Car Safety for Emergency Situations
Caregiver in Westfield NJ
September is National Preparedness Month. As a family caregiver, this is the ideal opportunity for you to take the time to evaluate your parent’s emergency and disaster preparation and make 
meaningful changes that will help them to stay safer and healthier in the event that they encounter a weather disaster or other emergency situation. While you likely already know how important it is to make sure that they have the emergency supplies necessary to carry them through such a situation when they are at home, you must also remember the possibility of facing an emergency situation while you are traveling.
Having proper emergency supplies in the car at all times can help to ensure that if you and your aging parent are in the car when a disaster happens, or you attempt to evacuate and are stranded, that you have what you need to get through the situation. Supplies, however, are not the only consideration. You must also keep safety considerations and guidelines in mind. These will help to avoid potentially catastrophic consequences.
Some car safety guidelines to keep in mind during emergency situations include:
- Ensure you have gas. Keeping your vehicle full of gas is important to maintaining ideal operation of your vehicle. It is also essential for ensuring that you can get to your parent safely or that you can evacuate safely in the event of an emergency. Make it a practice to keep your gas tank full at all times so that you are ready in case of an unexpected situation.
- Maintain proper fluid levels. Proper vehicle maintenance should be something that you do for your vehicle at all times. This includes keeping the proper levels of all vehicle fluids, including antifreeze, oil, and brake fluid. Check with the vehicle’s manufacturer to make sure that you are following the proper maintenance schedule for your particular vehicle, and follow through with your own maintenance as well, including topping off fluids as necessary.
- Check lights. Make sure that all lights are working properly. This includes headlights, brake lights, and hazard lights. These will be vital for visibility if you are driving during an emergency situation, and will help to maintain control while driving.
- Do not enter water. No matter what you are driving, do not enter any area where there is standing water. As little as six inches of water can cause a vehicle to stall. As little as a foot of water can float a vehicle, and if that water is moving, it can sweep the vehicle away.
- Be cautious of previously flooded areas. Just because the floodwaters have receded in an area does not mean that it is safe. The roadways in this area can be weakened, potentially causing collapse, slides, and other dangerous occurrences.
- Avoid electric shock. If you are traveling and a power line falls over your vehicle, stop immediately and do not attempt to exit the car. Do not touch the doors or windows. You are at risk of electric shock. Instead, call the proper authorities and wait for a professional to remove the line for you.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional caregiver services in Westfield, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
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