EMERGENCY RESPONSE DRILL

The Hayden Run Ward is planning to conduct an emergency response drill sometime in the near future. The purpose of this drill is to

1) Practice emergency contact and status reporting on each household, through home teachers

2) Measure the overall level of emergency preparedness among ward members

Proper preparation for an emergency includes the following:

1) Three-day supply of clean drinking water (one gallon per person per day)

2) Three-day supply of food

3) Alternate source(s) of light (flashlights, lanterns, etc.)

4) Alternate source of heat (fireplace, wood-burning stove, kerosene heater, etc.)

Craig A.

A Hand-Crank Weather Radio

A hand-crank weather radio is helpful to have in an emergency (see attached example). You can carry it with you and it will operate without batteries, by cranking the built-in generator. They are available on-line and at several local retail stores and sporting goods stores for $30 - $80, depending on the quality and features.

Craig A.

Another comment to this message from
Nolan C.

I think one of the most reputable places to order any kind of radioequipment online is the C Crane company,http://www.ccrane. com/radios/ wind-up-emergenc y-radios/These folks stand behind what they sell, and if you order something fromthem, your credit card data is secure and your order arrives when they sayit will.Since a lot of emergency communication will be happening on the two-meterAmateur Radio band, you might take a hard look at the CCRadio-2. Grantedthe $159 price is a little dizzying during a recession, but this unit willreceive signals most radios can't find. Read more at:http://www.ccrane. com/radios/ am-fm-radios/ ccradio-2. aspx
Regards,
Nolan

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SPECIALIST

"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.
"We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."
—The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1

Craig A.
Hayden Run Ward
Emergency Preparedness Specialist
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DO YOU KOW WHAT TO DO IF A CHILD GOES MISSING? #2

Here quoting the Chidwatch.org website. this is a different website that I quoted in the previous "Do You Know What to Do If a Child Goes Missing?" blog.

1.888.CHILDWATCH

www.childwatch.org

Rule#1-Telephone
Children should learn how to use the telephone in an emergency. Here are some tips: *Tell your children they don't need money to dial 911 or 0 for the operator. They should
dial 0 if they are lost or don't know who to call when they need assistance.
* Have them memorize their telephone number, including area code, as young as possible. Let them practice calling local and long distance numbers for you. * Practice making a collect call with them. Teach them they don’t need money to make a collect call, even if it is a local number. * Children should learn how and when to use 911. Discuss different situations with them.

Rule#2-Family password
How can your child know if it's okay to go with another person without asking for your permission first? A FAMILY PASSWORD! Almost every child is taught by their parents not to go anywhere with a stranger. This is a weak message to leave with a child. How can a child tell who a stranger is? An abductor could be someone the child knows. They may trick the child by saying "Mom or Dad asked me to pick you up". Your child can keep some distance from this person by asking for the FAMILY PASSWORD. Teach your child not to go with anyone who doesn’t know the password. Promise them you won't send anyone without it.

Rule#3-I'm lost! Now what?
You come out of a store and turn around to find your child is not there, now what? It’s time to put “Action Plan A” to the test. Teach your child, in advance, what they should do. A potential abductor may be able to take advantage of this situation if there is no plan. First, your child should stay put and let you find them. They should stay in a visible area and not wander around looking for you. If they stay still, it will be easier than if both of you are moving, maybe in opposite directions. Alert security and provide them with your photo I.D. card. Teach your child if someone wants to help them, have them ask the person to look for you or call security or the police. Teach them to never go with anyone, ever.

Tricks used by abductors :

*"Help me find my lost puppy ”

* “I need help with directions ”

* Offer gifts/candy * There is an emergency... ”

* “I want to take your picture ”

* I have a new video... ”““

Rule#4-Secrets
The word SECRET is one that is used freely by both adults and children. Some secrets are good, some are bad, and some are ugly. Unfortunately, it is the most common weapon used by abductors to lure a child from safety. Children love secrets and most often see them as a way to feel independent from their parents. Your child should learn that if an adult asks them to keep a secret from you, this is a danger sign. The secret could be minor, a chocolate bar before dinner. What this person is doing is building up trust with the child to find out if they will tell everything. The secrets will build until they have control and power over the child. SECRETS = BLACKMAIL

Rule#5-Good lies?
You expect your child to treat adults with respect and grow up to be polite and honest, however, there are exceptions to these rules. In fact, there are times when they should scream as loudly as possible if someone tries to pull him or her into a car or building. Attention is the last thing an abductor is looking for. Now comes a mixed message. Lie to protect yourself. Children should never tell anyone they are home alone. Tell your children that it’s okay to lie to someone who insists on talking to their parents. This is a good lie. Baby-sitters should be given the same instructions.

Rule#6-An emergency plan
Where would your child go in an emergency if you were not home? This is a question you want to address before it happens. Finding a trusted neighbor or friend’s house for your child is very important for his or her safety. Identify this as a safe house. Choose someone who will likely be home most of the time, such as a retired person or a stay at home mother. Be sure to discuss this idea with them.

Rule#7-Strangers?
Most abductors are known by the child. This means all the advice to never talk to strangers is useless if an adult known to the child is the abductor. Children should learn the difference between a good stranger and a bad stranger. If someone tries to pull your child into a car or lure him or her away, they may need to rely on help from another adult. Children should learn that it’s okay to get help from a stranger if they are in danger. Your children should NEVER go anywhere with a stranger without asking for your permission.

Rule#8-Play safe & have fun
Childhood is supposed to be fun, no pressure, no worries. As parents, this is what we want for our children. As we all know, there is no such thing as a perfect world, and children understand this better than we think. The news is filled with horror stories each night, which gives everyone, including children, a bleak picture of the way the world is. Every city and town has its own set of problems, but in reality, the world is not filled with bad people. The violent crimes in this country are being committed by a small percentage of the population.

These people are extremely dangerous to adults and children. Children need to understand that these predators have patterns and habits that can be avoided. Child predators look for opportunities, but once children realize this they can avoid potentially dangerous situations and protect themselves. Children should understand that most people would not harm them and the bad guys don’t wear black. Remind your children to play safe, have fun, and enjoy being a kid.

Other rules to remember
* Never allow your children to go alone to video arcades, public restrooms, parks, public pools, movie theaters, door to door selling, or school yards after hours.

* Instruct your children to always use the buddy system.

* Don’t display your child’s name on the outside of their clothing. This makes it easier for a stranger to approach and pretend to be your child’s friend. * Tell your children to avoid shortcuts and isolated areas. Working together to help keep our children safe

1.888.CHILDWATCH http://www.childwatch.org/

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF A CHILD GOES MISSING? #1

I thought of sharing few tips with you. I lost my daughter yesterday while working on my yard. Usually she is good at telling me where she is going for example that she is hot and she going inside or that she wants to run a little. Yesterday my daughter failed to do so, and suddenly she was gone when I looked up...vanished in the air so the speak...panic set in etc...We had a happy ending luckily and I found my daughter at my neighbor's house visiting her dog.

I have cut and pasted an article here to quote PreventingLostChildren.org site. It teaches parents well how to prepare and teach their children in case of an emergency. At the end you'll find website that give you further information.

-Page 1 of 2 @2007 The Center to Prevent Lost Children. All rights reserved. www.PreventingLostChildren.org “Don’t Talk to Strangers and Other Parenting Myths” “Don’t Talk to Strangers and Other Parenting Myths” No doubt, parenting is tricky. Parenting information changes all the time plus everyone feels compelled to give their personal, often contradicting, opinions. Unfortunately, even some of the basic “rules” of parenting can’t be trusted. Here we discuss four such myths that can make life or death differences.

MYTH #1: I am a careful, watchful parent and my kids are well behaved so they will never get lost. It happens to virtually everyone: 7 out of 10 children will experience being lost at least once in their lives1. 90% of families will be impacted and the traumatic memories of these incidents will forever remain in the minds of both the parent and child1. We teach our children to be curious and independent but then we scold then for getting accidentally lost. Therefore, it is actually good parents that realize this is a common situation. They proactively teach their children that getting lost can be dangerous and they all know what to if it happens. While most incidents result in safe returns, both children and adults often retain traumatic memories for the rest of their lives.

MYTH #2: Don’t talk to strangers. When a child gets lost, he/she may be too scared, too young, or simply unable to communicate to assist an adult that is trying to help find the child’s caregiver. One of the best safety practices is to tell your child to find another mommy if he/she gets lost. There is an important difference in empowering your child to ask a stranger for help versus having a stranger approach your child unsolicited. Mommies are easy to identify and find in most family venues – plus mommies are usually eager to help (and least likely to harm) a distressed child.

MYTH #3: Don’t put identification outside of your child’s clothing. Safe identification includes a cell phone number that is visible and easily accessible on a child. If the child is lost, another person can quickly call to reunite the onsite caregiver. Do not hide the information in a shoe or in the child’s clothing. You do not want a stranger undressing your child to find such a clue. Even if your child knows their home phone number, you don’t want to continuously be dialing your home voicemail to see if there is any information about your lost child. Many parents worry about having a child’s name visible. Even though most children will willingly give a stranger their name, there are dozens of other ways that a predator can lure your child away. However, putting the child’s address is actually very dangerous because in the wrong hands, your home can become a target. Whether going to a mall, to a ballgame, or to school, young children should always have safe identification visibly on them.

MYTH #4: My entire family dresses in the same color when we go to a crowded place. It may be cute but it is rather ineffective to put your family in the same colors unless they are very bright. A small child can be much more easily spotted if they are in bright green or bright yellow. Wearing such colors (hats, shirts, jackets, etc.) can make it easier for you to see them. If you need to get other people’s help to find a lost child, the bright colors make it easier for them too. It is more helpful to describe a child’s physical attributes (hair color, eye color, height, weight, etc.) when you can also note that they are wearing a unique color. Keep that clothing as a special outfit for when you do venture away from home. This will help you remember what the child is wearing should you need to recall that under stress.

These four parenting myths are just some of the unfortunate bad parenting advice that has been passed down for generations and not been updated given new technology and information. Realize that these myths can be very harmful to your child and be a smart parent by preparing yourself and your family. With less effort than it takes to put on a seatbelt, teach your children not to get lost and what to do in case it happens.

About The Center to Prevent Lost Children (CPLC) The Center to Prevent Lost Children (CPLC) provides parents, grandparents, teachers and other caregivers critical information that prevents children from getting lost – and helps find them safely when it happens. Through live and recorded seminars, CPLC provides “Away from Home Tips” and product/technology advice. Seminars are delivered in schools and day care centers, religious & civic organizations, YMCAs, hospitals, and corporate settings to adults and/or children. CPLC Family Safety consultants also work with employees in venues such as retail stores, amusement parks, airports, beaches and sporting events where children often get lost. For more information about attending or sponsoring a lost child prevention seminar or if you want to work with a CPLC Family Safety Expert, contact us at info@PreventingLostChildren.org or 508.881.5664.

More website addresses that might interest you to read. everyone has their own approach and maybe one of these can help you design your own emergency plan in case one of your little ones go missing.

Some sites to visit:

http://missingchild.wordpress.com/missing-child-resources/prevention/

http://www.preventinglostchildren.org/

http://www.angelsafe.org/

http://www.childwatch.org/

http://www.escapeschool.com/esAbout.shtml

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY?

Our Emergency Preparedness Specialist send us the following information. I thought it be good to post it here as well. I have cut and pasted his information for you to view!

"Most of what you need to know about preparing for an emergency can be found at the following web sites:

http://www.providentliving.org/

http://www.ready.gov/


Craig A.
Hayden Run Ward
Emergency Preparedness Specialist"