Playing it safe Follow tips to be prepared before emergency happens

he PA LINK program recently held a workshop to educate the seniors of the community on ways they can ensure they are safe when emergencies occur.

"Our goal is to get the information out to our aging population to help them in any kind of emergency, whether it be a terroristic act, flood, fire, pandemic or anything else," Julie Rovinski-Mann of PA LINK said.

"We aim to help people know their basic safety needs," said Diana Smaglik, marketing director and special projects supervisor for the Anthracite Center for Region Center for Independent Living. "Do you use a walker or wheelchair, do you have pets you need to think about? These are all things we aim to help people understand that they need to reach out to first responders and communicate their needs in the case of an emergency.

"Doing that keeps them safe as well the first responders."

Here are some tips, provided by PA LINK and the Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living, on ways you can prepare yourself and your family for future emergencies:

1. Register with Carbon County's House Watch program through the 911 Communications Center to help dispatchers know your special needs when responding to an emergency at your home. More information on the program is available at the Carbon County Emergency Management Agency at 570-325-3097.

2. Sign up for the Pennsylvania Yellow Dot program at www.YellowDot.pa.gov or call 717-787-6746. The program alerts first responders that information about you is in the glove compartment of your vehicle by the use of a yellow dot on your back windshield.

3. Know where the emergency shelters are in your community in case you must leave your home due to flooding, a power outage or other emergency situation.

4. Make a network of family, friends and to help you in case of an emergency and tell them where your emergency contact list, which includes contact phone numbers, addresses, a list of medications, physician information and other needs is located in your home in case you need help. Also, put a copy of this information in your wallet or purse, as well as your car.

5. Create a "to-go" bag in case you are evacuated. To-go bags include your personal information and any special needs you have; nonperishable food items; a few doses of your medications, which should be switched out for new meds every six months; a first aid kit; pet supplies if you have a pet; bottled water; a change of clothing; a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries; flashlight; and any other item you feel is necessary for your survival.

6. Put together a 72-hour kit in case you are stuck inside your home. Kits can include many of the items in your to go bag, as well as a can opener, toilet paper, blanket, a multipurpose tool, copies of personal documents sealed in a zip-close bag, whistle and more. For a complete list of emergency kit options, go to www.ready.gov/kit.

7. Put together an emergency contact list and keep copies in your home and car so that family members can be reached by first responders in the case of emergency. Put as many details as possible, including all phone numbers for your contacts and their addresses.

8. Identify your personal care team. Who will help care for your before, during and after an emergency. This team can be composed of people who are close to you, live next to you and know you really well like a caretaker who visits to help you a few days a week, co-workers, Meals on Wheels volunteers and anyone else.

9. If you have a cellphone, put your emergency contacts in a file on your phone.

10. Know how to obtain information in the case of a power outage. Have a battery-operated radio and know what television and radio stations will have information about your area.

11. Dress for the situation and environment you are going to be in.

12. Request a form to make a family safety profile, which includes all personal and medical information by calling 570-325-9123 in Carbon County and 570-622-3739 in Schuylkill County, or if you need further assistance, call 570-455-9800.