Tornado Season's Here!  Are you ready? In Case of Emergency, Grab This And GO!

If a hurricane, earthquake, fire or other disaster struck right now, right where you’re sitting, would you be ready?  Where is your spouse, your children, the other people you love?  What if they were injured?  Would a doctor know what to do to save their lives, with their specific healthcare needs in mind?  Would the hospital know to call you?   What about your vital documents?  Could YOU put your hands on your bank account number, your homeowner’s policy and your birth certificate, if you suddenly had five minutes to evacuate?   We didn’t think so. But unlike the victims of Hurricane Katrina or the people on the subway during the London Bombings, you have a chance to fix that.    Take fifteen minutes, take a few painless steps and take care of business. Help emergency personnel help you.  Fill in the Missing Piece.   Background   As recent hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and terrorist attacks have proven, anyone can find himself in the middle of an emergency.    During disasters and terrorist attacks, one need has come to the forefront more than any other -- the need to get victim's identification, medical history and emergency contact information as quickly as possible.   When a patient is taken into the emergency room unconscious, the doctors caring for him have basically no information about their patient, besides obvious injuries.  They have no idea what he might be allergic to, what medications he’s taking or the surgery he had the month before.  Doctors may be able to put together about 75% of a patient’s background by examining him.  But what about that other 25%?  And many times that 25% is the difference between life and death.  When it comes to you and your family, it’s up to you to fill in that missing piece BEFORE an emergency strikes. The best way to do it is with an Action Plan Did You Know…?

••Each year approximately one million people end up in the emergency room unconscious or physically unable to make medical decisions for themselves.   • ••Nearly 200,000 people die each year due to misdiagnosis or medical error – a direct result of lack of information regarding medical history and medical conditions • •  •As emergency workers worldwide have found during the London subway bombings, the Tsunami and 9/11, one of the most difficult tasks during a major emergency, is quickly locating injured victims' identities, emergency contact information and medical/medication history. • • •Most accidents happen when people are within a few blocks of home or work, out jogging, or doing a quick errand – exactly when people feel the most comfortable running out of the house "for a few moments" without their wallet, purse or ID.   •	••A week after 9/11, there were 2,100 unclaimed children in child care centers all over New York, because day-care workers had no emergency contact information on who to call in case the parents didn't arrive to pick them up.   • ••In 44 states, hospitals have no legal obligation to call your next of kin or emergency contact even if you arrive at the hospital unconscious or physically unable to speak for yourself or give informed consent. • • •Countless families nationwide have horror stories of the anguish they suffered when discovering that their loved ones were in an accident or critically injured without the hospital, notifying them for hours, days or even weeks – and many times not until their loved one had already died.
The “Make Your Family Safer in 15 Minutes or Less” Action Plan also covers ways to safeguard the information and vital documents you should have with you in an emergency.    If you knew that spending 15 minutes right now could save the people you love in the event of an emergency, or help you start your life over again in case of massive property damage or loss would you do it?  Of course you would!    So let’s get started.
1:  Read “Make Your Family Safer in 15 Minutes or Less” Action Plan.  Click below for your free copy   Fill out your "Grab Your Info and Go" Family Safety Form for each member of your family   2:  Make sure your phones, PDAs, computers and other tools are emergency ready   3:  Secure your vital documents and make them accessible.	4:  Purchase Shoewallets for each member of the family.  It’s a great way to keep their emergency information, keys, money, cards and other items easily accessible, even if they’re not carrying a purse, wallet or backpack.   5:  Take steps to protect any members of your family with special needs.   6:  Protect your pets