Tip of the Week

Cleaning and bandaging a wound daily while it heals can often prevent as much infection as antibiotics.  Do you have plenty of bandaging material in your first aid kit?

Preparedness Tip of the week!

In a disaster, sanitation should be a high priority. Here are a few things you might want to consider adding to your storage: Cotton rags, Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda, Vinegar, Borax, and Liquid Detergent.

Emergency Preparedness Expo at Albion Middle School

This was a very informative night! We had great booths and information available. If you have any questions about any of the booths, please leave me a message and I will respond to your questions.

Helpful websites to visit are www.bereadyutah.gov  and http://sandy.utah.gov/government/emergency-management/personal-disaster-preparedness-planner.html

Prepared Pets

Pets Emergency Preparedness 

Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act was passed in 2006 after the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Authorities realized that many people would choose to remain in danger if they were not allowed to bring along their pets. While the PETS Act required law enforcement to incorporate animals into their community’s emergency plan, many pet owners still do not have an individual plan for their pets in the event of an unexpected crisis.

Food and Water 

Store extra water and food for pets along with any special items they might need. Dry pet food can be stored in the bags for about 1 year and canned food will store even longer. Rotate your pets´ food regularly just to keep it fresh. Try to store about a 3 month supply of pet food. Buy a little extra each time and it builds up quickly. Don´t forget to include their medications in your storage plans. 

Emergency Kits 

In addition to storing food and water (and pet meds if needed), it is a good idea to make an emergency kit for your pet in case you need to evacuate them with your family. Emergency kit should include:

• Vaccination and license records in a zip top bag
• An extra collar
• An extra leash
• A blanket
• A toy
• Treats
• Kitty litter for cats
• List of regional pet- friendly hotels, 
• Phone #of your Vet 
• Phone # of a pet loving friend 
• “Pets Inside” sticker for your front door
• First aid supplies

 Be sure to include your pets each time you practice your family´s evacuation plan, it will help reduce stress on your pets in an emergency. We love our pets and these simple preparations bring us great peace of mind. 

Family Preparedness Plan

Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another. Think about how you will communicate in different situations.

Complete a contact card for each adult family member. Keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse or briefcase, etc. Additionally, complete contact cards for each child in your family. Put the cards in their backpacks or book bag and communication box (see below).

Choose a contact such as a friend or relative who lives out-of-town for household members to notify they are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number.  If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.

Teach family members how to use text messaging. Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.

Designate two family meeting places (nearby and farther away). Hang the plan near your 72 hour kit and review annually.

Make a communication box that you can bury or hide in a designated spot in your yard to leave notes and messages. This may be helpful if you have to evacuate and you don’t have phone service. Include a pad and pencil and a list of emergency contact phone numbers.

Make a jump drive/flash drive containing scanned images of insurance policies and other important papers. You may also want to include photos or video of your home and valuables. It’s difficult to remember everything if you have to make an insurance claim. 

Don't skip this tip: Power out? Unplug appliances and electronics and turn off air conditioners to prevent damage when the electricity surges back on. Leave one lamp on so you'll know when the power's back on.

For more information go to BeReadyUtah.gov or http://sandy.utah.gov/government/emergency-management/personal-disaster-preparedness-planner.html

72 Hour Checklist

There are many options for putting together your 72 hour kits and emergency supplies, look for checklists online or use this helpful link
http://www.uta.edu/campus-ops/police/docs/EM-72HourKit2011.pdf

Rotate Your 72 Hour Kits During Conference Weekend

-General Conference is a great time to rotate the food in your 72 hour kits! Please look over a 72 Hour Kit Checklist and evaluate your areas of weakness, then pick a few things to work on with your family. 

-Mark your calendars and plan to participate in the Great Utah Shakeout Emergency Preparedness Expo at Albion Middle School on April 17th, 6:30-8:30 PM. This is sponsored by our stake. There will be vendors, booths and activities to help you become better prepared in the event of an emergency.

The 2013 Great Utah Shakeout is coming on April 17. Mark that date on your calendars and plan to participate in the activities including our local event. More information will follow. Remember - Wednesday April 17, 2013. Be there. Be prepared.

 

Water Filtration Bottle Kit

If you are interested in a water filtration bottle, the distribution center has a great one for $22.00. Check it out at http://store.lds.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product3_715839595_10557_21003_-1__196940

If you ordered granular chlorine or test strips, please get your money to Leslea before next Sunday Feb 17th. Make your check to Deep Blue Pools and Spa.

Water Purification in an Emergency

You should disinfect your drinking water if:

• Your community has been issued a boil water advisory;
• You are using water directly from a stream, lake or shallow well;
• Lab tests of your water show that it contains "fecal coliforms";
• A flood, earthquake or other disaster has disrupted your community water supply;
• You are traveling in an area where water is not well treated; or
• You have a weakened immune system, in which case you should disinfect all of your drinking water.

Boiling is the surest method to make water safe to drink and kill disease-causing microorganisms. Bring water to a rolling boil then keep boiling for 1 to10 minutes depending on how dirty your water is and where it came from.

 If boiling is not possible, chemical disinfection or filtering water is the next solution.

Household Unscented Chlorine Bleach:  Add two drops per gallon to filtered and settled water. Let stand for 30 minutes. If you are treating water from a lake, stream or shallow well, use twice as much bleach and let stand for twice as long, it is more likely to contain chlorine-resistant parasites from animal droppings. If you use this method in your emergency storage, remember to rotate your bleach every 6 months because the chlorine dissipates and loses its intensity.

Granular Calcium Hypochlorite : Add and dissolve 1 teaspoon of granular calcium hypochlorite to two gallons of water, then add one part of this treated water to 100 parts water to be treated. This is about 16 ounces to 12.5 gallons of water.  Calcium hypochlorite is one of the best chemical disinfectants for water. It destroys a variety of disease causing organisms including bacteria, yeast, fungus, spores, and viruses. Calcium hypochlorite granules have a shelf life of about 10 years and remains effective as a chemical drinking water treatment. WARNING: this product must be stored in a well ventilated, dry area. When opening this product move it away from your face, it could burn your eyes, nose and lungs. 

Iodine: You can use tincture of iodine to disinfect filtered and settled water.
Common household iodine from the medicine chest or first aid kit may be used to disinfect water. Add five drops of iodine to each quart or liter of clear water. For cloudy water add ten drops and let the solution stand for at least 30 minutes.You can also use iodine tablets to disinfect filtered and settled water. Use one tablet for each quart or liter. Iodine can color the water and leaves a taste. Note: Pregnant women should not use iodine drops to purify water as it may have an effect on the fetus.

Water Filters remove impurities from water by means of a fine physical barrier. These range anywhere in price from $14.99 for an individual bottle to $1,499.00 for an expensive filter for 20 people. These are available at most sporting goods stores.

Chlorine Test Strips

Chlorine Test Strips For Drinking Water

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines the safe zone for drinking water as a chlorine residual level of 0.2-2.0 parts per million (ppm).Normal drinking water is treated at around 1 ppm. Chlorine residual levels above this range leave an unsavory taste and odor in the treated water, and too little residual chlorine will not effectively disinfect the water.

  Place the chlorine test strip into a glass of water for a few seconds. The top white pad on your insta-strip is for chlorine levels.  Remove the strip from the water, and compare the color of the strip to the chlorine test kit indicator guide. Test strip shows free chlorine in the range 0 to 10. Levels 1 to 2 (very lightest purple) on your insta-test strip are suitable for disinfection levels in drinking water. If the chlorine indicates more than 2 parts per million, dilute with more water.