print this pageTips for People With Special Needs & Concerns, Part 2
Conduct an "Ability Self-Assessment"
Evaluate your capabilities, limitations and needs, as well as your surroundings to
determine what type of help you will need in an emergency.
1. Will you be able to independently shut off the necessary utilities (gas, water, electricity)?
- Do you know where shut-off valves are? Can you get to them?
- Can you find and use the right wrench to turn those handles?
2. Can you operate a fire extinguisher?
- Have you practiced?
- Will extended handles make these items usable for you?
3. Will you be able to carry your evacuation kit?
- What do you need to do, in order to carry it; how much can you carry regularly; do you have duplicates at other locations?
4. Have you moved or secured large objects that might block your escape path?
5. Write instructions for the following (keep a copy with you and share a copy with your personal support network):
- How to turn off utilities; color-code or label these for quick identification.
- Main gas valve, located next to the meter - blue; Electrical power circuit breaker box - red; and Main water valve - green.
- If you have a reduced or limited sense of smell, alert your personal support network to check gas leaks.
- How to operate and safely move your essential equipment. Consider attaching simple-to-read and understand instructions to your equipment.
- How to safely transport you if you need to be carried, and include any areas of vulnerability.
- How to provide personal assistance services.
- Remind anyone who assists you to practice strict cleanliness and keep fingers out of mouth. With limited water and increased health hazards, the possibility of infection increases. Keep a supply of latex gloves in your emergency supply kit and ask people assisting you with personal hygiene to use them.
- List all personal care assistance needs (dressing, bathing, etc.) with instructions on how best to assist you.
- Make a map of where to find medications, aids and supplies. Share with your personal support network.
- How will you evacuate. Be aware of barriers and possible hazards to a clear path of exit. Change what you are able to change (clear obstacles from aisles; secure large, heavy items such as bookcases that may fall to block your path). Plan alternate exit paths.
Communication: Practice Assertiveness Skills
Take charge and practice how to quickly explain to people how to move your mobility aids
or how to move you safely and rapidly. Be prepared to give clear, specific and concise
instructions and directions to rescue personnel, i.e., "take my oxygen tank,"
"take my wheelchair," "take my gamma globulin from the freezer,"
"take my insulin from the refrigerator," "take my communication device from
under the bed." Practice giving these instructions with the least amount of words in
the least amount of time. For example: the traditional "fire fighter's carry"
may be hazardous for some people with some respiratory weakness. You need to be able to
give brief instructions regarding how to move you.
Be prepared to request an accommodation from disaster personnel. For example, if you are unable to wait in long lines for extended periods of time, for such items as water, food, and disaster relief applications, practice clearly and concisely explaining why you cannot wait in the line.
'Carry-On/Carry-With-You Supplies'
Supplies to Keep with You at All Times
Packing/Container suggestions: a fanny pack, back pack or drawstring bag which can be hung
from a wheelchair, scooter or other assistive device.
1. Emergency Health Information Card.
2. Instructions on personal assistance needs and
how best to provide them.
3. Copy of Emergency Documents.
4. Essential medications/copies of prescriptions
(at least a week's supply).
5. Flashlight on key ring.
6. Signaling device (whistle, beeper, bell,
screecher).
7. Small battery-operated radio and extra batteries
Disability-Related Supplies to Add to Regular Emergency
Kits
Store supplies in areas you anticipate will be easy to reach after a disaster.
Others may be able to share traditional emergency supplies, but you need these stored on top and in a separate labeled bag! If you have to leave something behind, make sure you get these.
Plan for enough disability-related supplies for up to two weeks (medication syringes, colostomy, respiratory, catheter, padding, distilled water, etc.). If you have a respiratory, cardiac or multiple chemical sensitivities condition, store towels, masks, industrial respirators or other supplies you can use to filter your air supply. Do not expect shelters or first aid stations to meet your supply needs. In an emergency supplies will be limited.
If you are unable to afford extra supplies consider contacting one of the many disability-specific organizations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Arthritis Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy Association, etc. These organizations may be able to assist you in gathering extra low cost or no cost emergency supplies or medications.
Medication
It is best if you are able to maintain at least a 7 to 14
day supply of essential medications (heart, blood pressure, birth control,
diabetic, psychiatric, etc.) and keep this supply with you at all times. If this is not possible, even maintaining a 3 day supply would
be extremely helpful.
Work with your doctor(s) to obtain an extra supply of medications, as well as extra copies of prescriptions. Ask if it would be safe to go without one dosage periodically, until an adequate supply has been accumulated? Make several copies of your prescriptions and put one copy in each of your survival kits, car kit, wallet, with your Emergency Documents and your evacuation plan.
Ask your provider or pharmacist about the shelf life and storage temperature sensitivities of your medication. Ask how often you should rotate stored medication to ensure that the effectiveness of the medication does not weaken due to excess storage time. If you are on medications which are administered to you by a clinic or hospital (such as methadone, or chemo or radiation therapy) ask your provider how you should plan for a 3 - 14 day disruption.
If you are a smoker, be aware that smoking will not be allowed in shelters. If getting to an outside smoking area may be difficult for you, consider stocking your evacuation kit with nicotine gum or patches available by prescriptions.
Life in cramped, unheated shelters can increase the chances of pneumonia, influenza and colds. Therefore, equip your kits with any vitamins or medications you take to guard against getting sick and to cope with being sick.
Equipment and Assistive Devices
Keep important equipment and assistive devices in a consistent, convenient and secured
place, so you can quickly and easily locate them after the disaster. Make sure these items
such as teeth, hearing aids, prosthesis, mobility aid, cane, crutches, walker, respirator,
service animal harness, augmentative communication device or electronic communicator,
artificial larynx, wheelchair, sanitary aids, batteries, eye glasses, contacts including
cleaning solutions, etc., are secured. For example: keep hearing aid, eye glasses, etc.,
in a container by bedside which is attached to night stand or bed post using string or
velcro, oxygen tank attached to the wall, wheelchair locked and close to bed. This helps
prevent them from falling, flying or rolling away during a disaster.
If you use a laptop computer as a means of communication, consider purchasing a power converter. A power converter allows most laptops (12 volts or less) to run from a cigarette lighter on the dashboard of a vehicle.
If you use a Service Animal our tips will be helpful.
Attribution: Federal Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross.