As some of you may know, I am a native New Orleanian, born and raised in the city. Hurricane Katrina changed my life and the lives of many of us when she passed through in late August of 2005. I learned many things about disaster survival that I wish I had known previous to the event. Every event in life presents us with new challenges and opportunities, as did this for my family and me.

I was asked by the Association of Perioperating Room Nurses (AORN) to share what I had learned in an AORN Congress session this year. When I was putting this session together, I began to think of how to organize the information in a way that it would not be a thick handout that was relegated to the stack of handouts received at congress sessions. I decided to have participants create their own "keychain bob" that had the most critical need-to-know information in a disaster represented by different types of beads. If the bob was attached to their keys and a natural or man-made disaster was to strike, the information would be at their fingertips without a written traditional handout and they could respond appropriately. Since presenting the session not only at the AORN Congress but also at a variety of other conferences, I have received very positive feedback about the practicality and usability of the idea. A nursing home in South Carolina had its participants attach the beads to their name tags so that they had a ready reference if a disaster struck while at work.

Now, for a preview of the content I teach and what each bead represents: Each attendee receives a 10-inch section of cording and is asked to make a large knot at one end. The first bead I distribute is a pet bead. These are shaped like dogs, cats, turtles, and birds and can be purchased at a hobby store, as all the other beads. This bead represents asking the question, "What will I do with my pet in a disaster? Is there someone who would take me in with my pet?" When Katrina struck, local shelters would not admit pets. Many elderly people chose to stay home rather than leave their pets behind.

The second bead is a red, white, or blue star. This bead represents a map of the area of the United States in which the participant lives. I suggest that participants place a current map in the glove compartment of each of their vehicles because in a disaster, they must have alternate routes that are not clogged with traffic in which to evacuate the area quickly. Not everyone is familiar with back roads. I suggest, when possible, that they have four routes out of the area decided upon and mapped out for all the family members with a car. I have been told that, in certain areas of the country, this is not possible, but I still advise people to prepare and decide these things now when they are calm and not in a hurry to leave.

The third bead is a green bead. It represents having cash on hand in a disaster. When Katrina hit, the electricity went out for long periods of time in the area. Banking centers in the state shut down for a period of days to weeks. Credit cards did not work. My suggestion to learners is to have $500 per person per week either in their homes or in a bank with processing centers in several other states so that once they are out of the area, they can access their money. The banks in Baton Rouge where I evacuated had a limit on how much cash you could withdraw, no matter how much you had in an account. This ranges from $300 to $500. When you are feeding and housing 10 people as I did, that is not adequate.

There are several other beads that join these, and at the end of the program, I have participants knot off the other end and hook it to their keychain. I also ask them what each bead represents, and they are able to do this easily.

I offer you this idea as one you might be able to adapt to critical content for your facility and circumstance. I also am happy to that report my family is happy and healthy and relocated to Baton Rouge permanently. Good luck in all your teaching and life adventures!