You may have considered how portable your emergency kit is, but have you considered how portable your family is in the event of an emergency. Depending on the age and health of your family members you may want to plan now for what you will need to do during an evacuation. You should also plan in case you need to hike out. You may need to hike because roads are impassable due to an earthquake or other natural disaster. Here are five things to consider.
1) You should consider planning for children under the age of five. Depending on the age you may need to carry your preschooler part of the time. You will need to able to carry your infant or toddler most of the time. You may consider purchasing a baby sling or carrier for your child. You may also consider taking your stroller along. A jogging stroller is ideal, because the big wheels make it much easier to take it over the rougher terrain you may be hiking on.
2) You should take into consideration any elderly family members. You will not want to leave your parents behind if there is an emergency and you need to hike out. If they are confined to a wheelchair, you will need to take that into account. You may want to provide a cane or a walker to help with the hiking. This can help your parents to keep their balance over uneven ground. You should also plan to take the hike slowly.
3) If you have a family member with special needs you will need to take those into consideration. If you have a child or family member in a wheelchair you may need to make plans to accommodate her. You should also have a plan to help a child who is very set in a routine. You may want to have procedures in place that will help your child to adjust to the changes in his daily schedule.
4) You should take into account the general health of every member in your family. If you are terribly out of shape, a hike is going to be much more difficult for you. You should begin exercising now, so that you are prepared if you ever do have to evacuate. You may never need to evacuate, but it is always good to improve your physical condition.
5) If you have any family members with special needs if you are hiking, you will want to look at the supplies you have included in your emergency kit. You need to make sure that you will still be able to transport everything, and still be able to help your family members. You may need to change the way you carry the supplies, or find some ways to lighten your load.