Surviving Daylight Savings Time 2012

The changing of clocks tomorrow (March 11) for daylight savings time is as good a time as any to take stock of one’s personal or family survival kit. And local health officials are taking the time change as an opportunity to drill disaster preparedness to the public.    

The switch to daylight savings time coincides with earthquake and tsunami awareness month in Oregon, whose Pacific Northwest location puts it on the map for earthquake risk.

‘We recommend having at least a three-day supply of food and water stored at home, with at least one gallon of water per person per day,’ said Oregon Health Authority emergency operations head Mike Harryman. 

Those living in straitened circumstances can try to do their stockpiling slowly, picking up one or two items during every grocery store visit. ‘Stock up on canned vegetables or batteries when they’re on sale,’ he adds.

Existing stockpiles should then be checked for missing or expired items. Other  emergency preparations essentials include: 

• Flashlight and batteries, especially batteries for smoke alarms;
• Manual can opener;
• Battery-operated radio;
• First-aid kit;
• Extra prescriptions including medication, eye glasses or contact lenses;
• Important documents such as birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, passports and Social Security cards.

For more detailed emergency preparation tips, go to https://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/Pages/emergencysupplies.aspx.

Sources : EXAMINER.COM