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This Biannual in Emergency Preparedness - Spring Forward
by swksvolFFGreetings. Here at chez Kansas, we take a moment each time change to perform a safety review. It is an opportune time, as it is not only a marked day to remember, it is also a seasonal shift to review safety and emergency devices. First, to judge my advice I must share myself at a certain level. I am a family man, and live in a house in southwest Kansas. I am not Johnny Rescue, though I have experienced at some level all aspects of such, nor am I Burt Gunner, which my other limited experience goes to badanov's This Week in Guns. I am just a guy with a family whose household responsibilities include safety and preparedness. So by all means, this is a discussion, and all suggestions will be considered. It is important for you to take into consideration who you are and are not, where you live, and what level of preparedness you feel comfortable attaining. I am of the school better to have it and not need it, but there is also the consideration of overpacking, especially with a boogie bag or car kit. This first posting is really an overview of the basic safety and awareness check I perform biannually. Later posts, as discussion permits, will get into particulars such as a good boogie bag So forgive me for donning my nanny chapeau for the basics, then we will consider dynamic emergency preparedness supplies. Around the Home First off: smoke detectors. If the last time you checked your smoke detector batteries was cooking fajitas, it is time to check them again. And like a tetanus shot, if you cannot remember the last time you changed your batteries, it is time. Same for carbon monoxide detectors and any other disposable battery operated detectors you may have. Along the same lines, if you have a biometric vault, just go ahead and change the batteries; chances are you have a remote control or something else which can use the rest of the replaced battery's charge. Locate visually any back-up keys. Someone I, ahem, know had a battery go out and the key was missing - the only thing good about it was I, errr, that person was able to test the durability of the safe. Firearms in the house? It is a good time to check all safety locks for effectiveness. Time to review with the kids that guns are not toys, and if you see one laying out do not touch and go tell an adult. Review your fire escape plan. As we all age, abilities and responsibilities change, especially as children grow up or we get sick or injured. Can a person escape through a window on their own ability and initiative? Can or should a person be responsible for operating a fire extinguisher? Where is your rally point? Everyone know not to go back in no matter what? And that is a tough question with a simple answer. If the structure is still survivable, information such as how many, where, and how to get there will greatly assist fire fighters who have the right equipment and training to enter an involved structure - remember, it is the smoke which is most dangerous, especially with all the plastics and specialized batteries in the modern house. If the structure is not survivable, then a person re-entering the structure just made a bad situation worse. Pretty straightforward, right? In the spirit of Spring Training, here is a curveball: attic insulation. Many insulations lose their fire rating over time, especially the paper-based stuff. I know, it is expensive and inconvenient to replace, but a number of calls I have been on were made or broke on account of the effectiveness of the attic insulation's fire retardant. Hey, at least you will have better climate control. How about a slider: when was the last time you checked your water heater? No, not cussing at it because you stubbed your toe, but checking connections and the bottom for corrosion. If you have an electric heater and it goes out, it is a bad day. If you have a gas heater and it goes out... you have a problem like when we returned from a trip and our heater failed just enough to put out the pilot light, but not make much of a mess. It must have just happened because there was only a whiff of gas. Still, everyone went to fire rally point while I shut off the line and circulated/dispersed the air. Check your gas stove too. Also, check your main water lines for corrosion/failure. If a pipe breaks, being able to shut off the main and/or branches can be the difference between a jolly mess and serious structural and wallet damage. Usually it is the toilet, especially when someone is just learning about toilet paper. Even children can operate that valve, but check to see if it still functions. At this point you are probably lsaying, gosh golly Auntie K, anything else? Perhaps my sock folding is inappropriate? Well, yes, but above are the basics of nearly every living space. Starting to get a bit more specific: check the foundation for cracks, check the chimney for obstructions, the porch, etc for overwinter damage, make sure skunks cannot get under the porch, make sure coyotes can't get through the fence - but that is your job to problem-solve your place. Take a look around. It is only twice a year, and can be done during game timeouts. If you have a car kit, check your perishables - food and water - for quality. Rotate batteries. Replenish paper towels - not the ones in the cab, the ones in the trunk which were grabbed when the kids used up the roll in the cab. Emergency Preparedness I want to talk about the famous Kansas weather phenomenon I have at the top of my list for natural disaster preparedness. No, not tornadoes: prairie fire. That involves my boogie bag, but I'll hold that bag of beans for the next post because you will be like, "You have a tomahawk? Really?" I will say yes, and it came handy. Instead, in honor of tornado season, I will hit on storm sheltering. Hat tip to Mullah Richard for our discussion on storm spotting and emergency equipment and supplies. Y'all can get detailed in the comments, I may refine my suggestions as well or even follow up with a later post. A wind event, including tornadoes, hurricanes, microbursts, and political rallies are the most likely, widespread storm emergency for nearly everyone living in the US. Everyone else, sorry, you know your weather; I don't. First off: locate your storm shelter. The most likely problem will be stuff going through your windows, so consider flying glass. The most popular suggestion is lowest floor, at the center. That does not work for me, as right above me is a five ton olde school bath tub I am not interested in wearing as a hat. A lot of people do not have basements. I would suggest a windowless interior room, if possible. Rule of thumb: if you can see a window, something can come through and hit you. Do random objects get blown fast enough to stick in things? Yes. Yes they do. I cannot tell you with any authority whether sheltering in a bath tub is effective or a wive's tale, only that it is better than standing in the doorway taking selfies. Space is a consideration as well. It must be large enough for everyone to fit. Also, any cache is going to take space and if it is a permanent cache that is space which cannot be used for other things. I prefer a permanent cache because out here, even with all of our advanced communications and weather radar, storms often come through in less than an hour, and if that is nap time, well, Surprise! Second, I don't have to pack/unpack/did I repack? all the time. Third, and most important, there are other things to think about when shepherding the family into position. Now we have established your storm shelter, time to add some basics. To do that, we have to have some considerations. First, the power is out, and will not be back on for quite a while. Second, your windows are busted in - notice in. Third, everyone needs help, so help is not arriving anytime soon. I'm going to put out a basic list, and this is where everyone can play along. Heavy Blanket Nice to wrap everyone in to protect from debris lacerations and eye damage, as well as hearing protection. Blinders for the kids are nice I hear. If you have structural damage, this is some extra protection from the elements. Food & Water If Pecos Bill just stopped by, nothing is going to be where you left it, and may not be usable if you find it. You have no idea when or where chow will be available. I have 24 hours worth of stuff, really just easy snacks and bottled water. Besides, wouldn't it be better to be munching on a granola bar while taking in the damage? Weather Radio There are a ton of these. Sometimes storms split or piggyback, so it is nice to know that before going outside to find your car. Also, emergency instructions should be broadcast, such as triage centers and chow halls. Whistle If you are trapped or need assistance, nothing says "Over here!" like blowing a whistle. Extra Shoes Windows are blown in, glass is everywhere. Storm isn't going to wait on you to chase the rabbit around the tree and through the hole. If you want to be fancy, or as I call it, practical, have a pair of shoes with built-in protection from nails such as construction boots. Nothing will ruin your I Survived! story like stepping on a nail. Work Gloves Again, this is to protect yourself while extricating a damaged structure. Flashlight Power is out. Nighttime is dark. Also good for signaling and for morale. Do not forget extra batteries. Bandages There is a large selection of bandages. I suggest those with the clotting agents. Getting around with blood in your eyes is tough, etc. and it is good for morale. Backpack Put all the stuff into a comfortable backpack. You may need to go somewhere and having all this stuff portable will be handy. Also, it keeps the items from walking off; especially the flashlight. Basic stuff. I have a closet in a spare bedroom to play with, so over the years I have packratted items such as safety helmets, safety vests, knee protection, extra food, water, bandages, a larger pack, a framing hammer, deck of cards, waterproof matches, MREs, heating packages, water purification systems, eye protection, extra blankets. Again, this is just a guideline and conversation starter. Thank you. Posted by: swksvolFF 2016-03-13 |
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