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New Year's Resolutions for Families

Have you established new year’s resolutions for 2017? Creating new year’s resolutions is a great method to hold yourself and your family accountable for the things you’d like to accomplish throughout the year ahead. Is improving your family’s safety among those resolutions? Have you developed a strong safety plan should an emergency or disaster situation occur? Even if you’re not a fan of setting new year’s resolutions, any step to help improve the safety of you and your loved ones should be implemented.

To strengthen your road towards family safety this year, you will want to:

• Get Informed
• Get Prepared
• Stay Motivated

Getting informed and staying informed on the many potential dangers within your area of residence is a key component to protecting yourself and loved ones this new year. According to a study by FEMA, “[only] one in three (32 percent) of the respondents reported being familiar with their local hazards.” These statistics indicate that a large percentage of families across the U.S. are simply unaware of the dangers their surroundings present. It remains that families of all sizes should be conscious of local hazards to able to prepare accordingly.

Since winter weather can change in an instant, it is also important to stay up-to-date with local weather changes as well. Not sure where to get the information you need? You are not alone. Structure your family’s safety and preparedness plan by utilizing information from trusted resources like FEMA and the American Red Cross.

As we know, natural disasters can strike at any moment. Right as we welcomed 2017, California experienced an “earthquake swarm” in Brawley, California where more than 100 earthquakes were felt across the region. The importance of being prepared for emergency situations like earthquakes is ever-increasing, yet still many Americans fail to take proper precautions. In the same FEMA study, they share, “52 percent of individuals reported having supplies set aside in their home for use during a disaster.” While we’re glad to be slightly above the halfway mark, as safety seekers, we should continue to work towards reaching the goal of 100 percent. Securing your home and vehicle with essential supplies not only increases family safety, but also increases the likelihood of survival should a disaster occur.

• Check out our First My Family’s 4 Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit with 72-Hours of Survival and First Aid Supplies.

Strengthen your motivation to stay prepared throughout the year by setting a few safety-related new year’s resolutions. Keep in mind that emergency preparedness and family safety go hand in hand and do your part to stay prepared. Start the year off on a safe note, and continue that mentality all year-long!

We wish you a year full of safety for you and your entire family, we're here to help. 

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:

1. Place winter supplies, like shovels and rock salt, inside your home should you get snowed in.
2. Store sufficient heating fuel in the case that your regular fuel sources are shut off.
3. 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.
4. Service your vehicle to prepare it for the winter weather.
5. 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.
6. 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!

Thanksgiving 2016: Family Communication Equals Family Safety

Thanksgiving 2016 is finally here! Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for friends, family, and loved ones to spend quality moments together and make new memories to last a lifetime. 

Unfortunately, natural disasters and emergency situations don’t take days off. Although Thanksgiving is for enjoying one another and spreading the love and cheer that encapsulates the holiday season, it is important that everyone takes advantage of the togetherness and uses this time to discuss important family safety topics.

Here are three major topics you should find time to discuss with your family this Thanksgiving.

Family Communication Plan

Do you have a family communication plan established should a natural disaster or emergency situation occur? Who will contact whom? Do you have everyone’s contact information and is the contact information you have updated, correct, and accurate? 

Your family communication plan should include what to do and where to go should an emergency occur. Determine a collective meeting place in case of an emergency, and ensure everyone is on the same page as far as next steps.

Family Contact Information 

Do you have the current contact information of family, friends, and loved ones? Do you have updated addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and so on?

It’s important to regularly update this information since such items tend to change frequently. Take a few moments now that the family is together to share everyone’s contact information so everyone has the most current information possible.

Emergency Preparation Kits

Do you have an emergency preparation kit to utilize in a potential emergency situation? Preparedness kits are of course one of the most important items for survival during an emergency situation because they have everything you need in one place and ready to go.

Don’t have a prep kit? Take a look at the First My Family 4 Person Survival Kit - Disaster Preparedness Kit today.

You and your family will benefit endlessly from having a comprehensive preparedness kit in your homes and cars throughout the holiday season and over the course of the entire year. You never know when disasters may occur or when a potential emergency situation might arise, so you’ll need to be prepared in all instances.

This Thanksgiving and holiday season, let safety be one of the things you are most thankful for. Ensure that you and your loved ones have all the resources they needed in the case of an emergency.

Wishing you a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Top Survival Tips for Winter Storms!

It’s that time of the year again where storm after storm keeps hitting the U.S. with what seems to be endless snow on the East Coast and flooding from the drought on the West Coast. During #WinterStorm Juno, New York State Governor Cuomo even issued a state of emergency and ordered everyone to stay off of the streets and to stay indoors. I don’t think the snowboarders took him seriously but I think we should.  Severe weather, closed roads and dangerous conditions are a serious risk and not only to those on the streets but also to the emergency workers who do an amazing job trying to help people during an emergency. My wife is a nurse and believe me, she rocks at helping people and it is a very hard job.

With winter storms still coming and lots and lots of more rain on the way, here are some great #Winter Survival Tips to keep you and your family safe.

• Charge Your Cell Phone. Before a winter storm knocks out your power, make sure your cell phone is fully charged. Power can go out and using text to keep people informed of how you are doing or if you need help is a great way to communicate and saves power.

• Stock Flashlights throughout the house. Check to make sure you have the right batteries for your devices. Try not to use candles in an emergency as they pose a serious fire risk if left unattended.
• Build an Emergency Kit for home. Emergency kits or grab and go survival kits should have a minimum of 72 hours of emergency food, water, first aid and warmth to keep you safe. This is a minimum. Don’t have a kit or don’t know where to start, visit us at First My Family.
• Be Careful with Gas Appliances. If you are trying to heat your home with an emergency generator or stove, make sure it is completely ventilated. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer.
• Communicate to your Family. If you are leaving your home during severe weather or even heading up to the snow for vacation, have a plan and let your family know where you are going and when you will arrive. That way if you don’t arrive as scheduled, they can call for help.
• If traveling by car, build or buy an emergency kit for each car. Each car should enough emergency food; water, first aid and ability to keep you warm for at least 72 hours (for each person). We actually plan for a lot longer and include additional items like: Winter clothing, flares, jumper cables, snow chains, flashlights, mylar space blankets, waterproof matches, can opener, canned food, spam, water filter, cable jumper, cell phone charger that is hand cranked, board games, toiletries and a reflective vest to hang in the window for help.
• If you are stuck in the snow, stay put and wait for help? Hypothermia can happen very quickly and exposure to the snow can kill. If you and your family are stuck in the snow the safest thing you can do is wait for help.
• Stuck in the Snow and Trying to Stay Warm? Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids to help your body regulate the cold, clear your car’s exhaust regularly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, turn your car on and off to conserve fuel. For additional safety tips, click here for additional tips from FMF and Ready.gov.
• Traveling home from work and stuck for hours and hours on the road. Before leaving work in a storm, bring extra food, water and first aid. During the storms a few weeks ago, people were stuck for 7-8 hours trying to get home. Don’t have these items at work; bring your own emergency kit. Backpacks are great options and should always include walking shoes.
• Keep your tank full? Fill up when your tank is less then half full, just in case you get stuck and if you do get stuck, turn your car on and off to conserve fuel and stay warm.

Helpful Resource Information

• http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
• Al Rokers "How to Survive if You're Stranded in a Blizzard"
• Don't have an emergency kit, get one from us today. Click here.

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! 

Stay Safe This Christmas Day

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from First My Family! Here are some safety tips for the entire family on this very special holiday- stay safe!

1.   Holiday Lighting

If you’re like many families in the U.S., you have holiday lighting in and outside your home. Be sure to unplug those lights when you leave your home or go to bed.

2.  Outdoors

It’s great to play outdoors on Christmas Day. But whether you live in a snowy place or not, make sure you and your kids are dressed appropriately- sweaters and scarfs are a must if it’s chilly!

3.   Toy Safety

Many little ones’ toys may contain tiny and or sharp particles. To avoid choking or other toy-related injuries, keep an eye on children every time they are playing, and take the time to explain to them how to properly (and safely) play.

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.