Preparedness Is Paramount

Hearts With Hands™ is offering a four- hour class in disaster preparedness.

The following information will be discussed:
1. What is a disaster?

What disasters are most likely to occur here?
What is the human response to a disaster?
What can you do to be prepared?
The course will cover a common sense approach for your and your family’s disaster readiness. We will cover steps you can take before a disaster occurs, the construction of a comprehensive family plan to ensure the safety of your family before, during, and after a disaster; and the contents of a disaster kit designed to help mitigate the affects of a disaster on your family.

If you are interested in joining us for this informative seminar, please contact us at Hearts With Hands at (828) 667-1912.

U. S. Threat Level Dropped to YELLOW in Most Areas of the Country. 

Preparing your Family Emergency Kit:

There are many items needed to compose a good family emergency kit. The kit is composed of the following categories and should be enough to last 3-5 days:

1. Water
2. Food
3. First Aid Supplies
4. Tools and Emergency Supplies
5. Clothing and Bedding Supplies
6. Special Items

1. Water- Store in new containers, or containers that have only held potable liquids
Treatment of Water:  If it becomes necessary to use water from any source other than your home, or your kit there are several safe methods for treating that water for human consumption:

1. Boiling (this is the safest method)- Bring water to a rolling boil for at least two minutes, and let the water cool before drinking

2. Chlorination (using liquid chlorine bleach)- Use unscented bleach that contains no soaps. Add 1/8 tsp. per gallon of water, let stand for 30 minutes. If this does not work, repeat the treatment (this does not kill parasitic organisms).

3. Water purification tablets- This is the least preferred method of water treatment. The problem is that this type of treatment uses iodized tablets and may adversely affect those who have liver or kidney problems.

2. Food: (Non- Perishable foods, snack foods, etc)

Items to consider for your food kit: Dried (or canned) fruits and vegetables

Soups
In a power outage a refrigerator will keep foods cool for about four hours. Consider using those foods first if there is a way to safely prepare them.

Most freezers will keep foods frozen for about twelve hours. Consider using those frozen foods first if you can safely prepare them.

“IF IN DOUBT THROW IT OUT”

3. First Aid Kit: Assemble a first aid kit for your home, as well as for each vehicle.

4. Tools and Emergency Supplies: These supplies should be part of your kit and should stay together in case you need to leave your home quickly.

Examples of items needed:
A battery operated radio (or weather radio or T.V.)
A flashlight and batteries
Duct tape
Work gloves
Manual can opener
Picnic supplies (paper or Styrofoam plates/cups/forks, etc.)
Paper towels
Small camping stove & fuel

Sanitation Supplies:
Lip Balm/Sunscreen
Insect repellant
Feminine products
Toilet paper

5. Clothing and Bedding Supplies
6. Special Items:  These items are additional supplies that will make it much easier in an emergency situation. These items should be stored in a watertight portable container:
A list of your emergency contact numbers of family members, doctor, utility contact numbers, financial papers, important personal documents, etc.*

You should also have some items ready for any of these categories that apply to you:

For babies: Diapers, Diaper Wipes, Formula, etc.
For seniors: Extra batteries for medical devices
For Those with Disabilities: Special Equipment and supplies
For Pets:

Extra food and water for the pets(s)
Kitty litter
Large capacity self- feeder and water dispenser
Pet medications