Are You Ready For An Emergency?

Are you and your family prepared for an emergency? Emergencies can happen at any time, whether it is an unexpected call to 911 or a large scale weather event. Chatham Rescue Squad is committed to creating a community that is informed and prepared for when emergencies happen.

Emergency Information Forms

No matter how old you are or what your medical history looks like, it is always best to have your emergency medical information readily available in case of an emergency.

Emergency Information Forms should include basic information about yourself that first responders and medical personnel can use to better assist your care in an emergency situation.

Information that should be included on an Emergency Information Form are:

Legal Name, Date of Birth
Primary Address, Phone Number
Primary Care Provider
Basic Medical History
Medications you are currently taking
All Allergies to medications or substances
Your Primary Emergency Contact

If you or a loved one has a DNR/DNI, MOLST Form, or any other advanced directives, that information should be indicated on your Emergency Information Form so that your wishes can be met should you not be able to speak for yourself.

A printable version of an Emergency Information Form can be found here.

Disaster Preparedness

Knowing what disasters and hazards that could affect your area can help you prepare in an emergency. This infographic details 12 ways to prepare for an emergency.

For more information on how you can prepare your family for a disaster, see resources provided here at Ready.gov

Preparing Your Pet for Disasters

Your pets are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan.

To prepare for the unexpected follow these tips with your pets in mind:

Make a plan.
Build an emergency kit.
Stay informed.

Make a Plan

If you have a plan in place for you and your pets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry when you need to make a decision during an emergency. If local officials ask you to evacuate, that means your pet should evacuate too. If you leave your pets behind, they may end up lost, injured or worse.

Things to include in your plan:

Have an evacuation plan for your pet. Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside. Know a safe place where you can take your pets before disasters and emergencies happen.
Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
Have your pet microchipped. Make sure to keep your address and phone number up-to-date and include contact information for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.
Contact your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get additional advice and information if you’re unsure how to care for your pet in case of an emergency.

You find more information about Pet Preparedness here.