Preparing for Emergencies

If you are prepared for unforeseen emergencies, you can help ensure that care begins as soon as possible - for yourself, family and friends, and others in your community. First aid training will help you to focus on the most important aspects of care by giving you a basic plan of action that can be used in an emergency. By knowing what to do, you will be better able to manage your fears and overcome your barriers to action. You can be ready for most emergencies if you do the following things now:

• Keep important information about you and your family in a handy place such as on the refrigerator door and in your car's glove compartment. Include everyone's date of birth, medical conditions, allergies, and prescriptions and dosages. List doctors' names and phone numbers.
• Keep medical and insurance records up to date.
• Find out if your community is served by an emergency 000 telephone number. If it's not, look up the numbers for police, fire brigade, ambulance service and The Poisons Information Center. As soon as they are old enough to use the telephone, teach your children how to call for help.
• Keep emergency telephone numbers listed in a handy place such as by the telephone and in your first aid kit. Include the phone and office phone numbers of family members, friends, and neighbors who can help. Be sure to keep both the list and the telephone numbers current.
• Make sure your house or unit number is easy to read. Numerals are easier to read than spelled out numbers. Report any missing street signs to the proper authorities. 
• Wear a medical alert tag if you have a potentially serious medical condition such as epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease or allergies. A medical alert tag, usually worn on a necklace, bracelet, or a personal medical ID card provides important medical information if you can't communicate. 
• Keep a first aid kit readily available in your home, car, workplace, and recreation area. Store each kit in a dry place and replace used contents regularly. Different first aid kits are required for various circumstances. A first aid kit should contain a variety of dressings and bandages together with scissors, forceps, and other items.