Living in a remote location can be beautiful and peaceful, but it can also be challenging in an emergency. First responders may have difficulty reaching your home, and communication may be limited. This is why it is important to be prepared for emergencies and to have a plan in place.
Challenges:
- Accessibility: First responders may have difficulty reaching your home due to poor or poorly-maintained roads, or a lack of clear signage. This can delay the response time and make it more difficult for responders to provide timely care.
- Communication: In remote locations, cellular or internet connectivity may be limited, making it difficult for responders to communicate with your home or with emergency dispatch. This can further delay the response time and make it more difficult to coordinate care.
- Limited resources: In remote locations, emergency medical services (EMS) may be limited, and first responders may have less advanced equipment or fewer personnel available. This can make it more difficult for them to provide advanced life support and may require transport to a hospital farther away.
- Weather-related issues: Homes in remote or mountainous locations may be more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions such as heavy snow, storms, and flooding, that can make it difficult to reach the location and provide assistance.
- Evacuation: In case of severe medical emergencies or natural disasters, getting the person to a hospital in a timely manner can be very challenging and may not be possible in case of bad weather or road conditions.
Preparation:
To mitigate these challenges, it is important for those who live in remote or hard-to-reach locations to plan ahead and take steps to make their home more accessible and findable to first responders in the event of an emergency, and to be well prepared for it with emergency supplies, communication tools and emergency plans. Here are some steps you can take to make your home more accessible and findable to first responders in the event of an emergency:
- Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street. This includes having a visible house number on the front of your home, as well as a street address sign.
- Keep a list of emergency contacts, including phone numbers for the police, fire department, and ambulance service, in a visible and easily accessible location, such as by the phone or on the refrigerator.
- Make sure all doors and windows are easily opened from the inside, in case you need to leave the house quickly.
- Consider installing emergency lighting, such as exit signs or emergency lighting, in case the power goes out during an emergency.
- Keep a working fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and carbon monoxide detector in the house. Check them regularly and replace batteries as needed.
- Establish a plan with your family on how to respond to emergency situations, especially if they are separated from each other during an emergency.
- Keep emergency preparedness kits including food, water, first aid, flashlights and blankets, in case of a power outage or other emergency.
What to do when first responders arrive:
When first responders arrive at your home for a medical emergency, there are several steps that the family can take to ensure that the responders can provide the best possible care:
- Provide a clear and accurate description of the emergency. Be able to give an explanation of what has happened and the symptoms of the person who needs care.
- Give the responders access to the person in need, and clear any obstacles out of the way if possible.
- Provide important medical information, such as the person’s medical history, medications they’re currently taking, and allergies. Keep it in an easy-to-find location such as on the refrigerator or a nightstand.
- Provide the responders with the location of any medical equipment or devices, such as oxygen tanks or nebulizers, that the person may be using.
- Provide the responders with the contact information for the person’s doctor or healthcare provider.
- Help the responders by following their instructions and answering any questions they may have. It’s also important to stay calm and help keep others calm.
- If the person is being transported to the hospital, make sure that someone is accompanying the person to the hospital. And that they have any necessary identification and insurance information with them.
By taking the necessary precautions and planning ahead, you can help ensure that you and your family are safe in the event of an emergency in a remote location.
