ORLANDO, Fla. — As the Atlantic hurricane season approaches its traditional peak, Central Florida healthcare providers are urging families to prepare for medical needs that can become more difficult to manage during power outages or evacuations.
The reminder comes as Tropical Storm Edouard approaches the Texas coastline. Although the storm does not threaten Florida, its development demonstrates how quickly conditions can change during hurricane season.
“Preparation ahead of time can make an important difference when a hurricane or other disaster threatens your community,” said Dr. Bob Shaver, chief medical officer at HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital and Oviedo Medical Center.
Shaver said families should prepare more than food and water. Their plans should account for prescription medications, refrigerated medicine, infant-feeding needs and access to medical care if conditions become unsafe.
Here are three steps families can take now:
MAKE AN EMERGENCY KIT
The federal government’s Ready.gov emergency checklist recommends keeping enough supplies to support each member of a household for several days.
An emergency kit should include:
- Water and nonperishable food
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- A battery-powered radio
- First-aid supplies
- Portable cellphone chargers
- Personal hygiene products
- Supplies for infants, older adults and pets
- Copies of important documents
- Emergency contact information
- Local maps and evacuation information
Families should inspect their kits regularly and replace expired food, medicine and batteries.
PLAN FOR PRESCRIPTIONS AND REFRIGERATED MEDICINE
People who take prescription medications should speak with their physician or pharmacist before a storm threatens about maintaining an appropriate emergency supply.
Keep an updated list of medications, dosages, allergies, medical conditions, physicians and emergency contacts. Store the list somewhere it can be quickly accessed during an evacuation.
Some medications, including certain forms of insulin and liquid antibiotics, may require refrigeration. The Food and Drug Administration recommends reviewing each medication’s storage requirements and contacting a pharmacist or healthcare provider if it has been exposed to excessive heat, floodwater or an extended power outage.
Do not assume a medication is safe based only on its appearance. Temperature-sensitive drugs can lose effectiveness even when they do not look damaged.
Families storing breast milk should also have a plan to maintain safe temperatures during an outage. Parents using powdered or concentrated infant formula should keep bottled water available in case local water becomes unsafe.
PREPARE BACKUP POWER FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
People who depend on supplemental oxygen, ventilators, mobility equipment or other electrically powered medical devices should prepare a backup-power plan.
The FDA recommends contacting the device manufacturer, equipment supplier and healthcare provider in advance to determine whether a device can operate with batteries or a generator.
Patients should maintain an adequate supply of oxygen or other essential materials and know where they could relocate if an extended outage makes remaining at home unsafe.
Generators should never be operated inside a home, garage or other enclosed space because they produce deadly carbon monoxide.
MAKE AND FOLLOW A FAMILY PLAN
A household hurricane plan should address where family members will meet, how they will communicate and where they will go if officials order an evacuation.
The plan should account for transportation, pets, children’s schools, workplaces and household members who require additional assistance.
Families should also identify trusted sources for weather alerts and evacuation orders. Keep a battery-powered radio available in case internet or cellular service is disrupted.
“Preparing before a storm gives families more options and allows healthcare teams and emergency responders to focus resources where they are needed most,” Shaver said. “It only takes one storm.”
Additional hurricane health and safety information is available from HCA Florida Healthcare, the FDA and Ready.gov.
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