If you were to evacuate your home in the midst of a natural disaster, what would you think to grab; photo albums, jewelry, cash, and the family pet? Would your prescription medications make the list?
Here are a few quick items to pack to ensure your medications are ready to go in a short amount of time.
- A laminated list of medications and instructions, in case you need assistance communicating with others.
- A week’s supply of your regular medication or medical supplies or as much as you can keep on hand.
- Copies of your medical prescriptions, doctors’ orders, and the style and serial numbers of any assistive devices such as oxygen tanks or asthma breathing treatment devices.
- Medical insurance cards, Medicare/Medicaid cards, physician contact information, list of your allergies and health history stored in a waterproof container.
- Extra batteries for hearing aids or extra hearing aids if you have them.
- Extra eyeglasses and backup supplies for any visual aids you use.
- Small first-aid kit with items like ace bandages, Band-Aids, feminine supplies and personal hygiene items.
Your ability to recover from an emergency tomorrow may depend on the planning and preparation you do today. Be sure to visit http://www.getagameplan.org/ for more on storm safety and preparation.
