• Batteries left in an appliance drain much faster than when left out of the appliance.
• Set a specific time (preferably every six months) to test batteries in your appliances.
• Keep two sets of auxiliary batteries with the appliances.

• Kits should be split up within specific work areas. Have kits ready where people may be at the time of a disaster:
  • Conference rooms
  • cubicle spaces
  • bathrooms
  • cafeteria
• Store kits in easy to access places, where they can be reached quickly.

First aid kits are available in many sizes and types. When purchasing kits, consider the number of persons in your facility and the ages of the persons who may require first aid.

First aid kits can be purchased for as little as $10 and should include the following basic items:¹

Fire Extinguishers:
The Denton Fire Department recommends an ABC multipurpose fire extinguisher. This type extinguishes wood, liquid and electrically charged fires. Fire safety codes dictate the number of extinguishers required in a particular building.

The following material is intended to help you determine what steps you may want to take in developing instruction for your employees in the event of an emergency involving fire, tornado, thunderstorms, or flood.

This information is by no means all inclusive of the information available on these subjects. This is merely a sampling of what is available.

• City Fire Department
• American Red Cross
• FEMA
• College & University Libraries
• Specific Subject Websites on the Internet
• Insurance Companies

• General FEMA Website
  www.fema.gov
• Fire Safety
  www.fema.gov/hazards/fires/
• Tornado Safety
  www.fema.gov/hazards/tornadoes/
• Thunderstorms and Lightning
  www.fema.gov/hazards/thunderstorms/
• Flooding
  www.fema.gov/hazards/floods/

• How many people may you have to accommodate for in time of disaster?
  
  
• Do you often have visitors, clients, training, or other events where more people may inhabit your workspace?

Safe Place
A "safe place" is one that everyone will go to in case of disasters such as tornadoes or thunderstorms. A basement or cellar usually affords the best protection. Otherwise, designate an interior room with no windows, a hallway, or a bathroom.

Outdoor Meeting Place
If the building must be evacuated in the event of fire, chemical spill, or other emergency, a safe place outdoors should be designated. This safe place may be another building nearby, an outdoor shelter, or a parking lot far enough away from the building to be safe from danger.

Training
Annual training for your staff can be as simple as a 15-minute session where you test the emergency equipment and identify its location, point out the safe room, the fire exits, the outdoor safe place, and what to do in case of fire, tornado, flood, or thunderstorm.

Floor Plan
Below is a template for drawing a floor plan of your business to show your safe place, exits, and any other details you deem important in developing an escape plan.

First Floor

Second Floor

Note: Each Safe Place should be properly marked and identified.