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Emergencies can happen anywhere and anytime. They can be
caused by severe weather, disease outbreaks, food or water
contamination, accidents or by intentional acts. Right now you
might be thinking more about planning your summer vacation, but
it's important for families to talk about emergency planning and
to know what to do, and where to go, in the event of an
emergency.
Emergencies can threaten your family's health and safety, the
environment and essential services such as transportation or
telecommunications. They can also affect your ability to access
health care services and the health care system's ability to
respond to the situation. In an emergency, local firefighters,
police, and health professionals will be on hand to manage the
situation, but there are steps that every family should take to
make sure they are better prepared to weather a crisis. These
steps include making a plan, putting together a portable and
accessible emergency kit and learning about basic ways to
prevent infection.
Preparing and discussing a household emergency plan is very
important, especially considering the possibility that
communications networks can break down. Decide on a meeting
place for your family in case telephone, cell phone or email
systems are not available. Identify an out-of-town emergency
contact in case you're asked to evacuate. Post emergency numbers
by the phone and teach your children about how and when to call
for help.
If you live in a house, know how to turn off the water supply,
gas and electricity. If you live in an apartment, know the
locations of the emergency exits.
Some emergencies may impact clean water supplies or your ability
to leave your home to buy food. Public Safety Canada recommends
that all families have enough supplies in their homes for at
least 72 hours. Supplies should be stored in sturdy and portable
containers such as backpacks or duffle bags. Include basics such
as water (four litres of drinking water per person per day) and
non-perishable foods that don't require refrigeration, cooking
or added water. If you have a baby, remember to pack infant
formula, bottles, baby food, diapers and wipes. First aid
materials, as well as supplies like flashlights, candles,
matches, extra batteries, a battery-operated or wind-up radio,
blankets, clothing and some basic tools (screwdriver, pliers
etc.) should be included. And keep in mind that your cordless
phones probably won't work in a power outage, so be sure to have
at least one wired phone in the house.
A potential emergency that the Public Health Agency is preparing
for is an influenza pandemic. A pandemic happens when a strain
of the flu virus changes into something we've never been exposed
to before, and so, aren't immune to. In the event of an
influenza pandemic or any other infectious disease outbreak, the
simplest measures can go a long way in preventing further spread
of disease. These include: good handwashing techniques; sneezing
or coughing into your sleeve or a tissue; keeping common
surfaces (door knobs, telephones) clean; staying at home and
avoiding crowds when sick; and getting your annual flu shot. For
more information on infection control, visit www.fightflu.ca or
www.publichealth.gc.ca.
From the top levels of government to the family dinner table,
emergency preparedness and response is a shared responsibility.
May 3-9 is National Emergency Preparedness Week and an
opportunity for all of us to learn more about how to protect the
health and safety of our families in the event of an emergency.
For more information, visit the Public Safety Canada website at
www.getprepared.ca.
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