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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS |
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DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?
There are many types of emergencies. Generally, emergencies fall into three categories: natural, human caused, and technological. Natural: weather related, earthquakes, forest fires and viral outbreaks. Human-caused: accidental, intentional criminal and hostile acts. Technological: (also human caused) affect critical infrastructures of society, which can cause a complete breakdown in systems. Emergency Preparedness begins with each of us. Knowing what to do and how to prepare ‘before' a crisis will help us during and after the emergency. Our best protection in any emergency: knowing what to do. Prepare an Emergency Survival Kit, Emergency Food and Water Kit and Equipment, and a Car Survival Equipment Kit. To be best prepared for an emergency, you should be able to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours (3 days) per person following a disaster. Emergency Survival Kit
• Flashlight and batteries • Radio and batteries/or crank radio (so you can listen to news bulletins) • Spare batteries (for radio or flashlight) • First-aid Kit • Candles and matches/lighter • Extra car keys and cash ( power out: ATM down/bank closed; include coins/cards for telephone) • Important papers (identification for everyone in family, personal documents such as insurance papers, etc) • Important telephone numbers (your own name/address/phone), emergency phone numbers-911 (hospital, family Doctor/Dentist, place(s) of work, relatives-out of town/out of province, School(s)/Daycare/babysitter, neighbour(s), Gas /Hydro/Phone Companies, Insurance agent, Bank, Lawyer, Pharmacy, Veterinarian, Mechanic, Landlord, taxi, etc) • Food and bottled water • Clothing and footwear (one change of clothes per person) • Blankets or sleeping bags (one blanket/sleeping bag per person) • Toilet paper and other personal items (tooth brush/toothpaste, shampoo, hairbrush, soap/towel/face cloth-one for each person) • Medication • Backpack/duffel bag (to hold all of the emergency survival kit items in case of evacuation, and to keep everything in one place) • Whistle (to attract attention, if needed) • Playing cards, games
Checklists Babies/toddlers • Diapers • Bottled milk / formula / food • Toys: crayons/ paper Other family members • One week's supply of any required medications/vitamin supplements • Extra eye glasses • Batteries for medical appliances • Copies of prescriptions Seniors • Extra dentures (if required) and cleaner • Assistive devices such as canes, walkers, hearing aids, breathing apparatus, etc • Copies of prescriptions • Batteries for medical appliances • Prescription eyewear/footwear • 3 day supply of food/water (bowls, paper towel, can opener) • blanket, small toy • sturdy leash/harness/muzzle (if necessary) • cat litter/pan and plastic bags • carrier for transporting your pet • medications/medical records/current photo in case pet gets lost • feeding schedules, medical/behavioural problems in case you need to board your pet • up-to-date ID tag with your phone number and name/phone number of your veterinarian • copy of licence (if required)
Emergency Food and Water Kit Have at least a three-day supply of food and water. Choose ready-to-eat foods that don't need refrigeration. Also if the utilities are out and you have no alternate cooking source, select foods that do not require cooking. • Three day supply of water – at least four litres per person per day – two for drinking and two for food preparation, hygiene and dish washing. Keep a supply of water purification tablets as well. • Canned food: soups, stews, baked beans, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruit • Pasta • Crackers/biscuits • Honey • Peanut butter • Syrup • Jam • Salt/pepper • Sugar/maple syrup • Instant coffee/tea “Replace canned and dry goods once a year”
Equipment • Knives, forks, spoons • Disposable cups/plates • Manual can opener, bottle opener • Fuel stove and fuel – follow manufacturer's instructions “do not use a barbecue indoors” • Waterproof matches and plastic garbage bags • Pocket knife or multi tool |
Car Survival Equipment Kit • Shovel • Sand/salt/kitty litter • Traction mats • Tow chain • Compass • Cloth or roll of paper towels • Warning light or road flares • Extra clothing and footwear • Emergency food pack • Axe or hatchet • Booster cables • Ice scraper/brush • Road maps • Matches and a ‘survival' candle in a deep can (to warm hands, heat a drink, use as an emergency light) **there are candles available that will burn for 6 days, these are excellent for keeping the inside of vehicle warm (above freezing)** • Fire extinguisher • Methyl hydrate (for fuel line/windshield de-icing) • Flashlight • First–aid kit with seatbelt cutter • Blanket (special ‘survival' blankets are best) Work together as a team to take care of each other, before, during and after an emergency.
Listen to your radio or TV and follow instructions. If you are asked to leave your home, please heed this advice immediately. Dress appropriately for the time of year/weather. Leave a note telling others when you left and where you have gone. Take your Emergency Supply Kits/ with you. Lock your home. Take a cell phone and use it so you will not tie up the phone lines emergency personnel will need to use. Use travel routes specified by local authorities, do not use shortcuts, these may be the areas that are impassable or dangerous. Contact your “out-of-area” emergency contact, let them know what has happened/you are okay and how to contact you. Have them contact other family members. Immediately after a disaster people often feel bewildered, shocked and relieved to be alive. These feelings/reactions are perfectly normal. Later many sleep poorly, have no appetite, get angry with those around them or panic at the slightest hint of danger, THIS TOO IS NORMAL. To get back on track after ANY emergency, talk about your feelings, talk about what happened with each other, with your family and friends, give yourself time to grieve “any” loss and take time to heal.
Children: The way adults handle things during an emergency will determine, to a great extent, how their children will react? It is important to talk openly and honestly about what is happening. Explain in a way they will understand and what is being done to correct it. NEVER dismiss their fears or anxieties. Monitor news coverage of certain emergency situations, they can be distressing for children. Reassure them. Practice family evacuation drills and talk about why you are doing it. Children will not be as frightened because of some familiarity.
Seniors: It is important seniors be educated about the potential for emergencies, the steps they can take to be prepared, and the services available to help them through the emergency and return to their regular routine. For Seniors living in the city - High-rise buildings present unique challenges when evacuating. Residents should be aware of: • All escape routes and locations of emergency doors/exits on each floor • Location of emergency buttons (many senior buildings have, strategically located in bedrooms/washrooms, emergency buttons which have a direct link to 911 or the building's superintendent.) • The building's evacuation plan • Building superintendent's phone number • Who conducts evacuation drills and how often • Who sits on the Building Safety Committee • Who are the floor monitors in the event of an emergency
High-rise building managers can help those senior residents who may have difficulty evacuating on their own due to a physical impairment/disability by: • Maintaining an up-to-date list of names/addresses of all seniors in the building, noting the special needs/requirements of each, and copying that list to superintendents.
Did You Know ……? THAT most people can survive… 4 minutes without air 4 hours without heat 4 days without water 4 weeks without food and THAT the way adults handle things during an emergency will determine, to a great extent, how their children will react? THAT the place you sleep can be most dangerous? Over 80% of fire deaths occur in the places people sleep. (homes, motels, hotels, mobile homes, and apartments) THAT washing your hands properly for 30 seconds helps prevent sickness. THAT Ontario averages about 20 tornadoes per year. In 1990, several tornadoes swept through southern Ontario causing 1.2 million dollars in damage to property and crops. THAT hurricanes do find their way here! THAT some hailstones are the size of peas while others can be as big as grapefruits. THAT bolts of lightning hit the ground at about 40,000 kilometres per second. THAT just about any region in Canada is at risk for earthquakes? In the past 100 years, Canada has experienced at least 9 earthquakes that have registered between 7 and 8 on the Richter scale.
www.getprepared.ca/risks/severestorms
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