Episode: 3
ShockResQ Social Medias
Navigating and Empowering Those living with a Chronic Illness
Encouraging disaster prepardness one step at a time
What is a Chronic Illness?
Chronic diseases are long-lasting conditions that can typically be managed but not cured. People living with chronic illnesses often need to cope with daily or recurring symptoms that impact their quality of life. Examples of chronic illnesses include Cancer, Epilepsy, Diabetes, and allergies.
In this blog, we will cover tips and tricks related to navigating a disaster while dealing with ongoing chronic illnesses. This includes keeping medication and medical supplies close by during emergencies, raising awareness about chronic illnesses, and preparing emergency kits for unexpected disasters.
Medication and Medical Supplies:
Dealing with a chronic illness means you likely have a consistent medication routine. You may refill your prescriptions every few weeks or at whatever interval you're accustomed to. Ideally, aim to have one to two weeks' worth of medication on hand if your dosages don't frequently change. If your dosages do change often, maintain a list and record of your dosages since accessing healthcare providers during emergencies may be limited. You can organize your medications in weekly containers for easy tracking.
If you're confused about keeping items cold for extended periods without having access to refrigeration in the event of a disaster, check out our April 2024 blog post on "Cooking Off the Grid: No-Electricity Recipes & Cold Food Storage Tips."
Humidity control is another important consideration. Inhalers or powders may lose efficiency in overly humid environments. If you live in an area prone to humidity or experience a power outage resulting in increased humidity indoors, store these items in a dry place such as a nightstand, kitchen cabinet, or medication cabinet if available.
Addressing electricity is important, especially for devices like nebulizers commonly used by people with asthma, which require electricity. Ensure you have battery packs or alternative energy sources readily available.
Share Your Story
Have you and your family experienced a disaster? We want to hear your story! Share how you stayed safe and what you learned. Ask your parents to help you write your story!
Raising Awareness on Chronic Illnesses:
Raising awareness for chronic illnesses can be incredibly simple. Oftentimes, people will wear bracelets or ribbons in colors related to the chronic illness they may have. Having something readily available for people to look at in emergencies can be beneficial. Even having basic knowledge can assist in identifying the type of chronic illness someone may have. A quick Google search or consulting reliable resources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can be life-saving tools.
Emergency Kits:
An emergency kit is essential for navigating any disaster. Emergency kits can be inexpensive, or you can invest as much as you deem necessary. They can include batteries, flashlights, portable chargers, games, hygiene products, and much more. The American Red Cross is a fantastic resource for creating emergency kits for yourself or your family. ShockResQ also provides simple suggestions for items to include in an emergency kit if you're creating one for a friend, family member, or volunteering to create one disaster-affected families with ShockResQ. When deciding on the type of kit to store your emergency items, don't overthink it. You can purchase or create your own emergency kit using any box or even a shoebox. Make it enjoyable by decorating it with something bright and bold so you can easily spot it in high-stress situations. Keep it somewhere easily accessible. Crafting an emergency kit should be enjoyable, and what's better than knowing you'll be prepared if something happens?
Dealing with chronic illnesses, especially during unexpected disasters, can be exhausting, but it's important to remember that you're not alone. There are resources available to help you navigate these challenges. Keeping a clear and concise list of essential items or tasks to have or do in an emergency can help alleviate the impact of the disaster.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 18). Overcoming barriers to medication adherence for chronic diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/grand-rounds/pp/2017/20170221-medication-adherence.html University of Michigan. (n.d.). About chronic disease | Center for managing chronic disease. Center for Managing Chronic Disease. https://cmcd.sph.umich.edu/about/about-chronic-disease/
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