Safety Preparation for a Type 1 Diabetic Child

Last week, we experienced severe weather storm warnings, which encouraged everyone in Union County, NC to get to the lowest level of their home in case of an unexpected Tornado. After the Oklahoma tragedy, we took this warning seriously. My kids and I ran around frantically, gathering and lugging down the following to our basement bathroom - food, water, diapers, baby wipes, toilet paper, towels, and type 1 diabetic supplies.

Once everything was in place, we sat near the bathroom, doing homework and waiting to see if the storm would bring the unexpected-a tornado. It didn't! Thank heavens. But what if it would have? What if a tornado did form just before we were able to gather my daughters type 1 diabetes supplies or diapers for my baby?

That one warning made me realize that I needed to prepare for such possible events now. The following is what I would recommend keeping near the place you plan to hide if a possible tornado did form. I also shared a list of things you should always have with you in your car, just in case your car breaks down, you are stuck in traffic, or you got into an accident. We've been stuck in traffic for hours at a time, unable to get off the road. Being prepared is a must when you have a type 1 diabetic child.

Severe  weather warning:

1. Always have your child's type 1 diabetic bag with them during a severe storm warning filled with at least one juice, the Glucagon pen, sugar tablets, meter, test strips, batteries for meter and insulin pump, and protein (such as peanut butter crackers or Slim Jim). We also have frosting in my daughters bag, along with syringes.
2. Store a package of juice (8 juice boxes per pack), case of water, sugar tablets and a box of peanut butter crackers in your basement where you will be hiding.
3. Keep an extra meter kit.
4. Keep an extra unopened insulin pen if you are able too.
5. Make sure you keep extra batteries in their diabetic bag or in this area. Your child's meter or insulin pump's battery could die.
6. Store a pad of paper and a few pencils for the kids to draw and doodle. If you have an extra card set, store that too.

Automobile:

1. Always have your child's type 1 diabetic bag with your child.
2. Have an extra finger pricking device in your glove compartment. We've broken ours when we have been out and about. We were lucky we had stashed an extra in our glove compartment.
3. Keep extra waters and juice in your car. If it's too hot to keep them in there all the time, then make an auto diabetes bag (in addition to your child's type 1 diabetes bag) that you take with you whenever you are in the car. I have a Thirty-one bag that I store water, juice, sugar tablets, baby wipes, and box of peanut butter Ritz crackers that I take with me whenever I drive.

I would love to hear any additional supplies or tips that you may have!