Effective at putting readers into a proper frame of mind, if not so useful as a handbook for emergencies, this offering of general, commonsense advice covers terrorist actions, criminal activities at home or school and a selection of natural disasters from hurricanes to the more localized likes of mudslides and flash floods. The authors can’t seem to decide whether they’re addressing children (“Never leave a bicycle outside, even if it’s chained”) or adults (“Park in well-lit areas, preferably areas with security cameras”), but their overall, non-age-specific message about the importance of being alert and prepared comes through loud and clear. Lengthy opening sections in each chapter also provide background statistics and causes for each type of emergency—which may not be exactly on topic, but do provide added value as grist for a range of related assignments. Illustrated with utilitarian, line-drawn maps and scenarios, capped with resource lists and an index, this makes salutary reading, though it’s no substitute for a First Aid manual and a workbook like G. Dale Stewart’s On Your Own: A Family’s Guide to Disaster Preparedness (2006). (Nonfiction. 10-12, adult)
