Preparing for Emergencies at Home

As Emergency Responders, the volunteers of the Arlington-Falls Church Volunteer Rescue Squad can tell you that emergencies happen every day. When people hear the words "emergency preparedness" they tend to think of large scale disasters. While it's important to be prepared for large catastrophes, it is also important to realize you and your family are more likely to face emergencies such as a fire in your home or a medical problem.

• Ensure that everyone in your home knows how to use 9-1-1. Practice with children as to when they would use 9-1-1 and what they would say.
• Check your house numbers to make sure they are easily visible from the street during night and day so that crews can find you rapidly in an emergency.
• Practice your escape plan! Make certain both you and your family members know how you would evacuate your home during a fire or emergency, and where you would meet outside.
• Change your smoke detector batteries twice a year – when you change your clocks for daylight savings time.
• Prepare an emergency "Go Kit" with all the items you and your family would need when rapidly evacuating your home and keep it near the exit.

The Federal Government has developed the www.ready.gov program to help citizens prepare for emergencies. You may wish to visit their site for much more information on emergency Go Kits, making emergency plans, and other preparedness information. You may also want to visit the Arlington County Office of Emergency Management if you live in Arlington County, the City of Falls Church Emergency Preparedness web page if you live in the City of Falls Church, or the Fairfax County Emergency Information web page if you live outside the City.