Do you or anyone in your family have a disability?
This page provides some great advice on how to be prepared for an emergency if you or someone in your household has a disability. The most important thing is to have a good support network and to take steps to plan how you might cope if disaster strikes.
Deafness
Someone with a hearing impairment will have trouble hearing warning systems or listening to the radio for important updates.
Tips
• Visit this website. The homepage will contain lots of really important information and will be updated regularly, as and when new information is available.
• Store extra batteries and spare hearing aids with your survival kit.
• Figure out the best way to communicate with emergency personnel. You may not have an interpreter or a hearing aid with you if disaster strikes – including pens and paper in your survival kit might help.
• Adopt the ICE advice so that emergency workers will know who to contact if you’re on your own and distressed.
• Arrange a ‘buddy’ – this could be a friend, neighbour or relative.
>> Read more about the ICE advice
Blindness
Someone who is blind could find it difficult if they have to evacuate or go to an unfamiliar meeting point.
Tips
• Arrange a ‘buddy’ - this could be a friend, neighbour or relative.
• Store a spare cane with your survival kit. It could also be a good idea to store a spare cane at work, school or any other place you are likely to be if disaster strikes.
• Label emergency supplies with Braille, large print or fluorescent tape.
• If you wear contact lenses or glasses, store a spare pair in your survival kit.
• If you have a guide dog, remember that it may be frightened and disorientated. Be prepared to go without your guide dog if necessary and make sure there is extra food for it in your survival kit.
• Don’t rely on sound to navigate your way around.
• Adopt the ICE advice so that emergency workers will know who to contact if you’re on your own and distressed.
Mobility problems
Someone with mobility problems will find it difficult to evacuate or move around areas unknown to them.
Tips
• Include mobility aids in your survival kit. (canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs)
• Secure furniture – this might help ensure a barrier free path to help with evacuation.
• Practice evacuating your home or workplace regularly. Try a few different routes.
• Store your survival kit in a backpack and attach it to your mobility aid.
• If you use a motorised wheelchair/scooter, make sure you keep a spare battery with your survival kit.
• Include a puncture repair kit in your survival kit – just in case your wheelchair gets a puncture.
• Arrange a ‘buddy’ - this could be a friend, neighbour or relative.
• Adopt the ICE advice so that emergency workers will know who to contact if you’re on your own and distressed.
Speech Impediment
Someone with speech problems will find it difficult to communicate with emergency workers.
Tips
• Decide how to communicate if disaster strikes and include communication aids in your survival kit. This could include pens and paper, pre printed messages, a handheld whiteboard and markers, or a lap top.
• Make sure you have an information card that simply explains to people how best to communicate with you. Adopt the ICE advice so that emergency workers will know who to contact if you’re on your own and distressed.
Cognitive Disabilities (developmental disability, brain injury, stroke)
Someone with cognitive disabilities may find it difficult to process information and may become very distressed and have trouble communicating.
Tips
• Arrange a ‘buddy’ – this could be a friend, neighbour or relative – to help you or the person understand better understand the nature of what has happened and how to react.
• Decide how best to communicate if disaster strikes and include the appropriate communication aids in your survival kit. This could include pens and paper, pre printed messages, a hand held whiteboard and markers, or a lap top.
• Make sure you have an information card that simply explains your condition to rescue workers.
• If you take medication, make sure you have at least a weeks supply stored in your emergency kit.
• Practise different escape routes and plan how you might evacuate your home using different scenarios.
• Adopt the ICE advice so that emergency workers will know who to contact if you’re on your own and distressed.
Special Food Needs
Someone who has special food needs or food allergies could become very ill if they are unable to source the nutrition they require.
Tips
• Include a supply of the appropriate food in your survival kit.
• Adopt the ICE advice so that emergency workers will know who to contact if you’re on your own and distressed.