BUT. . .
Not all emergencies require you leaving your home immediately but many, if not all, do require some immediate action be taken. I ask that you take this Yes/No quiz to evaluate where you are.
Preparedness Test
- Has your family rehearsed fire escape routes from your home?
- Does your family know what to do before, during, and after an earthquake or other emergency situation.
- Do you have heavy objects hanging over beds that can fall during an earthquake?
- Do you have access to an operational flashlight in every occupied bedroom? (use of candles is not recommended unless you are positive there is no leaking gas)
- Do you keep a pair of hard-soled shoes at your bedside to protect your feet against broken glass?
- If a water line was ruptured during an emergency, do you know how to shut off the main water line to your house?
- Can this water valve be turned off by hand without the use of a tool? Do you have a tool if one is needed?
- Do you know where the main gas shut-off valve to your house is located?
- If you smell gas, do you know how and would you be able to shut off this valve?
- Gas valves usually cannot be turned off by hand. Is there a tool near your valve?
- Would you be able to safely restart your furnace when gas is safely available?
- Do you have working smoke alarms in the proper places to warn you of fire?
- In case of a minor fire, do you have a fire extinguisher that you know how to use?
- Do you have duplicate keys and copies of important insurance and other papers stored outside your home.
- Do you have a functional emergency radio to receive emergency information
- If your family had to evacuate your home, have you identified a meeting place?
These are all questions that need answers if you are to be safe in an emergency. If you answered 'No' to any of them, its now time to work on getting those items handled.
One Heart, Inc. "Tune in" for Part 2 tomorrow
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