The 1st-3s in Emergency Preparation

Author: Mark Parkinson BsPharm:  President  AFC-CE

Credit Hours 1 - Approximate time required: 60 min.

Educational Goal

Discuss aspects of emergency plan implementation. 

Educational Objectives

  • Review the difficulties when faced with an emergency
  • Tell what is to be done in the first 3 minutes of a disaster
  • Tell what is to be done in the first 3 days of a disaster
  • Tell what is to be done in the first 3 weeks of a disaster
  • Suggest 12 ideas that will assist in handling emergencies in care homes.

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Disclaimer

   The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. All procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this article should not be used by care providers without evaluation of their patients’ Doctor. Some conditions and possible contraindications may be of concern. All applicable manufacturers’ product information should be reviewed before use. The author and publisher of this continuing education program have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that all information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of acceptance for publication. Nutritional products discussed are not intended for the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease.

 

 

The 1st-3s in Emergency Preparation

I assume you have had enough courses and lessons on how to make an emergency plan. Let’s also assume you are bored to death at the thought of having to do another Emergency Prep course. So, let’s take a different approach. Let’s go over some ideas on how to implement your plan because doing a plan is always different from making a plan. Let’s set the stage for our discussion.

 

The first three difficulties of Emergency Preparedness implementation  

The first three difficulties of implementing an Emergency Preparedness plan are:

  1. Disasters by their very nature are unpredictable. It is impossible to predict every possible emergency that may occur in your home. The best-laid plan will never be able to account for every variable. You can be prepared though with a flexible plan that will allow you to react appropriately to any situation that may arise.
  2. Resources are finite in your home. You will not be able to resolve every situation that may arise by yourself. Often the disaster itself will restrict resources that you counted on. For example, a flood can limit outside employees and families from coming to your aid. But you can tie it into other resources the community has to offer, but only if you know about them.
  3. Time is also limited during emergencies. There will not be enough time to think through the situation and decide on an appropriate course of action. Also, let’s face the facts- brains have a tendency to turn off during disasters, just when you need them the most. Having a well-practiced plan of action that you can fall back on reduces the stress caused by limited time restraints.  

With these difficulties in mind just how solid is your emergency plan? If you’re planning on everything going to plan then you are planning to fail. It’s time to pull out that plan and take a critical look at it.   

If you are thinking I am going to tell you something magical that will make you prepared for any emergency, sorry it ain’t gunna happ’m capt’m. That’s your and the rest of the staff’s job. My job is to get you to look critically at your plan and beef it up with a few good ideas.

Suggested idea #1 Always be willing to rewrite your plan

Convert your typed-out plan into an outline. Add lots of space between each point. Then be willing to add notes in the space.

  • Go through the plan and ask what if things don’t go as anticipated. Then either write a plan B on each point or add enough flexibility to handle unforeseen circumstances.
  • When you have emergency disaster drills or an actual emergency take note of what goes wrong. If researched properly, problems are where being prepared for the unexpected “gold nuggets of wisdom” are hidden. Messed-up plans are excellent teachers if you pay attention to what they are saying.
  • Make your plan a living document. Always have space in your outline and a willingness to add to it as good ideas occur, or when bad outcomes force you to rethink your plan.

 

The 1st three minutes of a Disaster

Have you got your plan out yet? Good, let us do a linear time analysis of the details as you implement your plan in your head.  Think about what will happen as time progresses compared to what should happen. Let’s start with the first three minutes of a disaster.

  • Determine who is in charge
  • Gather information
  • Decide what action path to take
  • Start acting out the plan

From what I have seen of the emergency action plans out there in regard to these four items, most of you will be thinking, “Huh! What the freak is he talking about?”   This is when things start falling apart, right at the beginning. You didn’t think through how your wonderful plan will actually be used. Without thinking through how you implement the plan you will be running around in circles trying to decide on what to do on too many things. 

Suggested idea #2 Who’s in charge

Write into the plan a way to determine who is in charge. Base it on experience, ability, availability, or whatever you want. Then designate who’s second in command if the first guy is taken out of the picture. Create a Leader’s folder that has the written disaster plan and the location of the needed supplies for various parts of the plans. Make it easy to find and complete so you can grab it and go in a few seconds.

Suggestion idea#3 Where do you go for information

Include in your Leader’s folder where to look for Good information. Weather Channel, Police, Fire Department, American Red Cross, County Government Homepage under emergency management,  etc…

Download the FEMA app here. https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products

Suggested idea #4 A Decision Tree

A decision tree is a specific type of flow chart used to visualize the decision-making process by mapping out different courses of action, as well as their potential outcomes. You can draw one by hand or look up a free template on the computer.

Here’s one- https://geekflare.com/decision-tree-guide-free-templates/

You can really drive yourself crazy by filling one of these things out. I recommend keeping it simple. Stick to the big questions. Add just enough details to make the tool useful but easy to use.

Final thoughts on the 1st three minutes. The principle I’m going for here is time management. In an emergency, minutes count. Think about what will be needed and streamline the actions. Have as much ready beforehand so you can concentrate on the critical stuff. Take a minute to write down notes on your disaster plan while the thoughts are fresh.

 

The First Three Days

It has been said that you have the freedom to choose actions, but you don’t have the freedom to choose the consequences of those actions. I would like for you to now ask the following questions:

 

  • What detail did I miss in my original plan that needs to be taken care of in advance?
  • What are the most likely consequences of the action steps in my plan?
  • What do I do if things don’t go as expected? How can I plan around things going wrong?

I admit this is a hard thing to do. You’re not a fortune teller. You can’t see into the future. But you can visualize what things might be like once you have made your choices in a disaster.  

For example.

  • If you have chosen to evacuate,
    • Where will you end up?
    • How will you get the things you need once the supplies you brought with you are used up?
    • What special items will you need that will not be at the shelter where you end up at?
  • If you have chosen to shelter in place,
    • How will you get fresh supplies?
    • What adjustments will be needed to make supplies stretch out?
    • What will not be available that I need? (electricity, meds, water, etc..)
    • What will happen if I am still forced to evacuate?
  • How will I get extra help if needed?

 

Suggested idea#4 Bug Out Bags

If you are sheltering in place and there is still the possibility that you will have to leave, prepare bug-out bags for each person in the home. Hang them on the end of each bed. The idea is you can grab them and go at any given moment of the emergency. They would include clothes, shoes, specialty equipment supplies, a whistle, a space blanket, a patient info folder that lists meds, allergies, medical conditions, insurance, family contact, care plan, etc…  And if you do have to “Bug Out” don’t forget their pillows.

 Suggested idea#5 Wrist Id bands

There is a reason why hospitals put wrist id bands on their patients. If you are evacuating to who knows where, wouldn’t it be a good idea to do the same?  Keep a supply of them in the disaster plan folder.

Suggested idea#6 Check expiration dates regularly

The bug-out bag is in addition to you 72-hour kit that you have prepared. You do have a 72-hour kit already made up…. Right! You have gone thru them and replaced outdated items on a regular basis….Right! Of course, you have because you are taking this very seriously…..Right? Have you ever tasted outdated emergency food or water? You will not die but they’re very nasty. Let’s not even talk about flashlight batteries and trying to see in the dark. See what I mean about consequences and things not going as expected?

 

Suggested idea#7 Car Kits

72-hour kits can be augmented by emergency kits in the expected transportation vehicles that will be used. Stuff that is needed but is too bulky or dangerous for the 72-hour kit. Things like extra water, flares, blankets, fuel for cooking, duct tape, rope, cooking equipment, lantern, bucket, etc. Think like you are going camping and bring what you need.

You can store them in the car or in an easy-to-grab plastic tote. Old Boy Scouters call these totes, “Action Packers”

 

Suggested idea#8 Shutting things off

If you are evacuating have a designated shut-off person in your plan.  Train them in advance on how to turn off the gas, water, and electronic devices Also show them where special shut‐off tools are stored. If you need special tools get them. If you don’t know how to shut stuff off, you can get training from the utility company or tradesmen in the field.

 

Suggested idea#9 Entertainment

Plan on how to entertain the residents. Keeping their attention focused away from the chaos around them will help keep things calm and easier to manage

 

The First 3 Weeks

Heaven forbids that an emergency will last more than a few days. If they do, you will have to switch your mindset from mere survival to maintenance issues. Resupply will be a major concern whether you are at home or not. Water filters with enough capacity will be very important at this time. You will also have to decide when you pass the torch of responsibility for those you care for to someone else. Who will that be for each person and how will it happen? Most often that will be family members but what will you do if the family member is caught up in the disaster too? For the tough cases contact the county licensor.  They will be a great help with these topics. Of course, you can coordinate with the disaster relief personnel during the disaster. Put these contacts into your emergency plan as well as in your Leader’s file. Don’t forget to tell the appropriate county officials where everyone went to. If you are prepared enough, these issues will not happen. But we are talking about what to do when things don’t go as expected, aren’t we?   

 

Suggested idea#10 Disaster relief personnel

Add into your emergency plan the step of finding out who the top disaster relief personnel are for this specific disaster, and how to contact them.  

 

Suggested idea#11 Facility agreements

Contact larger care institutions like hospitals and nursing homes in your area and enter into emergency care relief agreements. Get them in writing so you can show them to the person in charge if needed. To grease the wheels of the deal, offer to volunteer your services where needed.

 

Suggested idea#12 Generators

Generators are great at helping you be prepared for the unexpected. With a generator, sheltering in place becomes the easy solution for a lot of unexpected problems that might occur. In my opinion, it is well worth the extra cost. It also is a good selling point for potential new residents. If you go with the generator option, be forewarned that you will have to get an electrician to install special connections to your home's electrical supply. You will also have to store extra fuel, and of course, it will take practice using it. I would include instructions for its use in the emergency plan folder.

 

 

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this different take on emergency preparedness. How did your plan fair? Poked a few holes in it didn’t yah? That’s okay because you are now going to make your plan a living document that will only get better as you change it over time. The small efforts you take now will save you tons of grief and effort when things go to heck during a disaster.

Good Luck, Mark Parkinson BsPharm.

 

References:

  1. Creating a Disaster Plan for your Group Home or Adult Foster Care Home. Josephine County Public Health, Jackson County Health & Human Services, Rogue Valley Council of Governments – Senior and Disability Services, Hospital Preparedness Project. file:///C:/Users/MyPc/Downloads/Creating%20a%20Disaster%20Plan%20for%20Your%20Group%20Home%20or%20Adult%20Foster%20Home.pdf
  2. Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready for a Disaster? National Safety Council. https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/emergency-preparedness/emergency-preparedness-home
  3. Emergency Response Plan. Ready.gov. https://www.ready.gov/business/implementation/emergency

 

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