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We’d rather not think about disasters, but they’re happening in the world around us all the time — from natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and floods to man-made disasters such as wars and terrorist attacks. This week on Health Watch, we’ll talk about how you can prepare for and respond to disasters of all types.
Patrick Tiner, a disaster response expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says having a plan is essential for helping your family weather a disaster. One of the most crucial aspects of that plan is communication. He suggests making wallet-sized, laminated cards with contact information for all family members so you’re sure you can find each other in an emergency or so emergency workers will know who to contact. Emergency officials also suggest including an ICE, or “in case of emergency,” number in your cell phone’s contact list.
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September 2007
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