ara a \\ ie Onn VA\AY\ en ET RN We)aa) ee OZLp ) ea oeae TTT] e— Whatever Th e Weather (NAPSA)—Whenit comes to keeping children safe, parents often think of the usual safety a corded landline phone, whichis a phone that has a handset connected to the base of the phone by a cord. “Corded landline phones will continue to operate if the power goes out at your home,” said Appy. “It is often the most reliable items: sunscreen, seat belts, bike helmets and more. However, experts caution that it is important to make sure families also have the right emergency supplies and an action plan in place should severe weather strike. On average, the U.S. experiences 10,000 thunderstorms, source of communication in the 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes and six deadly hurricanes each year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). To help people prepare for weather-related and other types of emergencies, EMBARQ Corporation (NYSE: EQ) partnered with the nonprofit Home Safety Council (HSC) to educate families about the importance of creating an emergency communication plan. The groups created free walletsized emergency communication cards that include space to list important phone numbers and medical information. Each card comes in a small, sealable plastic bag to help protect it from water damage. The cards are available at EMBARQretail stores (visit embarq.com/stores for a store in the area) and at www.embarq. com/severeweather. “Creating an emergency com- munication plan is simple. First, families should discuss how they will communicate during an emergency and then record important plan information on their emer- Safety experts suggest keeping a corded phone in your home to communicate with loved ones, should a weather emergency strike. gency communication cards,” said Home Safety Council President Meri-K Appy. “Making sure every family member has this information at his or her fingertips can be a lifesaver if you’re in different places when disaster strikes.” Communication, simple preparation and proper supplies are keys to staying safe and keeping in contact during severe weather threats. “When an emergency occurs, the first thing people often reach for is a phoneto call their loved ones. As a communication com- pany, we can help people prepare, especially when staying connected by phone may be an individual’s lifeline,” said Harry Campbell, president of consumer markets at EMBARQ. To prepare for emergencies, HSC strongly recommends having case of an emergency.” Try these additional safety tips: Compile a “Ready-to-Go kit” for when your family needs to leave your home and a “Ready-toStay kit” for when your family needs to stay inside your homefor extended periods of time. Kits should contain water, canned food, can opener, flashlight, battery- powered radio, extra batteries, change of clothes and first-aid supplies. Designate a safe meeting location outside of your home and out of harm’s way. Designate a safe place to stay in your home (away from windows) in case of severe weather. Plan and practice a homefire drill. Regularly test your smoke alarms. Teach your children how to use the phoneto call for help. Be sure you have a corded landline phone in your home. Learn about the types of possible emergencies and how to respond to each. Update your cell phone with “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contact information. For more information and tips, visit embarg.com/severeweather.
