Thankful, Yet Prepared

​This past week, on our little one-block street, fire trucks and emergency personnel came three separate times. Once for a neighbor’s carbon monoxide alarm, again for a different neighbor’s smoking stove, and third, a car hit a pedestrian. Each event brought sirens, flashing lights and concern. Thankfully everyone was okay.

My family calls me “worst case scenario mom.” One holiday season they gave me The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. Just last night, my husband mentioned wanting to take our family to the Caribbean. According to him, and he’s a reporter, I responded, “Pick an island that doesn’t have hurricane damage.”

It appears my personality is a good fit for being in the water safety and drowning prevention business. But still, why didn’t I say, “Fun! What a great idea!”? My new year’s resolution list now includes, “Practice positivity and gratitude.”

Yet…everyone benefits from being reasonably prepared for emergencies. We live in an unpredictable world, exacerbated by climate change, and socio-economic and mental health access challenges that can make humans behave dangerously. We’re all likely to experience real emergencies at least once in our lives. I’m not taking about preparing for an alien invasion. I’m suggesting we be reasonably prepared for likely emergencies such as power outages, kitchen fires or flooded basements. Here you’ll find a list of common household emergencies, some quick emergency preparation tips and helpful links. And here’s a quick link to refresh your CPR skills.

It’s human nature to avoid emergency preparation. According to Psychology Today, people avoid preparing for emergencies due to lack of awareness, denial, and the perceived inconvenience of preparation. We’re also susceptible to “optimism bias,” (underestimating risk), and the habit of prioritizing immediate concerns over future risks. So take a few steps by following our links.

Be safe and have fun while you prepare for this holiday season!