As I write this, Hurricane Sandy is rapidly approaching the East Coast of the U.S., and I am praying for the safety of friends and family there. Since we here in California do not have to contend with Sandy, I’m taking this opportunity to review our family’s Emergency Kits, which we have in our car, stashed in the backyard and in the garage.
If you have young children, having an emergency kit is especially vital! In case you haven’t thought of it, please consider adding a baby carrier to your safety kit. Certainly, there are some emergencies in which you wouldn’t have time (or the presence of mind) to find your carrier, but in many situations, you might have a few minutes for that extra protection. A few years back, the Home Safety Council, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing home-related injuries, recently released research results showing that many parents are unaware of basic steps they can take to keep their babies safe from injury in the home. Among their recommendations: having a hands-free baby carrier on hand for use in case of a fire or other emergency. If you have to crawl under smoke or use a safety ladder to get outside, a secure hands-free baby carrier can literally be a life-saver.
For this kind of situation, the SlingLady recommends a secure, two-shouldered carrier that you can get on and off in a jiffy and which will allow you to move quickly as well as being truly hands free. For this purpose, we like a front or back buckle carrier. If you’re reserving a baby carrier just for emergencies, the pricepoint on the Boba Air makes it an affordable choice for a carrier you hope you’ll never have to use!
Today, make a promise to yourself and take some time now to identify a carrier in your stash for just-in-case emergency planning. Always keep in a spot you’ll remember, even when it’s hard to think clearly. If the unthinkable happens and you need to evacuate quickly, you will be glad you did.
