This is a new program that I have started Nation wide that may help you in one area you may have forgotten about and that is Respiratory Issues or Illness. Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues Feb 4, 2012 Do you have a friend or family member on Oxygen? Do they have a Disaster Plan for Oxygen use during a Disaster? Did you know that Breathing is not Optional? It could be if you do not have a Disaster Plan for your Respiratory Illness. Background - Prior to January 2012 there was no program or guideline for respiratory clients to learn how to prepare for a disaster, other than a sheet of paper saying to call your local EOC or general disaster information for persons with disabilities. Importance of Disaster Planning For respiratory clients, disaster planning is a must. Ø Breathing is not optional. Ø Must be prepared with a respiratory plan. Ø Must be ready to use your plan anytime. Ø Must have extra respiratory supplies on-hand and packed. January 21, 2012, I was diagnosed with Ø Atelectasis of the left lung Ø Restrictive Lung Disease February 2012, was diagnosed with Ø Phrenic nerve paralysis of the left lung, Ø Was informed of the new respiratory medical issues, but was told nothing about how to deal with it, or what I needed to do during a disaster with my issues. Ø I was like any new respiratory client being told this for the first time, I was scare, upset and not ready to deal with it and had a lot of denial. Ø I was upset and started thinking, with my background in Emergency Disaster Planning for both the Army and the American Red Cross and later with FEMA, what do I do in case of a disaster?. I started to look at what was available for new respiratory clients in Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues, I found nothing. Ø Hence – Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues was created. Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues Is broken down into 4 areas. Ø Educating clients on how to prepare for a disaster. Ø Helping clients prepare a respiratory disaster plan. Ø Teaching clients on how to build a respiratory disaster kit. (Hands on Training) Ø Implantation of a client’s respiratory disaster plan. Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues – Education • Educating clients on how to prepare for a disaster. • What is a disaster? • What issues do respiratory clients need to consider? • Provide respiratory clients with a disaster planning guide. Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues – Planning • Explain the importance of having a respiratory disaster plan. • Teach Respiratory Clients what needs to be in the plan. • Helping clients prepare a respiratory disaster plan. • Offer resources to clients on where to get more respiratory planning assistance. Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues – Teaching • Teaching clients on how to build a respiratory disaster kit. (Hands on Training) • Parts of a respiratory disaster kit. • Required respiratory disaster items needed. • Back-up respiratory disaster items needed. • How to get respiratory disaster items.. • Doctor prescription for devices as needed • Respiratory Home Health Agencies. Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues – Implantation • Implantation of a client’s respiratory disaster plan. • Where to store your respiratory disaster kit. • Next to your front door or in your front door closet. • The Respiratory Disaster Kit and Plan is a 24 hour / 365 day plan to be used at all times. Disaster Planning for Respiratory Issues – Hands On Training Since March 2012 this training course has been given on a regular basis at the Lee Memorial Hospital Respiratory Rehabilitation Center, the Cape Coral Hospital Respiratory Rehabilitation Center, and their support groups for better breathing and the SWFL COPD Foundation support groups. The Veterans Affairs Visually Impaired Support Groups around the State of Florida. This class has been given over 35 times and praised by all attending. Hands on training is a must for this program. For 2013 this program had been requested and currently being taught at the Lee Memorial Hospital Respiratory Rehabilitation Center, the Cape Coral Hospital Respiratory Rehabilitation Center. In February 2013 this course was sponsored by School of Health Professions, Edison State College for their Respiratory Students, and others from around Southwest Florida. It is also being taught during Respiratory Week in October at Lee Memorial Hospital and Naples Community Hospital and other support groups around the southern part of Florida. A copy of the Disaster Plan for Respiratory Users can be downloaded at: nopersonleftbehind.org/Publications/OxygenDisasterEvacuationPlan.pdf Created by - Linda Carter, No Person Left Behind.org Disaster Planning for Respiratory Illness © Feb 2012
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 21:13:42 +0000
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