WHY YOU NEED AN EMERGENCY "GO BAG" ASAP!

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin

“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” ― Abraham Lincoln

"Expect the best, plan for the worst!"  That's my motto to live by.  In today's world, with exploding deadly lava,  wildfires, catastrophic hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks (the list goes on)  it's a good idea to prepare you and your loved ones for any emergency situation.  

Friday, June 1st, is the official mark of the 2018 Hurricane season.  What if during an emergency you are separated from a loved one?  Do you have a plan?  Does your child know what to do if they are separated from you during a natural disaster?  It's no surprise during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there were more than 5000 cases of missing children after the storm.  Hurricane Katrina survivor, Marceline, shared her harrowing story with "Save the Children."  She was separated from her 2-year-old daughter for a week.  Would your child have the necessary skills to find their way back to you? 

These days, relying on our cell phones for everything means most of us would have trouble remembering actual contact numbers or addresses without using their cell phone.  Do you know all your loved ones direct contact numbers off the top of your head?  What about the actual address of an emergency evacuation route or bus stop?  Sometimes a nasty Nor'easter doesn't come with a timely warning and can leave you without power and water for days. No power means your local stores and gas stations are closed.  Are you prepared if a violent storm hit tonight leaving you without power for weeks?  Preparing yourself and your loved ones ahead of time, for any emergency is key. 

For starters, make sure you actually have a list of cell phone numbers and addresses of the important people in your life.  That means in addition to loved ones you have contact numbers for care takers, doctors, emergency care, hospitals etc.  We suggest you actually hand write this contact list and make photo copies to keep handy and distribute to the other people on your list.  A written contact list would be crucial in the event both the internet and cell phone service are down.  In addition to having emergency contact information on hand, it is important that you and your family create an emergency location to meet up in case all other communication are cut off.

One of the best ways to prepare you and your family in case of any emergency is, a GO BAG!  A decade ago, the suggestion of a GO BAG may have seemed extreme but, these days being prepared could save you from some serious aggravation or possibly save a life.  Whether you live in a high-rise in the city or a home in the suburbs, you can customize a GO BAG for each person in your household. A suggested list of GO BAG items are posted at this link:   Westchestergov.com and detailed below.  Don't forget to include a copy of emergency contact information in each GO BAG!  

THENERDSWIFE.COM

You can also create an emergency GO BAG specifically for kids!  The options of what to include in your GO BAG are endless.  THE WANNA suggests you include an "In Case of Emergency" or ICE card in your child's GO BAG.  Amazon sells a version for around $10 bucks here.  Ultimately, customizing a bag to fit your specific needs are obviously the best way to go.  But, If you are way too busy to customize a GO BAG, you can buy a pre-packaged "survival" bag or "family emergency"  kit.  This website, Stealthangelsurvival.com has a slew of options to choose from. 

Make a bag. Buy a bag... Whatever you choose, just do it!  It's better to be SAFE than SORRY!

Have a fun, memorable and SAFE summer season 2018!  

xo, THE WANNA

*****WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR GO BAG?  Westchestergov.com ******

In the event of an emergency that requires you to evacuate, everyone in your household should have a Go Bag packed and ready to go. Your Go Bag should be a sturdy and easy to carry backpack or duffle bag containing things you would want to have with you if you have to leave in a hurry. Items to consider for your Go Bag include:

• Bottled water and nonperishable food, such a s granola bars

• Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, wet wipes, etc)

• Flashlight, hand-rank or battery-operated AM/FM radio, and extra batteries

• Portable cell phone charger

• Notepad, pen/pencil, and marker

• Local street maps (paper version)

• Spare home/vehicle keys

• Whistle or bell

• First aid kit

• Dust mask to reduce inhalation of dust and other debris

• Work gloves

• A change of clothing (long sleeve shirt/pants, rain gear, sturdy footwear, etc.)

• Copies of important documents (insurance/medical cards, contact lists, identification, marriage and birth certificates, etc.) in a portable, waterproof container or plastic bag

• Back-up medical/assistive equipment and supplies

• A list of the medications you take, why you take them, and the dosages

• Cash, in small bills

• Supplies for your service animal or pet

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends assembling a kit of basic supplies to last three days (72 hours), in the event of a disaster. The kit should be checked at least twice per year to ensure that components have not expired. Identify an easily accessible storage location for the kit, and ensure that all family members are aware of this location. This kit should include the following:

• Water

  • One gallon per day, per person. This provides for both drinking and sanitary uses.

  • Include additional water for pets, as needed

• Food

  • Non-perishable items

  • Ready-to-eat canned foods, and a manual can opener

  • Ensure adequate supply for each family member

    • Consider special dietary or other needs

• Include pet food, if applicable

• Handheld AM/FM radio and NOAA Weather Tone Alert Radio. Appropriate spare batteries.

• Cellular phone

• Chargers for portable electronic devices (phone, laptop, tablet, etc.)

• Flashlight and appropriate spare batteries

• First aid kit

• Whistle or bell

• Dust mask to reduce inhalation of dust and other debris

  • Adequate supply for family members

• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal windows, doors and other openings, if advised to do so.

• Pre-moistened wipes, plastic garbage bags and zip ties for toileting.

• Wrench and/or pliers to shut off utilities

• Local street maps (paper version)

• Key documents including insurance documents, contact lists, identification, etc. in a portable, waterproof container

• Medical information (history, allergies, etc.) for each family member.

• Personal medical/assistive equipment, as appropriate

• Prescription medications, including a list the medications you take, why you take them and the dosages

• Prescription glasses, if needed

• Diapers and formula, if needed

• Spare home/vehicle keys

• Cash (small bills), change for telephones, etc.

• Sleeping bag/blankets

  • Adequate supply for all family members

• Changes of clothes for each family member

  • Long sleeved shirt

  • Long pants

  • Sturdy shoes

  • Appropriate personal hygiene supplies for each family member

• Unscented chlorine bleach

  • For disinfecting purposes: dilute nine parts water to one part bleach

  • For water purification: sixteen drops per gallon of water

• Fire extinguisher (portable size)

• Matches and weatherproof container

• Paper plates, cups, eating utensils, paper towels

• Age-appropriate books, games, etc. for children (if applicable)

Additional Information and Links

• FEMA.gov – Emergency Supply List

• FEMA.gov – “Fifteen Minutes. Grab and Go.”

• Ready.gov – Build A Kit

WHAT TO PACK INSIDE YOUR "GO BAG" FOR KIDS:  

• A small backpack 

• Waterproof flashlight or mini - Lantern

• Extra batteries

• Shampoo/Body Wash

• Toothbrush and Toothpaste

• Hand sanitizer

• Bandages with Antibiotic Cream

• Hand wipes

• Tummy relief (Tummygize Essential Oil)

• Gauze pads

• Snacks — granola bars and fruit pouches

• Bottled water

• Change of clothes

• Extra shoes

• $20 in small bills and change

• Paper and crayons

• Activity kits

• Comfort item — stuffed animal, blanket, etc

• ICE Contact Card

POKEMON GO APP PROVES TO BE POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING

Now's your chance to discover and capture the Pokémon all around you-so put your shoes on, step outside, and explore the world with Pokémon GO. ------------------------------­---- Follow IGN for more! ------------------------------­---- YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/ignentertainment?sub_confirmation=1 IGN OFFICIAL APP: http://www.ign.com/mobile FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ign TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ign INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/igndotcom/?hl=en WEBSITE: http://www.ign.com/ GOOGLE+: https://plus.google.com/+IGN

The new Pokemon GO app was recently released, and it was an immediate sensation among thousands of players.  The app’s success skyrocketed Nintendo’s market value to $7.5 billion.

For those who don’t know, Pokemon GO is an “augmented reality” game in which the player has to “catch” various Pokemon in the real world.  While there have been plenty of other augmented reality game apps, Pokemon GO is one of a kind due to the Pokemon video game series' dedicated fandom.  Pokemon GO allows players to literally become an integrated part of their favorite game.

So how does it actually work?  The app uses your phone’s GPS to show you the locations of the Pokemon in your area.  Destinations could be on the street, in the park, or even in local businesses.  You literally walk from location to location to catch Pokemon.  When you get to a pinpointed location, you aim the in-app camera at the Pokemon, and “catch” it.  It's essentially a scavenger hunt in which you explore a city to find as many wild Pokemon as you can.

The Pokemon GO app may be an enjoyable, outdoorsy change of pace for video game players, but it has also proved hazardous and potentially life-threatening.

Four people were arrested in Missouri for multiple armed robberies in which it appeared they used the Pokemon GO app to lure players with the intention to rob the distracted individuals.  The suspects appeared to add "beacons" to a "PokeStop" — a blue cube that allows players to strengthen their Pokemon.  Police said that this allowed the suspects to attract and pinpoint players who were "standing around in the middle of a parking lot or whatever location they were in."

In Wyoming, 19 year old Shayla Wiggins, followed the app to capture a “water-type” Pokemon, when she discovered a man’s corpse floating in a river.

Players have become injured because Pokemon GO leaves its participants distracted.  Mike Schultz, a 21-year-old communications graduate in Long Island, New York, fell over and cut his hand on the pavement while on his skateboard.  He said, “I just wanted to be able to stop quickly if there were any Pokemons nearby to catch.”

Kyrie Tompkins, a 22-year-old from Waterville, Maine, fell on the pavement and twisted her ankle.  She said, "[The app] vibrated to let me know there was something nearby and I looked up and just fell in a hole."

One player in Colorado Springs, CO., Mike Zichler, told KRDO.com that he had run into a couple of parents while they searched for their son who played the game.  Zichler said, “It would be very easy for me to just sit here and lure a bunch of players here and then rob them.”

Another player, Portia Scovern, told KRDO.com that players should, “Use common sense.  Use safety first.”

The Pokemon GO app was prepared for potential safety issues.  The app’s website warned players, "For safety's sake, never play Pokemon GO when you're on your bike, driving a car, riding a hoverboard, or anything else where you should be paying attention, and of course never wander away from your parents or your group to catch a Pokémon."

pokemongo.com 

THE WANNA WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Have you downloaded and played Pokemon GO?