You Can Never Be Too Prepared! #HurricanePrep2014

May 25-31, 2014 marks Hurricane Preparedness Week and highlights the importance of planning and being prepared when disaster strikes. Being prepared for this natural disaster is vitally important for protecting your family and home.

Starting June 1^st, we will embark on hurricane season which continues through the end of November. Hurricanes can be incredibly destructive and wipe out entire towns and cities. While these natural disasters can be extremely scary, being prepared for them will help you feel more safe and ready to tackle the storm.

One of the first things you should do with your family is build an emergency preparedness kit and make a family plan. A previous blog post shares excellent tips and tools for preparing your family. You can find the blog here:  http://cellphonesally.blogspot.com/2013/09/national-preparedness-month-good-time.html.

Once you have your emergency kit ready, focus on tackling these issues prior to a hurricane heading your way:

v  Identify levees and dams in your area to make sure that they do not pose a hazard to you and your property.

v  Cover all your home’s windows with permanent storm shutters or board up windows with plywood that is cut to fit.

v  Always keep trees and shrubs trimmed down so they are more wind resistant and do not hang over your roof.

v  Make sure to clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.

v  Reinforce doors as well as your garage door.

v  Install a generator for if you lose power.

v  If you live in a high-rise building, make plans to get shelter on a lower floor.

v  Bring in outdoor furniture, decorations and garbage cans to avoid having them fly away.

v  If you are in an area that gets hurricanes more often, it might be a good idea to build a safe room.

 

Hurricanes not only cause strong high winds, but they also cause heavy rains and flooding. By following these tips and tools, your family will be prepared for when disaster strikes. As they say, you can never be too prepared! For more information, please visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php. If you ever find yourself in an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1.

It’s National EMS Week!

This week marks National Emergency Medical Services Week (May 18^th-24^th, 2014). President Gerald Ford first declared this week National EMS Week in 1974. During this time we take the time to honor and celebrate all the amazing individuals who serve as EMS practitioners!

EMS for Children Day 2014

During this week, on Wednesday, we also celebrate National EMS Children Day. This year marks the 30-year celebration of the program and it is a great time to focus on raising public awareness about the need for specialized emergency care for children. When it comes to emergency care for children, it is important to handle it differently than an adult emergency. This includes physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

By bringing awareness to this topic, EMS hopes to start a national quality improvement initiative. For more information on EMS week and various activities going on, please visit http://www.ems.gov. To learn more about EMS for Children, visit http://emscnrc.org/Events/EMSC_Day.aspx.

Celebrate Our Fallen Heroes during National Police Week

This week, May 11-17, marks National Police Week. In 1962, President Kennedy signed a proclamation which authorized May 15^th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which the 15^th falls as National Police Week.

This time each year, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world come together in Washington D.C. to participate in various events through the week to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Being a police officer is sometimes a thankless job. These individuals work tirelessly to keep our communities safe day end and day out. Their commitment to justice is incredibly appreciated by the community, so please take the time to appreciate the police in your community.

For information on events going on this week in honor of National Police Week, please visit http://www.policeweek.org/schedule.html.

May Marks National Family Wellness Month

May is the time to celebrate National Family Wellness Month, when summer is around the corner and schedules become packed with outside activities and fun. This month serves as time to focus on healthy family lifestyles and habits. By working to make our own families healthier, we are really working on contributing to a healthier community for the future overall!

Here are some tips and ways to celebrate family wellness this month. What are you waiting for? Get out there and have some FUN!

Visit a Park: An easy and cheap way to have fun with the family involves heading to the park. Head to your local park (If you live in Texas, here is a link to find the closest part to you: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/) and enjoy a hike, play on the playground, take a swim, fly a kite, or ride a bike! There are so many great wellness activities that can happen at a park so pack a picnic and head outdoors.

Plan a Family Game Night: Taking time to enjoy games with the family is a great way to interact with loved ones. Pull out some old fashion board games such as Monopoly, Pictionary, or Sorry. Have a Wii? Try playing some Wii Fit games or other family games that bring out a little fun competition. Whatever you decide, the main point is to enjoy playing with your family because that is what boosts overall wellness.

 

Build a Garden: An excellent way to improve wellness is by planting a garden with your family. Whether you choose to plant a veggie or a flower garden, the results are still the same. The time you spend creating and putting love into the garden is what will improve the overall wellness of your family. Plus, you have an awesome garden to show off!

Make a Scrapbook: For the kids, school is coming to an end and summer is beginning. Now is the perfect time to put together a scrapbook! Have each family member create a few pages each for the scrapbook. The scrapbook can include pictures, stories and visuals that explain different parts of family life. Have fun bonding over memories and seeing everyone’s contributions to the scrapbook!

Set a Goal: Have each family member set a long-term and short-term goal. They can be well-thought out or very simple. The important part is setting a goal and sticking to it. Need to exercise more? Have the family take a bi-weekly walk in the evening. Want to eat healthier? Have a goal where the family all pitches in on creating at least one meal a week together. Make it fun for both kids and adults.

Whatever activities you decide to do, the main goal here is to improve the overall health and wellness of your family. So get out there and celebrate life and all it has to offer you!