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As I look out my window at the ashen sky, my heart breaks for the families who have lost their homes in the Four-Mile Canyon fire in Boulder County. Situations like this are a reminder that disasters can happen at any time, with little or no warning. Do you and your loved ones have an emergency preparedness plan in the event of an emergency or natural disaster?
September is National Preparedness Month and I’ll be joining The Clorox Company and Consumer Queen, along with several other bloggers, to spread the word about emergency preparedness.
Each week I’ll be giving away a $25 gift card so that you can create your own emergency preparedness kit. To enter, simply leave a comment (be sure to include email) on this post, or re-tweet this post with hashtag #preparedness and leave a comment.
Disasters can happen quickly and unexpectedly. The most important step to staying safe is being prepared BEFORE an emergency occurs.
When designing your emergency preparedness plan, you can implement the following three easy steps
- Purchase or build an emergency preparedness kit – Your kit should include enough supplies to last each member of your household a minimum of three days for evacuations and 2 weeks for emergencies at home. Include things like: water, non-perishable food, flashlight, radio, first aid kit, a multi-purpose tool, important medications and copies of personal documents. You may also include household liquid bleach such as Clorox for cleaning and disinfecting and emergency water sanitation. Next week, I’ll offer specific tips on building a disaster kit with your family.
- Make an emergency preparedness plan for your family – Schedule a family meeting to create a plan so that you will all know what to do if you are separated in the event of an emergency. Choose two places to meet – one right outside the house and the other outside your neighborhood. Be sure to practice and review the plan twice a year!
- Get educated – Learn what types of disasters (e.g. hurricanes, floods or forest fires) are prevalent in your area in order to prepare a kit and plan tailored for specific emergencies. Find out how local officials will contact residents of your city to advise of important safety information. Our experience with a failed reverse 911 system on Monday with the #boulderfire, has proven that more and more news and local agencies are turning to social media to spread news and information quickly. Lastly, get first aid training. Learn critical techniques like CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
For more information please visit www.clorox.com/redcross and download the preparedness guide: Prepare Yourself Now for Peace of Mind Later
DONT FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN $25 GIFT CARD! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and/or re-tweet this post using hashtag #preparedness and leave a comment. Winner will be chosen at 12pm Monday September 13.
*As a blog tour participant, I received information and giveaways from The Clorox Company and Consumer Queen at no cost to me. I was compensated for my time by The Clorox Company for participating in this project. All views are my own.
I’m actually really glad that you’re giving specifics on how to build the kit next week. Thank you!
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Every year when we get close to 9/11, I think about creating one. So far I haven’t. I need to get on the ball.
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Emergency preparedness kit is a must have in very family, thanks for reminding us.
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tweet.http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/24069935227
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This is very timely with the anniversary of 9/11 being tomorrow.
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Living in the land of tornadoes, we always “mean” to put a kit together. No time like the present
Thanks!
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Awesome post about awareness. I really liked the part about find out what you need to be prepared for! Hurricane preparedness is probably a mute point somewhere in the Colorado Mountains:)
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It’s definitely past time for us to be better prepared.
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Isn’t it just horrible about these fires. It breaks my heart for all these families and their homes and pets. I hope you are doing well. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
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Great advice!
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RT’d the post:
http://twitter.com/calidreamin87/status/24279380474
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[...] I’m giving away a $25 gift card tomorrow – have you entered to win yet? [...]
Thanks for the timely advice.
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I think living in Phoenix , I am a bit too comfortable when it comes to emergencies. We don’t have tornadoes or floods or earthquakes or hurricanes. Arizona does have major fire issues… but for the most part… those emergencies are in the high desert and outlying areas.
However… in the day and age we live in… we are all victims of a possible terror threat. I really need to get my stuff in order and start an emergency preparedness kit. The first thing I’d buy? A battery operated radio.
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Thanks for the excellent reminder that the number one way to have a chance at successfully dealing with some type of emergency is to have a plan ahead of time. We’re so reliant on our cell phones and many people have given up a landline altogether, having a plan and being prepared is critical. I do have a few items but they’re not all in one place. Also, while I’ve talked to my daughter about where to meet we’ve never practiced. Lots to think about and DO. Thank you!
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Thanks for the contest! We’ve started building an emergency kit, but we’ve still got a long way to go. Also need to take an infant/child CPR and first aid class to get myself back up to date!
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#8 comment is winner – congratulations Chris!
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Yay!!!! My family thanks you, Fiona!
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[...] with the Fourmile forest fire in Boulder county. I outlined the three critical steps to creating an emergency preparedness plan for your household. Thankfully the fire in Boulder has been contained and residents are beginning [...]