June is National Safety Month. It is important to be prepared for disasters and emergencies that can happen with little warning. Protect your family from emergencies by developing a home emergency response plan.

The National Safety Council suggests the following checklist may help you in developing an emergency plan for your family to follow in any disaster. If your response to the majority of the questions asked in the checklist are "yes," then you are well on your way to developing a plan. If you answer "no" to all or most of these questions, then develop and implement a home plan as soon as possible.

Do you have a home emergency plan, and does it cover all emergencies like fire, weather, etc.? Does your family practice it?

Does your plan include smoke, gas and carbon monoxide detectors?

Do you have a weather radio and do all members of your family know what the signals mean?

Can each member of your family tell you two ways out of your home? If your second way out of a two-story home is a window, do you need a safety ladder? If you live in a high-rise, does your family know--and practice--two ways out of the building? (Remember an elevator is never a way out during a fire.)

Can all members of your family operate the locks, windows and doors for escape?

Does your family understand to leave or seek shelter when an alarm sounds?

Does each member of your family know where to go after evacuating your home?

Does each member of your family know who to call for help and are the telephone numbers posted?

In a weather-related emergency, does your family know where to seek shelter?

Escape planning and smoke detectors are essential for getting everyone out safely. Are the batteries routinely replaced?

Does your family understand once they are outside, they should stay outside?

Do you have a first-aid kit and is it fully stocked?

Do you have a fire extinguisher and is it serviced?

Do you encourage family members to take first-aid and CPR classes?

If needed, do members of your family know how to shut off the water, gas and electricity to your home?

Does your plan cover whom to call in case of a utility problem?

Do you maintain a supply of tarps or plywood to cover openings created by a storm or fire?

Do you have flashlights, radios, etc., and more importantly, batteries located in a central area known to all family members?

Do you have a written inventory and photographs of all valuable items in your home? Do you have more than one copy located outside of your home? Remember to update your inventory list when you purchase new items or make changes in your home.

Remember, you can not predict when you and your family will be faced with an emergency. However, you do know every second counts when it comes to emergency response. So be prepared for your first — or next emergency — and make every second count for your family's safety. If your family already has an emergency plan in place take the time to review the plan each season.

(This resource was added June 4, 2006 and appeared in the Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper Sunday edition. For information on reproducing this article or using any photographs or graphics, read the Terms of Use statement)

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