{"id":13378,"date":"2020-04-11T11:57:17","date_gmt":"2020-04-11T11:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/?p=13378"},"modified":"2025-07-07T10:29:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T10:29:40","slug":"surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Surviving a Disaster If You&#8217;re Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Emergency Response Readiness for People with Disabilities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emergency readiness\nis everybody&#8217;s responsibility. You must identify and play your role by\nresponding swiftly to any disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/responding-to-emergencies-it-is-not-that-difficult-if-you-know-what-to-do\/\">Proactive\nemergency response<\/a> is\nparticularly necessary in cases where the victim has some form of disability or\nspecial need. Though accidents and disasters distress everybody, individuals\nwith special needs are more affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"603\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png 603w, https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1-300x168.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 603px) 100vw, 603px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>People with special\nneeds suffer the most because their well-being and survival may depend on\nthings such as power sources, lifts, easy-to-get-to transportation, and a\nfast-and-ready way to communicate\u2014yet a crisis may tamper with some or all of\nthese needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>But knowing what to\ndo or having a knowledgeable, supportive caretaker, relative, or passerby in\nthe scene of the disaster can increase survival chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can break your\nemergency readiness plan into a 3-step procedure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Understanding the risk\n     profile&nbsp;<\/li><li>Developing a response strategy<\/li><li>Acquiring emergency response\n     equipment&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Executing these\nthree steps can ensure you prepare well to protect yourself or any needy\ncitizen in the event of an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What is a Personal Emergency Response Circle?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An emergency or disaster\nresponse circle is a team of not less than three people who know each other and\ncan rely on one another in case of a disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How do you create a disaster response circle?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Discuss with people in the areas\n     where you spend most of your time if they can willingly offer assistance\n     in the event of an accident. Form rapport with neighboring people due to\n     their proximity to your home and trust one with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edmonton-locksmith.ca\/top-benefits-spare-lock-key\/\">a\n     spare key to your house<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Have a distant member as part of\n     the circle. They must be far away enough to reduce the chances of ever\n     suffering the same crisis.<\/li><li>Brainstorm with your response\n     circle to create a master plan that fits your specific risk profile.<\/li><li>Test your response plan as a team.\n     This is also the time to train on health device use, if any.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The critical role\nof a personal response circle is to look out for one another. Every member of\nthe circle understands the special needs of the other (if any) and how to respond\nto emergencies when they occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Making a Custom-made Disaster Response Kit for Your Needs <\/strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Special people have\ndifferent needs, which most first aid kit makers do not consider when building\nkits. A first aid kit is essential because it carries the tools you&#8217;ll need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/free-course.php?id=3&amp;page=1&amp;cid=19&amp;type=ch\">respond\nto your emergencies.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"611\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon2.png 611w, https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon2-300x188.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 611px) 100vw, 611px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Although you can\nstill find one of those market-made kits that match your requirements, they\nmight come with a set of challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These challenges\nusually range from unnecessary items and low-quality accessories to a poor\narrangement, which may compromise user-friendliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, because kits\nfrom different manufacturers are built for different emergency treatment needs,\nit can be difficult finding one that will suit all your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Buying different\nkinds to come up with what you need can be an expensive idea; and may not give\nyou the result you&#8217;re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s why the idea\nof a DIY kit makes sense; you get something customized to deal with your\nspecific set of risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s no harm in\nneeding your custom-made kit because the types of risks vary, and each requires\ndifferent equipment to respond to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe personal kits\ncan be more effective if kit-building companies provide the &#8220;order your\ncustom-made kit&#8221; option. A customer can describe their risk profile, and\ndiscuss a list of equipment with the provider to come up with a kit tailored to\nmeet their needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But because that is\nnot yet practical, a home-made kit is your best option if you need something\nself-made for your emergency response activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For you to make\nyour own first-aid kit home, the first thing to do is to conceive it in your\nmind. Think of the special needs your kit is expected to solve, the people\nit&#8217;ll help, and the cost of making it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those three\nelements will ensure you come up with a reasonable first aid kit design that\nwill meet all your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it may be\nimpossible to premeditate all the dangers of injury that lie ahead, you can\nevaluate the injuries that have occurred in the past according to their\nfrequency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will help you\nknow what you will need to address at most times and will, therefore, influence\nthe medical items you&#8217;ll have to buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ensure all injuries\nor sicknesses that have occurred to members of the circle are written down,\nincluding their rate of occurrence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Documenting\neverything will help you in identifying which incidences to term as most\noccurring, and which ones to classify under least occurring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of your\nfirst aid kit, swift response to disasters will require a list of other items\nlike&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Water that can keep you on your\n     feet for 3-5days. Store these in portable bottles for smooth evacuation if\n     you need to.<\/li><li>A paper and an electronic copy of\n     your circle&#8217;s emergency response plan and phone numbers etc.<\/li><li>Food that is not easily perishable.\n     If possible, consider preserved and those that won&#8217;t go bad quickly. These\n     should be restocked thrice a year.<\/li><li>Flashlight (and extra cells)<\/li><li>Radio (battery-powered with extra\n     cells)<\/li><li>Your custom-made First aid kit\n     containing all prescription drugs, medic-alert devices, IDs, and every\n     other information about the members of the circle.<\/li><li>Spare keys to homes and vehicles.<\/li><li>Money in the form of cash broken\n     down in small notes like $10 and some coins for payphones<\/li><li>Other personal effects as per every\n     member&#8217;s individual needs.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is only a\nrecommended list of items you may find useful in the event of a disaster. You\ncan always add in things you consider vital to your plan depending on your\nneeds, budget, and the safety plan&#8217;s complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Other items you may need include<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Additional sources of fire and\n     light like a lighter, matchbox, candles<\/li><li>Attire and footwear&nbsp;<\/li><li>Cosmetic products, sanitizer, kitchen\n     tools<\/li><li>More water for washing and\n     cooking&nbsp;<\/li><li>Candles and matches or lighter\n     (place candles in sturdy containers and do not burn unattended)<\/li><li>Tents and blankets or sleeping bags\n     for everyone<\/li><li>Garbage bags for personal\n     sanitation<\/li><li>Minimum of a week&#8217;s supply of\n     prescription medications<\/li><li>Water-antisepticising chemicals.<\/li><li>Must-have ordinary tools like hand\n     knives, pliers, ropes, gloves, etc.<\/li><li>Portable fuel stove and fuel that\n     can serve 3-5 days.<\/li><li>Any other item you see useful for\n     your safety plan.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, but most\nimportantly, you want to provide every member of the circle with an easy way to\ncommunicate in the case of a crisis.Go for a corded phone,\nwalky-talkies, or phones built to help people stay in touch during power\noutages and emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Preparing Emergency Supplies for Your Service Pet <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Individuals with special needs often rely on service animals for basic\nguidance and support. Because such people are often attached to their service\nanimals, most want to have their pet\/assistant by their side during times of\ncrisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s of items to\nkeep for your service pet in case you will need to evacuate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>3-5 days of water and pet meals<\/li><li>Name of pet&#8217;s training center and\n     its number<\/li><li>Handy water &amp; meal plates for\n     your pet<\/li><li>Can-opener&nbsp;<\/li><li>Pet toy<\/li><li>Prescription drugs with a list\n     indicating dose and phone number of your pet&#8217;s veterinary doctor.<\/li><li>Health data including immunizations<\/li><li>Chain and neckline<\/li><li>Pet blanket<\/li><li>Polythene bags<\/li><li>A pet-safety first aid kit<\/li><li>An identifier or neck tag with your\n     latest contact info&nbsp;<\/li><li>Photo of pet for tracking if they\n     get lost&nbsp;<\/li><li>Permit, or a copy of it<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Preparing these\nitems upfront can ensure you have a comfortable stay outdoors with your service\npet in\ncases of emergencies that\nrequire you to evacuate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>General Guidelines for Individuals with Special Needs &amp; Bystanders Assisting Them<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a list of\nthings persons with disabilities should do in preparation for unexpected\naccidents that require you to exit your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Arrange and store all emergency\n     supplies organized in a central, accessible, easy-to-grab location.<\/li><li>Add identifiers to all your special\n     personal supplies, including operating manuals of all gadgets during\n     danger.&nbsp;<\/li><li>If your condition depends on life-aiding\n     devices or you need constant supervision, request your circle to look for\n     on you soon after a crisis and prepare a secondary source of power up\n     front.<\/li><li>Attend frequent reminders and\n     update sessions with your emergency response circle to ensure an effective\n     strategy in the event of a crisis.<\/li><li>Prepare a list of all food and\n     medication allergies (if any), blood group, prescription drugs,\n     physician&#8217;s number, health risks, and more to help passersby and your\n     circle assist you in case of an emergency. A copy of this should be sent\n     to your circle.<\/li><li>If your circle is compromised\n     during a crisis, request others of your disabilities and help them assist\n     you.<\/li><li>Inform your circle about your\n     service pet, its critical role in your life, and your plans for it as part\n     of the emergency response plan.<\/li><li>Always carry a portable alarm loud\n     enough to inform bystanders that you are around.<\/li><li>Recognize that disasters may be\n     overpowering, and stressful situations can aggravate certain existing\n     illnesses.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These personal\npreparation tips can make it easier for you to survive a crisis and help\nbystanders assist you during emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong> Bystander Tips to Help Disabled Individuals. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we mentioned\nearlier, helping our disabled colleagues is everyone&#8217;s responsibility,\nespecially in emergencies where their life may depend on your assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So how can a\nbystander assist a needy person during a crisis?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Offer to assist the individual and\n     ask how you be of help.<\/li><li>If a victim with special needs\n     turns down your assistance, then ask them to move to a safe location and\n     wait for emergency responders to reach the scene.<\/li><li>If their life is at risk, inform\n     others about the situation for further assistance.<\/li><li>Never touch a person, their service\n     pet, or items without their consent, but for cases where their life is at\n     risk.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>If they agree to be assisted, stick\n     to the guidelines on the life-support devices.<\/li><li>If administering first aid, Use\n     clinical gloves without latex to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/free-course.php?id=4&amp;page=1&amp;cid=95&amp;type=ch\">minimize\n     the spread of bloodborne pathogens<\/a>\n     or trigger allergic reactions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>If they ask you to call someone,\n     heed to their request. They may be asking you to contact family or circle\n     member with better knowledge on how to help them.<\/li><li>Take charge of the service animal&#8217;s\n     role during the emergency as they may not have enough training and ability\n     to deal with disasters.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Different Special Needs and How to Prepare an Effective Emergency Response Plan for Each<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Special needs vary\nfrom one person to the next. That also means a response plan for one case may\nnot apply for another impairment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"612\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon3.png 612w, https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon3-300x156.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The rest of this\nguide will discuss; the different types of disabilities, how individuals with\nthose impairments can prepare for a disaster, and ways a bystander can assist\nin each case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. Hearing Disabilities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Persons with\nhearing disabilities can find it difficult to communicate or understand\nwarnings or instructions during a disaster.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Preparing a readiness plan. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>In the case of an emergency, move\n     your lips and use other gestures to show you have a hearing assistant on.<\/li><li>Always carry a pen and piece of\n     paper or phone for written one-on-one messages.<\/li><li>Set up a fire and smoke alarm\n     system that not only makes a sound but uses other visual clues like\n     vibration or lighting.<\/li><li>Inspect your alarms from time to\n     time.<\/li><li>Do cell replacements from time to\n     time.<\/li><li>Always revise and update your\n     emergency response strategy<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong> Other accessories you may need include<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Sticky notes&nbsp;<\/li><li>A boldly printed notice informing\n     people around you that you have hearing difficulties.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Portable alarm and torch<\/li><li>Have hearing devices (if any) with\n     extra power supplies.<\/li><li>A handy visible notification gadget\n     to tell if there&#8217;s a phone call or doorbell ringing.<\/li><li>Copy of a health document that\n     explains your hearing problems and how you can be assisted.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bystander tips to assist Individuals with hearing difficulty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Approach the individual from in\n     front and get their attention using gestures or touching their\n     hands.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Keep eye-to-eye and be audible<\/li><li>Speak normally (not too fast, not\n     too sluggish) and maintain close contact.<\/li><li>Give short instructions<\/li><li>Employ gesturization to help drive\n     your point home<\/li><li>Write whatever you want to say if\n     the situation is not life-threatening.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Do not shout; it may over-amplify\n     in the supportive device and harm the individual.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, it is also\nimportant to recognize that some individuals may have a hearing impairment and\nbe blind at the same time. Always make sure everyone is cared for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Limited\nMovement &amp; Persons with Disabilities during Crisis&nbsp;<\/strong>People with most disabilities may not be able\nto respond to the swift movement needs during an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Limitations may\ninclude things like; not being able to see, dependence on mobility assistance\nequipment, or illnesses that restrict speed like heart-related or respiratory\nconditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong> A Readiness plan for Movement.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For wheelchair users, insist that\n     an emergency exit chair be placed in an accessible location so that your\n     circle can reach it quickly and help you during a crisis.<\/li><li>Also, have an ever-ready contact\n     with knowledge on how to use your emergency chair, so you have someone to\n     rely on.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Also, confirm upfront if\n     wheelchairs can access public crisis centers.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Other accessories for your emergency response strategy. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A small toolbox to patch tire\n     punctures and fix any mechanical problems.<\/li><li>A portable tire pump<\/li><li>Extra pair of inner tubes<\/li><li>Heavy cycling gloves to keep your\n     hands safe.<\/li><li>Clinical gloves (latex-free) for\n     anybody offering assistance<\/li><li>Extra battery for automatic\n     wheelchairs.<\/li><li>A light portable wheelchair as a\n     backup for your auto-chair&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong> Bystander Tips to assist Disabled Individuals with Movement. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If accessible, wear latex-free\n     clinical gloves before touching a person.<\/li><li>If possible, move the person along\n     with their wheelchair. If not possible, shelter indoors (if applicable),\n     use moving staircases, or an emergency exit chair.<\/li><li>Make sure you seek a person&#8217;s\n     consent before you touch them unless their life is at risk.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Always look for a\nfast and easy way to evacuate scenes that could be potentially dangerous\nwithout hurting the disabled individual or leaving behind their movement aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Individuals with Vision Impairment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anybody with vision\nimpairment, partial or full, may face difficulties seeing warning posters or\nnavigating through unknown locations in the event of a disaster.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"624\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon4.png 624w, https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon4-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>These people often\nneed help from others because their survival depends on a peaceful, orderly\nenvironment that is compromised during disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even their service\npets may not be able to offer enough assistance in emergencies because their\ntraining does not involve such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your readiness plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Prepare everything you may need in\n     case of an emergency; food, water, personal effects, talking clock or\n     braille watch, vision assistants, a radio with extra cells.<\/li><li>Also, remember to have an emergency\n     plan for your service pet.<\/li><li>Have an emergency guiding rod long\n     enough for better navigation in a messed up environment.<\/li><li>Learn the emergency exit routes and\n     all the floors in your building or workplace for smooth evacuation during\n     a crisis.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bystander tips to assist the visually impaired <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For a person with both vision and\n     hearing impairment, use\n     your finger to make an &#8220;X&#8221; on their back\n     as a way to offer assistance.<\/li><li>Draw letters on their palm with\n     your finger to pass on a message.<\/li><li>When guiding a person, be half-step\n     in front, allow t and walk at them to hold your hand and maintain their\n     speed.<\/li><li>Never talk loudly or shout when\n     giving instructions.<\/li><li>Notify them, in advance, of\n     staircases, turns, obstacles, etc.<\/li><li>Check out for anything they could\n     run into.<\/li><li>Do not grab a visually impaired\n     person unless it is a life-threatening emergency.&nbsp;<\/li><li>In case a service animal is\n     present, discuss with the individual how to include them in the emergency\n     response plan.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Never leave a blind\nor visually disabled person alone during a crisis. Lack of sight can\nsignificantly reduce the chances of survival in life-threatening situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Hidden or Unseen Special Needs or Disabilities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people suffer\ndisabilities or have special needs, not observable or notable, which compromise\ntheir ability to move swiftly or respond to emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unseen special\nneeds such as difficulty talking, mental health issues may slow or reduce a\nperson&#8217;s ability to notice disasters and respond accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other health\nillnesses like allergic reactions, epileptic seizures, diabetes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/free-course.php?id=5&amp;page=1&amp;cid=17&amp;type=ch\">heart\nor respiratory conditions<\/a>,\netc. may also fall under hidden special needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Preparation tips for individuals with hidden special needs <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Organize all backup medication,\n     foods according to your prescription diet, special medical equipment per\n     your needs, and a thorough list of drugs and dosage.<\/li><li>Prepare a neck tag with a list of\n     contacts of people from your circle and family members who understand your\n     special needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Ensure the members of your circle\n     know where you keep prescription drugs have your backup medication in the\n     emergency kit.<\/li><li>Wear a medic alert wearable to show\n     passersby that you have hidden special needs.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong> Passerby Tips to Help Individuals with hidden special needs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Ask the individual to define the\n     kind of assistance they need.<\/li><li>Be flexible in communication as\n     people with special needs may not be able to communicate effectively under\n     stressed conditions.<\/li><li>Keep eye-to-eye interaction and be\n     reassuring when talking to the individual.<\/li><li>Be polite, and do not hesitate to\n     say the same thing twice if they ask or fail to hear.<\/li><li>Help the individual to take ONLY\n     prescription medicine if they need to.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These guidelines\ncan help individuals with special needs get ready for the unexpected and\npassersby to assist disabled persons during times of crisis. Getting ready for\ndisasters before they happen increases your chances of survival when they\noccur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wrapping Up.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People with disabilities require a response\nplan because their survival may entirely rely on their readiness to deal with\nthe situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;An emergency\nresponse circle can ensure you have a reliable team of supportive people who\ncan always come to your rescue when you push the panic button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, prepare an\nall-inclusive kit to ensure a comfortable stay for 3 to 5 days, if you have to\nevacuate, as you wait for things to cool down.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Emergency Response Readiness for People with Disabilities Emergency readiness is everybody&#8217;s responsibility. You must identify and play your role by responding swiftly to any disasters. Proactive emergency response is particularly necessary in cases where the victim has some form of disability or special need. Though accidents and disasters distress everybody, individuals with special needs are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cpr"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.4 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Surviving a Disaster If You&#039;re Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CPR blog for Surviving a Disaster If You&#039;re Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Surviving a Disaster If You&#039;re Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"CPR blog for Surviving a Disaster If You&#039;re Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Online CPR Certification Blog | World News in Medicine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-04-11T11:57:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-07T10:29:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/\",\"name\":\"Surviving a Disaster If You're Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-04-11T11:57:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-07T10:29:40+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/54248b57c4973c8f339e90ca1ad2b46b\"},\"description\":\"CPR blog for Surviving a Disaster If You're Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png\",\"width\":603,\"height\":338},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Surviving a Disaster If You&#8217;re Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Online CPR Certification Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/54248b57c4973c8f339e90ca1ad2b46b\",\"name\":\"Admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/02633b4fc66ccd10394db68cc59a903a6ca17029064cd9a9e664a1d84afeba2b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/02633b4fc66ccd10394db68cc59a903a6ca17029064cd9a9e664a1d84afeba2b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/author\/admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Surviving a Disaster If You're Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities","description":"CPR blog for Surviving a Disaster If You're Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Surviving a Disaster If You're Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities","og_description":"CPR blog for Surviving a Disaster If You're Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities","og_url":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/","og_site_name":"Online CPR Certification Blog | World News in Medicine","article_published_time":"2020-04-11T11:57:17+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-07T10:29:40+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Admin","Est. reading time":"15 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/","url":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/","name":"Surviving a Disaster If You're Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png","datePublished":"2020-04-11T11:57:17+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-07T10:29:40+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/54248b57c4973c8f339e90ca1ad2b46b"},"description":"CPR blog for Surviving a Disaster If You're Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mon1.png","width":603,"height":338},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/surviving-a-disaster-if-youre-disabled-emergency-readiness-tips-for-individuals-with-special-needs-or-disabilities\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Surviving a Disaster If You&#8217;re Disabled: Emergency Readiness Tips for Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/","name":"Online CPR Certification Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/54248b57c4973c8f339e90ca1ad2b46b","name":"Admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/02633b4fc66ccd10394db68cc59a903a6ca17029064cd9a9e664a1d84afeba2b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/02633b4fc66ccd10394db68cc59a903a6ca17029064cd9a9e664a1d84afeba2b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Admin"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog"],"url":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13378"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13378\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17541,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13378\/revisions\/17541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlinecprcertification.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}