[Part 15] "What to do in a disaster?" for children with medical needs: Preparing our home for power outages and water supply interruptions
Every time there is an earthquake or typhoon, I find myself running simulations in my head.
"If the power goes out, how long will it last?" "If the water stops, what will we do?"
For families with children who require medical care, disaster preparedness is not just about "peace of mind," but about "preparations directly linked to survival." Today, I am writing not as an expert, but as a family member who is directly affected.
First, we must think about "power sources"
If you have a child who uses medical equipment, the first thing to check is securing a power supply.
Battery life of the equipment being used
Presence and operating time of storage batteries or generators at home
Whether power can be supplied from a car's cigarette lighter socket
If you don't know "how many hours it will last," your decision-making will be delayed when a power outage occurs. In our home, we have made a list of the battery life for each piece of equipment and posted it where it can be seen immediately.
The pitfall during water outages is "suction and tube feeding"
Water outages are often overlooked, but they create quietly difficult situations.
Water used for cleaning suction devices
Cleaning tubes and syringes for tube feeding
Water for hand washing and disinfection
In our home, we have decided to secure a certain amount of bottled water separately, not just for "drinking," but for "medical care purposes."
Assume that evacuation centers "cannot be used"
To be honest, general evacuation centers are often not places where children with medical needs can feel safe.
We don't know if enough power can be secured
We don't know if there is a section with medical considerations
Feeling self-conscious about others' eyes, making it difficult to provide care
Because of this, many families are making preparations based on the premise of "sheltering at home." My family is the same. We are organizing our supplies with the assumption of getting through it at home, rather than the assumption of going to an evacuation center.
Have you created an "Individual Evacuation Plan"?
Many local governments are promoting the creation of an Individual Evacuation Plan for those who need support during a disaster.
From my position as a consultation support specialist, I highly recommend creating this plan.
Who will check on safety, and how?
A list of necessary medical equipment and medications
People and places you can rely on during an evacuation
Instead of thinking "someone will help me when the time comes," deciding specifically "who will do what and how" will make a big difference when an actual disaster occurs.
Thoughts as both a professional and a parent
As a consultation support specialist, while I am in a position to suggest disaster preparedness to families, I am also a parent in the same situation myself.
Honestly, the anxiety that "even if I think I understand, my preparations might always be insufficient" never goes away.
That is precisely why I believe it is important not to aim for perfect preparation, but to build up "one step we can take now".
For families raising children who also need medical care, please take a moment to review your own preparations.