Planning for an emergency with children can be difficult, the below links have some helpful information on how to prepare with your family.
https://lewiscountywa.gov/media/attachment/2277/LetsGetReady411forKids.pdf
 
https://lewiscountywa.gov/media/attachment/2276/LetsGetReadyforkids.pdf
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Spring Forward, Review Safety Checklist

  • Time to Change the Clocks
    Daylight Saving Time begins every year on the second Sunday in March. Clocks are set forward one hour, except in Hawaii and most of Arizona. Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 10, 2019. It's also a good time to review the following spring safety checklist:
  • Smoke Alarms

    Three out of every five home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Test your smoke alarms every month and replace the battery at least once a year. If the alarm makes a "chirping" sound, replace it immediately. Smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and in the common areas on each floor of a home. Mount them at least 10 feet from the stove to reduce false alarms, less than 12 inches from the ceiling and away from windows, doors and ducts. Smoke alarms can be interconnected wirelessly. That means, when one sounds, they all sound. A Consumer Product Safety Commission survey found this is the best way to notify everyone in a home if there is a fire. Be sure to purchase smoke alarms with the label of a reputable testing agency, like Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Carbon Monoxide Detectors
    Anything that burns fuel can potentially become a source of carbon monoxide, an invisible, odorless gas that can kill. CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each bedroom and on every level of the home. The safety tips for CO detectors mirror those of smoke alarms: change the batteries, test them and interconnect them, if possible. Also, make sure vents for your gas appliances (fireplace, dryer, stove and furnace) are free and clear of snow or debris. Family Emergency Plan
    The National Safety Council recommends every family have an emergency plan in place in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event. Spring is a great time to review that plan with family members. Have a home and car emergency kit. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says an emergency kit should include one gallon of water per day for each person, at least a three-day supply of food, flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, filter mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, and medicines. Visit the FEMA website for a complete list. The emergency plan also should include:
    • A communications plan to outline how your family members will contact one another and where to meet if it's safe to go outside
    • A shelter-in-place plan if outside air is contaminated; FEMA recommends sealing windows, doors and air vents with plastic sheeting
    • A getaway plan including various routes and destinations in different directions

    Also, make sure your first aid kit is updated. Get Rid of Unwanted Medicines
    NSC recommends you take unwanted or expired medicines to a prescription drop box or take-back event near you. NSC offers free Stericycle Seal & Send envelopes, so you can send your unwanted medication to be safely destroyed. Getting the Urge to Clean?
    With the warm weather comes a desire to shine and polish your home. But when warning labels are ignored or chemicals fall into the wrong hands, disaster can occur. Learn what you can do to keep you family safe around poisons in the home. Window Safety
    With warmer temperatures arriving, it's important to practice window safety - especially in homes with young children. Find more information about window safety.

REF# https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/spring
Did you know about smoke from fires?

Outdoor smoke contains very small particles and gases, including carbon monoxide. These particles can get into your eyes and lungs where they can cause health problems.

What health problems do smoke cause?
  • Eye, nose, and throat irritation (burning eyes and runny nose).
  • Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and headaches.
  • Aggravation of existing lung, heart and circulatory conditions, including asthma and angina.
Who is especially sensitive to smoke?

  • Inhaling smoke is not good for anyone, even healthy people. People most likely to have health problems from breathing smoke include:
  • People with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis and emphysema.
  • People with respiratory infections, such as cold or flu.
  • People with existing heart or circulatory problems, such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and angina.
  • People with a prior history of heart attack or stroke.
  • Infants and children because their lungs and airways are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults.
  • Older adults over age 65. Adults age 65 and older may have unrecognized heart or lung disease.
  • Smokers already have lower lung function or lung disease, and breathing smoke can make their conditions worse.
  • < >Check local air quality reports and listen to news or health warnings for your community.
  • Avoid physical exertion outdoors if smoke is in the air.
  • If you have asthma or other lung diseases, make sure you follow your doctor's directions about taking your medicines and follow your asthma management plan. Call your health care provider if your symptoms worsen.
  • Stay indoors and keep indoor air as clean as possible. Take the following steps when indoors:   
    • Keep windows and doors closed. If there is no air conditioning and it is too hot to keep windows and doors closed, consider leaving the area.
    • Run an air conditioner (if you have one), set it to re-circulate and close the fresh-air intake. Make sure to change the filter regularly.
    • Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce indoor air pollution. A HEPA filter may reduce the number of irritating fine particles in indoor air. A HEPA filter with charcoal will help remove some of the gases from the smoke.
    • Don’t add to indoor pollution. Don’t use candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves. Don’t vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Don’t smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.

How to Prevent Whiplash

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Whether grandparents live nearby or you're planning to visit, don't forget to make safety a priority. Grandparents may not be accustomed to having young kids in the house and the presence of household dangers could end up with trips to the emergency room.