Emergencies are always a constant concern for many. That is more so the case with people under home health care. There are often more things to consider to ensure the patient’s well-being. Here is a handy guide from Amavi that will help you be ready and better respond to such situations.
The Types Of Emergencies That You Should Be Ready For
As it is, there are different emergencies that you will encounter. Most of these are something that you might not expect. But knowing which type of emergencies you can encounter will help you better plan your response.
Disasters
Natural disasters are the biggest concerns that you will encounter. Typhoons, fires, and earthquakes are the most common of these. But you should also be aware of the less common ones, such as landslides or gas eruptions. These are tied to the geography of your location.
You should also watch out for potential manmade disasters. This can include anything from electrical fires to potential chemical leaks. For that, you will need to understand the hazards present in your area.
The major challenge with this type of emergency is moving your loved one around. The damage might often be widespread and disrupt services. Due to that, you will need a series of contingencies to ensure you get these services.
Medical Emergencies
Another major worry for many people under home health care is medical emergencies. They can range from simple cases like allergic reactions to severe ones like respiratory emergencies. With these situations, you need to act fast to ensure the safety of your loved ones.
First aid is a critical component of dealing with such emergencies. But the challenge is that you might not be knowledgeable enough to administer that. There is also the issue of shortages of the necessary supplies at unfortunate times.
Other Home Emergencies
Besides the above two, you should also be ready for other things that can happen at home. Some of the potential accidents here include.
- Water leaks and flooding
- Gas leaks
- House fires
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Broken items
Such emergencies not only make it hard for a patient to move around, but they can also lead to injuries. Unlike the previous two, you can easily avoid these emergencies through proper home management.
Creating Your Home Health Care Emergency Plan
Arguably the best way to deal with these emergencies is to prepare for them before they happen. That is where having a plan helps you. Note that this plan is a general one. But you should also remember to account for loved ones who are under home health care. As mentioned above, they often require special attention.
Getting The Information You Need
Information is vital for any plan, and that also works here. Get as much information about the hazards as you can. Government agencies are some of the best sources, as they give comprehensive information about disasters and other hazards in your area. These agencies also publish various health bulletins that you can use for developing emergency plans.
Another great source of information about emergency preparedness is the various medical organizations. Connect with the ones which are relevant to your loved one’s condition. The American Heart Association, for example, releases statistics regarding heart emergencies. It will also give you plenty of educational resources for these situations.
Planning Your Course Of Action
Once you have all the information needed, you can begin planning the actions you need to do. It would be wise to create a flowchart to visualize your plans. The chart should include information like:
- The people or agencies that you should contact in case of emergencies.
- First aid that you should apply for a given situation
- Meetup locations in case you need to travel
- The special needs that your loved one might have
- Alternative actions that you should take.
When creating this chart, be as detailed as possible. That ensures that everyone in the house knows what to do exactly.
It is also vital that home health care patients are very much involved in creating the emergency plan. After all, you are doing this to aid them specifically. Ask them whether they are comfortable with the actions they need to do. Ensure they have a good rapport with the people they interact with during emergencies. You should also encourage them to provide input so that you can better tailor the plan.
Creating Your Emergency Preparedness Bag
A must-have for any home emergency plan is an emergency response kit. This is essentially a bag that contains all the things you need to activate your plan. Besides basic supplies, you also want to include the following.
- Medical documentation: Ensure that you have documents on hand to explain the condition of your loved ones to authorities. Include records and a list of medications.
- A medical kit: Stock at least a few days of medicine for your loved ones to tide them off during the emergency.
- Cash and other financial requirements: You might not always have access to ATMs or other banking facilities, so on-hand cash will be helpful.
- Special supplies: This will depend on your loved one’s condition. For instance, you might need portable ventilators in case of difficulty breathing.
- An overnight bag: This is a selection of clothes and toiletries that your loved ones can use in case they need to stay at the hospital.
Store everything in an easily accessible place in your home, preferably near the front door. That way, you can quickly grab the bag if needed. To regular inventory to ensure that every content is in good condition and still usable.
Getting Your Community Involved
While this emergency preparedness plan is for your use, it will be more effective if it includes the help of your community. Talk with neighbors and local establishments to learn how they can help you in such cases.
Here, you can discuss setting up a community response plan for such emergencies. Your neighbors will likely also have to deal with similar health emergencies. With such a plan, you have a more concrete action that benefits everyone. Talk about who should take various responsibilities and what others can do to support them.
Be Prepared With The Right Home Health Care Provider
In all of these, Amavi is always ready to respond when you need us. When you sign up for a home health care plan, we also create an emergency response strategy. Our team then works with you to ensure that everything aligns with your actions. Contact us today and let’s be prepared to deal with any medical emergency.