We are right in the middle of our first heat wave this summer, bringing fire warnings across the state and anxiety to our communities. The smoke from these wildfires is bad enough but the stress from emergencies like evacuations and knowing what to do if something like that happens can cause negative effects to your health. If you start preparing now and planning for a wildfire emergency, it will not only reduce your stress when the time comes but also make it quicker and easier to do what is needed in that situation. Here are some tips to help keep your mental health strong by preparing for a wildfire before it happens.
What can I do now to prepare for a wildfire?
The heat of summer in the foothills and valley dries out our area and makes the land more susceptible to fires throughout the summer and fall. We’ve heard that we can prevent them from happening, but when they come, sometimes the only thing to do is to get out or get inside. If that is the case, being prepared will lower your stress and streamline what needs to happen next.
Make a Go-Bag
Start your wildfire preparations with a “Go-Bag” that has all the essentials you will need in case you have to evacuate on short notice. If you need to get out fast, grabbing one bag that is prepacked will make your evacuation quicker and easier. Things to include in your go bag include:
- Prescriptions and medications for at least 3 days
- Spare set of clothes
- Important documents such as passports, birth certificates, and Social Security cards
- Battery-powered flashlight and radio
- Spare keys to your car
- Cash
- Food and water
- Pet food and water
Read more about Go-Bags and what to pack in them HERE.
Stock Medications
Even if you are in a safe location from a wildfire, smoke can still be a problem, especially for high-risk populations like those with Asthma and other health conditions. If you or a family member needs a prescription or medication, making sure you have a steady supply is important, especially if it is too smokey outside to safely make it to the pharmacy. If your pharmacy has an app, get connected to see the status of your prescriptions and reorder them without leaving home. Chapa-De patients can get free local home delivery, depending on your area. Call our pharmacy for more information. Many other pharmacies also offer a delivery option for a small fee. If delivery is not an option, consider asking a friend or neighbor if they can pick up your medication for you.
If you are out of refills, make sure to message your provider before an emergency happens. Patients of Chapa-De can use the Healow app to request medication refills and ask non-urgent questions. Download the app on Apple Store and Google Play and use the code AHHIAD to get started.
Since fires can happen fast with no notice, you might end up in a different place than your prescriptions. If this happens, you may be able to request an emergency supply of your prescription from your pharmacy. However, some insurances may not cover emergency fills. This is why you should try to include a supply of your prescriptions in your Go-Bag, just in case.
Tips for Caregivers
Wildfires are stressful enough when you have to worry and plan for yourself. If you are a caregiver to another person, there is much more to think about, and that stress can easily become overwhelming. Planning before any emergency makes it easier when it happens. Read Ready.Gov’s Disaster Preparedness Guide for Caregivers for tips on how to make a plan and prepare for an emergency.
Prep, Prep, Go
If you wait for an emergency to happen, you are more likely to have an even harder time during an already stressful situation. Start prepping now to make an evacuation easier, make sure you are stocked on your medications, and start making a caregiver plan. Call 2-1-1 or our Care Coordination team at (530) 887-2800 for resources available in your area.
Chapa-De Indian Health Auburn Grass Valley | Medical Clinic
PASSIONATE PEOPLE. COMPASSIONATE CARE.
Chapa-De provides medical care, dental care, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy services and much more.
Serving all American Indian, Low Income and Limited Income Community Members
