Preparing for disasters: What pregnant women and families with infants need to know

From vaccinations to home safety-proofing, pregnant women and parents with infants have a lot on their to-do lists. But there's another must-do for moms and parents: disaster preparedness planning. Disasters can be stressful for everyone, but if you're pregnant or have an infant, there are special things you need to know to be ready.

 
Luckily — just in time for Mother’s Day — APHA's Get Ready campaign and the March of Dimes California Chapter have partnered to release a series of fact sheets to help pregnant moms and families with infants prepare for emergencies. The six new fact sheets address ways that pregnant women and young families can prepare for emergencies such as tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires. A general fact sheet for pregnant women and families with infants is also available in Spanish.
 
The fact sheets include information aimed especially at pregnant women and families and with infants, such as special supplies they need to have in their disaster preparedness kits. For example, pregnant women should have scissors and sterile gloves in their kits in case of an emergency birth, and families with infants should stock ready-to-feed formula, even if the baby is breastfed. (While breastfeeding is best, disasters can interrupt your breastfeeding schedule.)
 
Read, print and share the new fact sheets from the Get Ready website, and share them in your community! (You can even add your group's logo!) While you're on our site, check out our podcast with the March of Dimes, and read our Q&A.
 
Have more questions about preparedness? Join Get Ready and the March of Dimes on May 14 at 2 p.m. ET for a Facebook chat! Our experts will be on hand on APHA’s Facebook page to answer your questions.
 
And don't forget to enter our Get Ready Tips from Tots Preparedness Photo Contest. Your baby could star in our new calendar!