Some emergencies occur in the family uninformed. All the members of the family may not be in the same place at the needed time. In such a situation, a family emergency plan will help. A natural calamity might occur, an elderly person can have any problem at home or any household problem like leakages, or fire in the house can occur.
No matter what the situation is, having a family emergency plan is always important. It solves the issue quicker. We know what is needed to be done and can act accordingly. A family emergency plan is a lacking thing or a not so acknowledged thing in our households.
Here are 5 simple steps for making a family emergency plan:
1. Get informed:
The very first step in developing a family emergency plan is to know exactly what the crisis occurred. Is it a natural calamity like heavy rains, too cold or hot weather, fire, or any explosions like gas cylinders or geysers, etc? Keep plans for your surrounding area too. Do not only rely on your own house. People living nearby may suffer from something too.
In the family emergency plan, various anticipated situations should be listed considering the possibilities that may occur. Keep contact numbers of people who can come for help whenever needed. See who stays nearest to your place and keep them informed about the same. Tell them they would be asked for help whenever needed.
2. Plan the action plan:
When you’ve listed down the points of a family emergency plan, come up with ways to deal with each and every situation. For the family emergency plan to work, list down the necessary steps to take in case of various situations. Leaving out of the house isn’t an option. Use technology to your advantage.
Keep apps on your mobile phones which will send notifications to other members of the family. On clicking the app, all the added members should get a notification, no matter where they are. List down more such points that will help you to act fast.
3. Confirm safe routes:
When formulating a family emergency plan, look for ways to come out of the place. In case of any problems like earthquakes or fire, the first is to get out of the house to cause no harm. Escaping the place is very important. It can save lives. Look for safe routes to go out of the house. In rainy situations, if the main entrance is not suitable, use some other exit to navigate yourself out.
In case of a fire, try to save your family members first. Children and elder people should be given the first preference. Find safe spaces to remove them from the house. Keep some routes only to use for such situations.
4. Get people out:
This is one of the basic things you can do. When making a family emergency plan, analyze the situation. If an earthquake, get people out of the house. In cases of fire, get elders and children out while you try to save some important belongings if necessary. Keeping a route separate for any such situations is necessary.
Keep the route accessible at times. E.g. if there’s a door keep it in working condition. It should work when these emergency situations occur. Getting people out of the affected area is more important than anything else. Hence, a separate exit for such situations should be maintained.
5. Send people for help:
No matter what the situation is, it would help if you had people at hand. Friends and relatives should be there to help. Inform people who stay nearby about the emergency. If you’re not available at the moment, send people like your neighbors, relatives, and friends for the help needed. Neighbors are the best people as they stay at the very next door. Other than them, relatives and friends who are in the vicinity of your home can come to the place in no time for help, keep them informed.
Benefits of a family emergency plan:
1. Reduces stress:
God forbid if any emergency arrives, you know what you’ve to do. You do not get confused about what has to be done and how it should be done. It decreases anxiety, confusion, and fear. As you have the plan ready, you just start behaving in that manner.
2. Well-informed:
When making the plan, in a way you train the family members of what is to be done in which situation. As the family knows how to act in when the emergency occurs, the actions are immediately implemented.
3. No wastage of time:
As mentioned in the above point, all the people know what and how it is to be done, and everyone starts taking action. Actions like evacuating elders and children, and taking any expensive belongings like cash, gold, or appliances out as your sentiment are associated with the same. Actions are started immediately without wastage of a single second.
Conclusion:
Emergencies may knock at your door at any time. You are ready with your plan for any emergency if you’ve read this article. Ensuring safe routes, keeping people at hand for help, and ensuring the safety of kids and elder people is an important factor to act on immediately. Train the family members of your house as mentioned.
They must know what or how to act when a particular situation is arrived. They must know what to do when an earthquake occurs if a fire breaks out, and what to do if there is a natural calamity. Every person in the house must participate in facing the situation and not rely on someone, except elders and children. Hence, keeping a plan at hand well-planned and well-discussed is important.
