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| Thursday, September 2, 2010
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Seniors and Disabled
 In addition to creating a kit, making a plan, and being informed, there is additional information available for those with disabilities and seniors, which is extensively covered by the American Red Cross. Some basic preventative measures for seniors and the disabled that should be either directly performed or performed by an assistant of some form include:
- Have emergency numbers near telephones
- Keep family records in a watertight, fire-proof container
- Learn what to do in case of power outages and personal injuries
- Know how to connect or start a back-up power supply for essential medical equipment
- If someone in the household uses a wheelchair, make sure more than one exit from the home is wheelchair accessible, in case the primary exit is blocked
- Teach those who may need to assist in an emergency how to operate necessary equipment
- Arrange for a relative or neighbor to check on you or family members in an emergency
- Plan and practice an evacuation plan
- Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main valves or switches
- Consider getting a medical alert system that would allow calling for help if you were immobilized in an emergency
- If living in an apartment, ask the management to identify and mark accessible exits
- Learn the evacuation routes for the community
- Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated by disaster
- Pick two meetings places
- Near your home in case of a fire
- Outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disasters
Additional information for both seniors and people with disabilities can be found in several languages at Prepare.org, provided by the American Red Cross.
Information can also be found at the Frederick County Department of Aging.
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