without suffering the consequences. Arrange for someone else to take your place now and then, even if it’s only for a few hours.
Join our communities
Whenever you want to talk, there’s always someone up in one of our Facebook communities.
How to help with secondary trauma?
Coping techniques like taking breaks, eating healthy foods, exercising, and using the buddy system can help prevent and reduce burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Recognize the signs of both of these conditions in yourself and other responders to be sure those who need a break or need help can address these needs.
How to respond to disasters?
Responding to disasters can be both rewarding and stressful. Knowing that you have stress and coping with it as you respond will help you stay well, and this will allow you to keep helping those who are affected. Responders will experience stress. Managing stress and taking breaks will make you a better responder.
Why is it important to respond to disasters?
Responding to disasters is both rewarding and challenging work. Sources of stress for emergency responders may include witnessing human suffering, risk of personal harm, intense workloads, life-and-death decisions, and separation from family. Stress prevention and management is critical for responders to stay well and to continue to help in ...
What are the steps that responders should take before, during, and after an event?
There are important steps responders should take before, during, and after an event. To take care of others, responders must be feeling well and thinking clearly. People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment plans during an emergency and monitor for any new symptoms.
How to communicate with a disaster response team?
Keep their expectations realistic, and take the pressure off yourself. Talk to your supervisor and establish a plan for who will fill any urgent ongoing work duties unrelated to the disaster while you are engage d in the response.
How to contact SAMHSA?
) website. : CALL or TEXT 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish). People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.
What is the number to call for a deaf person?
People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990. See the SAMHSA tip sheet, Tips for Disaster Responders: Preventing and Managing Stress. external icon.
What to do if you can't narrow down your ants?
If you can't narrow it down, set up ant traps and call a professional to see if you have a nearby nest. Remember, large black carpenter ants are a more serious threat to your home than other species and should be removed quickly. 9 / 12.
How to stop toilet from overflowing?
First, stop the flow by turning off the valve in the back of the toilet near the wall, which shuts down water. Quickly mop up standing water before it causes any damage, then look for the source of the problems.
How to help a child in an emergency?
Get a Kit. Keeping a routine in an emergency will help your child stay calm. Putting together a good kit is the first step. Be sure to include your children in the process. Let your children pick things that make them feel secure, such as a favorite book or food—even if it is not healthy.
What to include in a child's emergency kit?
Some basic items to include in your kit are: Radio (hand-crank or battery-powered with extra batteries) A small identification (ID) card or bracelet with information on key medications and emergency contacts for your child to keep with him or her at all times.
What is the CDC's Children's Preparedness Initiative?
In 2012, CDC started a Children’s Preparedness Initiative to champion the needs of children in emergency preparedness and response efforts. Situated in the Division of Human Development and Disability (DHDD), this initiative has served to align CDC activities and engage partners in promoting the care of children in emergencies, including children with disability. About 66.5 million children are affected by natural disasters each year. Together, we can all play a role in protecting some of the most vulnerable of these children and keep them safe when disaster strikes.
What is the role of healthcare professionals in a family?
Healthcare professionals are trusted sources of information for families, and crucial for families with a child with a disability. Use the time you already have, like well-child visits, to talk to families and educate them about the importance of emergency preparedness.
Can medical insurance cover generators?
Sometimes medical insurance programs will provide resources for generators, particularly if a child has a consistent need for breathing (respiratory) support. Keep a charger with you when away from home, especially when loss of power may risk health or safety. Other emergency kit ideas can be found at: ...
How to prepare for an emergency?
Here are some steps you can take to help keep your family safe and healthy when an emergency happens: 1 Prepare an emergency kit that includes a 3-day supply of necessities for each person in your family, such as food, medicine, water, games, flashlight, and special toys to help keep your children calm during an emergency. 2 Make a plan to contact family members, especially if you are not together when an emergency strikes. If your children are old enough, teach them how to call 911 and memorize important phone numbers. Create a reunification plan as part of the family communication plan to reunite you with your loved ones as soon as it is safe to do so. 3 Review with your children the different types of emergencies that can happen in your area and the warning signs for those emergencies. For example, if tornadoes are common, your children should know what to do during a tornado. This includes knowing the signs of an approaching storm and instructions on how to take shelter during a tornado. 4 Be informed, stay informed#N#external icon#N#, and get vital information, such as emergency warnings and alerts, from reliable news sources and your local emergency management agency.
How to keep your family safe in an emergency?
Here are some steps you can take to help keep your family safe and healthy when an emergency happens: Prepare an emergency kit that includes a 3-day supply of necessities for each person in your family, such as food, medicine, water, games, flashlight, and special toys to help keep your children calm during an emergency.
How to reunite your family when you are old enough?
If your children are old enough, teach them how to call 911 and memorize important phone numbers. Create a reunification plan as part of the family communication plan to reunite you with your loved ones as soon as it is safe to do so.
Why is it important for parents to know what steps to take in an emergency?
It is important for parents to know what steps they can take before, during, and after an emergency to protect their family. Parents ensure that family members are ready and know what to do when emergencies happen.
Where do emergency authorities share safety instructions?
Local authorities will share safety instructions and updates on television, radio, the Internet, or social media pages, like Twitter and Facebook. Depending on the emergency, authorities may ask you to stay where you are (“shelter in place”), or they may recommend that you go somewhere else (“evacuate”).
Can children be separated during an emergency?
Reuniting After an Emergency. Children may be away from their parents – or accidentally separated– during an emergency. Having a reunification plan and knowing reunification resources can help you reunite with your loved ones as soon as it is safe to do so.
How to de-escalate a crisis?
Here are some techniques that may help you to de-escalate the crisis: Keep your voice calm and talk slowly. Listen to the person. Express support and concern. Let the person know that their life matters to you. Ask how you can help.
What are the signs of a mental illness crisis?
While a person may or may not show warning signs leading up to a crisis, one of the most common signs is a sudden change in behavior.
What is a mental health crisis?
During a mental health crisis, a person is under extreme emotional distress and may be at risk of hurting themselves or others. You may be concerned about a person’s mental state or safety. If you find yourself in this situation, take it seriously.
What Makes An Effective Mental Health Crisis Service?
Respite Care and Residential Services
Crisis Stabilization Units
Extended Observation Units
Hospitalization
Partial Hospitalization Or Day Hospitalization
- Partial hospitalization provides care and monitoring for a person who may be having acute psychotic symptoms without being a danger to self or others. It allows a person to return home at night and is much less disruptive. It can also be used as a transition from inpatient hospital care before a complete return home.
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