Plan for an Emergency if You Are Pregnant or Have Young Children

Emergencies such as natural disasters can be a scary and stressful time, especially for pregnant women or women with infants or children. Though you may feel it is impossible to be ready for unexpected events, being prepared can help you avoid stress and put you in a better position to handle emergencies.

Below you'll find information to help you prepare for an emergency or disaster including what to do:
 * if you are asked to evacuate;
 * if you have to stay in a shelter or place other than your home;
 * during and just after a disaster; or
 * if you are recovering from a disaster

Preparing for an Emergency or Disaster

 * 1)  Find out what your local community action plan is, and what they recommend you do in an emergency situation. Every disaster is different and may require you to respond differently. (i.e., Do I evacuate? How should I evacuate? What is the nearest evacuation route? What if they tell me to stay at home or "shelter-in-place?").
 * 2)  Talk to your health care provider about:
 * 3) * What you should do in any emergency.
 * 4) * Where you will get prenatal care.
 * 5) * Where you will deliver your baby if your hospital is closed.
 * 6) Make a back-up plan for getting to the hospital or health care center.
 * 7) Make an emergency plan:
 * 8) * Plan the steps you should take during an emergency. Ask your local American Red Cross for information on what they suggest every family prepare to do. Then develop your own plan, writing down the steps on paper.
 * 9) * Talk about potential disasters and emergencies and how to respond to each using your family plan. Choose a meeting place, other than your home, for family to gather in case you can't go home.
 * 10) * Give this emergency plan to all your family members. Have a family talk and give them a copy. Leave a copy in a prominent place in case other adults (e.g., babysitters) are in your home during an emergency.
 * 11) * Choose someone outside your home who can be an "emergency check-in" person in case someone cannot reach you or your family. Keep this person's telephone number and address with your plan and first aid kit. Give this number to friends and family members, including any children.
 * 12) Keep emergency supplies in your home to meet your family needs for at least three days. This includes the following:
 * 13) * Water. Each person needs 1 gallon of water each day.
 * 14) * Food. Store canned foods such as soups, beans, vegetables, fruit and juices, peanut butter, etc. Keep a non-electric can opener ready. If you have pets, stock up on dry or canned pet food.
 * 15) * Personal-care. Store soap, toothpaste, contact lens solution, feminine hygiene products, nursing pads, clothes, etc.
 * 16) * Baby care. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastfeeding for optimal infant nutrition. Breastfeeding remains the best infant feeding option in a natural disaster situation. Even when experiencing diarrhea, food-borne illness, or extreme stress, breastfeeding mothers continue to produce ample milk for their babies. Also store baby supplies such as diapers, wipes, baby food, bottles, etc.
 * 17) * First aid kit that is custom-made for your family and the risks that you might encounter.
 * 18) * Other supplies. Make sure you have large plastic bags that seal for water-proofing important papers, a battery-powered flashlight and radio with extra batteries or a wind-up radio, and a first-aid kit.
 * 19) Gather important documents and information:
 * 20) *Make copies of important records you need to prove your identity and that of family members.
 * 21) *Know what financial papers or items you will need and how to keep them safe (e.g., cash, ATM/EBT card, traveler's checks, long distance telephone cards, credit cards, checks).
 * 22) *Keep important contact information, toll-free numbers, and Web sites together so you can learn about the status of the disaster, know where to get assistance, identify maternal and infant health resources, hospitals, etc.
 * 23) *Put "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) before important numbers on portable and cell phones. This helps emergency workers find the right person to contact in case of emergencies.
 * 24) *Take every emergency or weather warning (e.g., tornado horn or severe weather alert) seriously. Use these alerts to test your family's emergency evacuation plan, equipment, and supplies (e.g., expiration dates, etc.).

Evacuating

 * 1) Be prepared to go quickly and have your emergency supplies and other important items ready to go — you may not have much time. Take as much as you can with you.
 * 2) Take important documents with you. This includes the following:
 * 3) *Identification for you and your children; such as, birth certificates, social security cards, and immigration papers.
 * 4) *Family medical records, including prenatal records and immunization records.
 * 5) *Health insurance identification cards for you and anyone who depends on you for care.
 * 6) *A copy of a school record for each child (to prove your child's enrollment in a specific grade.)
 * 7) Bring funds in the form of cash, ATM/EBT cards, traveler's checks, credit cards, or checkbooks.
 * 8) Bring your cell phone and charger and the "emergency check-in" a Patient]]

Sources and Citations

 * Emergency Planning Tips If You're Pregnant or Have Young Children by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public domain government resource -- original source of article