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Pet Preparedness Tips for Summer

According to recent statistics, about 77 Million people in the US include dogs as part of their extended family. Dogs are great companions for both indoors and outdoors activities. Whether it’s a trip to the beach, camping, hiking, or even just out to the park, pups love every second of being out-and-about. Taking dogs along during summer trips can be fun and memorable, but make sure to consider their safety and well-being during the sizzling summer months.

Our dogs can’t tell us when they are getting too hot, too tired, or are generally uncomfortable. This prompts the need for us to prepare for the many unforeseen emergencies that may occur when outdoors, for both you and they could be affected by them. Be aware of how to care for your pets during these long hot days, here are some tips on summer outdoor pet preparedness.

Water & Snacks

If you are outdoors all day you’re going to want to have some pet food on hand to give your dog a snack when they feel fatigued. Remember, just like humans get hungry from using up energy while outdoors, our dogs do too! It is also very important to give your dog access to plenty of water to drink during outdoor activities.  Having a collapsable water bowl or plastic tupperware to fill with water for your pup is an easy way to help with their hydration, make sure that’s added to your Pet Prep Kit.

Keeping Cool

Of course, summertime means it is likely to be hot hot hot!  While humans are able to wear summer clothing and go out for fresh air, our dogs are not able to take off their fur coats. So, it’s up to us to make sure they aren’t getting overheated.  To keep help keep them cool, again, make sure they are getting plenty of water, and be sure to never ever leave them in a hot car (overheating happens very fast). Also, don’t be opposed to a little mid-day water spritz, if they are getting too hot, spray them lightly with some water since water helps to cool their internal body temperature.  Lastly, keep a lookout: signs of heat exhaustion include heavy drooling, panting, very low energy, and little to no urination.

LED Light or Collar

Summer nights can be very relaxing for all family members, even pets. When outside during those summer BBQ’s or camping trips, it’s a good idea to attach an LED light to your dog’s collar so you can keep an eye on them when the sun has gone down. Remember that dogs love to explore and can get lost very easily especially if they don’t know the way home. Having a light on them will keep you from losing track of them in case they get distracted by any number of things. It also may be a good idea to keep an extra collar and LED light in your Pet Prep Kit.

Critter Control

If you are spending any time outdoors, keep in mind that you may be inevitably accompanied by uninvited animals, reptiles, and insects. The summer months bring dry, hot temperatures which happen to attract a plethora of critters. Consider getting a rattlesnake vaccine from your veterinarian, and keep plenty of insect repellent in your dog’s prep kit. Dogs love water activities, If your dog goes swimming in a beach or lake, you’ll want to make sure you dry your dog’s ears afterwards, especially if they’re floppy.  Keep in mind that ear infections are very common in dogs, keeping ears dry is the first step in prevention. Lastly, always check for ticks after coming home from an outdoor trip. Even if your dog takes a flea and tick solution regularly, one could still latch on, so it’s important to make sure.

Summer is an amazing time to have lots of fun in the sun with the entire family, that includes our pets. Make sure everyone is safe and prepared!

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!

The 2016 Ecuador Earthquake: The Importance of Preparedness

On April 16, 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador leaving at least 659 people deceased and 27,732 people injured. Events like these remind us how serious and unexpected natural disasters can be, making proper emergency preparedness a top priority for families both large and small.

The fact of the matter is, despite where we live in the world, we are not immune to the many types of natural disasters that exist. The only true way to increase survival for you and your family is to take the steps necessary to be prepared for certain post-disaster circumstances.

Post-disaster circumstances:

Injury

Have a First Aid Kit included in all of your preparedness kits and make sure it includes enough supplies for each of your household members. Always include extra medication and update your kits often keeping in mind expiration dates. 

Lack of food source

Your prep kit should include enough food and water to last each of your family members at least three days. Keep in mind nutritional needs for each person, and food allergies. 

Lack of Electricity

We tend to rely on electricity quite a bit, but in the event of a natural disaster, electricity may be not up and running. Customize your prep kit to include extra batteries, glow sticks, and/or solar powered devices.

Remember- natural disasters cannot be avoided, but they can be prepared against. Let us help you begin your preparedness journey with a 4-person prep kit found here, stay safe! 

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! 

Emergency Response At Your Fingertips: 3 Must-Get Apps

These days there’s an app for just about everything, even for emergency preparedness. But with thousands of high-tech iPhone and Android applications to choose from, how do can you know which ones can actually be useful for you and your family during an emergency situation?

Our team did some research, browsed through some of the top-rated apps on the market and came up with 3 apps we believe every family should consider downloading as an additional step in emergency/disaster planning.  

Check them out below and happy prepping!  

1. FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) app takes the number one spot. This comprehensive app includes:

• Alerts from the National Weather Service
• Disaster Reporter  
• Custom emergency safety information
• Maps of disaster resources
• Safety tips
• Access to apply for federal disaster assistance.
• Information in Spanish

Download here: https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app

2. Pocket First Aid & CPR.

Runner-up is the app from the American Heart Association. A few things this unique app offers:

• Detailed videos with life-saving information on how to respond in first aid situations like choking, CPR, seizures, cuts and wounds, and more.
• Device storage so a user can access information without cell phone reception
• ‘My Info’ tab to store family members’ medical information

Download here: http://appcomm.org/pocket-first-aid-cpr/

3. Shelter Finder by American Red Cross

Last but certainly not least, this application maps shelter locations across the United States. In the event of a natural disaster, a user can choose a location and zoom into a local area to view nearby shelters and details like who’s managing the shelter, how many people are there, and of course, the specific shelter address and location. Another great feature is that if you’re looking to make a contribution, they make it possible to donate and help the American Red Cross give aid to those in need.

Download here: http://appcomm.org/shelter-finder-app-by-american-red-cross/

Stay safe, but most of all, stay prepared! 

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.

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! 

Things We’re Thankful For This Thanksgiving

The holidays are a time to be together with loved ones, but Thanksgiving especially, is a time for reflection. We at First My Family understand how important family is, here are three things we are most thankful for on this very special holiday.

Health  

The health of family members can sometimes be under appreciated, especially if a family is blessed to be in good health. But, however healthy a family may be, we must always appreciate good health and do our best to maintain each family member’s well-being.

Home

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States in January 2014. That fact alone is enough to put in perspective the state of homelessness in our country today and emphasizes how grateful we are to have a home during the holidays.

Knowledge

We are proud to have over 30 years of combined Emergency and Disaster Preparedness knowledge. This important knowledge has made it possible for us to keep our family prepared for any emergency, and we are very appreciative that we are able to share our expertise to other families through the creation of First My Family.

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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.