Emergency Preparedness For The Ladies... More Than A Pink Toolbox!

As I write this, there’s some lake effect snow swirling outside my window, and I’m fighting what we call the “Chicago Instinct” to go buy a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread, just in case. I have no idea how or why this started, but if you want to find out the difference between a native Chicagoan and a transplant from elsewhere, ask them what they do when the storm warning comes across the television or radio – natives will sheepishly admit that they’re drawn, zombie-like, to a grocery store, where they stand in line with staples, regardless of need or reason. We do it, our parents did it, our grandparents did it, and doubtless someday our children will do it. There must have been some really bad storm in the 1950s that snowed people in, which imparted this on our citywide psyche, but whatever it is, it made me think about the issue of emergency preparedness.

Those that know me well know that I like to be prepared for emergencies. I think it is a combination of growing up with avid campers as parents, and many years of Girl Scouts, but you can always rest assured that I will have a Swiss Army knife and flashlight with me at all times, and I will promise to lead you to safety in any disaster scenario. At work, my desk drawer is the office’s first aid kit, and at home, I’m the one who comforts my adorable yet easily spooked neighbors when the lights go out or there’s a tornado warning.

Today, I’d like to talk about emergency preparedness for women. Too often, girls are not taught how to handle typical problems that can become emergency situations, as it is boys who “help Dad” with tasks that have been divided along gender roles and given to men. This is obviously troubling because it perpetuates gender stereotypes, but also because it leaves girls and women unprepared for situations that can become very serious, and even deadly. Don’t wait for an emergency to strike before you prepare, and even if you are living with parents or a partner, you should be able to independently navigate an emergency. You may not be able to depend on family, friends, or even the local or federal government being there when a disaster strikes, so I think everyone should be able to take care of their own basic needs.

The key to being safe in any emergency situation, whether large or small, is being able to make good decisions based on your resources and knowledge. I think that the easiest way to learn about things like how to keep your pipes from freezing, what to do in a citywide blackout or major blizzard, or how to jump a car battery is to learn it from someone you trust firsthand. If you’re currently living with family or roommates who take charge of these things, get involved the next time there is an emergency. Even if it is just a simple fuse being blown or problem with the plumbing, ask them about what they are doing, how you can help, and why they do what they do. Offer to assist them and learn what you can. If that’s not possible or you are already living on your own, picking up a book or reading websites about emergencies can be very helpful in bringing you up to speed. Some books that I like are National Geographic Complete Survival Manual
and the The American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook
. Be sure to also take note of your local geographic area around your home and workplace for weather patterns such as streets that commonly flood during heavy rain, roads that are especially icy after storms or trees that loose branches in heavy winds. (This is especially important if you have moved to a different city or state.) Just the simple knowledge of remembering not to turn down a street that always floods or not to walk underneath a tree with dying branches can save you a lot of hassle.

Once you have some basic knowledge of your home, workplace and commonly traveled areas, the next thing to think about is putting together an emergency kit. When you look at lists from the American Red Cross or FEMA about what to include in your emergency kit, it can seem daunting at first, so start small, with the things that seem most important to your situation and fit your budget. In my opinion, a flashlight with some extra batteries and a small battery operated AM/FM radio are the most important things to get first. Light will help you find your way to or from your home, and information from the radio will allow you to make informed decisions. After those, water and food are probably the next most important things to have. Don’t worry about having to stock up three days worth of food right away, just pick up an extra large bottle of water and a granola bar or two the next time you go to the grocery store and keep them in your cabinet. As you begin to build your emergency kit, you may realize that a lot of what you need you already have in your home – first aid kit, extra warm clothes, list of important contact numbers. Consolidating these things into one area will allow you to get to them quickly in an emergency situation.

After you have some basic emergency knowledge and you have started an emergency kit, you should next think about what your emergency plan will be. Think about the most likely emergency scenarios for your home, office and travel route, and make a plan for how you will deal with them. Think about the things you learned as a child – how to get out of your bedroom if there is a house fire, for example – and apply that kind of thinking to other emergency situations you might encounter. Some starting questions you might ask yourself are how to escape from a fire, where you will go if there is a tornado warning, what public transportation is available if your car dies while at work, and how you will contact your family or friends after a disaster to let them know you are okay. You should think about this for your home, workplace, school, or other places where you spend a lot of time (for example, your gym or where you volunteer). Finally, think about what special needs you might have – for example, special medications, a pet to care for, or other family members who may need your assistance.

Preparing for emergencies does not need to be a daunting task, nor does it have to take a lot of time or money, but it is something that every adult should devote a few minutes of their time to doing every year. While it is unlikely that you will ever be in a life or death emergency survival situation, nearly everyone will have the occasional power outage or weather situation at some point in their lives. Empowering yourself now!