Emergency Preparedness
Not sure what steps to take when preparing for potential emergencies? Find great resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, addressing common situations.
Explore information categories highlighting resources that will help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities better respond to emergencies and unsafe conditions:
Are you ready for the unexpected? Learn about preparing and planning for emergencies!
Click the buttons below for helpful information on how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can prepare for emergencies. Find guides, videos, and checklists with tips to keep you healthy and safe in a variety of scenarios. You can also use this helpful form to list your needs in the event of an emergency.
Be Prepared – Click Here to Download and Fill Out a Helpful Form!
Every season brings new challenges. Being prepared is key! These resources can help you weather through extreme conditions and emergencies.
Extreme Conditions: Air Quality
Click Here For Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Many people have debilitating conditions and chronic diseases that can become detrimental to their health in times of extreme heat. Major conditions that can be affected by the heat are lung conditions and heart conditions.
Care Coordinators, Clinical Advisors, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families should keep in mind the medical conditions that can be or are affected by hot weather.
If you are person supported by Person Centered Services, please reach out to your Care Coordinator if you have any concerns related to heat!
Diagnoses to keep in mind include, but are not limited to:
Lung Conditions
- COPD
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Cystic fibrosis (chronic lung secretions)
Heart Conditions:
- Angina (chest pain)/history of heart attacks
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Heart disease
It is important to understand that heat can affect and even exacerbate the above conditions.
Heat Exhaustion
A major problem to be aware of is heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a condition that happens when your body overheats. Symptoms may include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse. Heat exhaustion is one of three heat-related illnesses, with heat cramps being the mildest and heatstroke being the most serious.
Causes of heat illness include exposure to high temperatures, particularly when there is also high humidity and strenuous physical activity. Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition. Fortunately, heat exhaustion is preventable.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion may start suddenly or progress over time, especially with prolonged periods of exercise. Possible heat exhaustion symptoms include:
- Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat.
- Heavy sweating.
- Faintness, dizziness, or fatigue.
- Weak, rapid pulse.
- Low blood pressure upon standing.
- Muscle cramps.
- Nausea.
- Headache.
If you think you have heat exhaustion:
- Stop all activity and rest.
- Move to a cooler place.
- Drink cool water or sports drinks.
- Contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse or they don’t improve within one hour.
Things we can do to help prevent this:
- Assuring access to fresh water.
- Availability of air conditioning.
- Limit activity outside.
- If activity is warranted, taking frequent breaks and staying hydrated.
- Avoiding alcohol consumption.
- Dressing appropriately, wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing.
- Apply sunscreen if outside.
Click Here For More Information About Extreme Heat from the CDC
Here are some preparation tips from the National Weather Service before and during times of severe weather:
Be Weather-Ready: Check the forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for severe weather. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about severe thunderstorm watches and warnings. Check the Weather-Ready Nation for tips.
Sign Up for Notifications: Know how your community sends warning. Some communities have outdoor sirens. Others depend on media and smart phones to alert residents to severe storms.
Create a Communications Plan: Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. Pick a safe room in your home such as a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Get more ideas for a plan at: https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
Practice Your Plan: Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so everyone knows what to do if a damaging wind or large hail is approaching. Make sure all members of your family know to go there when severe thunderstorm warnings are issued. Don’t forget pets if time allows.
Prepare Your Home : Keep trees and branches trimmed near your house. If you have time before severe weather hits, secure loose objects, close windows and doors, and move any valuable objects inside or under a sturdy structure.
At Your House: Go to your secure location if you hear a severe thunderstorm warning. Damaging wind or large hail may be approaching. Take your pets with you if time allows.
At Your Workplace or School: Stay away from windows if you are in a severe thunderstorm warning and damaging wind or large hail is approaching. Do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums or auditoriums.
Outside: Go inside a sturdy building immediately if severe thunderstorms are approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Taking shelter under a tree can be deadly. The tree may fall on you. Standing under a tree also put you at a greater risk of getting struck by lightning.
In a Vehicle: Being in a vehicle during severe thunderstorms is safer than being outside; however, drive to closest secure shelter if there is sufficient time.
Help Your Neighbor: Encourage your loved ones to prepare for severe thunderstorms. Take CPR training so you can help if someone is hurt during severe weather.
Help Individuals with Disabilities Stay Safe in Severe Weather
Your health is important!
Use the links below to learn how you can help prevent the seasonal flu and COVID-19.
Below are resources related to preventing common illnesses. Those we serve are encouraged to reach out to their Care Coordinators if they need assistance setting up a vaccine appointment.
If you are not sure whether you should get a flu shot or COVID-19 booster, please consult your physician.
- 911 is a phone number I can call if there is an emergency.
- If I call 911 someone will answer my call and try to help me.
- The police, ambulance, or fire department might be sent to help me.
- I should only call 911 if there is an emergency.
- An emergency might be a fire, a car accident, or if someone is being hurt or attacked.
- If I call 911, I should tell the operator, the location of the emergency and answer all questions.
- I should only call 911 when there is an emergency.
- I should not call 911 if there is a loud party or a dog barking.
- I should not call 911 if there is a power outage.
- I should not call 911 if I have a cold or flu.
- I should only call 911 if an injury is severe.
- If I am not sure if it’s really an emergency, I can ask the 911 operator.
Your safety is important! Below are some reminders to ensure everyone is safe and healthy while enjoying the numerous activities that the summer weather allows.
The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities shared helpful summer safety tips for our members. Click the buttons below for helpful information for you and your loved ones.
When our air quality is compromised by wildfires or other factors, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, Care Coordinators and Clinical Advisors should keep in mind the medical conditions that can be or are affected.
If you receive support through Person Centered Services, please reach out to your Care Coordinator with any concerns or questions related to the air quality in your area.
Diagnoses to keep in mind include, but are not limited to:
Lung Conditions
- COPD
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Cystic fibrosis (chronic lung secretions)
Heart Conditions:
- Angina (chest pain)/history of heart attacks
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Heart disease
It is important to understand that heart problems affect the oxygen’s ability to move throughout the body to our essential organs and systems. Also, it is important to understand that air pollution decreases the ability for oxygen to be absorbed through compromised lungs.
Some common symptoms of air pollution affecting an individual are but not limited to:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases (asthma, COPD, etc.)
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
Many of the symptoms listed above can occur in normal conditions, but to rule out what is normal and what is not, it is important to:
- Make regular visits to a Primary Care Provider as recommended and if there are any other non-urgent concerns.
- Conduct regular follow-ups with pulmonologists, cardiologists, and other relevant specialists that may be monitoring chronic conditions.
- Follow recommended treatments and medications (inhalers, nebulizers, CPAPs, BIPAPs).
- Ensure those with chronic lung conditions who rely on oxygen have enough reserve and needed equipment available (tubing).
Apart from medications or providers, people with developmental and intellectual disabilities should also always have access to:
- Fresh water
- Masks
- Air conditionings/air purifiers
We also encourage limiting time outdoors and activities that can overexert. If someone is a smoker, cessation is encouraged.
Those supported by Person Centered Services should reach out to their Care Coordinators with any questions related to air quality concerns.
Click Here For More Information from the CDC About Air Quality Concerns
Explore resources to prepare for blizzards, dangerously low temperatures, icy conditions, and more.
We encourage our members to use the fillable form below.
Complete the form as it appears on your screen and save it to your computer. You can then share it with your
Care Coordinator by attaching it to an email or by discussing it during your next meeting.