One Year to Be Prepared: Month 7 Checklist

Each month during 2023, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians Emergency Management team will provide you a checklist for assembling emergency supplies and help you and your family think though various emergency scenarios. The monthly checklists will also prompt you to consider special circumstances, such as supplies for pets, elders, evacuation routes, and sanitation.

(For the complete list of One Year to be Prepared lists, click here)

Month Seven: First Aid

First aid is the immediate care given to a person who is injured or ill. Because life-threatening situations occur, everyone should know how to provide basic emergency care to keep a sick person alive until they can receive care from emergency responders or hospital staff.

Primary Purpose of First Aid

• Manage injuries and care for life-threatening situations
• Protect the patient from further injury and complications
• Arrange transportation for the patient to a medical facility
• Make the patient as comfortable as possible

Call 911 if the Patient:

• Isn’t conscious, is confused (can’t remember name, location, etc.), or if they are losing consciousness
• Has difficulty breathing
• Has persistent or sudden pain in chest, back, jaw, or abdomen
• Has experienced a siezure (or several)
• Has severe or persistent vomiting or is passing blood
• Has broken bones, blurry vision, sudden and severe headache, or injuries to head, neck, or back
• Has one-sided weakness in face, body, slurred speech, or difficulty talking

Caring for Wounds

For wounds spurting or pulsating large amounts of blood, immediate action is required. Wear gloves, if available.

• Apply external pressure with hands to bleeding blood vessel to clot the blood, using both hands and body weight
• If you know how, apply a tourniquet to wounded armed and legs.
• Fill gaping wounds with gauze, and do not remove or move the dressing. Add more if needed.

Planning

• Consider the medical needs of anyone you will be caring for during an emergency.
• Make a list of supplies you will need on hand for your safety.
• Fix hazards in and around your home.
• Look for fire hazards.
• Secure large shelves to the wall.
• Use earthquake putty to secure smaller items.
• Install smoke detectors or change batteries if necessary.

Train or Be Trained

• Take CPR/first aid training.
• Take a gardening course from a friend, neighbor, family member, or through OSU Extension Services, or online.

Supplies – Gather or Purchase

• Add first aid supplies to your kit based on the needs of those you will be caring for.
• Add general first aid items after specific items have been acquired.
• Think of gauze like water: you can never have too much!
• Don’t forget prescriptions, extra glasses or contacts, saline solution, and similar items.
• Add 3 days/ worth of water and food to kits.