Emergency Safety Tips

Acadian. Knowing life matters.

Know where to go when you hear a siren.
You're driving down the road and you hear a siren. You don't know where it is coming from. What should you do? If you see or hear an emergency vehicle while driving, pull to the right, parallel to the road and remain clear of any intersection until the vehicle passes. Use caution when re-entering traffic. Most severe accidents involving rescue vehicles occur at intersections. 

Prepare your family for an emergency.
In a medical emergency, seconds can mean the difference between life and death. Preparing for an emergency can save more than just time - it can save a life. Keep emergency phone numbers for police, fire and EMS posted by each phone in your home. Call 911 for an emergency. Keep your family's medical records handy and up-to-date. 

Post directions to your home near each phone.
In an emergency, you could be so nervous that you won't remember the directions to your own home. Prepare for this by posting detailed directions with landmarks to your home near each phone.  Make your friends and family aware of this fact so precious time isn't wasted in the event of an emergency.

Prepare your home for the ambulance to arrive.
Should you call 911 for Acadian Ambulance, make sure the medics can identify your home even in the dark. House numbers should be visible and large enough to read from the road. Turn on an outside light. Have someone go outside and wait for the ambulance if possible.  

Learn CPR.
Being prepared can alleviate much of the anxiety of the unexpected. Each year the CPR Heart Starters offer a free bystander CPR course. Visit heartstarter.org or call the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.