This week, you’ve probably heard about the huge impact of Hurricane Florence here in the U.S. A natural disaster like the one that just hit the east coast can have devastating effects. It’s not only hurricanes – fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, drought, and blizzards create overwhelming circumstances that affect thousands of people. There are other states of emergency that might occur from man-made events. Chemical spills or trail derailments can prompt emergency responses in a community.
If you’re someone struggling with health issues or a person caring for a patient, an emergency situation can create more hardship. It’s frightening to consider how you could be affected by a disaster. You’ll need to be prepared. If you’re a hospice patient or caregiver, your hospice team is required to help you form a plan in case of an emergency.
Every hospice agency in the U.S. should have a plan in place to assist patients and their caregivers in creating a personal emergency preparedness plan. Your hospice team members should be discussing this with you when your hospice services start. Those discussions should happen again in more detail when there’s a threat of a natural disaster or event.
Your hospice team should discuss these items (among others) with you:
what numbers to call for assistance
what medications and essential equipment you could be furnished with if you evacuate
where you might go in the event of a mandatory evacuation
any assistance that might be available to you through your state or county
where to find current information about conditions in your area
what support you can expect from your hospice team
contact information for hospice agencies in the areas where you might evacuate
how to contact you and who you’ll be with
how to transport you and your pet to a safe area
Your hospice team is also going to discuss the risks of staying in your home during a disaster. The hospice agency will be enacting their own emergency plan. If there’s a mandatory evacuation in your community, the hospice staff will be leaving the area. You should be provided with contact information so you can keep in touch with someone from your agency at all times.
An emergency is a challenging time for healthcare staff, patients, and caregivers. Having your emergency preparedness plan in place before one occurs is the best thing you can do.