Be Prepared and a Giveaway!

This is our 6th spring in our home and community.  In those 6 years we have had hail damage twice, straight-line winds damage our pool in one storm and our swingset in another, and 2 tornados have hit just outside our town.  I feel like we are in "storm alley" here.  So, when ENERGIZER contacted me about their new KEEP SAFE KEEP GOING Public Safety Campaign, I definately wanted to help out.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), ENERGIZER, and the American Meteorological Society (AMS) are working together to help families prepare for whatever weather situations spring, summer and hurricane seasons might bring their way.  Storms can lead to power outages and can put families at risk for potentially harmful and serious outcomes.  One simple way to prepare is to have an emergency power kit ready before any blackout occurs.  In a era where families are so dependent on technology, this kit helps you stay connected just when you need it most.

The IAFC stresses the importance of using flashlights and lanterns instead of candles during power outages.  "An emergency power kit can literally be a beacon of light in a storm and can help prevent needless home fires caused by candles," stated President of the IAFC, Chief Jeffrey Johnson.  To reach more communities with tips and tools to stay safe , the AMS has joined the efforts this year.

Some items to include in your Emergency Power Kit:
>Battery-powered radio or crank radio
>Plenty of extra batteries
>Flashlight for every member of the family
>Battery-powered cell phone charger
>Extra speciality batteries for health needs such as hearing aids, blood pressure monitors, and blood glucose meters.
>Water
>Nonperishable food
>Copies of important documents such as medical records and insurance papers
For a complete list of tips, visit www.energizer.com/preparedness.

To help you prepare for storms, ENERGIZER has offered a safety kit for one of my readers.  This kit includes a flashlight, battery operated radio, battery-powered cell phone charger, and lots of extra batteries. This kit has been a great addition to our emergency planning.  If you would like to receive this kit to help you add to your emergency planning, please leave a comment below.  Include your email address so I can contact you if you win.  This contest is open until Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 11:59 PM.  I will select a winner on Monday, May 10, 2010 using Random.org.

ENERGIZER provided me with 2 of the emergency kits, one to keep and one to giveaway to a selected reader.