The Emergency Preparedness Handbook for Dads

Provided by WonderDads

Copyright © 2016 by WonderDads

Although WonderDads has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book is correct, WonderDads does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Table of Contents

Pg 4 … Power Outage Preparedness

Pg 5 … Fire Evacuation Plan

Pg 6 … Standing Rule of Thumb If You Lose Dad

Pg 7 … Injury Emergency Bag

Pg 8 … Fire Prevention Techniques and Checklist

Pg 9 … Earthquake Preparedness

Pg 10 … Pills & Medicine

Pg 11 … Flood Preparedness

Pg 12 … Tornado preparedness

Pg 13 … Emergency Phone Numbers List

Pg 14 … Medical Information of Family Members

Pg 15 … If I Lose My Wallet

Pg 16 … Storm Safety

Pg 17 … Winter Storm Checklist

Pg 18 … Possible Accidental Poisoning

Pg 19 … CPR Preparedness

Pg 20 … Master Contact List for Your Assets

Pg 21 … Hunting Gear Safety

Pg 22 … Pool Safety Checklist and Family Rules

Power Outage Preparedness

Dad’s Blackout Bag

Power outages can occur without warning, and they can be frustrating, bothersome and even boring. You can be the hero of the house, though, if you are prepared with a handy blackout bag. Get a small duffel bag with compartments and pop in a few items that will help you and your family make it through a short spell in the dark without much ado and with a little fun. Here are some essentials to include.

• Extra Flashlights – Consider solar or self-powered ones like those that charge with a hand crank

• Battery Candles – These are great for lighting a room

• Head Lamps – Come in handy when you need both hands free

• Long-Range Spotlight – Can be useful if you need to walk the dog at night

• Glow Sticks – Provide light and can be fun to use too

• Batteries – Buy in bulk and stash different types

• Juice Packs – Alternate battery-powered backup chargers for cell phones that it

• Self-Powered Radio – Keeps you in touch with the outside world and provides entertainment

• Games – Board games and a deck of cards can help time in the dark fly by

• First-Aid Kit – Have a basic kit on hand to handle any “blackout boo-boos”

These are just a few examples of things to pack, and keep in mind that what’s in your blackout bag may vary with the seasons. Also, keep the bag in a spot that is easy to get to, like under the bed. You may even want to put some glow-in-the-dark tape on it so that it is extra easy to find.

Fire Evacuation Plan

If you have a fire emergency in your home, you no doubt want everyone to escape quickly and unharmed, and for them to safely make their way to your pre-determined rendezvous spot. This means that they all need to know what to do! That’s why it’s important to have a fire evacuation plan – a drawing of your home that visually maps out your escape routes.

You can use technology to automate much of the drawing for you. There are software tools online just for this purpose and many of them are free. You can also go low tech and pull out your pencil and paper to make a fire evacuation map. Use grid/graph paper to make the task even easier, and no matter which way you create your drawing follow these simple steps.

1. Sketch the layout/floor plan of your entire home. Show all windows, doors and stairs.

2. Clearly mark at least two ways that can be used to get out of every room.

3. Identify escape routes with directional arrows (helps to have them in color like green for go).

4. Show where smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders are located (can use icons).

5. Laminate your map. Then post it in a central location where your family will routinely see it.

When your map is done, make sure that everybody in your household is familiar with it. Do practice drills several times a year and at different times of day. Plan some drills and make others a surprise.

Standing Rule of Thumb If You Lose Dad

Would your child know what to do if he/she got lost or separated from you in a crowded public place? It’s the kind of knowledge you hope will never be needed, but the fact remains that it is information that kids need to know.

Here are some questions to consider as you prepare youngsters to take proper action if they wander off and then realize they have lost sight of you.

• Have you taught your child to stop, stay put and look around? This keeps them from frantically looking for you and makes them easier to find. It also helps them see you if you are close by.

• Do your kids know that it’s okay to shout? Tell them to yell out your name if you are nowhere in sight even if they are in a place where they would typically use their inside voice.

• Have you made your full name and phone number a must-know? Turn the memorization into a game or song and practice recitation. As a backup, write down the info and tell them that you are tucking it into their pocket or shoe just in case.

• Have you talked about whom to ask for help? Besides trusted authority figures, statistics show that a mom with kids is the safest bet for a lost child seeking assistance.

• Do you role-play what-ifs? Periodically play make-believe using various scenarios and take advantage of teachable moments in public places to reinforce lessons in small bites.

Injury Emergency Bag

Because you never know when accidents might happen, it’s wise to adopt the Scout motto and to “be prepared” with an injury emergency bag. It can help you come to the rescue when needed, and it can be especially useful during an emergency event.

You should have supplies that you would need to treat injuries like cuts, scrapes, swelling and more. Keep the following on hand at all times:

• Wound care dressings – adhesive/liquid bandages, sterile gauze pads, gauze roll, adhesive tape

• Infection prevention meds – antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, burn ointment

• Bleeding wound treatment – trauma pads, butterfly sutures

• Allergic reaction supplies – antihistamine, antihistamine cream, hydrocortisone

• Sprain treatments – elastic bandages, triangular sling, instant cold packs

• Eye care items – eye wash cup, eye wash solution, eye ointment

• Pain management medicine – chewable aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen

• Helpful tools – scissors, plastic tweezers, safety pins, pen/marker

• First aid essentials – non-latex sterile gloves, thermometer, sterile swabs

Keep your emergency bag at home and also have one in your car. It’s also a good idea to put an emergency first aid guide in both bags; and to help family members feel even more confident, capable and ready during an emergency, make a first aid class a family to-do.

Fire Prevention Techniques and Checklist

The old adage that references an ounce of prevention definitely applies to a house fire. With just a few steps, you can protect your family and home from an accidental fire – and that far outweighs a pound of cure. What kind of actions can you take?

First, identify and eliminate fire hazards. Make it a family affair. Go from room to room and do a fire safety inspection. Once you have removed fire threats, make it a household habit to practice fire safety every single day. Use the checklist below as a starting point. It addresses some of the most common house fire causes and factors.

• When cooking, always have an adult stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on the food.

• Maintain at least a 3-foot kid-free zone around the stove when grown-ups are cooking.

• Keep items that can catch fire well away from the stovetop and other heat sources.

• Teach kids to always check with a grown-up first if they want to cook something.

• Always keep a lit candle within sight and make sure it can’t tip or fall over.

• Always repair or replace worn, damaged or loose electrical cords.

• Keep a vigilant eye out for overloaded electrical outlets or circuits.

• Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on your lamps.

• Store matches and lighters in a secure place that is up and away from children.

• Teach kids early on never to play with matches and lighters.

Earthquake Preparedness

Would your family be ready if an earthquake were to strike in the next 24 hours? What if you were not all together when it happened? Or what if you had to evacuate to a shelter on short notice?

At times like this you can have greater peace of mind if you have planned ahead. So make/refresh your earthquake communications plan NOW. Pick a familiar place (or two) where your family can reconnect. Designate someone out-of-town to act as a central contact. Write down phone numbers and email addresses for everybody in your household and put this info on wallet-sized cards.

Also be ready to shelter-in-place for 72 hours by setting aside emergency supplies like water, non-perishable food, flashlights and other light sources, batteries, a portable radio, cash (small bills and coins) and a first aid kit. Keep a grab-n-go bag stocked with these supplies too, plus items like these:

• Dust mask

• Heavy gloves

• Lighters/waterproof matches

• Multi-purpose tool

• Water filtration bottles

• Whistle (to signal for help)

• Survival/emergency blanket

• Portable mobile phone chargers

• Hygiene items and change of clothes

• Special-needs items (medicine, pet items, etc.)

Pills & Medicine

Statistics show that about 60,000 children are rushed to the hospital every year after being accidently poisoned by medicine in their homes. That number alone is reason enough for you as a parent to be extra vigilant about keeping medicine out of sight and out of young children’s reach at all times.

As you put medications up and away, don’t forget about other health products that can cause children harm. Examples are vitamins, hand sanitizer, eye drops, diaper cream and mouthwash. As for where to store medications, here are five options often listed by child safety experts:

• High cupboard/cabinet with childproof latches • Lockable medicine case (keep out of sight) • Locking medication safe (fits inside medicine cabinet) • Shelf that is super high and out of sight • Locked top drawer of a tall vertical file cabinet

Remember too that safe medication storage applies to houseguests as well. Remind them to keep bags or purses that have medicine in them up high and out of sight. In addition, keep medicine in its original container so that you can know what’s what and can adhere to proper dosing instructions. To take medicine safety a step further, consider using locking caps that only open with a 4-digit PIN.

Flood Preparedness

Some places are more prone to floods than others, but flooding can happen in most any area. So, you of course want to be prepared for that possibility so that you can lessen the impact on your family.

Part of being ready is taking steps to ensure you have a household communications plan and an emergency bag that you can grab quickly if have to evacuate. When stocking your 72-hour backpack or duffel, put in basic emergency supplies as well as items helpful in a flood. See examples below.

• Water/water filtration bottles

• Non-perishable/high energy foods

• Self-powered radio and flashlights

• Multi-purpose tool

• First aid kit

• Plastic whistle

• Coins, spare cash, copies of ID

• Mylar blanket, plastic sheeting

• Extra batteries, portable phone chargers

• Hygiene items, extra clothing and rubber boots

You should also include any special-needs items (extra prescription medicine, pet supplies and such). Also practice how your family will communicate; be sure to cover the basics. Identify a meeting place in case you get separated. Choose an out-of-town contact for all family members to call, and keep important numbers in your wallet as well as in your phone.

Tornado Preparedness

The thought of a tornado strikes fear in the heart of a parent because it can abruptly take a toll on the well-being of your family. To make sure you are ready to weather the storm, ensure that you have a stocked emergency supply kit that you could grab and go, and that your family members know what to do.

Talk with your children about where to take shelter – whether at home or school or in a car – and discuss how they can protect themselves from falling and flying debris. Decide how you will find and communicate with each other if you are separated at the time of the storm. Identify an out-of-town central contact and make sure everyone keeps emergency contact numbers with them.

Assemble/replenish your 72-hour emergency kit and customize it to meet specific needs, such as medications or infant supplies. If you are a pet parent, have a bag for them too. Below are some of the recommended basic supplies to include in yours:

• Water/water filtration bottles

• Non-perishable food (like MREs)

• Self-powered weather radio

• Multi-purpose tool and a plastic whistle

• First aid kit and work gloves

• Hand crank or solar flashlights

• Coins, spare cash, copies of ID

• Mylar blanket, plastic sheeting

• Extra batteries, portable phone chargers

• Hygiene items, change of clothes and footwear

Emergency Phone Numbers List

It’s not unusual to get panicked and confused during an emergency, whether you are a grown-up or a kid. Then too, an emergency may occur when kids are home alone or a babysitter is on duty. As one your dad duties, you can see to it that your household has a list of need-to-know numbers posted on the fridge, near every telephone, and on the family bulletin board if you have one.

Type it up on the computer in large, dark-colored print so that it is easy to read, put 911 at the top, and list all numbers you think might be needed on a moment’s notice. Here are 15 suggestions:

• Police department • Fire department • Ambulance/EMTs (if not 911) • Closest hospital(s) • Poison Control Center • Family doctor • Family dentist • Emergency veterinarian • Parents’ work • Parents’ mobile phones • Children’s mobile phones • Neighbors and/or relatives • Out-of-town emergency contact • Children’s school • Pharmacy

Medical Information of Family Members

If there is a medical emergency with your child, paramedics and doctors will need as much health information as they can get to make informed, quick treatment decisions. This becomes even more critical if you and your family are traveling and your child suddenly falls ill.

Because it is next to impossible to keep all this information in your head and to recall it in a crisis, it’s a smart move as a parent to make a written and/or electronic medical record for each child. Be sure that you include this information:

• Blood type and Rh factor

• Immunization history

• Family medical history

• Types and dates of surgeries

• Allergies to any medications

• Allergies to foods and/or dyes

• Allergies to substances used in medical tests

• Medications, including dosage and how often taken

• Pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, diabetes

Make it a point to know your child’s blood type, allergies, medications, and pre-existing conditions off the top of your head. Also keep up with his/her current weight as this can affect medication dosage and there may not be time to weigh your child in an emergency.

If I Lose My Wallet

It’s a nightmare moment. You reach for your wallet to pay for a purchase and realize that you don’t have it. So you retrace your steps to see if it turns up and double check that it’s not at home. If you determine that it is indeed missing, stay calm and take several immediate actions.

Call your bank or credit union and credit card issuers to report your ATM, debit and credit cards as lost or stolen. Also alert companies that use any of the cards for automatic debits. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your accounts. File a police report in case you become a victim of identity theft or fraud. Let DMV know your driver’s license is missing, and call your health insurer.

You can get the above actions done more quickly if you have taken measures to prepare for a wallet gone missing. Here is a checklist to help make your life easier in this circumstance:

• Limit the cards you carry to just the ones that your regularly need, and a backup

• Remove any items that you don’t need that could help an identity thief

• Photocopy or scan the contents of your wallet and keep info in a secure place

• Write down the customer service numbers for your cards and keep the info handy

• Consider using an app that replicates wallet contents and password protects the info

Storm Safety

Thunderstorms can be scary for kids of all ages and severe ones can create a variety of dangerous situations in addition to being super scary. Calm and safety can rule, however, when you and your family know what do during stormy weather and are prepared with what you need to safely get through any aftermath of the storm.

Here is a quick checklist with tips related to both. Use it to see how your household fares, and what more you can do:

• Be familiar with your area’s warning system for severe thunderstorms

• Pick a safe spot in your home for the family to gather during a storm

• Keep at least a 3-day supply of water and non-perishable food on hand

• Ensure that you have a freshly stocked first aid kit

• Have a self-powered weather radio or TV to monitor storm information

• Make sure you have working flashlights and other alternative light sources

• Keep a supply of extra batteries in a variety of cell sizes

• Have a way to charge cell phones if the power is out (car/portable charger)

• Have a plan to move your family (and pets) if you need to evacuate

• Keep an emergency “to-go bag” stocked; have one for pets too if applicable

Winter Storm Checklist

Before winter arrives, it’s a good idea to put on your proactive dad hat and take time to review your family’s preparedness for a winter storm. Then, if wintry weather does blow through and bring a power outage with it, you and your family will be ready to safely and comfortably hunker down.

As you review your family’s readiness, you can refer to the following checklist of items that are helpful to have on hand whether a winter storm’s impact is short-lived or lasts for days at a time. Keep these items on hand:

• Week’s supply of water and non-perishable/no-cook food

• Flashlights/self-powered lamps or lanterns/head lamps

• Self-powered weather radio/portable TV

• Extra blankets or comforters/sleeping bags

• First aid kit/reserve of medications or medical items

• Stash of batteries/portable phone chargers

• Special-need supplies (e.g., baby or pet items)

• Snow shovel/rock salt/sand/kitty litter

• Ice chest/soft-sided coolers/frozen cold packs

• Camping cook stove/safe portable warming fuels

An extra tip: If you plan to use a fireplace or fuel-burning space heater as an alternative source of heat, follow safety rules to the letter and make sure smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are working properly.

Possible Accidental Poisoning

As a dad, your hero instincts automatically kick in whenever someone is in danger. What if the emergency is a possible accidental poisoning? You want to help. What should you do?

If someone ingests a substance that might be poisonous, it’s important to stay calm and act fast. Determine your course of action based on the person’s condition and any symptoms.

• If the person is stable with no symptoms, call the National Poison Control Center toll-free at 800-222-1222 and follow their instructions. Be ready to describe the scenario. If the suspected poison is a household product, have the container with you when you make the call.

• If you notice symptoms of poisoning, call 911 immediately. Examples of symptoms include vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, difficulty breathing, seizures and agitation. While waiting for medical help to arrive, care for the person based on the symptoms displayed.

• It the person becomes unresponsive, call 911 right away and administer CPR if you know how.

As with any emergency situation, the more prepared you are, the more you can help. In this case, steps to be prepared include having the poison control number readily available (by your phone at home, in your wallet and in your cell phone), being familiar with symptoms associated with poisoning, and being able to safely administer first aid, including CPR.

CPR Preparedness

Sometimes an accident, injury or illness can cause a child’s heart and breathing to stop. Therefore, every parent should be trained to properly perform pediatric CPR. It can make the difference between survival or not, and you will rest easier knowing you are ready to handle such a crisis.

If you are not CPR trained, make taking a class a top priority. If you are, do a periodic refresher to keep up with the latest techniques. In the meantime, check out the tips listed below. While they are not a substitute for formal training, they can be helpful reminders of steps to take.

1. Size up the scene for safety. For instance, is there any other immediate danger that could make it unsafe for you and the child while you are rendering aid?

2. Check the child for responsiveness. Tap or gently shake their shoulder and ask if they are okay in a loud, clear voice. For an infant, try tapping the bottom of the foot.

If the child does not respond and isn’t breathing:

3. Call or shout for help. If you are alone with the child, do about five cycles of CPR before dialing 911. If there are others around, yell for someone to call 911 while you start CPR.

4. Begin chest compressions. This helps to restore blood circulation and can keep oxygenated blood flowing in the child’s body until medical help arrives.

5. Clear the airway and give rescue breaths. Breathe more gently than you would for adult CPR.

6. Keep at it. Repeat the compression-breath cycles until help arrives or the child starts breathing.

Master Contact List for Your Assets

We all hope for the best. At the same time, it’s prudent to plan for the worst of the worst and the possibilities in between. Say for instance you suddenly fall victim to an incapacitating accident or illness, or you are going about your everyday life and unexpectedly die. How prepared would your loved ones be to handle your affairs?

One thing you can do to make your family’s life easier during this time is create a master contact list related to your assets. Keep the list in a clearly marked file (physical, electronic or both) that is safeguarded but handily accessible. Here’s a checklist of entries to include as applicable to you.

• Banks/credit unions

• Brokerage firm

• Wealth management firm

• Financial advisor

• Attorney

• Accountant

• Mortgage holder

• Life insurance agent

• Property insurance agent

• Long-term care insurance company

For each entry, list the institution/company, contact person, address, phone number and email address. Also remember that your master list is a “living” document. Update it as you make additions or changes to accounts, assets and the companies/people that help you manage them.

Hunting Gear Safety

It’s a given. When it comes to hunting, safety is of the utmost importance. The sport presents obvious dangers and calls for a variety of safeguards. Following the fundamentals of firearm safety and having the proper gear are among them.

Among the golden rules of hunting safety are having in-depth knowledge of your weapon, treating every gun as if it is loaded, keeping the safety on until you are ready to fire, being sure of your target and knowing what’s beyond it before you take your shot. If you are hunting with a bow, also respect it as a weapon and make sure that it fits your strength as a shooter.

Before you set out on a hunting trip, make it a practice to go through your safety checklist. Consider the following along with your list of safety precautions:

• Check firearm/bow to ensure it’s working properly

• Put on high visibility safety apparel

• Ensure clothing is appropriate for the weather

• Wear protective archery gear (if using a bow)

• Dress Fido in bright bandana or blaze orange vest

• Carry a cell phone, two-way radio or both

• Take a hunting GPS unit with you

• Pack a sportsman first-aid kit

• Bring tree stand safety equipment (if applicable)

Pool Safety Checklist and Family Rules

A backyard pool offers countless hours of family fun, and with the proper precautions it can be a safe space for all. So practice basic safety rules and ensure that everyone in your home knows how to swim well and respond to aquatic emergencies. In addition, have appropriate pool safety equipment and family rules to help keep everyone out of danger in and around the water.

For the pool, make sure you have:

• Fencing with self-closing, self-locking gates

• Pool alarms (gate, perimeter, floating)

• Anti-entrapment equipment

• Safety pool cover or pool net

• Depth markers or rope and float line

• Vests, floaties and water rescue equipment

• Locked storage for pool chemicals

Include these in family rules:

• Swim with a buddy

• Kids must have adult supervision

• No pushing or horseplay

• Walk, don’t run around the pool

• No glass or breakable items allowed

• No diving or dunking

• Wear swim cap or tie up long hair

• Stay away from drain covers

• Wear pool shoes please

A bonus tip for your family rules:

• Post them in the pool area to keep them front and center, and make sure the sign is large enough to read from a distance.