| 
It’s a
Fire!
By C.S. Bezas
Think. It's the middle of the night.
You've woken to a thick blanket of smoke. You can hardly breathe.
Your child is coughing in the other room. Groggy, you try to get
out of bed, but the smoke is so thick, you can't stand. You drop
to your knees. Screaming to your spouse, you hurriedly crawl toward
your baby's room.
No, this is not reality, but it could
be. Is your family ready?
I've just completed a 20-hour weekend
of C.E.R.T. training. CERT stands for "Community Emergency
Response Team." Although it originated with the City of Los
Angeles Fire Department in 1985, CERT now is nationwide. The LA
effort had been so positive that FEMA felt it should be broadened
to all communities in the U.S. (see http://www.cert-la.com/WhatIsCert.htm).
Much of what I share for this week's Family Home Evening lesson
comes from the CERT training and certification I've just received.
The expansion of free CERT training
programs into local neighborhoods could not have come during a more
urgent time, when disasters seem to be getting bigger and bigger.
I would advise you to check with your local fire department to see
if a CERT group exists near you. Why? Because government workers
are not always able to respond within hours to desperate families
during a tragedy. CERT can give you the training and knowledge you
need to protect and save your own family — for free.
CERT's purpose is to prepare families
and communities how to survive until help arrives, which could take
weeks in some instances (i.e. Hurricane Katrina). In the early hours
and days after tragedy strikes, will your children know what to
do — especially if they're not with you?
Think about it. Are you ready for sudden
disaster? Is your neighborhood? Your community? If you could not
get out to a grocery store, or a doctor when injured, or even to
find water for two weeks or more, would you still be ok? And would
your children know what to do if separated from you?
If not, you're not alone. According
to the Council for Excellence in Government, "Only 8% of the
American public has done everything that is needed to fully prepare
for a natural disaster or terrorist attack." (see http://www.citizencorps.gov/pdf/pri_report.pdf).
If this lack of preparation describes
your scenario, why not take the next few FHEs to get your family
ready. To quote the Los Angeles CERT group, "You can't predict
— but you can prepare." And if we needed any more counsel
than that, here is what the Lord states in D&C 38:9:
Wherefore, gird up your loins and
be prepared.
The Lord reiterates that wisdom again
in D&C 38:30:
If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
Thus, let's get prepared so our children
need not fear! Weekly FHEs are meant to strengthen the family for
life, both eternally and temporally. What better way to do this
than to include periodic emergency training for your children (and
your spouse) in your FHEs?
During a Disaster
If your children were separated from
you during a disaster, would they know what to do? Do they have
committed to memory an out-of-state contact's phone number? Do they
have at least a rudimentary understanding of how to set broken bones?
Of how to treat filthy water, so that they would have something
to drink during a time of emergency?
In today's world the storms are bigger,
both spiritually and physically. When you prepare your children
for both, they have a much better chance of surviving with hearts
and spirits intact.
During a disaster, your family might
not be together. For example, if a disaster occurred during a school
day, how many different places would your family members be in?
It is an unpleasant topic, but one that must be discussed in this
day and age of uncertainty. Those who are prepared for unpleasantries
tend to experience less emotional duress during such trials.
A swift governmental response to citizens-in-need
can be hampered by many factors. For example, after hurricanes rip
through an area, trees can be uprooted. Oftentimes, these are gargantuan
trees and they clog roads, making quite difficult the delivery of
emergency goods. My husband has been on many a church service/work
crew, using power saws for hours on end in an effort to clear roads
for emergency vehicles and other personnel. He and others serving
in this capacity work as quickly as they can, yet I'm sure it never
feels fast enough for the desperate citizens, waiting on the other
side of an impassable void.
Thus, it is no surprise to me in the
CERT training I received this week, that we were taught that governmental
entities now have begun to recommend all families have TWO-WEEK
kits, in lieu of 72-hour kits. This is a huge indication
of just how serious things can get.
Indeed, one only had to watch the despair
of the women in New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina to feel their
palpable fear for their children and babies. Water, diapers, food
— all of these are very real needs and oftentimes are impossible
to deliver with any real speed. Emergency care for the bleeding
and wounded — the list goes on.
So I ask again, do you have your children
prepared? It is better to deal with the very real possibilities
of disaster than hide our heads in the proverbial sand of pretended
peace. Such hiding does no good for anyone, least of all our children.
It is urgent we prepare now to protect
and strengthen our families with knowledge and skill for such unpleasant
realities. Better to be prepared and never need the skills or items,
than never prepare and rue the choice. Besides, wouldn't you want
your children serving others with a calm spirit and skilled hands
— until reunited with you — rather than being paralyzed
with panic and loneliness? Thus, let's get busy!
The Best, but Most Challenging
of Times
We are living in the best of times,
but we are also living amongst the most challenging of times the
earth has seen. To serve our children well, it falls to us to get
them ready for most, if not all, eventualities.
A series of four FHE lessons are included
below to stimulate discussion and to provide sample ideas for your
family's preparedness. But these sample FHE lessons are only a start
— it will be up to you to pray and to determine what the Lord
would have you do to prepare your family.
Did you know that Septembers have been
declared as national preparedness months by the Department of Homeland
Security? There is even a song your family can learn to sing to
go along with the theme. But whatever you choose to do, make sure
you choose to do something!
Understanding the Nature of
Disasters
To prepare your children and family,
it is important to understand a bit about the nature of disasters.
What I learned from the free CERT training I experienced this weekend
opened my eyes quite a bit. Although this article cannot address
all aspects, here are a few essential preparedness concepts it would
be good for you to consider. And as you prepare FHEs to help your
family in preparedness matters, include prayer so that you will
find all resources the Lord would have you encounter. This way your
time together will be efficient and effective.
1. The Urgent Nature of Preparedness.
Perhaps some years ago, people would
not have grasped the urgent nature of preparedness. But for our
generation, all it took was to view the Indian Ocean tsunami (caused
by the second largest earthquake ever recorded by seismograph1),
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and/or the collapsing of the
I-35 West bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We now understand, perhaps
as well as any generation, disaster can strike anyone, anywhere,
any time. So let's get busy getting ready.
2. The Difficult Nature of Government
Assistance.
We've also learned that — no
matter the locale — government workers cannot immediately
find or get to all people needing help. Thus, your family must have
a supply of food, water, first aid and shelter to last at least
two weeks. Do you have this ready? If not, get it done this week.
Set a goal that by next week's Family Home Evening lesson, this
category is completed. (The sample lessons below will help you do
this, if you feel completely stymied!)
3. The Essential Nature of Survival
Skills and Community Camaraderie.
Additional survival skills along with
community friendships will enhance everyone's chances for survival.
The best way to receive free training in these matters is to join
a local CERT group. Their number one goal is to help your family
prepare for unseen disasters. Then, once your family's needs are
met, you may choose to help out the CERT team in training your neighborhood
and local communities. If your town does not yet have a CERT group,
consider starting one. You will receive free training how to prepare
your home and family for disasters, in addition to helping your
neighbors do the same. Just think — if your neighborhood is
also ready, there is less fear of roaming mobs. You simply work
together as neighbors to help and protect one another until outside
help can arrive.
4. The Essential Nature of Ham
Radios.
Another preparedness factor you might
want to consider is that normal communication lines are usually
down in times of disaster. But if you obtain a ham radio operator's
license and a ham radio, you will be able to communicate with the
outside world! For those who have experienced cut-off communications,
yet were ham-radio-ready, this not only became a psychological help,
but oftentimes became a lifesaver. With ham radio capabilities,
you can communicate the number of injured in your area and the needs
they have with the outside world, in addition to identifying the
location of your family and others for those on their way to help.
5. The Essential Nature of Fire-Fighting
Skills.
How are your firefighting abilities?
Does your family know that you have to pull the pin FIRST on your
fire extinguisher to then put out a fire? The stories the CERT trainers
told our training group made me cringe. I was unaware that so many
people did not know how to use a fire extinguisher. And watching
a film of a dried out Christmas tree go up in flames and engulf
an entire room was even more frightening (it took less time than
reading this paragraph does). Therefore, does your family know how
to effectively use a fire extinguisher? Does your family even have
a fire extinguisher? CERT training makes all of this simple and
a ready skill for your loved ones.
6. The Essential Nature of Out-of-State
Contacts.
Just think if every family separated
by Hurricane Katrina had committed to memory an out-of-state contact
phone number! Small children, once able to get to a phone, could
have called their grandma to tell their location. Mothers could
have called the same out-of-state contact to communicate their location
and to find out where their children had been taken. Reuniting those
families could have happened much more smoothly!
Chances are, even if phone lines are
down in your area, your friend's state will not have been affected.
If family members get separated, once they get to a functioning
phone, they can call the out-of-state friend or relative to indicate
their current location and well-being.
A simple way to teach your children
(and even the aged) the number of an out-of-state relative or friend
is to insert that phone number into a family's favorite song (nursery
rhymes are great for this such as "Row, Row, Row Your Boat
— substituting the phone number for words and ending with
a crazy rhyme about calling instructions).
Essentials' Summary.
The above-mentioned "Essentials"
are just a sample of preparedness considerations. Through CERT,
or even American Red Cross training programs, you will learn more.
Start today. Set a goal that by next week, you'll have completed
your two weeks' worth of emergency food, water, and first-aid needs.
You'll be glad you did. Then get ready for more FHE FUN!
FHE Fun!
These sample lessons are divided into
four different FHEs. Of course, you are free to mix and match, rearranging
the order as you feel inspired to do so. Or, after reading these
through, you may feel prompted to do something completely different.
Whatever or wherever inspiration may take you, just make sure you
do something today to complete your family's emergency preparedness.
I pray you never need it, but if you do, how grateful your children
will be for the knowledge and help you have provided them.
Week One Preparedness Fun
Pack It Up Game.
Click
here to play the "Pack It Up" game. Make sure to have
one family member play "scribe" to write down the items
discovered in the game. This will make it easier to remember those
items and to be able gather them up for your family's emergency
kit.
Family Supply List Scavenger
Hunt.
Read the following statement to your family: "A fire is ten
minutes away from our home. We have to put as many things as we
think are important into our car and leave. What would you get?
Make a list." Let each family member make his or her own list
(younger family members can team up with older ones).
At the end, share and talk about the
family's lists. How do they compare with the one listed here.
Now divide up the lists and
the family into teams. Have them go on a scavenger hunt, returning
in ten minutes with all the items they have been able to locate.
If all important items have not been located by the end of ten minutes,
discuss what needs to happen so that by next week, the family's
emergency kit will be completed. Also, assess if there were any
essentials left off the lists, such as medications, asthma inhalers,
and other necessities.
Final Check.
Time for the kids to grade the family! They ought to get a kick
out of this. Click here
to take the "Final." Immediately make the necessary additions
to your emergency kits, then have some ice cream to celebrate and
to close FHE. You may want to give each family member an assignment
to find a "preparedness" scripture for next week's FHE.
Week Two Preparedness Fun
Share any "preparedness"
scriptures family members found during the week. Then play the following
games and activities:
Talk It Out Activity.
Click here
for an easy resource to create your family's emergency plan. It'll
be a snap with this guide by your side! Once you've decided as a
family what you're going to do in the variety of events listed,
print out this
guide and fill it in for the kids’ backpacks, your car,
and wherever else you might need it.
Hidden Treasures Game.
This quick and delightful game
is perfect for families, because its visual clues will be remembered
easily by both young and old alike during an emergency. The whole
family can gather around to play it.
Treasures Word Search.
Finish off week two of your FHE Preparedness Fun by playing this
word
search game together. Make sure to close with family prayer
requesting the peace that those who are prepared can feel as a gift
from God.
Week Three Preparedness Fun
As you prepare your FHE Preparedness
Fun activities, remember to keep them uplifting and hands-on. This
will help focus people's minds on what they can do, rather
than focusing on what they could fear. It is important
that as families we focus on personal power, rather than the horror
of a possible event.
Thus, for this week's preparedness
focus, as you move through learning about different possible scenarios,
keep the children physically moving. For example, you could have
the children act out being a "'tornado," rather than show
scary pictures of tornados. By keeping their bodies moving, young
children will stay engaged, thinking, and yet still feel able to
do something about emergency situations. Here is an excellent list
of scenarios
your family can study to understand which ones could affect them
and to make plans in preparation. Select the ones that apply to
your family and role-play creative ways to handle appropriate responses.
Your Brain At Work Puzzle.
Once you've theatrically role-played the scenarios you need to prepare
for, why not do this fun puzzle
together as a review? You might be surprised just how quick your
kids are with their answers! Then finish FHE with reading the following
scripture: D&C 38:7-9. Testify that the Lord blesses all those
who seek to obey Him and to prepare for His coming.
Week Four Preparedness Fun.
By now, your family should be humming
with preparedness and feeling much more secure. At least family
members will have a better idea of what to do if anyone were separated
from Mom and Dad. To top off the month, why not take this final
quiz.
Then to celebrate, learn the fun and
upbeat jingle written by elementary school kids and teachers in
Oklahoma about getting prepared. If they can get ready, we can,
too! The link to the words (sung to "She'll Be Comin' Round
the Mountain") is here.
You then could finish this FHE with
the scripture in D&C 37:4:
Behold, here is wisdom, and let every
man choose for himself until I come. Even so. Amen.
Testify to your family that preparedness
is a personal issue. As your family seeks the Lord's help, you'll
be led to appropriate responses and trainings.
Summary
Elder L. Tom Perry has said:
No other activities should involve
our family members on Monday night. This designated time is to
be with our families ("The Importance of the Family,"
Ensign, May 2003, 42).
With the family under attack from so
many angles, is it any wonder our church leaders have admonished
us to spend this time together on Monday nights with our loved ones?
And what better way to fortify them than through preparing them
for the storms that may come their way, both spiritually and
temporally.
President Hinckley said, soon after
Hurricane Katrina had hit,
Now, as all of us are aware, the
Gulf States area of the United States has recently suffered terribly
from raging winds and waters. Many have lost all they had. The
damage has been astronomical. Literally millions have suffered.
Fear and worry have gripped the hearts of many. Lives have been
lost ...
I do not hesitate to say that this
old world is no stranger to calamities and catastrophes. Those
of us who read and believe the scriptures are aware of the warnings
of prophets concerning catastrophes that have come to pass and
are yet to come to pass ...
What we have experienced in the past
was all foretold, and the end is not yet. Just as there have been
calamities in the past, we expect more in the future. What do
we do?
Someone has said it was not
raining when Noah built the ark. But he built it, and the rains
came.
The Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear'”(D&C
38:30) ...
The advice President Hinckley gives
next is focused and profound:
We have built grain storage and storehouses
and stocked them with the necessities of life in the event of
a disaster. But the best storehouse is the family storeroom. In
words of revelation the Lord has said, “Organize yourselves;
prepare every needful thing” (D&C 109:8).
Our people for three-quarters
of a century have been counseled and encouraged to make such preparation
as will assure survival should a calamity come.
We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing
to keep us warm. We ought to have a little money laid aside in
case of a rainy day ... ("If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not
Fear," Ensign, Nov 2005, 60).
Preparedness is too important an activity
to ignore. Oh, how easy it would be to hide ourselves away and pretend
that nothing "bad" will ever come our way. Yet our prophets,
including President Hinckley, have given us clear advice. We are
to prepare our temporal and spiritual storehouses for that which
is to come.
When we follow a preparedness lifestyle
(it is a lifestyle after all, and not a one-time event), we not
only bless ourselves, but we also bless our children who look to
us for everything. When disaster potentially comes our family's
way, we will have protected our children with knowledge, skills,
and wisdom.
No matter whether it is a fire that
breaks out in our home while we're sleeping or a tempest that devastates
the countryside, our family will be ready and will bless our name
for such wise and provident living. A weekly FHE can be the perfect
tool to bring this about!
Additional Resources:
Information on the CERT program and
how easy it is to join: http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/cert.shtm
http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/
An easy-to-follow website with simple
steps to prepare your family for different emergencies: http://www.72hours.org/
A cute and upbeat resource list for
kids and how they can help their family get prepared:
http://www.fema.gov/kids/
Understanding fire safety for kids:
http://www.nfpa.org/sparky/index.html
Code Red Rover — Teaching kids
personal safety:
http://www.coderedrover.org/index.html
Help your kids learn about weather
in fun, but important ways:
http://www.education.noaa.gov/sweather.html
----------
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake
C.S. Bezas' new book is now in
LDS bookstores and has been called perfect for youth leaders and
parents of teens. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers: Helping
Youth Find Their Spiritual Wings is also available by clicking here.
Click
here to sign up for Meridian's FREE email updates.
© 2007 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
|
