Disaster Ready

When writing this article, Hurricane Harvey was bearing down on the southern Texas coast. The news channel reported how the grocery shelves were already emptied out for miles around. FEMA recommends families keep a three to five day supply of food and water on hand. It's always a good idea to be as ready as possible for any emergency. Another good recommendation for staying prepared is to maintain an adequate level of physical fitness. First responders are heroes; however, they may not be able to do their jobs after the predicted thirty inches of rain leaves massive flooding in it's wake. Many of the people in the path of this storm will need to fend for themselves. Before the flood waters recede most will be tasked to exhaustion.

Those evening walks will take on a whole new meaning when the strength and stamina gained allow us to help ourselves and others out of harms way. A disaster can test the full measure of our endurance. Being able to help others in an emergency situation is an amazing honor to be remembered always. Walking to safety, after the car breaks down, in an isolated location, is nothing more than a minor inconvenience for someone who walks several miles regularly. Carrying a child to safety, or helping an elderly person from danger, can take a toll on an untrained body. But a strong body, with a healthy heart, is going to be more resistant to injuries, such as muscle tears or sprained ankles.

Both the Centers for Disease Control and the American Heart Association recommend regular moderate intensity exercise as the best prevention for injury and sickness. There is actually a National Physical Fitness Plan, put together by organizations such as these, to improve the fitness of our nation's population. One of their most successful efforts in this endeavor is the system of recreational parks with walking trails. Walking or running thirty minutes a day, five days a week, is their recommendation to achieve and maintain an adequate level of fitness. Adding two days a week of strength training will enhance the conditioning results even more.

There may come a time when we must be the first responder for ourselves or others. The minutes and miles spent on those walking trails will give us the peace of mind to know we are ready should an emergency occur. The best way we can prepare, for any life challenge, is to be physically and mentally ready. There is an old saying, “A hero will come when a hero is needed”. We can train to be our families' heroes, as well as, set a good example for them by maintaining a regular exercise program.

It's not just a step, it's a start.

Dave