Family and Personal Safety Tips
- Household Preparedness
Flooding. Tornadoes. Earthquakes. Fires. Indiana faces many potential threats. Help ensure the household stays safe by following these tips.
- Be aware of all possible disasters that may occur in local areas.
- Emergency plans need to be tailored to the specific needs of the household.
- Share information about emergency preparation so everyone can be ready.
- Emergency Communications
Today many individuals rely on technology for communication. After an emergency this technology can be hindered or cut off. The following safety tips can help keep the entire household safe.
- Understand how each disaster could impact forms of communication.
- Make sure every household member understands who to call and where to meet.
- Create a copy of emergency contact numbers for every household member and disaster kit.
- Pet Planning
For many Hoosiers, pets are important members of the household. Help keep them safe in an emergency by following these tips.
- Confirm potential evacuation locations that allow animals.
- Keep pets separated from unknown animals and people to prevent stress-related aggression.
- Never leave animals outdoors where they are vulnerable to the weather and can escape.
- Child Safety
Take time to go over safety measures and establish extra precautions to help children stay safe.
- Bicycle Helmet Guide
Helmets are the most effective safety device available for bicycle accidents, and properly wearing a bicycle helmet greatly reduces the odds of severe head injuries. Read the guide to learn how to make sure a child's helmet fits and is worn correctly.
Get Alarmed Smoke Alarm Program
The IDHS Get Alarmed program emphasizes fire safety education in addition to working closely with service providers and fire departments to distribute smoke alarms to Indiana residents at no cost, thanks to a federal Fire Prevention and Safety Grant. For more information, visit the Get Alarmed page.
Smoke Alarm Tips
- Alarms should be replaced every eight to 10 years, and for smoke alarms that use traditional batteries, batteries should be changed once a year.
- Smoke alarms should be tested every month.
- Install smoke alarms on every level, in every sleeping area and outside every bedroom of the building.
- Ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting different kinds of potentially fatal fires. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends every household be equipped with both kinds of alarms, or dual-sensor alarms.
