Would you know what to do in a medical emergency? What about some type of disaster?
If you’re like half of Americans recently surveyed by Adelphi University Center for Health Innovation and reported by Mary Elizabeth Dallas, you don’t have a first-aid kit (44% don’t) or emergency supplies in case of a catastrophe (48%). That could turn a difficult time into a life-threatening experience.
The researchers think it because Americans have a false sense of security. Even though 53% of Americans don’t have a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water in their home, people surveyed thought they could survive in their homes for an average of 16 days if there were a disaster.
55% of surveyed people also thought they could rely on local authorities to rescue them if a disaster were to occur.
Of the parents surveyed, 80 percent felt they were well prepared for disasters. But only 48% have a designated a family meeting place to find each other if they are separated during an emergency.
Surprisingly, 42 percent of Americans do not know the phone numbers of all of their immediate family members.
Because most Americans work outside of the home, knowing if your workplace has a disaster plan would seem essential. Yet only 21% of working Americans were found to know if that was the case.
Only a small percentage, 18%, receive information on health care preparedness from the media. In addition, only 63 percent of adults have actually made a list of the drugs they are taking, and only 52% have a copy of essential health insurance documents handy in case of a disaster.
More information
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency provides more information on emergency preparedness.
For more information on what to do in a medical emergency, click here for 10 FREE TIPS on what to do in a medical emergency.
SOURCE: Adelphi University, news release, July 16, 2012
