Check Your Emergency Preparedness Kits When You Set Your Clocks, Says New American Public Health Association Campaign

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 24 Feb 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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As we eagerly prepare for the arrival of spring, the American Public Health Association (APHA) wants to ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared for a possible public health emergency. With this in mind, APHA today launched a new campaign aimed at encouraging Americans to make sure their emergency preparedness kits are stocked when they change their clocks for daylight saving time.

The "Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks" campaign aims to build on the message of preparedness that already exists with using daylight saving time as a reminder to check the batteries in our smoke detectors.

"Since we already use daylight saving as an opportunity to ensure that our families are prepared for an emergency, it's a great time for us also to make sure that we have a fully stocked emergency kit and that none of the perishable items have expired," said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. "When we spring forward this year, we want every American to make sure their family has a preparedness kit to fall back on in the event of an emergency."

In anticipation of daylight saving time on March 9, APHA's first annual "Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks" campaign kicks off with the release of materials and tips aimed at raising awareness of the importance of ensuring that each family has a stocked emergency preparedness kit.

In the weeks leading up to when the nation "springs forward," public health professionals around the nation will be encouraging their communities to use daylight saving time as a reminder to ensure their emergency preparedness kits are stocked and up-to-date. Families are encouraged to check their emergency kits to be sure that they have at least a three-day supply of bottled water, non-perishable foods and essential medications set aside for each member of your family. This is also perfect time for people to re-familiarize themselves with their community's emergency preparedness plan, including evacuation routes, emergency shelters and the location of food banks.

American Public Health Association
http://www.apha.org