Aug 28, 2011 By Seth W. Caton 5 min read

You might think the world is falling apart if you watched the news all day, every day. Unemployment, disease, bank collapses and terrorism are only a few fearful things in our world.

It’s completely normal to be stressed about it – these awful things could someday happen to you and your family!

But life is not hopeless. You can prepare for emergencies, learn to expect the unexpected, and be an active player in making life better for you, your family and your community.

If you’re all worked up about what’s on the news, simply turn it off for a few days! Rock stars will still be rockin’, scandals will still be scandalous, and the space station will still be in orbit when you finally turn it on again.

Don’t watch the news before bed (especially if you have trouble sleeping). The news can make your children anxious too. At least for the little ones, watch it before they wake up or while they’re at school. And be prepared to explain what’s going on in the world if your children ask.

Now if you want to get serious about your peace of mind, here are some action steps. Teach your kids these things, then lead by example and do them. Here they are – ten more ways to get more peace of mind:

1. Vote! Fifty million people voted in 2004. Another 70 million could have voted, but didn’t. How different would things be if they did?

2. Contact your state and federal representatives and senators. Tell them what you expect them to do for you and your community. Our country’s founding fathers would be proud.

3. Go to www.ready.gov and follow their emergency preparedness plan. This includes making an emergency kit with everything you’d need to survive if you had no heat, water or electricity for several days. Remember the blizzard in February? This would’ve come in handy!

4. Relax! Take a yoga class, get a massage, or go for a hike.

5. Take a self-defense class such as karate, tae kwon do, or jiu jitsu. Or take all three if you enjoy it.

6. Take classes in basic first aid plus adult and child CPR. In fact, your whole family can take these courses. Go to www.redcrossonlinetraining.org to find a course near you. In southwestern Pa., the phone number is 412-263-3100.

7. Become a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member. They will give you valuable training on how to handle emergency situations and you’ll be able to help if there’s an emergency. Go to www.citizencorps.gov/cert/ to find a CERT group near you. In southwestern Pa., it’s the Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group. Go to www.amrg.info or call 888-333-4282 to learn more about them.

8. Join the Fayette County Sheriff’s Tactical Search & Rescue Team. If an emergency occurs, not only will you be privy to the latest news, plus you’ll be in a position to help other people. Call 724-430-1295 for more info.

9. Get your children into a scouting program like Cub/Boy Scouts or Brownies/Girl Scouts. It can’t hurt to learn the basics of self-sufficiency at a young age. For Cub/Boy Scouts, visit www.scouting.org and www.girlscouts.org for Brownies/Girl Scouts.

10. Make sure you have all important documents in a safe place including social security cards, birth certificates, deeds, ID and medical cards, and your passports. Go get replacements if you’re missing any of these documents. Either a bank safety deposit box or a fireproof safe in your closet are good storage options.

Just like you buy car insurance to protect against theft or damage, these action steps will give you peace of mind in knowing you’re prepared to handle an emergency when one comes your way.

Seth W. Caton is a proud husband and involved father of two young boys. Caton is the Outreach and Recruitment Specialist for Dads Matter of Fayette County, a responsible fatherhood education program. Dads Matter is a department of the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. The opinions expressed and suggestions offered are based upon the professional preparation and life experiences of the author. If you should need additional support you may wish to see a licensed counselor or family psychologist.

Dads Matter services are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or religion. Participation is FREE and strictly voluntary. Funding is provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant: 90FR0075/05. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.