Unique holiday gift ideas to keep loved ones safe during emergencies  

Weather radios, emergency kits, fire extinguishers make thoughtful gifts for everyone

[DEC. 15, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- It's crunch time for holiday shopping, and the season of severe winter weather has officially begun. With many shoppers still struggling to find the perfect gifts for everyone on their list, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has several simple gift suggestions that will help Illinoisans stay both safe and warm this winter.

"Putting together a home or car disaster kit or giving a weather radio to your loved ones is a great way to show how much you care about them," said William C. Burke, IEMA director. "The disasters we've witnessed this year illustrate the importance of being prepared for any emergency, big or small. Helping your loved ones be better prepared to face the unexpected will be appreciated for years to come."

There has not been a winter in Illinois without a severe storm in the past century, and on average the state experiences five severe winter storms each year. "Chances are pretty good that a gift to help loved ones keep safe and warm this winter will be used and appreciated," Burke said.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is a partner in Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's Keep Warm Illinois campaign, a comprehensive effort to inform and prepare Illinois residents for winter, with information on energy assistance, home weatherization and winter safety tips. The Keep Warm Illinois website, www.keepwarm.illinois.gov, offers various no-cost and low-cost energy-saving tips, a Web-based tool to conduct a home energy audit, links to energy assistance programs, and other resources. In addition, the Keep Warm Illinois toll-free line, 1 (877) 411-WARM is another resource for Illinois residents to learn how to save energy and get energy assistance.

Suggested gift items:

• NOAA Weather Alert radios with extra batteries
• A disaster kit for the home, office or dormitory, with such items as a first-aid kit; bottled water -- a gallon per person per day, with enough for at least three days; nonperishable food; blankets; flashlight and batteries
• A safety kit for the automobile, with such items as jumper cables, flashlights, blankets, sand and a small shovel
• Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
• ABC-rated fire extinguishers
• Foldable ladders for second-story escapes

In addition, items to keep people safe and warm during the cold winter months can make great stocking stuffers:

• Hats
• Gloves
• Glove or boot warmers
• Waterproof matches
• Windshield scraper and brush
• Foil emergency blanket
• Flashlight

Most of these items can be found in hardware and department stores. For additional information on emergency preparedness, visit www.state.il.us/iema/.

[Illinois Emergency Management Agency news release]