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Top of Page • Table of Contents
Top of Page • Table of Contents
Top of Page • Table of Contents
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PURPOSE:To provide individual families with basic information on how to protect themselves and to secure their home and property in case of an earthquake or other physical disaster. OBJECTIVES: 1. FLASHLIGHTS, SHOES AND GLOVES A. Place a flashlight by each bed: B. Place shoes and gloves by each bed: Hard sole shoes will prevent cut feet resulting from stepping on broken glass or other foreign objects. Place a pair of hard sole shoes for each person by their bed. Place a pair of leather work gloves in the shoes to protect hands during cleanup. Remind family members that these items are for emergency use only and should not be "borrowed" or left elsewhere. 2. GAS VALVE SHUTOFF Provide for gas valve emergency shutoff: Provide a means of shutting off your main gas valve. An automatic shutoff valve may be purchased which will mechanically shut off the gas due to any unusual shaking or vibration. These devises should be installed by the gas company or knowledgeable plumber. The gas valve may also be shut off manually by using a 12" crescent wrench or a wrench specially made for gas valves. It is critical that the wrench remain by the gas valve. Secure the wrench to the valve with wire so that it will always be available. Make sure the wire is long enough so that the wrench may be properly used without removing it from the wire. If you use an adjustable wrench, lubricate it well and cover it with a plastic bag to keep it from rusting. Clear all brush and vegetation away from the valve so hat it is easily accessible. If you smell gas or hear it escaping, immediately vacate the house, shut off the gas, then open the windows if possible. Be careful not to turn on or off any electricity or light matches or any other combustible material until you are positive the gas odor is completely gone and the gas has been shut off. Even a spark can ignite natural gas. If you do not smell gas or hear it escaping, do not turn it off. See Table 1 on page 9 for an illustration of how to turn off the gas. Call the gas company or an experienced plumber to turn the gas back on when it is safe. Be sure lines are inspected and any leaks repaired. Re-light all pilot lights. 3. WATER AND ELECTRICITY SHUTOFF A. Locate main fuse box and be able to shut off electricity: Learn where and how to shut off your electricity. Identify and label the electrical master and individual circuit breakers as to what portion of the home's electricity they control. Turn the small breakers off first and then turn off the main breaker. B. Locate water main and be able to shut off water: Learn where and how to shut off your water. Locate the water shutoff valves near the house and the water main valve near the street. Obtain a special water shutoff tool if it is required for your water main. Store the tool in an accessible place so that it can be located quickly. 4. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION A. Establish out-of-state contact: After a disaster, it will probably be easier to make phone calls out of state than locally. Decide on one relative or person to contact in another state in case of a disaster. Contact this person as soon as you have stabilized your situation after disaster. Give them a summary of your current status and any information you would like to relay to other relatives. You will be able to find out how separated family members are doing through your out-of-state contact. B. Establish local message drop: A message drop is a place previously designated where family members can leave messages for one another as they come and go. It should be located where all family members will have easy access to it so they may leave and receive messages. A message drop at home or alternate location will allow messages to be passed as family members come and go. C.Become familiar with ward and neighborhood emergency plans: Know the name of your Ward Block Captain. Know how your ward emergency plan works. During a major disaster, a quick and accurate account of each family's welfare will help to direct the available Ward resources to the areas of greatest need. If your neighborhood has established an emergency plan, become familiar with it and find out what to do to cooperate with your neighbors during an emergency. 5. TRAIN FAMILY MEMBERS A. Training in home emergency preparation: Train each family member to protect themselves and to work as a team in responding to an emergency situation. The training should include earthquake drills, fire drills (see level 2), home evacuation drills, and how to respond to utility outages. Familiarize family members with the proper use of 911 services. Proper use is as follows: Use 911 for emergencies only. Remain calm. Answer all questions and follow all directions given by the operator. Don't hang up prematurely. Speak calmly when discussing emergency situations. Do not alarm family members by relating scary or devastating stories. Emphasize that family members should remain calm during an emergency. Before an earthquake: 1.Have occasional home earthquake drills to provide your family with the knowledge to avoid injury and panic during an earthquake. 2.Situate bedroom furniture so that heavy objects such as book cases, etc. will not fall on the bed. 3.Move beds away from windows. 4.Keep window blinds closed at night to prevent broken glass from spreading into the room. 5.Secure valuables and bolt down "top heavy" furniture wherever possible. During an earthquake: 1. If you are in bed, stay there and ride the quake out. 2. If you are in the kitchen, move quickly out. You cannot cope with a moving refrigerator, and the many other objects found in the kitchen. 3. Do not stand in a doorway. A swinging door can injure you. 4. Get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold onto it; or, if possible, move to a hallway. Sit down against one wall and place your feet against the opposite wall of the hallway. 5. If you live in a mobile home, brace yourself against a wall or corner. 6. If you are outside, stay there. Move away from buildings, walls, power poles and any object that may fall or collapse. 7. If you are in a moving car, stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in your vehicle which will protect you. After an earthquake: 1. Check for injuries and provide first aid. 2. Check for safety: check for gas, water and sewage breaks. Turn off utilities as needed. Check for building damage and potential safety problems which may be aggravated by aftershocks. 3. Clean up debris and any dangerous spills. 4. Turn on your radio and listen for emergency information and instructions. 5. Don't use the telephone except for emergencies and to call your out-of-state contact. More injuries are likely to occur after an earthquake through poor judgment than from the earthquake itself. B. Training in "away from home" emergency procedures: Instruct each family member what to do, where to go, and who to contact if they are away from home and an emergency occurs. (e.g., work, school, play, friend's house, etc.) Become familiar with how your children's school handles earthquake and other emergency situations. These procedures may differ from school to school. Find out who is authorized to pick up your child after an emergency. Determine where children will be gathered and what they are expected to do during an emergency. Some schools like to have the students provide a personal earthquake kit and have it at school. C.Training in automobile safety and accident procedures: Train family members in automobile safety and what to do in the event of an accident or other emergency. In addition too basic first aid, this could include items such as who to call for help, what to say and what not to say if involved in an accident, the use of insurance, and other essential information. |
Top of Page • Table of Contents
Top of Page • Table of Contents
CONGRATULATIONS ON ACHIEVING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN YOUR HOME
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PURPOSE: To provide basic care for family members and equip family homes with the essentials necessary for earthquake or other physical disaster preparedness. OBJECTIVES: ** REVIEW AND UPKEEP Review all objectives in level one and ensure they are still in place, functioning and in good condition. 1. SECURE HOT WATER HEATER 2. FIRE SAFETY A. Place fire extinguishers in strategic places: Place a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, garage and upstairs in a two-story home. It is recommended that fire extinguishers be rated for class A, B, and C fires and have the proper capacity for the intended use and size of the area to be covered by the extinguisher. There are two types of fire extinguishers. Both can be purchased at most hardware or home improvement stores. They are the "dry chemical" type and the "halon" type. The dry chemical type uses a white powder to extinguish the fire while the halon type uses a vapor to extinguish the fire. Both types come in different sizes. Carefully read the manufacturers instructions to determine where to place and how to maintain and operate your fire extinguishers. Instruct all family members on the proper use of the extinguishers you have purchased. Periodically inspect all of your fire extinguishers to be sure they are still in good operating condition. This should be done at least once a year. The gauge needle should always be in the green area of the gauge. Extinguishers come with different attachment mechanisms to secure them to walls or other objects. If you use these attachments, instruct family members how to remove the extinguisher from it's attachment. Give family members an opportunity to remove the extinguisher on their own so they can do it quickly in case of fire. Keep a hose and swift nozzle connected to each outside faucet so that water will be readily available for use in case of fire. B. Place smoke alarms in critical places: Place smoke alarms near the sleeping areas in your home. Place an alarm on each floor of multi-level homes, and at least two or three different locations of a single story home. A smoke alarm in the garage is also recommended. Smoke alarms are available in either direct-wired or battery operated type. The direct-wired type is connected directly to the house electrical system. The battery type operates off of it's own battery which has to be replaced on a regular basis. Battery operated alarms have the advantage of still being functional if electricity is cut off. Be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions carefully to determine where to place and how to check and maintain your smoke alarms. C.Prepare for fire emergencies: 2. Know two ways out. Draw a diagram of your home. Plan two ways out of every room, especially bedrooms. If you must escape from a second-story window, be sure you have a safe way to reach the ground. Make special arrangements for small children and people with disabilities. Chain ladders or other means of window escape should be provided. Family members should know how to use the items provided for window escape. Use stairways to leave a building or apartment. Never use an elevator as a means of fire escape; it may stop between floors or even take you to the floor where the fire is burning. 3. Make sure everyone can unlock all locks and open all windows and doors quickly even in the dark. Give special instruction concerning dead bolt locks. Use caution if you install window coverings. Be sure they can be removed from the inside and that family members know how to remove them quickly. 4. Practice your plan. At least twice a year, have a fire drill in your home. Appoint someone as the monitor to sound the alarm and make sure everyone participates. A fire drill is not a race. Get out quickly but carefully. Because the majority of fatal fires occur at night when people are sleeping, start the drill by having family members go to their bedrooms, closing the door, and waiting for the monitor to sound the alarm. Make your exit drill as realistic as possible without frightening younger children. Pretend that certain exits are blocked by fire, that there are no lights, and that the hallways are filling with smoke. D. Know the basics of fire emergency response: Preview the following basics of fire emergency response with your family: 1. Don't panic. 2. Call 911 from a location other than the burning structure. 3. Pre determine a place where family members will meet in the event of a fire. Instruct them to meet at this location if fire breaks out. Account for all family members as soon as possible. 4. Use emergency escape routes. Consider taking the pre-planned route which will take you most quickly out of the building first. If taking this route is not possible, immediately rely on your alternative route. 5.Keep your head down while escaping from a burning building to avoid inhalation of smoke at higher levels. Crawl if necessary. 6. Be cautious opening doors. Test for heat. Before opening a door, make sure there's no fire on the other side. Kneeling at the door, reach up high and use the back of your hand to touch the door, the door knob, and the space between the door and the frame. If any of these feel hot, use your second way out. If everything feels cool, brace your shoulder against the door, and open it carefully. Keep your body behind the door. Be ready to slam it shut if heat or smoke rushes in. As you leave, close all doors behind you. Closed doors will slow down the spread of fire and smoke. 7. If you are trapped close doors between you and the fire. Stuff the cracks around doors and cover vents to keep smoke out. Wait at a window and signal for help with a flashlight (which should be by you're bed...right ?) or by waving a sheet or other light colored cloth. If there's a working phone in the room where you're trapped, call 911 and tell the operator exactly where you are. 8. Don't go inside a burning building for any reason. Make sure your family knows that once they are out, they must not go back for any reason. If people or animals are trapped, fire fighters have the best chance of rescuing them. Leave it up to them. 9. Do not delay. If a fire breaks out, implement your fire safety plan immediately. Make sure that your family understands how to get out quickly as there is no time for mistakes. Fire after an earthquake is common. Watch for fire and potential fire hazards after an earthquake. 3. WATER AND FOOD STORAGE A. Store fourteen days of water per person: Store 1.5 gallons of water per person per day for a fourteen day minimum (21 gallons per person). Keep a supply of fresh household chlorine bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) for water purification. A small amount of chlorine bleach (about eight drops per gallon) added to your water supply will help preserve the water during storage and assist in preventing bacterial growth. Store your water in a cool place out of direct sunlight. Change the water every six months. If you suspect that your water has become contaminated and you need to use it during an emergency, it can be treated by first straining it through a handkerchief or cheesecloth and then disinfecting it. Add chlorine bleach (8 drops per gallon for clear water and 16 drops per gallon for cloudy water) and mix thoroughly. Let stand for 30 minutes before using. If chlorine bleach is not available, purify the water by bringing it to a rapid boil. Do not use swimming pool water for drinking. The chemicals will make you sick. Conserve drinking water by using pool water for needs besides drinking or cooking. B. Set up a rotation system for food: Food should be kept in a cool, dry place. Keep a good supply of food that has a reasonable shelf life on hand at all times. Foods used for emergencies should be sufficient to last your family (and pets) for 72 hours. Foods high in protein content should be included in abundance. Store your emergency food (and water) in a place where it will be easily accessible in case of emergency. Incorporate your emergency food into your normal diet as much as possible so that rotation of these items will happen naturally as you consume and replace them while preparing your regular meals. During an emergency when electricity is not available, eat the food in the refrigerator first; then the food in the freezer; and then canned, dried and less perishable foods. 4. FIRST AID KIT AND TRAINING A. Become trained in first aid: First aid and CPR training is available on a regular basis and at a nominal cost from the American Red Cross. Contact the Red Cross Center in the Santa Clarita Valley at 805-259-1805 for more information and class schedules. Basic first aid instructions can be obtained from the Red Cross First Aid or other first aid manuals. The Boy Scout handbook contains excellent information about basic first aid. Instruct family members in the basics of first aid. If you have a scout, have him teach the family the first aid skills he has learned. The phone book also contains basic first aid instructions. Be sure to cover what you should do to look for and treat the "hurry cases" which are: stopped breathing, no heartbeat, severe bleeding, choking, and poisoning.Keep a basic first aid manual or pamphlet in an accessible place at home and in each automobile. B. Keep a first aid kit in your home and in automobiles: First aid kits vary in size and content. They are usually rated by the number of people who may need to use them for everyday occurrences. Determine which size is best for your family. If you put together your own kits, you may want to follow the recommendations for content and quantity of the pre-made kits. Modifications should be made to the "everyday" kit contents for items that you will need in more abundance during an emergency. The following list of items are appropriate to include in your first aid kit. The essential items are shown in bold faced lettering. Remember to customize your kit to fit the needs of your family.
5. 72-HOUR KITS A. Prepare 72 hour kits for family members: Prepare a 72-hour kit for the home along with individual items for each family member. The object of the kit is to provide the essentials for your family for a period of at least 72 hours. Stores will probably not be operable during a natural disaster. Supplies will be unavailable or in short supply. You should be prepared to rely on your own supplies until such time as regular resources are again available. Table 2-A on page 17 includes a list of essential as well as optional items that should be considered for your 72-hour kit. The essential items are shown in bold face lettering. Since the kit should be customized to your specific needs, climate, and environment; you may want to add some items of your own. Plan meals that can be readily prepared from simple commodities which can be stored easily. You should be prepared to live outside your home in case your home is damaged to the point where it is not inhabitable. Keep the kit compact and portable in case you have to evacuate your property. You may also want to prepare a small kit for work. Include a flashlight and comfortable walking shoes in your kit for work. You may find yourself walking home. Predetermine the best route to take home should you have to walk. Do not plan to use portable cooking devices inside your home. Charcoal gases can be deadly when released in a closed area. White gas and other portable fuels are extremely flammable and should be used with care outdoors. B. Prepare a 72 hour kit for each automobile: Prepare a kit for each family car which in addition to personal items contains tools, flares, or other warning devices, jumper cables, empty gas can, radiator coolant, or water, etc. Keep a good pair of gloves and walking shoes in the car. Check the spare tire and jack regularly. Know how to use the jack. Keep the gas tank in your cars at least half full at all times.
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Top of Page • Table of Contents
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PURPOSE: By accomplishing the requirements of this level you will learn the fundamentals of a sound Home Production and Food storage system. You will also begin to implement some of those concepts. You will be able to provide basic family needs for about two months should a family emergency or economic problem arise. You will have increased your skills in all areas of self-sufficiency. OBJECTIVES: 1. REVIEW AND UPKEEP Review all objectives in levels one and two and ensure they are still in place, functioning and in good condition. 2. HOME STORAGE A. Plan and Provide a two-month's supply of food. There are numerous forms and methods of food storage. Canned foods, basic storage items, dehydrated foods, and freeze-dried foods are the most common forms of food storage. The most practical and desirable method for a two-month supply is called copy-canning. Copy-canning involves duplicating the same eating patterns and habits currently being used in your everyday diet. With the exception of refrigerated, frozen and baked goods, most items used for meal preparation have a shelf life of at least two months. You will want to have your everyday food routine continue as close to normal as possible during the first two months when you are using your food storage regularly. A prolonged emergency or sudden loss of income can often be well on the way to being solved in the first two months. Chances are, your family will not be excited about having a steady diet of food they are not familiar with right off. During this time of readjustment, your family will be able to continue eating what they are used to. Thus it is recommended that the initial two-month supply be satisfied through the technique called copy-canning. The first step is to determine what foods and how much of these foods are generally consumed in a two month period. Select your family's most popular menus and project the total amount of ingredients needed for two months. A worksheet (table 3A on page 30) is provided to assist you. Second, determine the ingredients necessary for each of the meals. List the quantities of the ingredients you already have on hand. Then determine the quantities of ingredients that will have to be purchased to provide a two-month supply using food normally consumed by your family. Table 3-B on page 31 is provided to assist you in calculating how much to buy. Find substitutes for refrigerated items (powdered milk for fresh milk, canned vegetables for fresh vegetables, etc.). Frozen foods can be included if you have a large freezer, but should not be relied on too heavily due to potential power failures caused by an emergency situation. Determine a time period over which you will meet this requirement. Each time you go to the supermarket, double up or buy a case of one or more ingredients until your two-month plan is completed. Rotate your food storage by using your stored items in the preparation of regular family meals. B. Select areas of home to be used for food storage: The ideal storage location is free from the elements that shorten the shelf life of food. Light, heat, and moisture can shorten food life. The most available area is usually in the garage, but this is also the area of highest temperature. More desirable areas are within the house such as closets, where light and heat are minimized. Consider building special storage areas such as false walls, etc. Food may also be stored under beds and other un-utilized areas. A walk-in pantry could be constructed in your garage with insulated walls to help keep temperatures down. If you live in an apartment, extra planning may be necessary to find suitable locations for storing your supplies. Cabinets or specially designed furniture may be used to accommodate food storage. Be creative and you will be able to find suitable storage areas. C. Choose and prepare a garden area: Select an area of your yard where you can plant a garden. The size of your family will be a determining factor in deciding how large your garden should be. However, having limited space should not deter you from having a garden. Do the best you can. If you live in an apartment or dwelling with limited space, you will be surprised to find out how much can be grown in containers and window boxes. Use your imagination and create garden space out of property that is otherwise not being used. Terracing walls can be built to make flat areas on hillsides. Some edible plants and vegetables are quite pretty and can be used for landscaping as well. Community gardens are often available. If you would like a larger garden than your property will allow, you may want to consider this option. Association with other gardeners will also make your gardening experience more enjoyable. Your garden area should have six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. It should be small enough to receive enough attention from you, the gardener. Make a list of the vegetables your family normally eats and which are suitable and practical to grow in the size garden you have and climate you live in. Consider your family's eating habits as well as the criteria shown below in your selection process.
Determine if the soil is satisfactory for planting and what amendments, if any, need to be added. Soil test kits can be purchased which will test for ph level, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content of the soil. Prepare the soil for planting. The soil should be prepared to a depth of at least six inches for most crops, but deeper for root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. 3. HOME PRODUCTION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT A. Resource Conservation Teach your family various methods of conserving resources and utilities. Some of these methods are discussed below. You may want to add other methods that have significance to your particular living circumstances. Conserving resources saves you money. 1) Water Conservation: Gardens and lawns should be watered when daily temperatures are low to prevent rapid evaporation. Watering frequency will depend on temperatures and the durability of the plants being watered. Excessive runoff is a sign of over watering. Use low volume shower heads. Put bricks or other conservation devices in your toilet tanks. Repair leaky faucets and any other items leaking water. 2) Electricity Conservation: Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. If you are the last to leave a room, turn off the electricity for items no longer in use and turn off the lights. It only takes a flick of the switch to turn a light back on when the next person enters the room. Reduce the wattage of electric bulbs. Compare the energy efficiency rating of appliances when considering new purchases. Insulate walls and ceilings to reduce heating and cooling costs. Vent attics. Tint windows and draw window blinds to reduce heat during the summer. 3) Natural Gas Conservation: Shut off your furnace pilot light once the weather warms up. The gas company will re-light pilots at no charge. Lower your water heater thermostat. Wear warmer clothes indoors during winter months. You can lower your thermostat and still be comfortable. Implement at least two conservation methods in your home: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
B. Basic Sewing: Learning basic sewing skills will prolong the life of your clothing. You will also save on alteration costs. Clothes that "fit" one child can be altered to "fit" another child when the time comes. Sewing can be fun and the results rewarding. Your skills will improve the more you do it. Survey the sewing skills which you now have and make a list of the skills you would like to master. Consider mending, alterations, appliqué, bindings, buttonholes, collars, facings, hems, interfacings, mending, necklines, pleats, pockets, quilting, seams, stitching and zippers for your list. _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ C. Home and property improvement list: Improving and maintaining your home properly and timely will save you money in the long run. Costly repairs due to neglect can be avoided. Church leaders have reminded us to keep our property in good condition and appearance. This is wise counsel which has many benefits. Compile a list of home improvement projects. Suggested items to include are interior and exterior painting, landscaping, patios, decking, new lawn, cleaning up storage areas, repairing automobiles and appliances. Prioritize the list with regards to urgency and importance. The list should be completed jointly by husband and wife. 4. FINANCIAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT A. Medical Insurance: Review your existing medical coverage and determine it's adequacy. No medical insurance at all is called self-insurance. You are your own insurance company, whether you can afford it or not. Refer to table 3-D on page 33. This questionnaire will inform you about various coverages available and help you better understand the coverage you already have. Determine if the deductibles, maximum limits, and other provisions of your plan are consistent with your financial capacity. Decide if the premiums are the most reasonable for your coverage levels and situation. Secure any coverage determined necessary to fill any gaps discovered in your insurance. Consultation with an insurance agent may be desirable. B. Family Budget: Analyze bills and expenditures over the past few months and prepare a family budget. Determine if your expenditures are in proportion with your income. Amounts should be budgeted for tithing, fast offerings and savings. Table 3-F on page 35 will help you prepare a balance sheet to determine your family's total net worth . It will assist you in understanding where you are financially and give you a tool to plan some financial goals. C. Family will or Trust : Wills: The purpose of a will is to insure that your intentions concerning your property and minor children are carried out after you die. Without a valid and properly executed will, your intentions may not be carried out to your satisfaction. Table 3-G discusses the advantages of a will in greater detail. If you have children, a will not only clarifies who you have chosen to be their guardian, but also will specify how your assets will be distributed between a surviving spouse and the children. If you die without a will, the laws of intestacy of your state will determine how your assets will be distributed rather than your desires. This may also delay and complicate the transfer of some assets. A will does not have to be elaborate and may not need the assistance of a lawyer. Make sure that it meets your needs and properly distributes your assets in the manner intended. Most attorneys will assist you in the preparation of a will for relatively nominal fees. If you prepare your own will it must be entirely handwritten, signed and dated by you. It must not be signed by witnesses. Husbands and wives should have separate wills. Instructions to Health Care Providers: You should sign a form called, "Directive to Physicians." This should be witnessed by two adults. It will allow your hospital and doctor to cease extraordinary means of prolonging your life where it is apparent to the medical care providers that you are in an "irreversible coma" or "persistent vegetative state." It is also binding upon family members and removes a great emotional burden. If this document is not in place, someone might otherwise unreasonably frustrate your desire to pass on naturally. Durable Power of Attorney: A power of attorney allows someone to take care of legal and financial matters on your behalf when you are away or for whatever reason you wish. However, upon your incapacity from an accident, old age, etc. the attorney-in-fact cannot act. California has adopted a "Durable Power of Attorney" which allows someone you trust to handle things even if you are mentally incapacitated. This is of great benefit to your spouse and children. The form must be notarized. Family Trust: Tax advantages of trusts come and go, but there are other reasons you may wish to have a family trust. There may be a particular family member that cannot handle money properly or has a special disability. You may wish to allow someone to have the use of the income from your assets, but have someone else ultimately receive them. Also, in a community property state such as California, each spouse may choose to direct his or her share of the community property to particular beneficiaries and a trust can achieve this. Complete this requirement by reviewing the options for having your wishes carried out after your death. Set a firm date by which your will or trust will be in place. 5. EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT A. Standard Works for family members: Provide a set of the Standard Works of the gospel for each family member. The Standard Works are The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. Teach your family the importance of the Standard Works. Have them bring their own set of the Standard Works to church and to family scripture reading times and use them for individual scripture study. Sets of the Standard Works can be purchased reasonably through the church distribution center and make great gifts. B. Literacy and educational goals: Pursuing excellence in our lives is a continual process. Evaluate the literacy skills of each member of the family. The minimal literacy requirements as set by the "Gospel Literacy Guidelines" is that each member of the Church be able to "read and write so that they can better understand the Gospel and participate in all aspects of Gospel living." We are to continually study the gospel and improve our abilities to read and communicate. Determine if there are any areas of literacy skills which need to be achieved by family members. Help in achieving these skills is available through the Relief Society, priesthood quorums and public education. Obtain any help needed to formulate a plan to achieve literacy in your family. Set educational goals with each of your children as soon as they are able to understand the concept of education. These goals should reflect their talents and interests. They should be long-range and short-range. Parents should achieve a high school diploma and they may want to set additional educational goals for themselves. C. Employment evaluation: Latter-day Saints should always strive to improve their wage-earning ability. This is important to the family and allows us to help even more in building up of the Kingdom of God. Evaluate your current employment situation. Determine where you would like to be in your career after the following time increments: Three years _______________________________________ Five years ________________________________________ Ten years _________________________________________ Make a list of what it will take to accomplish your goals. Your ward and stake employment specialists as well as the Church Employment Office can assist. D. Prepare a current resume: Prepare a resume about yourself as it relates to your education, experience, and income producing skills. The resume will help you determine where you are in your career and what you have to offer in the job market. Prepare a resume even if you do not have any plans of changing your job situation at the present time. This will give you an opportunity to reflect on your career and what you have accomplished over the years. Think about the things you would like to accomplish in your career and determine if the path you are taking is leading you toward those goals. SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH A. Church attendance: Attend church meetings regularly and participate in church activities. Attendance at Sacrament meeting is a commandment which will strengthen you spiritually each week and give you a chance to partake of the sacrament. B. Personal and family prayer: Pray regularly. Prayer will keep you close to your heavenly father and give you confidence and courage as well as guidance in your everyday life. "The family that prays together stays together". C. Acts of service: Perform frequent acts of service to family members and others. You can lose yourself and your own problems by serving others. It is fun to plan your service and tailor it to the special needs of your family members. Surprise them and enjoy their reactions. Elderly people are often forgotten. You may want to become a special friend of an elderly person by visiting them regularly and introducing your family to them. Most importantly, make sure that your parents are being taken care of properly. 7. OPTIONAL GOLD STAR ITEMS A. Fuel storage: Learn the proper methods of storing fuels safely in and around your home. The fuels stored should be compatible with the types of emergency cooking and heating equipment you have included in your emergency program. The safest types of fuels are propane gas, "Sterno" fuels, charcoal briquettes, and wood. White gas and regular gas can be stored safely but are extremely flammable and are quick to ignite. Take extra caution when storing these fuels. Large quantities of combustible fuels should not be stored. Newspapers can be rolled into "logs" and used for heating. Store a two months supply of fuel you would most likely use. Savings - one month's income: Save one month's income in a safe, liquid savings account. The funds should be accessible enough to get to in a real emergency but inaccessible enough to avoid casual use. A portion of this money should be kept in the home in a safe place in small bills or even coins which will make it easy to purchase commodities during disaster situations. Banks and safe deposit boxes may not be accessible and credit card and automatic teller machines may be inoperable. Consideration may also be given to hard assets such as silver and gold coins or bullion. C. Consistent daily prayer - three months: Have family prayer for at least 87 days out of a 90 day period. Consistent scripture study - three months: Study the scriptures for at least 87 days out of a 90 day period. Hand working skills: Learn a hand working skill such as knitting, crocheting, tatting, cross-stitching, etc. Make a simple item. F. Learn basic woodworking skills: Learn the basics of safe woodworking. Make a useful item out of wood or repair something made of wood. G. Learn basic plumbing skills: Learn the basics of simple home plumbing repair. Repair at least one item in your home. Develop a time management system: Time management is critical if you are to successfully accomplish your goals. There are a variety of methods and concepts related to time management. The important thing is that you have a method of keeping track of your appointments and allocating time for all of your responsibilities and goals. This need not be a complicated or expensive undertaking. Investigate the various methods available and choose one which you are comfortable with. Implement your plan. You may find it awkward and cumbersome at first. But after a while you will see that time management makes your life easier. No one can "memorize" all the things they need to do and places they need to be, although many people think they can.
Note: The above worksheet can be reproduced or copied onto regular paper for your planning. Include workspace for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 1. List all main ingredients of a meal in the "Item" column. 2. Put the most commonly purchased package size in the "Package" column. 3. Calculate the number of meals obtained from one package and record number in the "Quantity/Meal" column. This is done by dividing the number of serving needed for each meal by the number of servings in each package. 4. Decide how many times in 2 months each particular meal will be eaten. Enter this number in the "Meal Frequency" column. The total of all numbers in the "Meal Frequency" column should equal 180. 5. Multiply "Meal Frequency" column by the "Quantity/meal' column for each item and enter the answer in the "Total Quantity" column. 6. Use this process for Breakfasts, Lunches and Dinners. Consolidate and transfer the "Total Quantity" amounts to the "Quantity Needed" column in Table 3B.
1. List each item from the Menu Planning Worksheet (Table 3A). 2. Record the numbers from the "Total Quantity" column from Table 3A in the "Quantity Needed" column of this Table. 3. Take a physical inventory of each item currently on hand and record the data in the "Quantity on Hand" column. 4. Subtract the "Quantity on Hand" from the "Quantity Needed" to arrive at the "Quantity to Purchase". Decide what items you will purchase each week over a specific period of time. 5. Once you have purchased the quantities specified in the "Quantity to Purchase" column, you will have completed your two month's supply. Any supplies consumed over the two month period must be replenished in addition to the amounts in the chart.
1. List all the projects in and around your home and property or automobile which you need to do. 2. List the projects you would like to undertake which would enhance or beautify your home. 3. Go through the list one at a time and rank the projects by urgency and/or importance. 4. Work first on the project with the highest priority until it is finished and then start another. TABLE 3-D When reviewing your existing medical insurance or considering purchasing or making changes in your health coverage, you should be able to answer the following questions. 1. DEDUCTIBLES - How much of the initial costs must you absorb in the way of a deductible? ______ Is it charged only once in the calendar year or for each illness or injury?______ Is there a limit of either 2 or 3 deductibles per family or must each member satisfy it? ______ 2. CO-INSURANCE - Beyond the deductible, what percentage of the expense must you pay, 10%, 20%,? ______ MOST IMPORTANT - Is there a "Stop-Loss" provision which eliminates all co-insurance and pays 100% of the charges after you reach $1,000 or so in out-of-pocket expense? ______ 3. FAMILY BENEFIT MAXIMUM should be "unlimited" or extremely high; e.g., $1,000,000, due to potential costs of a major surgery, hospitalization, a series of family illnesses, etc. ______ 4. "INSIDE LIMITS," like $200 for x-rays, etc., should be avoided in favor of "comprehensive coverage", i.e., a flat percentage of the cost incurred. ______ 5. Determine AGE LIMITS ON CHILD COVERAGE. Full time students may be covered until age 22 or 23. ______ 6. OUTPATIENT BENEFITS should be examined carefully since many procedures are now done on an outpatient basis due to the high costs of hospitalization. ______ 7. PREFERRED PROVIDERS - Some medical plans call for the use of a preferred provider from a list of doctors or hospitals from which you must choose. Find out where they are and whether you will want to use that provider before enrolling in the plan. 8. HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS (HMO) offer a different approach than traditional health insurance in which you pick the doctor from an approved list, make a co-payment, and the doctor receives reimbursement from an insurance company. With an HMO you or your employer pay an annual fee for which the plan's own doctors handle almost all of your health needs. HMO's typically cost less in that there are usually no deductibles and they cover a higher percentage of costs than traditional plans. However, they should be examined very closely to determine how out-of-the-area emergencies get treated, what specialties are represented, where you go for hospitalization, and how easily appointments are obtained.
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