Hello, and welcome to the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast for Aug. 26, 2008. I’m Jim Person, Fairfax County emergency information officer. Coming up, learn about becoming better prepared for an emergency during National Preparedness Month. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
September is almost here, which means National Preparedness Month, a special time to focus on and to encourage residents to take four important preparedness steps:
- Get a Kit
- Make a Plan
- Be Informed
- Get Involved
First, get a kit. When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth. You’ll want to include:
- One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First-aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
- And any prescription or over-the-counter medications, infant formula and diapers if needed, food and water for family pets, cash, a change of clothing, pencils and pens, paper, and games and toys for any young children in your family.
Next, you’ll want to make sure you have a family emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.
Be informed about the different types of emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate ways to respond. This will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take.
And finally, get involved. After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies by getting a kit, making a plan and being informed, take the next step and get involved in preparing your community. Learn more about Citizen Corps, which actively involves citizens in making our communities and our nation safer, stronger and better prepared.
More information about National Preparedness Month, as well as details on how to become better prepared, can be found online at www.ready.gov. You may also want to visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency, and for info on Citizen Corps, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/oem.
That’s it for this edition of the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast, produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia government. Thanks for listening. Additional information about health and safety topics and emergency preparedness may be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.