The Orion Senior Center is in the process of gathering information on what to do in various emergencies and how to help seniors in an emergency, trying to keep everyone aware and safe.
Lisa Sokol, director of the senior center, is planning on creating an easy-access flip book available to staff members, having emergency information available at the center and making sure that seniors know what to do in case of an emergency.
This project started out with trying to make seniors aware of programs and services available to them. When checking around, Sokol found an abundance of information on how to handle a large range of emergencies.
She outlined the plan at last week’s township board meeting and hopes to see some other community members take an active role in creating a plan
Sokol said that at some of her previous jobs there have been flip books for the staff members, instructing them on what to do in a range of emergencies, from where to go in a tornado to what questions and actions need to be taken when someone enters the building with a gun.
She would like staff and volunteers to have access to the same kind of book, stressing that ‘it’s always important to keep our staff trained? in a variety of emergency situations.
In case of there being an emergency at the center, Sokol is trying to set up locations where the staff and volunteers can move the seniors to. Sokol has been speaking with Lake Orion High School Principal Todd Dunckley to see if the high school can be one of those locations.
Sokol has also been working with the Lake Orion Chief of Police Jerry Narsh and Fire Chief Jeff Key on creating a way for the departments to quickly help seniors in an emergency.
By becoming partners with other services and organizations, Sokol would like the community to gain more awareness of helping the senior citizens.
‘The hope is, as we are going through this process, people will learn how to help seniors,? said Sokol.
The Ham Radio Group, which meets at the center, helps keep an eye out for emergency situations. A group of six to eight F.C.C. Licensed Ham Radio Operators are working to tie the senior center’s Ham Radio station into emergency systems like Community Emergency Response Team and the Skywarn Spotter program.
Sokol would like to put together a directory for seniors, where they can look up who they need to call or where they need to go for help. They will also be able to find out about different programs and assistance directed for seniors.
She is doing her best to answer her own question, ‘how do we become an advocate for seniors throughout the community??
To learn more or to get involved, contact the Senior Center at (248)693-2066.