Press Releases 3/25/2010 - New Tools Available to Help Mainers Prepare for Emergency or Illness
“Get ME Ready” Campaign Launches in Portland (DOWNLOAD)
Get Ready to Help Your Family An emergency or illness can keep you home - sometimes without power, heat, or clean water. There are simple steps you can take so your children, pets, and the older adults you care for can be safe. Get Ready by creating a kit of the essentials – food, water, medicine, and safety supplies.
Don’t let the unexpected catch you off guard.
Get Ready by creating a kit of basic supplies, making a plan for how you and your family will handle it, and staying informed of the best ways to respond to potential illness and emergencies.
In Maine we like to be independent.
When you’re ready, you won’t need help from emergency professionals. This will allow them to focus on others needing assistance.
In Maine we work together.
When you and your family are ready, you can help your neighbors in need.
MAKE A PLAN An emergency could happen when you and your family are not together. It’s important to have a plan for how you will contact each other, how everyone will be cared for, and how you will reunite.
Identify an out-of town contact to help communicate among separated family members and make sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card.
Teach family members how to use text messaging, which can often get around network disruptions.
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH
the Get ME Ready video from Dr. Dora Ann Mills, Director
of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN to Dr. Mark Hanks, a veterinarian in Orrington who believes we all should be prepared in an emergency – for ourselves and for our pets.
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN to Dr. Carrie Frost, a pediatrician and mother in Portland who knows the importance of being ready for her family and her patients.
BE INFORMED Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.
Learn more about the potential emergencies and illnesses that could happen in Maine and the best ways to respond to them.
Learn about the emergency plans that have been established at your work, schools, and in your community, including ways to get information through radio and cell phone.
Subscribe to alert services. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. The State of Maine Citizen Alert System sends alerts via email and twitter. Visit www.maine.gov/portal/CAS/index.shtml to sign up!
Kit Part I Food
Water
First Aid Kit
Prescriptions/Over-the-Counter Medications
Personal Hygiene Items
Pet Food (optional)
Flashlight
Radio
Cell Phone and Extra Battery
Batteries
Can Opener
Infant Formula (optional)
Diapers (optional)
Kit Part II Garbage Bags
Moist Towelettes
Matches in Waterproof Container
Pen/pencil and Paper
Mess Kit
Whistle
Wrench
Dust Mask
Kit Part III
Money
Important Papers
Advanced First Aid Book
Bleach and Medicine Dropper
Books, Games for Kids
Sleeping Bag or
Blanket for Each Person
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