SOS Blog

Monday, August 31, 2015

Emergency Preparedness Tips for People With Disabilities

Every year, hundreds of disasters, both natural and man-made, occur across the United States. There’s no telling when or where a disaster will strike, so it’s extremely important to be prepared both at home and while on the go. Whether you or a loved one has mobility problems or a hearing, learning, seeing or any other disability, it’s vital to make an emergency plan and stock up on necessary emergency items. We’ve come up with some essential disaster readiness tips for people with disabilities to help you get started.


How to Prepare for a Disaster for People With Disabilities


Emergencies like fires, floods and man-made disasters can begin in an instant. Protecting yourself and your family during unexpected emergencies requires planning ahead. Including family members, friends and co-workers in your plan is ideal – you should not depend on one person alone.

Work with your support network to create plans for everywhere you frequently spend time, including your home and the office. If you require regular services, make a plan with each service provider. Decide how you will contact and communicate with your emergency network before, during and after a disaster – remember you might not have power or access to a cell phone.

To make a plan, you should first get informed and educate yourself about what types of hazards are most likely to impact your community, as well as what current community assistance programs, warning systems and disaster plans are in place. If you can’t or don’t drive, find out what your community’s plan is for evacuating those without private transportation and who can’t reach their emergency contacts.

You can also consider investing in a medical alert system that will allow you to call for assistance if you are immobilized. Those who use electric wheelchairs should keep a manual one for backup while those with communication disabilities should come up with a plan to communicate with others in the event you don’t have your communication device (augmentative communication device, word board, etc.). One good idea is to keep key phrases written on paper in your emergency kits and wallet. You should also keep an emergency health card with personalized essential care information in your wallet.

Know how to turn off your water, gas and electricity, and print instructions with this information for your family, caregivers and emergency responders to follow if and when necessary. You should also keep instructions for any medical equipment you use attached to said equipment.

Finally, prepare both a home emergency kit and a travel emergency kit. Your emergency kits should include first-aid supplies, a battery-powered source of light, a radio, extra batteries, any medical equipment, assistive devices and over-the-counter and prescription medication you need, in addition to water and nutritional survival food. Remember: those with service animals also need to include pet survival essentials in their kits. Also, SOS Survival Products carries an evacuation chair with extended handles to help transport a person safely down stairs, a manual wheelchair, and other medical supplies to help you respond during an emergency.

Have your own disaster survival tips for people with disabilities? Share them with us in the comment section below!

Monday, August 24, 2015

Essential Items for Your Storm Shelter

It’s estimated that every year 10,000 American lives are saved due to storm shelters and emergency plans. No matter where you live, there is potential for natural disasters to strike. Every state in America has experienced tornados, and many states experience multiple tornados every year. Unlike other natural disasters, when tornados hit, you only have minutes, if not seconds, to make decisions. Tornados can demolish entire homes, trap victims and leave people in the dark or even without shelter for hours to days.

There’s no better time to start organizing your family’s emergency plan than today. We’ve come up with some of the top storm shelter emergency supplies you should store in your storm shelter.

Basic First-Aid Emergency Kit


Although it may seem obvious, it’s important not to overlook the basics. You should create a tornado shelter emergency kit that includes all the basic items such as: first-aid supplies, ample amounts of water, copies of important papers, matches and candles, a NOAA weather band emergency radio, a flashlight and backup batteries. It’s also essential that you stock up on non-perishable food items like canned food, MREs or emergency food bars. You may end up stuck in your storm shelter or your area may be inaccessible to delivery trucks after a disaster hits, making fresh food scarce.

In the event that you are stranded in your shelter due to outside access being cut off or an injury, it’s a good idea to keep an air horn or whistles easily accessible so you can signal your location to others.

Medication & Family Supplies


If anyone in your home needs to take medication regularly, ask your doctor for extra to keep in your storm shelter. You may not have access to a doctor or pharmacy after a disaster hits. If you have children, it’s a good idea to store a few magazines and board games for entertainment. If you have a baby, remember to stock up on extra diapers, ointment, wipes and all other baby supplies you need on a regular basis.


Clothes, Shoes & Comfort Items


When you get notice a tornado’s coming, there’s no telling where you’ll be or what you’ll be doing. Whether you’re working out, watching TV or getting out of the shower, at any given moment you may need to make an instant dash for the shelter. If you end up in the shelter without shoes or clothes, you’ll want to have extra stored away that you can put on. Additionally, you should store a tent, sleeping bags, blankets and other basic camping supplies (think: lantern, toilet paper, hand sanitizer…) in case you get stuck overnight or your home is destroyed.

Finally, it’s also a good idea to keep a battery-operated cell phone in your shelter in case yours dies or doesn’t make it down with you. If you have pets, remember to stock up on pet food and extra water! While natural disasters are destructive and can be devastating, with the right emergency plan you can avoid losing the most important things – your life and your family’s lives.