Yes You Can - Fourth Edition - 223

4.h | Disasters Disasters happen! Some are predictable and can be prepared for in advance, like blizzards, windstorms, and hurricanes. Others are sudden and unexpected, like flash floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Most people can easily survive weather events like blizzards or windstorms by having adequate food and water supplies and a backup heating system in case the power goes out. A person with SCI needs some additional preparation to be ready for disaster possibilities. Know where the nearest wheelchair-accessible emergency shelters are. You can get this information from your local emergency management department. Be sure to ask if the bathrooms are also accessible at these shelters. Contact the local ﬁre department to see if they keep a list of people who might be at increased risk in an emergency. Contact the customer service department of your local power company to see if there’s a priority list for reconnection after a disaster and whether you qualify. Post emergency phone numbers [police, ﬁre, poison control center, oxygen vendor] in your home and at work. Get a home phone with a cord—most cordless phones won’t work if the power goes out, even if the telephone lines are still working. Consider getting a cell phone, too, so you won’t have to depend on electricity from a wall plug or wall jack. [ Section 4 ] 4.h Kinds of Disasters You should know what kinds of disasters are most likely to occur where you live. For example, if you live in Minnesota, you’ll probably have a few blizzards every winter, so you should be prepared to “shelter in place” for one to three days at a time. Shelter in place means stay where you are [which might be at work] and survive there until the authorities or your own common sense tells you it’s okay to go out. There are three major kinds of disasters: natural disasters [such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or winter storms], human-related disasters [such as terrorism or civil disturbances], and technological disasters [such as failure of utilities]. Think about the likelihood that a certain kind of disaster could happen in your community and make a plan to deal with it. Have a Plan and Keep Yourself Alive Being ready for a disaster is part of maintaining your independence. If you’re prepared in advance, you’ll be able to cope with it when it happens and recover from it faster. But remember that many people with disabilities who are self-suﬃcient under normal circumstances will need some assistance in a disaster. Have a family disaster plan and include your caregivers in it. Have a network of caregivers, friends, and relatives you can ask for assistance. Ask them to check on you if you live alone. Consider giving one or two neighbors a key to your house so they can assist you without delay. When you’re establishing your networks, consider organizing your neighborhood into a mutual aid society. If you live in a multilevel building, Know Your Resources Know where the closest health-care facilities are, even if you don’t usually receive your care there. Be prepared to provide for your own health needs if you’re not injured. If staﬀ at hospitals and medical facilities are busy taking care of seriously injured people, your routine care needs won’t be a priority for them. Section 4: Staying Healthy after SCI! | [ 223 ]

Yes You Can - Fourth Edition

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Yes You Can - Fourth Edition