Whether it pertains to stairlifts or not, when Acorn Stairlifts says that we care about our customers and their well-being, only wanting to give them the best, we mean it.
This also applies to our customers’ overall quality of life.
We want you to lead the healthiest, happiest, and most fulfilling lives possible. We want to see you succeed and reach new heights not only in mobility and independence but in all areas of your lives.
Without further ado, welcome back to “Acorn Stairlifts Tip of the Week,” a series in which we will equip seniors with all the knowledge, tools, and helpful advice that they need to succeed in their lives—ranging anywhere from physical health, to saving money with senior discounts, and just about everything in between.
Read on to learn why whether or not you already have an emergency preparedness plan in place can mean the difference between life and death.
The Acorn Stairlifts Senior Tip of the Week
Be proactive by already having an emergency preparedness plan set in place before disaster strikes.
Emergency disasters are mysterious and unpredictable forces that can strike at any moment—No matter how many spine-tingling stories we’ve heard from survivors or countless collages of frightening footage we’ve seen on the news, we still never seem to be ready for them when they decide to come for us.
However, there is a way that we can be ready for them, even if and when they do catch us by surprise.
By being armed with an emergency preparedness plan, there is comfort in knowing that even in the event of an emergency, when the stakes are high, you know exactly what to do and where to go to remain safe.
Why Is It So Important to Already Have an Emergency Action Plan in Place?
Having an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place is essential because it serves as a blueprint for a structured and efficient response during unforeseen crises.
Unfortunately, emergencies, whether natural disasters or man-made incidents, often occur with little warning, leaving little time for decision-making and coordination.
When people are unprepared in these situations, there is an increased likelihood of chaos, confusion, and panic.
Without a clear plan or understanding of appropriate actions, individuals may struggle to make timely or rational decisions, leading to a higher risk of injuries, property damage, and a delayed response from emergency services.
However, an established EAP provides a framework that outlines specific procedures, roles, and responsibilities, enabling individuals and organisations to act swiftly and effectively in the face of danger.
This level of preparedness not only enhances the safety of individuals but also minimises the potential for confusion, panic, chaos, and poor decision-making, contributing to an overall more organised, safe, and coordinated response to an emergency.
What are the Steps I Should Take to Form a Safe and Solid Emergency Response Plan?
Step 1—Assess Personal Risks
First and foremost, it is important that you identify potential risks and hazards specific to your living or working environment, taking factors into consideration such as climate, location, and surroundings.
Consider natural disasters, accidents, or other emergencies that could occur and assess their likelihood and potential impact.
Step 2—Establish an Emergency Preparedness Plan
Once you’ve identified potential threats and dangerous situations that you could find yourself in, you can more effectively and thoroughly formulate an emergency response plan for all potential threats or situations.
Develop a detailed evacuation plan that includes escape routes, assembly points, and transportation arrangements. Identify local shelters or safe locations, emergency contacts, and establish procedures for individuals with mobility challenges or special needs.
Step 3—Obtain All Necessary Safety Supplies
To procure safety supplies for emergencies, create a comprehensive list that includes essentials like first-aid kits, blankets, flashlights, batteries, medications, important documents, water purification tablets, and non-perishable food items.
Ensure that the supplies cover the needs of all individuals, including any specific requirements for infants, elderly family members, or pets.
Remember that it is also vital to regularly check and replenish the emergency kit, keeping in mind expiration dates and evolving household needs to maintain a state of preparedness.
Step 4—Conduct Practice Drills
Once you’ve worked out all the nuances of your emergency preparedness plan, it is time to put it into action, practising the plan that you’ve put in place.
Start conducting regular emergency preparedness drills with your family to ensure everyone is familiar with the evacuation procedures and knows how to use emergency supplies.
Practise different scenarios to enhance readiness and provide you with peace of mind in knowing that during any high-pressure and adrenaline-fueled emergency, rather than resorting to a state of panic, people will resort to the practiced procedures of the safety drills.
Step 5—Stay Informed, Review, and Update
Last but certainly not least, it is crucial to stay updated on weather forecasts, news alerts, and community information.
Utilise technology, such as weather apps and community alert systems, to receive timely information about potential threats.
It is equally important to regularly review and update your emergency preparedness plan.
Update contact information, revise evacuation routes if necessary, and replace expired items in your emergency kit, adapting the plan to changes in family composition or living arrangements.
Emergency Disaster Preparation—The Best Course of Action to Take in The Most Common Emergency Situations
Fires
Fires are devastating disasters that can destroy homes, families, ecosystems, and entire communities.
Furthermore, fires can start from anything as small as a faulty wire to a forgotten stovetop flame, quickly engulfing everything that surrounds it.
This is why it is essential that you act with precaution and awareness to prevent them and are always prepared to act quickly in the event of a fire.
What is the most common cause of a fire?
The vast majority of fires are caused by cooking appliances, other electric appliances, and electrical distribution, as well as candles, matches, smokers’ materials, and water heating appliances.
How to Practise Precaution
Although some things such as faulty wires or appliances may be out of your control, there are other important precautions you can take that are entirely in your power.
Remembering to fully put out any open flames is critical, whether it be a candle in the living room or the stovetop in the kitchen. Generally, it is also safer to unplug any appliance that is not actively being used so that they don’t overheat or the circuit doesn’t get overloaded.
Additionally, in order to quickly and efficiently detect and respond to a fire in your home, you’ll want to own at least one of each of the following items:
- Smoke alarms
- Carbon monoxide alarms
- Fire blankets
- Fire extinguishers
These resources will allow you to react quickly to a dangerous fire and possibly save lives.
What to Do During a Fire
When preparing for the event of a fire, one of the most valuable pieces of information to know is where the exits are located in your home or building.
It is also important that every room in your home or building has at least two ways to escape in the event of a fire, including windows and doors. This ensures that no matter where you are, you will be able to escape quickly in an emergency.
If the fire is small enough to be contained, now would be the time to get out the fire extinguisher, fire blankets, or water. Remember that water should NEVER be used to put out grease fires, as they can further exacerbate the flame.
However, if the fire is not small enough to be extinguished, do not even attempt to do so. Evacuate the building as quickly as possible and alert others of the fire. When everyone is safe, you can then call the fire department.
Remember that physical possessions can be replaced, but lives cannot. Nothing is more valuable than human life, so get you and everyone else out of the burning house or building as quickly as possible.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes can quite literally rock your world when you least expect them, so it’s important to know what to do beforehand so you don’t get too shaken up when one turns your world upside down.
What to Do in an Earthquake
If you’re indoors, immediately take cover under a nearby, sturdy piece of furniture such as a table and hold on to the furniture until the shaking stops, making sure that your head is protected.
Try to move away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall during the shaking, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
Do not move out from your safe place until the shaking has fully stopped, as research has shown that most people are injured during earthquakes by attempting to move from one location to the next.
If you are outdoors, do not attempt to run inside a building for shelter, as once again, most injuries from an earthquake occur from an attempt to move from one location to the next.
You should stay put out in the open, taking care to move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires, as falling objects such as collapsing building structures, shattered glass, and falling objects can cause injury.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes are terrifying, spinning columns of wind that destroy anything that dares to stand in their paths, leaving whole communities in devastation.
What to Do During a Tornado
Ideally, you will want to find shelter indoors during a tornado. You should also try to take cover in the lowest point of your home—If you have a basement, this is the safest place to go.
Avoid windows that could shatter or dangerous objects or falling debris that could injure you.
If you are outdoors, you should ideally evacuate your car and find a ditch to take shelter in.
Remember to get in a crouched position, avoiding falling debris and taking extra care to protect your head and neck.
Tropical Cyclones
Tropical cyclones are powerful storms that can cause a storm surge, flooding, wind damage, and destruction to buildings and homes.
What to Do During a Tropical Cyclone
Pay attention to weather forecasts. If the government is calling residents to evacuate an area, you should gather your essentials and evacuate to a safe area. This is the safest plan of action to take to avoid possible loss of lives.
However, if you are staying at home and braving the storm, make sure that you have basic supplies such as food that doesn’t need to be cooked (the power might go out during a tropical cyclone), water, and flashlights.
Make sure to stay away from windows that could shatter during the storm. If your home or building becomes submerged in water, move to higher levels or evacuate your home altogether.
Power Outage
While power outages may not necessarily be dangerous events in themselves, they are often an accompaniment to powerful storms and/or natural disasters.
They can make accidents such as slips or falls more likely—especially when navigating a tricky set of stairs in the dark.
If the power goes out while you are in the process of moving from one floor to another or a particularly tricky part of the house, it is essential that you find some kind of light source to help you get safely to your new location.
How an Acorn Stairlift Can Sweep You to Safety in the Case of An Emergency
Your safety and well-being are our top priority at Acorn Stairlifts.
This is why our stairlifts are of the highest quality, designed to deliver you safely to your destination and prevent dangerous falls, whether in everyday situations or in the event of an emergency.
In fact, Acorn stairlifts are even designed to work even in the event of a power outage so that you are never left stuck on the stairs again.
Click here to receive your free, no-obligation stairlift quote and level up your safety plans with the addition of an Acorn stairlift.
