People with medical conditions need to think ahead before hurricane
If you have special medical needs, plan your evacuation before a hurricane hits.
Dr. Jeff Kalina, associate director of emergency medicine with The Methodist Hospital in Houston, says it's important to have extra refills of medications in case the storm forces stores to close down for a number of days. Also, if you have to go to the hospital, it's good to have a list of your medical conditions, medications and allergies written down. This will make it easier for physicians to diagnose your condition quickly.
Elderly need special care during hurricane evacuation
If you need to get elderly relatives out of the way of an impending hurricane, keep in mind they will need some extra attention during the evacuation.
Dr. Jeff Kalina, associate medical director of emergency medicine with The Methodist Hospital in Houston, says putting an older person in the back of a car in the middle of summer puts them at risk for heat exhaustion and dehydration. He says it's imperative to have plenty of water and, if possible, ice or some kind of a fan that can cool them off if traffic comes to a standstill. During the Houston evacuation of Hurricane Rita in 2005, a number of elderly people died in their cars from the intense heat.
Sitting in a car for hours also puts an older person at risk for deep vein thrombosis or DVT. This is a condition where blood clots form in the deep veins of the lower legs and thighs and is caused by sitting in a car for long periods of time. The clot can travel unnoticed through the blood stream and lodge in the brain, heart, lungs or other areas causing severe damage to some organs, and in some cases, death. It's important that everyone, but especially the elderly, get up and walk around at least every two hours.
Kalina urges everyone to evacuate early if they are in the evacuation zone to try and avoid being stuck on the road with nowhere to go.
Tips for sheltering in place
If you have to ride out a hurricane at home, here are some tips from Dr. Jeff Kalina, associate director of emergency medicine with The Methodist Hospital in Houston:
1. Do not wait until a storm threatens to purchase provisions. Put together a survival kit now.2. Make sure you have a hurricane kit: battery-powered radio, battery-powered flashlight, canned food and at least three gallons of water per person.3. Do not forget to pack a manual can opener in your hurricane kit.4. Before the storm, fill your car's gasoline tank.5. Make sure your cell phone is charged. If you have an extra battery, make sure it is charged as well.6. If you do not have text messaging, sign up for the service. When the cell phone towers are down, it can be the only other way to get through. 7. If you are on home oxygen or nebulizers, make sure you have backup medication and power sources incase of a mass power outage. 8. You don't have to buy drinking water at the store " rinse out plastic milk jugs and refill with tap water before the storm hits. Fill buckets and your bathtub with water, also. 9. Protect your property. Put away anything " lawn chairs, toys, tools, etc. " that can become a missile during high winds. Taping the windows of your home will not work; use plywood to secure windows.10. If the power goes out, do not use candles unless you absolutely have to. Candles can be a fire hazard.11. Inland cities and counties may not receive hurricane surge flooding, but they can be susceptible to high winds and heavy rainfall. Take the same precautions you would for a tornado, as these are more likely during a hurricane.12. After the storm, resist the urge to go outside and look around. There may be a number of hazards " including downed power lines -- outdoors. Listen to a local radio broadcast to learn when it's safe to venture outside.13. The water supply may also be unsafe after a storm. Again, your local authorities will know if floodwaters have tainted your neighborhood's water supply.
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