Holiday Safety Tips
The holiday season is upon us and that means many of us are headed home to spend quality time with family, friends, and loved ones.
No matter your location, it cannot be denied that this is a beautiful time of year. However, just because it’s the holiday season doesn’t mean emergencies can’t occur without warning. So, it’s again tremendously important to take precautionary measures should the unexpected happen.
Keep Everyone Warm
Everyone likes to be warm, pets included!
As the months get colder and the days get shorter, be sure to have a strong supply of winter essentials like blankets, water-proof candles, coats, and sweaters. Be sure to add them to your home and car prep kits to help you conserve heat during the harsh winter months.
Stay Safe on the Road
Do you have an emergency preparation kit for your car? We sure hope so! For the many unexpected things that can happen while on the road, it's critical to have an up-to-date emergency prep kit at all times.
The 4 Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit from First My Family is a perfect option for families looking to stay safe on the road. Should an emergency situation arise while out-and-about, this survival kit comes fully-equipped with 72 hours of survival and first aid supplies.
Running out of gas? Stuck in the snow? Plan ahead and stay prepared.
Great supplies may not be enough to stay fully prepared. Keep a list of emergency contact numbers in your vehicle should you need to call a tow truck, friend, or other emergency contacts.
Check Holiday Lighting
One of the things that can be easily overlooked is safety when it comes to our beloved holiday decorations. Make sure each connection is secure and kept at a safe distance away from small children and pets.
Additionally, keep an eye on the number of plugs you have from each outlet; overloading your outlets has the potential to cause a major fire emergency.
Lastly, if you are burning candles, keep them away from flammable objects like trees, decorations and gifts. Be sure to also use items like hot-pad holders and never leave your home without out putting your candles out completely.
Play Safe: Holiday Toy Safety
It is important to be safe when playing with toys this holiday season since there are many small, detachable parts that can be swallowed. Make sure to keep all toys away from small children and infants and/or monitor children when the toys are in use.
Also, we all know opening packages during the holidays can be a difficult task. Toys are often packaged tightly, prompting us to use sharp objects to open them. Take extra precaution when attempting to open all packages. Keep sharp objects away from children and do not allow them to open toys without adult supervision.
Be Prepared in Any Moment
Emergencies can occur at any time and in any moment, including the holiday season. Gather your family for a few moments to address your evacuation and safety plan for your home. Take the time now to prepare your family, and remember: there's no such thing and being too prepared!
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holday season!
Winter Is Here: Family Winter Preparedness
Winter is finally here! Whether you’re on the east or west coast, the winter season is upon us and that means we need to take extra precaution when it comes to keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe. This season is characteristic of increased hazards on the roads and in daily life, so it is important we all have safety plans and procedures in place should a potential dangerous situation arise.
There are many preparation tips that you and your family can put into place this winter season. Here are a few:
- Place winter supplies, like shovels and rock salt, inside your home should you get snowed in.
- Store sufficient heating fuel in the case that your regular fuel sources are shut off.
- Learn how to properly shut off and close water valves should a pipe burst in your home. Insulate your pipes with newspaper and plastic or insulation and allow your faucets to lightly drip to prevent from burst pipes.
- Service your vehicle to prepare it for the winter weather.
- If you are using a portable generator, follow the instruction manual to ensure the carbon monoxide fumes produced by the generator are escaping properly and not entering your breathing air.
- A winter emergency kit which includes first aid resources should be placed in every vehicle you operate and in your home.
Also remember to:
Update Preparation Kits
With the winter season quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to update your home and car safety preparation kits for the new weather. Be sure to add extra blankets, extra warm clothing, and heat sources like waterproof matches to your kits to ensure you will have everything you need to stay safe.
Customize Preparation Kits
Find a time to meet with your family and ask your loved one what items they feel should be added to both the home and car safety preparation kits. As you brainstorm together with one another, make it a point to find these items and add them to the kits as soon as possible. Safety never sleeps, so it is vital to take action as quickly as possible to protect your safety and the safety of your loved ones. Having your family take an active role in the preparation process will encourage safety among all family members and promote togetherness.
The First My Family 4 Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit with 72-Hours of Survival and First Aid Supplies has all the items you need to keep you and your family safe this winter. This is a great survival kit to begin with as it is prepared by professionals who know all about what is needed to stay safe in emergency situations. You and your family can then customize this kit further by adding additional items you collectively feel will be best for you such as additional blankets and warmers.
Take Care of Furry Family Members
Don’t forget about your fur family! If you have pets, remember they are part of your family too. Make sure you have survival items for them as well in the preparation kits you are creating with your family. It is important to customize and update a pet survival kit so your pets can survive this winter season alongside the family.
Bring your pets in from the cold as often as possible and be sure they have fresh drinking water at all times. Additionally, make sure you have a large stock of food for your pets and blankets; your pets get hungry and cold, just like us!
This winter, be sure you and your family are prepared for any potential emergency weather situations that may arise. Keep a customized preparation and survival emergency kit in your home and car at all times and learn what safety tips will help keep you, your loved ones, and your fur family safe.
Take extra precaution and ensure the safety of your family with these winter preparation tips!
Stay Prepared While Traveling
The summer months are a perfect time to travel - the kids are out of school, the weather is great, and it’s a great way to spend some quality time with your family. We know you’re prepared at home for a disaster or emergency, but are you prepared while traveling? Whether you’re flying, road tripping, or going somewhere close to home, it’s important to always stay prepared for the unexpected, check out some tips below.
Always Carry a First Aid Kit
Wherever you’re traveling, be sure to carry a small first aid kit with you with items like band aids, over-the-counter remedies, and any other common items you feel you might need. Sure you may get the help you need if a problem arises, but take as much action as you can by being prepared. Afterall, at the very least it can help you feel much more comfortable and at-ease when traveling. Did you know our TWDZPAK includes several emergency and first aid supplies and doubles as a water bottle? Check it out here.
Keep Emergency Cash and Back Up Cards
When you’re traveling it’s important to have back up cash and credit cards in case your belongings get lost or stolen. Remember the unexpected happens at the worst times, prepare yourself from as many situations as you can. Stay prepared and make sure you have the means to get your family home.
Have Travel Insurance
A great preparedness step you can take is to get yourself and your family travel insurance. Travel insurance will cover you in case you or a family member gets injured, your belongings get stolen, in many cases of emergencies, if you have to head home early, or if there are any unforeseen cancellations in your itinerary. If you can, try to get a high coverage limit on your policy that also covers emergency evacuations or care if you happen to be hiking in the woods.
Mosquito Protection and ZIKA Awareness
Mosquitos are everywhere in the Summer, but areas near water are their favorite place to hang out. If you’re traveling to an area you believe might have some sort of mosquito population, it’s important to wear bug spray repellent and to wear long pants and shirts in order to protect your skin from bites. Usually, you’ll just get an uncomfortable lump that can itch, but will go away in a few days. Right now however, there is an outbreak of Zika Virus that you have to be very careful about if you’re traveling anywhere in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and The Pacific Islands. There also have been cases in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida. It is often advised that pregnant women should NOT travel to those places - the most common effect of the Zika Virus is severe birth defects of unborn children. If you are traveling to these places use powerful bug spray, and again, wear long pants and shirts, sleep with the air conditioning on and make sure there are screens on every window. Zika is extremely dangerous and should be avoided as much as possible.
Have fun and stay safe for the remaining of the summer!
Winter Prep Checklist
Winter is officially here, are your prep kits up to date? Make sure your kits have what you and your family need to survive the cold winter months should an emergency or disaster take place. We created a checklist to help you as you customize your home and car preparedness kits, take a look and stay safe!
❏ Emergency Water
❏ Emergency Food
❏ LED Flashlight
❏ First aid kit
❏ Multi Use Pocket Knife
❏ Mylar Space Blankets
❏ Emergency Weather Ponchos
❏ Emergency Body Warmers
❏ Glow-sticks for emergency lighting
- The above items and more can be found inside of our 1, 2 and 4-Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Kit
Special needs/Elderly
❏ Medications and special items such as hearing aids (with extra batteries), glasses/contact lenses, canes etc.
Babies and Pets
❏ Baby supplies (formula, baby food, bottles, diapers, medicines etc.)
❏ Pet supplies ( pet food, collar/leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl, medicines etc.)
Outdoors/Weather
❏ Tools/supplies for securing your home in case of heavy winds
❏ Sand for flooding
❏ Warm coats, gloves/mittens, hats, boots, extra blankets and extra warm clothing for all household members
❏ Alternate heating methods (fireplaces or wood/coal-burning stoves)
More
❏ Extra batteries
❏ Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
❏ Sanitation/personal hygiene items
❏ Family and emergency contact information
❏ Copies of personal documents for all household members (medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
❏ Cell phone with chargers
❏ Extra cash
Remember to always add what is necessary for your family's specific needs. Stay warm and stay safe!
End of Daylight Savings Time Safety Tips
The end of Daylight Savings time marks the beginning of fall and winter; but instead of staying in bed an extra hour, take this time to be proactive with your family’s safety. Here are some quick tips to keep your family safe as we enter the final months of 2015.
- Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Get Your Vehicle in Shape
How long do you spend in your vehicle per day? A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says that on average, Americans drive 29.2 miles per day. That’s enough time to make the safety and maintenance of your vehicle a top priority, especially as the sun begins to set much sooner in the fall and winter months. Make sure your vehicle's tire pressure is where it should be, your headlights are working properly, and that you have a fully-equipped emergency preparedness kit inside your vehicle at all times.
3. Update Your Prep Kits
Owning emergency preparedness kits are great steps toward being prepared for a disaster or emergency, however the change of the seasons poses a need for updating both your home and vehicle's kits. In order to increase preparedness during the end of Daylight Savings time, each preparedness kit should be updated to make sure the contents have not expired, checked to make sure items like flashlights are working properly, and customized with gear that is appropriate for the current climate; winter blankets and reflective gear are always recommended.
Don't own Emergency Preparedness Kits for your home and vehicles? We've got you covered: www.FirstMyFamily.com