Richland County Emergency Management

September is Preparedness Month in Wisconsin

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It doesn’t matter if you are a child, an adult or senior, everyone should be ready for a disaster. That’s why Governor Scott Walker had proclaimed September as Preparedness Month. The campaign is encouraging Wisconsin families to prepare now before disaster strikes.

“Preparing your family for the unexpected is as simple as having a conversation around the dinner table,” says Major General Don Dunbar, Adjutant General and Wisconsin’s Homeland Security Advisor. “Make sure you talk about what to do during an emergency and consider special needs of each family member. A senior may need additional assistance walking downstairs to seek shelter in a basement during a tornado warning while young children may need items such as diapers, food and toys when families are asked to evacuate during an emergency and go to a shelter. Also, don’t forget your pets. Many shelters do not accept pets during an emergency so have a kennel or friend that is able to take care of them if you need to evacuate your home.”

When putting together your family emergency plan, make sure you have a contact list that contains current phone numbers of families and friends who could assist during an emergency. Also have medical information including contact information for your physician and a list of any medications or allergies. Carry a copy of the information in your wallet and have one in your disaster kit.

If you or a family member has allergies, diabetes, cardiac conditions or other serious health issues, consider wearing a medical alert dog tag or bracelet. If you are injured or sick and unable to talk, these tags will alert first responders and medical personnel that you have a condition that they should be aware of.

Also, when putting together your emergency disaster kits for your home and vehicles make sure you include important specialty items for family members. This could include baby food, diapers, certain medications, items for your pets such as food, water and leashes, etc. It may take a while before help arrives so it may be important to have those items available.

This September, ReadyWisconsin will highlight easy and inexpensive ways for you and your family to prepare for emergency situations. You can visit http://readywisconsin.wi.gov (http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwOTAyLjYzMjk3MjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDkwMi42MzI5NzIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODUxMjkxJmVtYWlsaWQ9cmNhbWVyaWNvcnBzQGNvLnJpY2hsYW5kLndpLnVzJnVzZXJpZD1yY2FtZXJpY29ycHNAY28ucmljaGxhbmQud2kudXMmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://readywisconsin.wi.gov/) for more information. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Have you signed up for Nixle?

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With Nixle, you can stay up-to-date on emergency situations in your neighborhood through email and text messages sent by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office. Nixle is the first secure and identity-certified communication service that allows local, county and state law enforcement agencies to connect with local residents over cell phone, email and web. This free service takes only a couple minutes to sign up for. Consider adding this to your plan for receiving time-sensitive and accurate emergency information.

Click it or Ticket

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Even though the ‘Click it or Ticket’ campaign took place earlier this year, we thought we’d give Donald Driver the opportunity to remind you once again how easy it can be. Seatbelts save lives.

Pet Summer Safety Tips

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Summertime—the blissful season of pool parties, backyard barbecues and long walks on the beach. While it may be a spectacular time of year, summer can be potentially dangerous for your pets. After all, temperatures can rise above 90 or 100 degrees Fahrenheit in many areas of the country, putting your pets at risk of heat stroke, burns and other injuries.ASPCA-Summer-Danger

An important thing to note: Dogs and cats don’t sweat like humans do. Dogs cool off through the pads of their paws and by panting. Cats also cool off through the pads of their paws, through extra grooming, and in extreme cases, panting. The takeaway? It’s incredibly important to help you pets stay cool during the summer—especially because they can’t tell you when they’re feeling under the weather! (No pun intended.) Here’s what you can do to keep your pets safe when the temperatures rise:

+KEEP THEM INSIDE

  • It might seem obvious, but pets get just as hot as you do outside. When the temperatures are high, carefully limit your dog’s time outside and be sure to bring him inside to hang out where the AC can keep him cool. Overheating can happen quickly in dogs and has many detrimental effects on health, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

+NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET IN THE CAR

  • Parking in the shade and leaving the windows open does not prevent the heat from rising. It is never OK to leave your pet in a parked car for any period of time when you’re running errands.

+WATCH FOR HOT SURFACES

  • You know how much it hurts your bare feet to walk on scorching concrete? It can hurt your dogs’ feet as well, so avoid walking them in the middle of the day or stick to grassy areas.

+PROTECT FROM SUN EXPOSURE

  • You might not think of skin cancer when you think of pets, but it does occur. Luckily, your pet’s fur provides some protection, but it doesn’t take care of everything. When taking your dog outdoors, make sure you protect areas that are hairless or non-pigmented with a sunscreen made specifically for dogs. These areas often include the bridge of the nose, tips of the ears, belly and groin area. Cats generally aren’t taken outdoors in the same way dogs are, however they can still be vulnerable even indoors. If your cat enjoys spending a lot of time sleeping in a sunny windowsill, consider adding a shade or film to the window to help filter out UV rays.

+USE THE POWER OF PUPSICLES AND CATSICLES

  • The good news? Dogs and cats often enjoy cool treats the same ways humans do, and there are tons of dog-friendly and cat-friendly popsicles that are quick and easy to make. When your dog or cat looks warm, give him a cool treat (or two).

+KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ALGAE

  • Some dogs love swimming or playing in water during hot summer days, but it’s best to limit this to the sprinkler in your backyard or larger bodies of water with significant surface movement. Stagnant water in some lakes or ponds can develop a layer of algae on top, certain types of which are toxic and in some cases fatal for pets.

+PREPARE FOR FIREWORKS

  • Fireworks are popular at many different types of celebrations over the summer months. While you may have the urge to include your pet in the festivities, don’t. More pets are lost around the 4th of July holiday than any other time of the year. During the 4th of July and any other celebration using fireworks, always be sure to keep your pets safely indoors. If a fireworks celebration has occurred close your home, be sure to do a yard check the next morning to make sure your pet isn’t injured by any leftover debris or unfamiliar objects.
  • It’s also important to watch for signs of heatstroke, like heavy panting, drooling, fatigue and discomfort. Symptoms may progress to include vomiting, lethargy, disorientation and even seizures. Heatstroke is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, bring him into a cool or air conditioned room, place cool, wet towels on the back of the neck, in the ‘armpits’ and groin area and head immediately to your vet.

 

Dog Days

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Well, we’re into the Dog Days of Summer now, and though the time between July 3 and August 11 are named that after Sirius the Dog Star, we’re going to use it as a time to help you keep your four-legged friends happy and healthy during this season of heat.

You doubtless know not to leave your pets or people in a car during the summer, but some have raised questions about what would happen if your pet was home alone and something happened to you. It’s simple! Just print out this card and keep a couple emergency contacts on the back like a neighbor or a friend who lives nearby. Be sure it’s someone your pet knows and trusts! Keep the card in your wallet with your driver’s license, and make sure the emergency contacts know about your plan. They may want to know information like where you keep the pet’s food, their leash or carrier, and of course the treats!

Pet Card

https://em.co.richland.wi.us/