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Elderly parents in Poway are far more vulnerable in emergency situations than healthy, independent adults and young people. This means that in the case of an earthquake or other natural disaster, these treasured family members must be prepared even more thoroughly than others. Aside from the standard things that every California family should do to prepare for a sudden earthquake, here are some ideas to make sure your elderly parents in Poway, Vista, or any other San Diego County town can stay safe until help arrives.
Handicapped-Accessible Considerations
A handicapped senior often cannot easily take some of the typical earthquake safety precautions. They probably can’t quickly crawl under a sturdy table, for example. How about making sure that a designated small closet or bathroom has enough room for your elderly loved one’s wheelchair to immediately fit inside? Remove items from tall shelves so that they will not fall down during a quake.
Critical Medications for Elderly Parents in San Diego County
If your elderly parents have critical prescription needs, their condition could become very serious just a few hours after an earthquake if they can not get to their medications. Aside from doing all you can to make sure medications are in a safe location, be prepared to inform emergency workers exactly what your loved one’s prescription schedule is. If they know what a senior’s risks are, they can prioritize getting help to him or her before a health emergency occurs.
Review Your Earthquake Plan Often
Quick—what’s your family’s immediate plan in the case of an earthquake? If you can’t answer right away, imagine how difficult it must be for an aging parent to remember it. Don’t assume that devising a plan once will be enough to adequately prepare a senior for swift action during a disaster! Review it often, write it out clearly, and occasionally question the individual to test his or her memory. For more information on establishing emergency plans, visit the County of San Diego’s earthquake preparedness page.
Originally posted 2012-04-30 10:30:44.