1. Unit 3 – Personal Preparedness
Taken from Beach, M. (2010). Disaster preparedness and
management. Philadelphia, PA, F. A. Davis Co. unless
otherwise referenced.

2. Please notice this unit does not
follow the order in your text. Use
Chapter 4 of your text to prepare
for this Unit of the Course.

3. Unit 3 Objectives
Course Objective met in this Unit is: #4- Select the needed
resources for preparation of large-scale disasters at various
levels.
•Organize a Plan
•Explore Needs of Families (Medications, Disabilities, Pets)
•Consider Supplies, Storage, & Shelter
•Examine Health Risks Post-disaster
•Consider Survival Until Restoration is Accomplished
•Recall Nursing Implications

4. Personal Preparedness Plan
• Means being personally prepared for
one’s self.
• Will include those you live with.
• For at least 3 days without outside help.

5. Risk Assessment
Questions to ask:
• What puts your town at risk?
• What may happen to the structure you live
in?
• If you evacuate, where will you go?
• Where are the local shelters?
• What about temperature extremes?

6. Risk Assessment continued
• What about first aid needs?
• Are there family members that need special medications
or have disabilities that require special needs? Pets’
needs?
• What are our water, food & sanitation needs?
• Will your family be able to manage without your
presence?
• How will communication be handled?

7. Begin your own PPP
Make your plan with paper & pen – the only way
to really get started! The following are helpful
guides:
Text book
http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan

8. Water
Pre-Event
• 1 gallon per person/ day
• store unopened
• use clean containers
• hot water tank, back of
toilet, or pipes.
• fill bathtubs, sinks &
buckets
During/After Event
• chlorine bleach treatment
(10 drops/gallon)
• filter & rolling boil for 1
minute
• rain water

9. Food
• 3 days of non-perishables
• wheat, rice, soybeans, dry pasta
• canned foods & juices
• dried fruits, powdered milk & powdered potatoes
• backpacking meals & MRE's
• treats
• pet food
• foods should require minimal preparation

10. Clothing & Bedding
• 2 changes of clothes & bedding for each person
• bedding (sheets, pillow & pillow cases)
• sleeping bag for each family member.

11. First Aid & Medications
• First Aid Kit
• over-the-counter medications
• 1-2 weeks of prescription medications

12. Miscellaneous Items
• important papers
• flash lights with extra batteries
• tools
• vehicles: flares or reflectors, a signal flag,
flashlight, & basic tools
• see the lists in your text & on websites

13. Communication
Outside
• status of event needed
• battery powered radio or
TV
• emergency broadcast
system
Inside (family)
• cell or satellite phones
• contact person outside of
affected area
• meeting location outside
your town

14. Department of Homeland Security
• Refer to text for Homeland Security's Color-Coded Risk
System & Cooper's Color-Coded Awareness System
for background understanding only.
• Go to this website for information on the current advisory
system.
http://www.dhs.gov/files/publications/ntas-public-
guide.shtm
• National Terrorism Advisory System
• NTAS Alerts
• The NTAS Alert – How can you help?

15. Health Risks Post Disaster
• Victims and health care workers will be exposed
to conditions outside of normal. These
conditions will vary based on the type of disaster
and its various components
• Alertness, awareness, calmness & a positive
attitude are essentials in survival.
(Veenema, 2007)

16. Nursing Implications
• Nurses can influence those in their sphere of
contacts & share their knowledge of
preparation with them.
• Nurses should use extra caution in caring for the
ill or injured, protecting themselves with PPE
at all times until the health hazards can be
identified. (Veenema, 2007)

17. References
Beach, M. (2010). Disaster preparedness and
management. Philadelphia, PA, F. A. Davis
Co.
Veenema, T. (Ed.). (2007). Disaster nursing and
emergency preparedness for chemical,
biological, and radiological terrorism and
other hazards. New York, NY: Springer
Publishing Company, LLC.