Some suggestions are to access your closest fire department now and ask if they have or would help create a temporary volunteer fire department in case the firepeople are sick. Also some say temp walk pets who normally walk thereselves to get them used to it. A pet can bring the flu into the home. Pay close attention to who lives in your neiborhood through your local groups,homeowners clubs, girl scouts etc. Which of them are docters or nurses or EMTs. Does anyone on your block have a difibulator…you should be within 4 minutes of one. A commercial fire extenquisher costs 500.00. Have a donation thing and keep it in the neiborhood. Test the blocks fire extinguishers door to door and take a survey of what that neighbor could bring to the table. Create a rules of visiting or dropping off any supplies if a rag is on the door knob signifying illness. Exchange phone numbers.
Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.
I fully agree, Dem.
I recieved my CERT training in Billings, MT last September-its about 20 hours-some locations offer it 4 hours a night for 5 weeks, others over a two and a half day weekend. They focus on three areas-(1)BASIC small-scale fire fighting ,(2) BASIC first aid (stopping bleeding, simple dressings), etc. and (3)BASIC search and rescue. You are not trained to be a professional firefighter, EMT or to rush into structures on the verge of collapse, but a adjunct until the professionals arrive. There is heavy emphasis on personal safety and protection of the life of the rescuer, and all tasks are taught as the buddy system. There is much information to use at home on your loved ones first (they stress that you need to take care of home before aiding the community). I strongly urge everyone to call for a schedule of upcoming sessions and attend one. It will do wonders for your self confidence in a disaster.
I added this important concept to the prepredness page. Clearly, this should be a national program including flu or emerging infection control training, too.
WyomingBill RN, thanks for commenting from the perspective of someone who’s done the training.
I just read about a site called ineighbors.org which allows residents of a given community to communicate about any issues of interest. This provided info regarding building a homepage, advertising the site within the community, etc. The story was within an article about the 50 coolest websites of 2005, Time Magazine website.
“Safe neighborhoods” - looks to me like they wouldn’t mind becoming a role-model for others. Who can contact them and bring them here?
From http://www.fluwikie.com/index.php?n=Consequences.CommunityPreparedness ;
- Organize neighborhood around avian flu contingency - Archive information about each neighbor, emergency contact information, required medicines, pets, location of critical items on property such as medicines, special skills each can bring to bear in emergencies - CERT training; first aid/CPR training - Neighborhood education and news updates via newsletter, websites, email lists or phone trees - Establish liaison with local hospital, healthcare professionals or city health services office - Set up communications node (if communications are still up and running) or point persons and runners; maintain contact with neighbors - Ham radio - have one licensed operator - Keep track of all cases; transport afflicted when necessary (using personal protective equipment) - Stockpile goods and move resources to where needed to prevent waste or shortage - Establish staging areas for deliveries - Immunized (via vaccination or flu survival) persons hopefully volunteer to run errands and help with nursing - Consolidate errands to minimize contact in public places - Purchase portable ventilator to share - Elect a neighborhood “sheriff”; consider an armed guard if there is civil disorder
There are many other suggestions at the personal and local government level as well.
Also- organize a person who can pickup/transport kids home from school on short notice! (And let the school know who that is). Designate a safe neighbor for kids to call if parents are too sick/ die. This can be over the phone, even-just someone who cares and can answer how-to questions and be a familiar voice.
How about just getting to know your neighbors and helping those who need help if you can? Know their names and if possible their phone numbers. Also just by generally looking out for each other. Those who are home during the day have the best ability of anyone to know what is normal or not and can stop problems just by knowing when something is not right or is out of the ordinary. It’s not about being nosy just about knowing the norm.
My community is starting townhall meetings to help us organize in our neighborhoods. I’m also helping to organize some highrises of senior citizens and immigrants near my home. We really can help each other.
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