Via California - May/June 2020 - 40

SMART GUIDE
4
Prepare for sheltering in place.
As we all now know, pandemic
preparedness is just as essential
as being ready for fires, floods,
and earthquakes. That means
staying up-to-date on vaccines
and stocking up for hunkering
down (with hand soap, hand sanitizer,
face masks, electrolyte
drinks, and a backup supply of
medications). You should also
have paper copies of, or online
access to, your family's medical
records. Think ahead about who
will care for your kids or elderly
relatives if you get sick.
3
Pack a go bag for work. Emergencies
also happen when you're on the job,
so you'll want have supplies on hand
there, too. You can buy a basic preassembled
go bag (AAA Members
save up to 30 percent on select Ready
America kits purchased online), or you
can put together your own. It should
include enough food, water, and necessary
medicines to last 24 hours, plus
a pair of shoes that are comfortable to
walk in if your work shoes aren't, all
stored in a brightly colored, waterproof
duffel bag or backpack.
5. Brush up on first aid. CPR and
basic first aid lessons may teach
you the most important skills you'll
ever learn. " If a family member or
neighbor is injured during a disaster,
this knowledge could save
a life, " says Gary Russell, senior
catastrophe claims manager for
AAA. Go to redcross.org or cpr
.heart.org to find a class near you
or to enroll in an interactive online
course. The average CPR class
takes just two to five hours.
40 VIA | MAY+JUNE 2020
LEFT: P_WON / SHUTTERSTOCK; RIGHT: WELLPHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK

http://www.redcross.org http://www.cpr.heart.org http://www.cpr.heart.org

Via California - May/June 2020

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