A blizzard is coming! Are you prepared?
The East Coast is bracing for what is predicted to be a record breaking, severe snow storm, with heavy winds, that will affect an estimated 80 million people. In Pennsylvania, the weather channel predicts 18-24 inches of snow, blizzard conditions, with low visibility due to winds gusting at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour! The news channels have been buzzing about this storm all week, and large masses of people have flocked the grocery stores, clearing the isles of all the shovels, salt, bread, and milk they could lay their hands on. It’s very important to stock up your home with all the food your family will need to weather the storm. For the elderly, or people with health challenges, additional storm preparations may be necessary, but often overlooked, because the masses are not talking about them. If you or a loved one has health challenges, here are 3 additional things you can do to prepare for the blizzard:
- Make sure you have enough medications: – Most people have their medications supplied by the pharmacy in 30 day, or 90 day intervals. As your medications start running out, it’s important to call the pharmacy in advance to get your medications re-filled. Some people wait until the last minute to get in touch with the pharmacy, assuming they will get their medications re-filled the next morning. This could be a bad idea when a blizzard hits! The snow covered roads can create treacherous conditions, and make it almost impossible to drive to the pharmacy to get more medicine. It’s important therefore to plan in advance, and make sure you have enough medications to last you for at least a week before the storm gets here.
- Keep your cell phone fully charged: – With wind gusts up to 50 mph, the likelihood of power outages is very high, due to downed trees and the accumulation of snow and ice on power lines. If widespread power outages occur, no one can predict how long it will take to restore power. It is therefore a good idea to have a reliable method of communication, just in case you need to contact 911 for a health emergency. A fully charged phone gives you the peace of mind knowing that you have a way of seeking help if you ever need it. Most people do not use land lines in their homes anymore, and a cell phone may be the only way to reach people, so it would be wise to make sure it’s fully charged before the storm hits.
- Create an emergency kit: An emergency kit is just a set of basic tools and supplies you will need in case of an emergency. An emergency kit does not have to be fancy, and has to be light enough to take with you, if you need to temporarily relocate (due to loss of heat, or if your home is damaged by the wind or a falling tree). I created mine using a large empty box, and I stored a few things I will need if power goes out, such as a flash light, first aid kit, matches, a few candles, canned fruit, snacks, and a blanket. It’s also important to write down a list of important phone numbers that you may need, for example, the local Red Cross shelter or a food bank.
Here is a picture of my emergency kit. I just used an empty box of copy paper (Nothing fancy).
It’s better to be safe, than to let the storm catch you unprepared. It’s of utmost importance to take the necessary steps to stay safe and healthy until the blizzard is over. These are only 3 simple steps to stay healthy until the storm passes. If you have additional helpful tips you would like to suggest, please feel free to comment below. Greater Homecare wishes you all have a safe weekend!