Emergency Preparedness
After a conversation that was had at my local National Federation of the Blind chapter meeting a few years back on emergency preparedness, I got to thinking that this would be a good topic to cover in a future post.
Eve sitting with emergency preparedness supplies around her, such as a dog first aid kit, water, dog, food, poop bags, etc.
Keep a note in your health app that you have a service animal: On the iPhone and the Android there is a health app where you can track activity, keep emergency contacts, and share important health information with first responders. Under the section of sharing important health information with first responders, I have a note in there along the lines of “I am legally blind and use a guide dog for safe travel, so she should not be far behind.”
Keeping an emergency kit for your dog both at home or in the workplace: Both at home and in my office I keep an emergency kit for Eve. In this kit I keep wet wipes, water, an extra meal for Eve, a dog emergency kit similar to Amazon.com : ARCA PET Dog First Aid Kit | Vet Approved Dog & Cat Emergency Supplies with Thermometer, Muzzle, Tick Removal, Flashlight, Mini Pouch, and Comprehensive Care Guide for Travel and Outdoor Use : Pet Supplies, an extra cane, poop bags, and a mat for Eve to go to the restroom in the event of a lock down. When I wrote my wishlist before coming home with Eve I ensured that I had an emergency kit and a mat for Eve in the event we were on lockdown for several hours. This was something I had to consider, as I have had several experiences with lockdowns both at work and at school over the years, and the last thing I wanted was not to be prepared for such situations.
In addition to the emergency kit I created, I found in doing research for this post that Guide Dog Users, Inc also sells a Grab and Go Kit. In this kit one can find a towel, water bottle, and zippered bags for important documents or food. This is a great option for those who are always on the go.
Medication: In my emergency kit at home I keep additional preventative medication for Eve in the event we are facing a natural disaster such as fire or earthquake close to when these things are due.
If working in a school making sure your dog is accounted for in the headcount: As I am an itinerant teacher, I know it's important for my schools to keep Eve in the headcount of people on campus in the event that first responders have to find us. In each school I have her listed as an additional staff member with her name and (K-9) next to it so the first responders know they are looking for a dog. This was an important addition for me as Eve has a human name. If you find yourself in a similar situation I would recommend taking similar action.
Folder of important documents: I keep a folder similar to Savor | The Folio Document Organizer™ | Custom Dyed Cloth Bound Expanding File Folder for Important Papers, Emergency Binder, Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards, Passports, Photos, and Letters. In this folder I keep important documents such as property information, birth certificates, passports, and even copies of important documents related to Eve. With this comprehensive important document holder it comes with large sticky labels that can be added to each folder in the holder. If you are unable to read the printed labels it may be a good idea to use the Reizen Braille labeler to make each of the sections of the binder more accessible to you.
Rescue Retriever: In the event that one unfortunately finds themselves in the unthinkable situation of a house fire or wildfire it may also be a good idea to install this pet detector for your animals, so that first responders can help in locating them.
Keeping instructions in your home about the amount of food your dog eats, medication, and an emergency contact: In the event of a major disaster such as an earthquake or fire it's a good idea to keep the amount of food your dog eats and any medication they take on your refrigerator in the event that others have to feed your dog in the event of such emergency.
Having an overall Evacuation Plan: Adapting an emergency plan to your individual needs could be one of the most important things you do before an emergency arises. This preparation might mean an evacuation plan, having a list of people to contact in the event you need help getting out, and also showing your dog the safest way to get out in the event you have to do it together. This plan of evacuation together does not only have to apply in the home, but could also apply to the workplace or even at school.
Emergency supplies, including dog mat, first aid kit, poop bags, wipes, and mushers secret.
Emergency preparedness supplies, including mat, rescue retriever, water, dog food, and cane.
In preparing to write this post I came across Preparing for Disasters or Emergencies when Blind or Low Vision by the Connect Center. I thought it was an important article to add here as they bring up important points to consider regardless if you are a person living with blindness or low vision that uses a guide dog. Some of the important factors brought up are the possible inability to access emergency notifications, personalizing the individual plan to your needs, and most importantly having a network.
