June 2023- Dealing with Extreme Heat

June 2023– Extreme Heat

Make sure your home is prepared for hot weather emergencies.

Week #1—Home Energy Evaluation

If your home is well insulated, it will stay cool much longer. Take the free ThermWise Home Evaluation or have it professionally done for $25.00.

Week #2—Home Energy Efficiency

Based on your home energy evaluation, improve the efficiency of your home as much as your budget allows.

• Increase insulation in walls and attic
• Replace weather strip around doors
• Cover windows with shades or drapes
• Install energy efficient windows
• Install attic vents to dispel heat

Week #3—Car Emergency Kit

Keep some emergency supplies in your car, just in case you get stuck away from home.  

• Keep gas tank half full
• Ball cap or wide brimmed hat, sunscreen
• Flashlight
• Water and food (hot-weather safe, like granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, etc.). Replace every few months.

Week #4—Extreme Heat Survival Guide

Stay Cool Inside:

• Close off unused rooms
• Keep the sun out with shades or drapes

Eat Right and Stay Hydrated:

• Cook outside to keep heat out of the house.
• Have plenty of stored water to maintain hydration

Sleep Cool:

• Sleep in the lowest level of the house with mattress on the floor to be a few degrees cooler
• Sleep on wet sheets or spray water on your bed to cool it off
• Open upper-level windows at night to let heat escape

Venturing Outside:

• Stay indoors or in the shade as much as possible
• Avoid overexertion—drink a cup of water every 15 minutes if you have to work outside

Help Others:

• Check on elderly and disabled neighbors to see how they are doing
• Listen to local radio and TV reports

Watch Out for Heat Exhaustion/Heat Stroke

Signs of heat exhaustion:

• muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting

Signs of heat stroke:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F),
• Red, hot, and dry skin
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Nausea, confusion and unconsciousness

If you see these signs, get the person to a cooler location, elevate legs and feet, and loosen tight clothing. Have them rest and slowly drink a cool beverage, and spray or sponge with cool water. Get them medical attention if the person doesn’t improve after taking these measures.

Restock Your 72 Hour Kit!

It’s time to build (or begin) your 72 hr kit!

Week #1—Replace Used Items

Use the 72-hour Kit Checklist to replace the items used or borrowed from your kit during the year….or to create your kit.

Week #2—Replace Expired Items

Check all of your food, medications, and supplies for expiration dates. Replace anything that expires within the next 12 months.

Week #3—Rotate Water

If you store your own water (instead of commercially bottled water), rotate it every 6 months.

Week #4—Wash Change of Clothes

Wash the clothes in your emergency kit and replace them with summer clothes. Make sure they still fit you (and your kids).

Extra Credit—Emergency Preparedness Christmas in July

If there are emergency preparedness items you would like, but can’t afford, start budgeting of a “Christmas in July” and gift yourself and your family with some of these items.

72-hour Kit Checklist

Water:

·       3 gallons of water per person ($4 - $6)

·       5-gallon water jug (with spout; $9 - $13)

Ready-to-eat food:

·       Ice chest (insulated, waterproof)

·       Nuts, trail mix, peanut butter, beef jerky

·       Energy bars, granola bars, fruit bars

·       Canned fruit, raisins, dry fruit, fruit juice

·       Cold cereal, granola cereal

·       Powdered milk, Morning Moo milk

·       Crackers, graham crackers, snacks, candy

·       Pet food, food bowl, water bowl

Hot Water Food:

·       Camp stove, fuel, matches

·       Small pan to heat water

·       Instant oatmeal, dry soup, Ramen noodles

·       Hot chocolate, apple cider

·       Baby formula, baby bottles, baby food

No Dish Cooking:

·       Can opener (manual), pliers, garbage bags

·       Paper plates, paper cups, paper bowls (large)

·       Plastic utensils (sturdy), paper towels

·       Canned meat, fish, soup, stew, chili, vegetables

Natural Gas:

·       Gas turn-off tool or large crescent wrench

·       Hat, gloves, scarf, sweater, long underwear, warm blanket

·       Fireplace insert, wood stove, propane heater (indoor), or small tent (create micro environment)

Electricity:

·       Flashlights

·       Radio (battery powered)

·       Extra batteries

·       $50 - $100 cash (small bills)

·       Keep gas tank half full

·       Car cell phone charger, spare batteries

·       Generator or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

First Aid Kit:

·       First aid instruction guide

·       Bandages (small, medium, large), gauze pads

·       ACE bandage, self-adherent cohesive wrap

·       Adhesive tape, KT tape

·       Antiseptic wipes, Neosporin

·       Sunscreen, burn cream

·       Bug repellent, sting relief swabs

·       Eye wash, Q-tips

·       Thermometer, cold pack

·       Scissors, tweezers, safety pins

·       N95 medical mask, examination gloves

Medications:

·       Prescription medications (week supply)

·       Vitamins, nutritional supplements

·       Pain reliever, antacids

·       Pepto Bismol, laxative

·       Benadryl

Mental Health:

·       Familiar blanket, stuffed animal

·       Toys, games, puzzles

·       Reading books, scriptures

Shelter:

·       Tent (large), trailer, or camper

·       Sleeping bags (warm)

·       Pillows (small)

·       Air mattress or foam pads

·       Change of clothes

Emergency toilet:

·       5-gallon bucket ($3 - $5)

·       Toilet seat for 5-gallon bucket ($13 - $15)

·       Garbage bags (heavy duty kitchen)

·       Kitty litter, pine bedding, or both (2 large bags, scented)

·       Toilet paper (in plastic)

·       Paper towels (in plastic)

·       Hand wipes or sanitizer

Personal hygiene supplies:

·       Tissues (in plastic)

·       Comb or brush

·       Toothbrush, tooth paste, dental floss

·       Mouthwash, deodorant (travel size)

·       Wash cloth

·       Mirror (small)

·       Feminine hygiene products

·       Cleaning solution for glasses/contacts

·       Diapers, baby wipes, diaper rash cream

·       Litter box, poop bags (for pets)

April Preparedness Challenge: Participate in the Great Utah Shakeout

 Emergency Preparedness Challenge for April: Participate in the Great Utah Shakeout (Thursday, April 20th) and choose your own earthquake prep challenge. Some ideas: 

• do a "hazard hunt" for items in your home that might fall during an earthquake and secure them
• create a personal or family disaster plan
• organize or refresh your family emergency supply kits
• hold an earthquake drill with your family on April 20th
• make a grab and go kit

More info here: https://www.shakeout.org/utah/

https://beready.utah.gov/

Emergency Shelter- March 2023

 Last month we put together first aid kits. This month we will learn about evacuating to an emergency shelter.

Week #1—Know When to Evacuate

Nationally, fires and floods cause the most evacuations. However, the biggest concern for our neighborhood is a large earthquake, hazardous chemical spill, or major winter storm. Leave your home if…

·      Local officials tell you to evacuate

·      Your home is severely damaged

·      Power, water, or gas are out for several days

Week #2—Know Where to Go

During small emergencies, you can choose to stay in a hotel or with a friend or relative. However, in large emergencies you may have to stay in an emergency shelter. Which church or school our neighborhood will use will depend on the size of the emergency and if any buildings are damaged. To find the closest emergency shelter to Zip Code 84123, Text “Shelter 84123” to 43362 (4FEMA).

Week #3—Know What to Take

Even though a shelter will probably open quickly, you will need your own food and water for the first few days. Bring your 72-hour kit with you.  You can prepare children for this major change by watching this 3-minute video.

Week #4—Evacuation Tips

If you need to evacuate, do the following:

·      Listen carefully to instructions given by local officials

·      Evacuate immediately when told to do so

·      Lock your doors and windows before you leave

·      If damage forces you to walk to the shelter, put your 72-hour kits in the large green Murray City recycling bin.

·      Notify shelter staff of any special needs

·      Offer to help out at the shelter

·      Be patient waiting in long lines

Extra Credit—Shelter in Place

If it is safe, staying at your home has several advantages— you can watch over your property, have more privacy than staying with lots of other people, and have all of your stuff close by. However, you need to be totally self-sufficient.

Add the following items into your 72-hour kit:

·      Tent (large), trailer, or camper

·      Sleeping bags (warm)

·      Pillows (small)

·      Air mattress or foam pads

·      Change of clothes

First Aid

 Last month we learned how to stay warm without natural gas. This month we’ll discuss maintaining our physical and mental health during a disaster.

Week #1—Mental Health

Injuries, property damage, loss of comforts, and time spent waiting can challenge our mental health, especially for children. Include some items in each person’s 72-hour kit to take their minds off the situation and calm troubled emotions.

·      Familiar blanket, stuffed animal

·      Toys, games, puzzle books

·      Reading books, scriptures

Week #2—Physical Preparation

Emergencies are more physically demanding than normal life. Increase your physical activity now to prepare for the added demands of getting life back to normal.

Week #3—First Aid Kit

Basic first aid kits are inexpensive (299 pieces $18 – $20). If you already have a kit, check the dates and replace any items that expire within a year. Good first aid kits contain the following items:

·      First aid instruction guide

·      Bandages (small, medium, large), gauze pads

·      ACE bandage, self-adherent cohesive wrap

·      Adhesive tape, KT tape

·      Antiseptic wipes, Neosporin

·      Sunscreen, burn cream

·      Bug repellent, sting relief swabs

·      Eye wash, Q-tips

·      Thermometer, cold pack

·      Scissors, tweezers, safety pins

·      N95 medical mask, examination gloves

Week #4—Gather Medications

Gather a week supply of medications for each person, similar to going on vacation. Put them in each person’s 72-hour kit and replace expired items once a year.

·      Prescription medications

·      Vitamins, nutritional supplements

·      Pain reliever, antacids

·      Pepto Bismol, laxative

·      Benadryl

Extra Credit—Help Your Neighbors

During large emergencies, hospitals and medical facilities get overwhelmed quickly. Our neighborhood needs to be prepared to take care of ourselves.

We are compiling a list of people with medical training. It would be nice to have someone on every street in the neighborhood. Please let us know if you have even basic first aid skills.