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5 Emergency Preparedness Tips from Dad

Just in time for Father’s Day, we wanted to honor all those amazing dads out there who prepare their families for emergency situations through sharing the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe. Over the years, our Dad knew when something was on our mind, what to do to make us feel happy when we were sad, but also shared the importance of being prepared. Our dad continuously shared what steps to take in order to prepare for a disaster, ­so here are a few preparedness tips we’ve learned from the head of our household.

Make a plan with your family before disaster strikes

Always have a plan for your family before an emergency occurs so when one does you know exactly what steps to begin taking. Have a location and connection plan so you’ll know how to re­connect with your loved ones. Dad always said having a point person who lives out of the area to check in with is a good idea because making long distance calls are usually easier to do in a location-based emergency.

Have a Kit and Know What’s In It

It’s not enough to just have a disaster preparedness kit on hand ­if you have to know its contents or how to use them. The last thing you’re going to want to have to do in an emergency is figure out how to use your equipment properly. Familiarize yourself now and you won’t be sorry later. Take a look at our survival kits here.

Prepare For Pets

Pets are part of the family too and our dad always made sure to prepare for them ahead of time as well. You’ll want to customize a prep kit for them that includes food, leashes, bedding, and anything else you think they will need to evacuate the home.

Prepare an Emergency Contact Card for Each Family Member

Having an emergency contact card that you put in your wallet or purse can be very helpful ­and potentially lifesaving ­ in any sort of emergency. For small children, a contact bracelet may be a good idea. Make sure the contact card includes all past medical history, allergies, as well as a local and out of town contact. This will make sure rescue workers have all the information they need during or after an emergency situation.

Practice Makes Perfect

Another important tip that our Dad gave us is that practice always helps make a plan go as smoothly as possible. He would suggest to practice any fire, evacuation, or emergency drill at least twice a year. If you know exactly what to do in an emergency you will be able to stay focused and clear, and feel more confident in quick decision making. Remember, less stress always leads to better results.

Stay safe and happy this Father’s Day and check back for more tips soon!

National Hurricane Preparedness Week 2016

National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 15 through May 21, 2016. History has taught us that it is not enough to be aware of the many natural disasters that may threaten our families, we must prepare accordingly. With often speeds of over 160 miles an hour and more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain a day, hurricanes are definitely among the deadliest of natural disasters. Is your family prepared for a potential hurricane threat? Even if you live nowhere near a hurricane zone, you never know what the future holds, which is precisely why preparedness is so important.

Peace of mind. Is that possible during or after a natural disaster? It may not be, but being prepared with a plan that includes specific steps for family members to take can definitely help provide direction during a time of uncertainty.

Download a family emergency plan today at: http://bitly.com/FamEmergencyPlan

A proper, functional preparedness kit could be the difference between life and death during a natural disaster. Injuries, lack of food, and of course weather are all situations that need to be anticipated, and therefore supplied in every preparedness kit. In the event that help is on the way to you and your family, tools for prolonged survival and are key.

Download a supply checklist today at: http://bit.ly/PrepSupplyChecklist

Whether you’re a preparedness pro or a curious beginner, we’re here to help throughout your entire preparedness journey. Begin building your family's emergency preparedness kit today: FirstMyFamily.com

Survival Lessons from Season 6 of The Walking Dead

Season 6 of the Walking Dead was a rollercoaster of emotions for all zombie-loving fans from across the nation. During these long months we witnessed some of our favorite characters face and overcome unimaginable survival odds leaving us to ask: “What would we do in this situation?”

It’s likely that you’ve uttered the same sentence with a friend, family member or loved one while watching the show, after all, the show’s characters are ordinary citizens of the world prior to the zombie outbreak.

As emergency and disaster preparedness pro’s and TWD fanatics, we took some survival notes on Season 6 of The Walking Dead to help you strengthen your skills in emergency prep, and increase your odds of survival. Take a look and stay safe:

Learn Key Skills

Learning skills in carpentry, masonry, gardening, and farming can prove to be extremely useful when building a survival shelter and living in remote areas for extended periods.

Learning CPR & First Aid can mean the difference between life and death; these skills can be used to help yourself and others during and after a disaster.

Learning to make your own ammunition may be put on the back-burner for some, but you may want to consider learning the skill now. After all, ammunition during a survival situation is key for protection.

• Helpful resources on CPR & First Aid from The American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr
• Helpful resources on ammunition from Off The Grid News: http://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/what-will-i-need-to-make-my-own-ammo/

Food & Water

Drinkable water is often hard to find and can be quite heavy to carry. Consider investing in a Lifestraw water filter so you’re able to filter filthy water into clean, safe drinking water (Lifestraw water filters take out more that 99% of bacteria).

Stockpile high-calorie, long-lasting foods and seeds for planting, we can think of more than a few moments during Season 6 where they were concerned about the food they stockpiled.

• Stockpiling tips from Skilled Survival: http://www.skilledsurvival.com/stockpiling-food-might-be-your-best-investment/  

Customize Your Prep Kits

Every Emergency Prep kit should be customized to accommodate every member of your household. Special medications and supplies should be included in your kits (don’t forget: all of our FMF kits have enough room for extra survival supplies). Make sure to always include more than enough emergency medication that you know is critical to you and your entire family.

Emergency situations and natural disasters happen without warning, prepare accordingly to increase survival for you and your loved ones. From our family to yours, stay safe! 

When It Comes To Prep, Don't Rely On Luck!

In the event of an emergency situation, we can’t all be lucky. In the words of Roman philosopher Seneca, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

So take it from Seneca and take the time to prepare now, so that if and when a natural disaster or emergency situation strikes, you can create the best luck possible.

3 Things you can do now to prepare for an emergency situation:

1. VIP Database

              Who are your VIP’s? Your list of very important people may extend past your immediate family members. Aside from having all of your family’s most recent personal and medical information written down, consider also including the contact information of a trusted neighbor, a trusted co-worker and a key person from your local police/fire department.

2. Prep Kit

            It’s not enough just to have purchased an emergency preparedness kit. Is it up to date? Is it customized to accommodate each family member’s specific needs? Make sure the items within your home and car prep kits are up to date, and are still working properly, and don’t forget to include items for pets.

3. Plan and Rehearse

             Time is a precious thing, especially during a natural disaster or emergency situation. Have a game plan on what to do during and after an emergency situation, and rehearse it every few months. Remember, having a plan can be key to keeping the entire family from panicking.

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.

1. Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

2. 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.