A Community of Families
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Are you and your family prepared for an emergency? Check out the County of Los Angeles Family Steps to Survival Guide for detailed information about emergency preparedness.

Install, Inspect, Protect:


Every year in the United States over 3,000 people perish in home fires. Statistics show that over one half of those deaths occur in homes without a smoke alarm or a working smoke alarm. There are three things you can do to improve your chances of survival in the event of a fire:

  • Install and maintain smoke alarms and residential fire sprinklers, which can help save the lives of residents and firefighters.
  • Practice fire escape plans.
  • Perform a home safety walk-through to remove fire hazards from the home.

For more information, visit www.fire.lacounty.gov.


In case of an earthquake or fire:

  • Create an evacuation plan with a second way to exit from each room or area
  • Discuss a safe meeting place for your family in case of an emergency.
  • Keep a list of important contacts on hand including police, fire, paramedics, and medical centers; insurance agents, including policy numbers; electric, gas, and water companies
  • Keep records in a secure place including important medical information, vehicle identification information and bank information
  • Gather and store important documents in a fire-proof safe including birth certificates, social security info etc.

During an earthquake:


Use these quick tips to learn how to react quickly and calmly in the event of a fire or earthquake:

  • Get under a sturdy table or desk and hold on to it.
  • Stand or crouch in a strongly supported doorway or brace yourself in an inside corner of the house or building.
  • Stay clear of windows or glass
  • If inside, stay inside to avoid being injured by falling debris.

During a fire:

  • Once the family has left the home, do NOT go back into a burning house. Hot gasses and smoke kill.
  • Call 9-1-1.

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit these websites:



http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/prepared.asp

http://www.lafd.org/

http://www.mysafela.org/