These disruptions can result in evacuation or relocation from home and the need for assistance to ensure continued access to home medical equipment.
To help prepare you in the event of a medical emergency or disaster, we have compiled some general practices to help you keep your respiratory treatment on track. For our most recent announcements, please access our What's Happening page.
Have an emergency preparedness plan in place before the unexpected happens.
Create a personal network for areas in which you may need assistance and save the contact information in an accessible place. Information to have readily accessible includes:
That is why it is critical you are adequately prepared to face any unforeseen challenges. Having a safety plan in place and keeping extra supplies on hand can make all the difference when faced with an emergency. And be sure to keep friends and family in the loop relating your in-home therapy routine and travel schedule. They may be able to assist you in case something causes an interruption to your treatment.
When disaster strikes, you may be isolated for a certain period of time. At-home respiratory patients rely on their medical devices and supplies to keep their treatment running smoothly. During a natural disaster or other major crisis, it may not be possible to receive much-needed supplies for your equipment immediately.
Avoid being left stranded by keeping supplies you typically use close at hand so you can continue with your routine until delivery and other assistance are restored. In addition to having an emergency reserve of your supplies, it is also beneficial to keep other essential items such as medications, walking aids, and first-aid necessities handy.
Floods: Flooding makes it difficult to evacuate and safely traverse roads, which can leave patients stranded and isolated. This can leave patients without the medical care and supplies they require. One proactive solution is to keep a portable emergency medicine pack, containing items such as daily medications and extra inhalers on hand until you can get outside assistance.
Tornados: Tornados often only last a few minutes but can leave long-term devastation in their wake. If you are in a situation where you need to take shelter in a basement or other safe spot, make sure the area is conducive to setting up your respiratory equipment.
Inclement Weather: From severe thunderstorms to snowstorms, the result of these powerful weather events is usually a loss of electricity. If you are left without power for a certain period, having backup oxygen supplies can keep your treatment from being interrupted.
We are inspired by a vision to enable patients with chronic conditions to remain engaged in life, with the peace of mind that we are caring for them.