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| Home > Fact
of the Week > Spring Cleaning & Preparedness |
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3-15-2010
Preparedness
Facts of the Week
by
Elizabeth Hall, Emergency
Response Assistant - Kings County Office of Emergency
Management |
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Spring
Cleaning & Preparedness
Overwhelmed? |
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You
probably hesitated in reading this article
when you saw the title, but really, I'm not
going to tell you to get cracking in the
cleaning department. My only intention today
is to help you re-evaluate your home
and work space for obstructions and hazards
to
make your homes and offices a little more
safer than before. The month of March ushers
in the Spring season and brings thoughts
of cleaning and organizing. With that being
said, this would also be a great time to
observe your surroundings and re-evaluate
how safe they really are. It really won't
take you that long. Simply conduct a walkthrough
of your home and work space to ensure that
all exits are clear and that the paths leading
to them are unobstructed. |
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Are
the areas around your windows cleared in
case you have to use windows as an exit?
When was the last time you opened all the
windows? In most homes, there are those one
or two windows that we don't have the need
to open and therefore can become "stuck" from
non use.
Are the safe spaces under desks, tables and
counters, where people will go to Drop, Cover
and Hold On in earthquakes and other emergencies
clear? Are the areas clear for those with
special needs such has wheel chairs or walkers?
Get rid of dangerous items you don't
need (example: old paint or chemicals, hazardous
materials no longer needed, expired food,
etc.). The busier our lives become, the less
time we have to spend cleaning out the clutter.
Our garages, closets, shops, sheds and pantries
become so full of those "I-might-need-it-someday" items
that we just hate to get rid of, and I completely
understand. At one time or another you probably
threw out something only to discover shortly
after you could have used it and now it's
gone! A little regret sets in and you say "If
only I kept it!" But really, you have
to ask yourself these questions: "How
long has it just been sitting there?" and "Is
it still good at this point?" When observing
these items, is there so much dust on them
that you have to wipe it down just to see
what it actually is? If so, then you'd probably
do well to throw it out. So, the next time
you are trying to make that official decision
to discard a particular item, think on this:
If you haven't had the need for it all this
time, chances are you won't any time soon,
and if you did, more than likely it will
no longer be any good.
Store combustible and/or flammable items
in a safe manner; away from sources of heat,
flame or sparks. Also, for older homes, make
sure you keep the area around wall heaters
clear. For space heaters, a good safe distance
is at least three feet from clothing, bedding,
draperies, furniture, paper, etc.
Be careful not to stack items near exits
and pathways in an effort to save space.
You might inadvertently create a hazard by
the items falling down and not only causing
injury, but further blocking your way out
of a dangerous situation.
Door mats, power strips, extension cords
and the like around doorways or walk ways
are a trip and fall hazard so be mindful
of proper placement. If you had to temporarily
run a cord in a traffic area, make sure you
tape it down from end to end. Make sure your
mats have a non-skid or special material
on the bottom to prevent constant movement.
Have I given you a different view of "spring
cleaning"? Remember, as with any project,
don’t' let the idea overwhelm you.
You don't have to complete it in one day
or even a weekend. Do one room or area at
a time and stick with it until it is complete
and go from there. After your project is
complete, you might think about how you can
help the aging parent, neighbor or someone
who may not be able to do this project on
their own, or maybe just never thought about
it. Do your part for safety and pass along
the information! |
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Do
your part for safety awareness by passing this
information along to anyone you can think of
who would benefit.
Have
a great week, and remember…… Be
Responsible - Be Ready - Be Prepared!
Teaming Up for Emergency Preparedness
Elizabeth Hall
Office of Emergency Management
280 Campus Drive Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 582-3211, Ext. 2634
www.kingscountyoem.com
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