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All-Med Services of Florida, Inc.

2012 Guide to Emergency Preparedness

**Please Note**

All-Med Services of Florida  is not an Emergency Medical, Transportation or Evacuation Service. 

If you have a Medical Emergency, please call 911

 

Disasters strike anytime and anywhere.  It can be a hurricane, tropical storm, tornado, flood, fire, an act of nature or and act of terrorism.  It can strike suddenly, without warning or build over days or weeks.

 

All-Med’s Emergency Plan
All-Med has a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (C.E.M.P.) approved and on file with the State of Florida. Our approach to Emergency Planning includes threats from Hurricanes, Tropical Storms or other weather related emergencies, as well as man-made or technological emergencies such as hazardous chemical spills and acts of terrorism. A state-of-the-art stand-by emergency generator at our Central Intake, Distribution Center and Corporate Headquarter locations ensure that we are operational at all times.  

 

Customer / Patient Emergency Planning
In a major disaster, emergency workers may not be able to reach everyone right away, and in some cases it may take 3 or more days for help to arrive. What would you do if you had no electricity, no gas, no water and no telephone service? Having a plan for you and your family will help ensure your safety and comfort during these difficult times. All-Med encourages its customers / patients to have their own Emergency Plan. This plan should be in place throughout the year. Emergency Management officials suggest having sufficient food, water, medicine and other necessary supplies to last at least three (3) days. Family and friends can take part in formulating your emergency plan. Remember, the best way to make you, your family and home safer is to be prepared before a disaster happens.

 

Emergency Back-Up Oxygen

1. All new oxygen patients are offered an Emergency Back-Up Oxygen System when started on service with All-Med.
2. Prior to the start of Hurricane Season, All-Med initiates a pre-hurricane call to all its members and delivers Emergency Back-Up Oxygen patients requesting a back-up system. This plan is put in place due to the high possibility of losing power for an extended period of time due to a storm.
3. Patients need to plan ahead and should have sufficient back-up oxygen to last at least 48 hours.

 

Evacuation Orders
If you live in a mobile home or evacuation zone and have been given orders to evacuate, please do so immediately. When evacuating, please take all your necessary medical equipment, oxygen, nebulizer machine, medications and supplies with you and call All-Med at 800-369-1416 to let us know where you are evacuating to so we may continue providing service to you after a storm or emergency has passed. We will not be able to assist you without you calling us to let us know where you will be temporarily staying before, during and after an emergency / disaster.

 

Special Needs Medical Shelters
County Emergency Managers may recommend evacuations in the county you live in due to a Hurricane, Tropical Storm or other Natural Disaster. Special Needs is a program that provides shelters for individuals with certain special medical needs and / or assistance with evacuation transportation. Pre-registration for the Special Needs is open and ongoing throughout the year. All-Med will gladly assist you in registering by calling us at 800-369-1416. These shelters should be used as a place of last refuge as they do not provide the same level of care that you’re accustomed to at home.

 

Public Shelters
Public shelters should be used only as a last resort if you have no where else to go. It is better to stay with family, friends, or in commercial lodging out of the evacuation area. Public shelters have no privacy, bedding, limited food and water. Public shelters will not accept individuals who require continued medical assistance, use electrical dependant medical equipment and pets.

 

Deliveries
Hurricane or Tropical Storm: 
During a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Watch, All-Med will continue making deliveries. Once a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Warning is issued, All-Med will only make essential deliveries until wind speeds have reached 35 mph. Once wind speeds have reached 35 mph sustained, all deliveries will be discontinued and our Technicians will be called off the roads. All-Med will only resume deliveries once watches and warnings have been discontinued by the National Hurricane Center and it is safe to be out on the roads. Please keep in mind that it maybe difficult getting to you after a storm due to downed trees, power lines and impassable roads.

 

Generator Safety Tips
Generators can be useful during a power outage.  But they need to be used appropriately !!
Using a generator incorrectly can be deadly….
Please follow these safety tips:

1. Always read the owners manual and instructions for your particular generator – Do Not Cut Corners
2. Operate a generator outside of your home in a well ventilated area, away from windows, doors and openings.
3. Never connect a portable generator to the main electrical panel in your home.
4. Do not refuel a generator while it’s running or still hot.  Spilled fuel on a hot engine part may ignite.
5. Use appropriate grade indoor / outdoor three prong extension cords.
6. Never overload the generator.
7. Do not operate a generator on the balcony of a multi-unit building such as an apartment of condominium.
8. Do not operate a generator inside a shed or garage.
9. Install a carbon monoxide “CO” detector in your home.

 

Oxygen Concentrator and Portable Generator Tips
During a Storm: Use your concentrator until the power goes out.  You should then switch to using your emergency back-up oxygen until the storm has passed.

After a Storm:  You may connect your concentrator to a portable generator as follows:

1. Concentrator needs to remain inside the home.
2. Generator needs to be outside the home following the Generator Safety Tips listed above.
3. Make sure the power switch to the concentrator is turned off.
4. Connect a heavy duty indoor / outdoor extension cord from the generator to the concentrator.
5. Start the generator and then turn on your concentrator.
6. Never refuel or start a generator while wearing / using oxygen.

 

Disaster Kit and Supplies

1. Portable radio or digital TV with extra batteries
2. Lanterns and flashlights with extra batteries (do not use candles)
3. First Aid kit
4. Water (at least 1 gallon per person, per day for at least 3 days)
5. Non perishable foods for at least 3 days
6. Prescription and Non-Prescription medication (2 week supply)
7. Manual can opener
8. Fire extinguisher
9. Sun screen
10. Mosquito repellent
11. Cooler for Ice and Food storage
12. Duct tape for repairs (not to tape windows)
13. Toiletries and personal hygiene items
14. Cash (ATM’s will not work)
15. Books, Magazines and Board games
16. Disposable plates, drinking glasses and utensils
17. Extra pair of reading glasses and hearing aid batteries

 

All-Med’s Phone System
If our phone system goes down, our phones are automatically rolled-over to our virtual call answering center to continue receiving calls and servicing our customers. We also have the capability of forwarding calls to any one of our distribution centers located throughout Florida.

 

Public Announcements
If it becomes necessary during a declared disaster, All-Med will broadcast via radio and / or television any special announcements as it relates to the company and your medical services.

 

Additional Resource Information
Florida Emergency Management – www.floridadisaster.org  
Federal Emergency Management – www.fema.gov
American Red Cross – www.redcross.org
National Hurricane Center – www.nhc.noaa.gov
Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs- information@elderaffairs.org