2009 News

August 26, 2009

Commissioners Emphasize Readiness This September
National Preparedness Month a Time to Take Proactive Steps

With H1N1 as a backdrop, this year’s National Preparedness Month is especially pertinent. The Bucks County Commissioners join with Emergency Management Director John Dougherty and Health Director David Damsker, MD, MPH to urge residents to prepare themselves and their families for an emergency.  There are a few simple steps we can all take in case we need to be in our homes for a prolonged period of time. 

Get a Kit     
A basic emergency supply kit can help a family survive for at least three days if an emergency occurs. If an individual must stay home for the prescribed seven days for flu symptoms, the following can be modified. Each family’s needs are unique as is each situation, so individuals are encouraged to use this suggested list as a starting point.

• Water –one gallon of water per day per person, for three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food – at least three days of non-perishable foods
• Radio – a battery-powered or hand crank radio and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps in case known routes are inaccessible
• A list of your family’s medications and doses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Important family documents such as insurance policies, in a waterproof, portable container
• Change of clothing
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper for water purification (do not use scented, color-safe or bleaches with added cleaners) Use 16 drops per gallon
• Books, games, activities for the family

Make a Plan        
Make sure you have a family emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations?

Go to http://www.buckscounty.org/ReadyBucks/pdf/familycommunicationsplan.pdf to make your plan.

Be Informed
Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency.

However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could occur where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them.

In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your local municipality. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference. 

One way to be informed is to sign up for ReadyNotifyPA, a community alert system that sends information to your e-mail, PDA or mobile device. Join the thousands of subscribers now at www.ReadyNotifyPA.org.

The Bucks County Commissioners, along with the county’s Emergency Management Agency and Health Department, stand ready to do their part during an emergency. During National Preparedness Month, the commissioners encourage residents to take individual preparedness measures. For more information and resources, visit www.BucksCounty.org/ReadyBucks.

For specific information and updates on H1N1, go to www.BucksCounty.org and look for the flu widget on the homepage. The Bucks County Health Department emphasizes the following preventive measures for everyone:

• Thoroughly and frequently wash hands with warm water and soap
• Use hand sanitizer when water and soap are unavailable
• Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues and wash hands promptly
• Avoid touching the mouth, nose and eyes
• Contact your health care provider if you are sick, and limit contact with others