Emergency Preparedness

72 Hours: Is Your Family Prepared?

You should be prepared to take care of yourself for a minimum of 72 hours. If a disaster happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to get to you as they help those in desperate need. Public Safety Canada, along with their partners, have developed a three step publication to help you prepare yourself for any type of diasaster. This publication may be downloaded for free from: www.getprepared.ca

Step 1

Know The Risk's:

When preparing your emergency plan you need to know the risks that are relevant to your particular area. Make a list of all possible scenarios that may take place in your community and be prepared for any and all situations. For example: extended power interruptions along with blizzard conditions in winter, extremely high run off causingbridge washouts, or forest fires, to name a few. By making  a detailed list of all the possible risks associated with your community, you will have more success in making a plan that would be beneficial to your family in any emergency situation.

Step2

Make A Plan:

Every household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency. Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations. Some topics to consider would include:

Safe Exits from home and neighbourhood

Draw up a floor plan of your home and identify all escape routes. Also Identify an escaoe route from your neighbourhood to identify people who may need extra help during an emergency. To help make sure everyone is taken care of, assign "block buddies."

Meeting Places to reunite with family

Identify safe places where everyone should meet in case you cannot go home, or you need to evacuate.

Designed Person to pick up children should you be unavailable

Ask your childs school or daycare about their emergency policies. Find out how they wil contact families during an emergency.

Contact Persons close-by and out-of-town

Write a contact list for family and friends and include with your emergency plan. Also post a copy by your phone.

Health Information

Talk to your doctor about preparing a grab-and-go bag, if possible, with a supply of medication and medical supplies. Include prescriptions and medical documents. Remember that pharmacies may be closed for some time, even after an emergency is over.

In An Emergency, follow your emergency plan. Get your emergency kit. Make sure you are safe before assisting others. Listen to the radio or television for information from authorities, Local officials may advise you to stay where you are. Follow their instructions. Stay put until all is safe or until you are ordered to evacuate.

Step 3

Prepare An Emergency Kit

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-suffient for at least 72 hours. You may have some of the items already, such as food, water and a battery operated or wind-up flashlight. The key is to make sure the are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your  flashlight in the dark? Make sure your kit is easy to carry and everyone in the household knows where it is. Keep it in a backpack, dufflebag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front-hall closet. If you have many people in your household, your emergency kit could get heavy. It's a good idea to separate some of these supplies in backpacks. That way, your kit will be more portable and each person can personalize his or her own grab-and-go emergency kit.

Some basic items to include in your kit would be bottled water, canned food, flashlight, small radio, spare batteries, first aid kit, candles, matches,etc. Don't forget to include a copy of your emergency plan. Pre-packed kits are available from the Canadian Red Cross, St John Ambulance, or The Salvation Army.

While municipalities, first responders, non-govermental organizations and the provincial government play a key role in emergency management, individuals are our first line of defense. Emergency management begins at home. It is essential for every household to be responsible for their own safety, preparedness and well-being for the first 72 hours of any event. Assamble an emergency kit, make a plan and practise it. By being prepared, you may lessen the burden on emergency responders so they can address those with the greatest needs first.