An emergency kit is crucial for older adults planning ahead for a natural disaster like a hurricane. The effect of the hurricane before and after the occurrence is damaging to properties and human lives. Adequate preparation will reduce your older loved ones’ exposure to risks during the disaster.
Below are some of the must-have items while preparing for the hurricane in Sarasota, FL:
Aids for Visual and Hearing Impairments
Anyone who is hearing impaired should keep extra batteries for hearing aids with their emergency supplies. When not in use, store hearing aids in a special container and place them in a designated space.
On the other hand, if your older loved ones have hearing impairment ensure there are extra batteries for the hearing aids. It’s also recommended that you keep extra hearing aids in containers that are easily accessible.
Personal Care Supplies
Personal care is an essential part of every older adult as it dictates their hygiene and level of comfort. The emergency kit needs to include items like wet wipes, toilet paper, latex gloves, hand sanitizers, pads, barrier creams, and many more. The items will ensure the personal care of your loved ones is not affected before and after the disaster.
Medications
Medications are important for older adults especially those with special medical conditions. Ensure you pack medical supplies that will be enough for three to six days in the emergency kit. To avoid complications, in case the medication runs out write down the name of the medications and their doses.
Your loved ones will also be needing ice packs, ensure you keep some in the freezer. On the other hand, you can pack medications that need refrigeration into an insulated bag.
Important Documents
Asides from items needed for personal and medical care, you also need to keep copies of important documents for identification and health use. In the emergency folder, you should include your driving license, ID card, insurance cards, and the list containing all the medications of your loved ones.
In case there might be evacuation, papers like a deed or lease to your loved one’s home, insurance policies must be included.
Backup Plan
In a situation where your loved one lives in a retirement community. It is important you make an inquiry into the community’s protocol regarding emergency situations. Find out their backup plan, how they plan to administer care during this situation, and their plan for evacuation. You need to know about their evacuation process and where they will be evacuated.
All these will give you peace of mind. Even though when you are fighting for your safety you are assured your older loved one is in safe hands.
Conclusion
Hurricane is a natural disaster that makes everywhere unsafe. Also, the preparation might be too overwhelming that you forget the necessary items for your loved one’s survival.
This is why residential communities like Discovery Village At Sarasota Bay are the best option when natural disasters are about to occur. The communities have safety protocols to keep your older loved ones safe during and after the hurricane.
