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Special Needs
What are special needs when it comes to preparing an Emergency Action Plan?
For some people it might be the need to have a fresh squeeze of lemon in their ice water. If you Google the term Special Needs you won’t find a fresh squeeze of lemon there.
Special needs is a term usually used to describe individuals with medical, mental or psychological disabilities requiring special assistance. And this is not necessarily all inclusive.
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If you need a label to categorize these groups you may come up with concepts such as… Elderly, Visually Challenged, Auditory Challenged, and Mobility Challenged, Mentally Challenged, Medically Challenged, Pets and Service Animals, Children, Diabetics…
These individuals may have long tern/permanent needs. Or they might be short term/temporary needs.
Either way, you will need to plan for them.
Disability doesn’t make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does. – Stella Young
The best way to start Special Needs planning is to identify the individuals’ functional abilities and absolute needs well before an emergency or disaster. Be aware of the during and after needs, as they will become crucial during the immediate response to the event. And after the event when resources may not be readily available.
A hypothetical scenario could be that the electricity is out. It will be out for a week, maybe two, and Aunt Janice needs regular dialysis.
Some of the categories of needs will fall into… Medicine, Diet, Oxygen, Transportation, Medical Services, Electrical Devices, Personal Care Equipment, Pet friendly Shelters/Hotels – Motels. Care and feeding of your pets or Service Animals. Diapers for the baby.
Please keep in mind that I am not a Doctor, Nurse, Clinician, Veterinarian or Health Care Professional. The labels and lists provided are not all inclusive. These are simply my thoughts based on personal research.
During the Emergency Action Planning process consult with medical professionals and your County Office of Emergency Management to identify the resources that may be needed and available for your specific situation. If you discover something that is not going to be available, you need to fix it now.
A starting resource: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/897
Till Next time
“Be Safe”
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