(HealthDayNews) -- The threat of terrorism has become a fact of post-Sept. 11 life, as have anxieties about personal safety. By taking certain steps to prepare for the unexpected, you can reduce the stress associated with living with uncertainty, says the American Red Cross of Rhode Island.
Here are some things you can do:
- Choose an out-of-town contact your family can call or e-mail to check on each other should a disaster occur. The contact should live far enough away that they would be unlikely to be directly affected by the same event. Tell them they are the chosen contact. Make sure everyone has the information. Also, leave these contact numbers at your children's schools and your workplace.
- Establish a meeting place away from your home. This will save time and minimize confusion should your home be affected or the area evacuated.
- Put together a disaster supplies kit and store it in an easy-to-carry container. Include special needs items for family members who require them, a change of clothing and sleeping bag for each person, a battery powered TV plus extra batteries, food, bottled water and tools.
- Store copies of essential documents away from your home. You could use a safety deposit box or the home of an out-of-town friend.
- Check on your children's schools' emergency plans.
