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Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Exeter Times Advocate
`Prepare Now Learn How' for emergencies
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — As millions of North
Americans found out last summer, emer-
gency preparedness means more than
just knowing how to deal with fires,
floods and winter storms.
Being prepared also means knowing
how to deal with situations such as not
having access to supplies of food, gasoline
and money.
The theme of this year's emergency
preparedness week from May 2-8 was
`Prepare Now Learn How.'
In the last year, virtually every part of
Canada has been a victim of emergencies
and disasters.
From disease outbreaks in Ontario,
wildfires in British Columbia, hurricanes
on the East Coast and blackouts across a
large part of North America, Canadians
face an expanding threat of natural and
manmade disasters.
The first Emergency Preparedness
Week was held in 1996 after the federal
government adopted the concept of EP
Week in 1995.
It was a means of promoting activities
that would increase the capacity of indi-
viduals and groups to resist the effects of
major disasters.
Every aspect of society is involved with
being prepared, from industry, media,
governments and communities.
But the public is one of the most impor-
tant parts of a prepared community.
Citizens can take steps to protect them-
selves and their families by having kits
prepared for cars and homes, knowing
who to contact in case of an emergency
and developing family emergency plans.
The first step in any plan is to identify
common risks in the area and decide on
a plan for dealing with it.
Natural disasters include floods, earth-
quakes, tornadoes and freezing rain
storms.
Manmade events can be technological
failures such as power outages and
chemical spills.
They can also be deliberate acts such as
explosions or biological and chemical
attacks.
After assessing potential threats, the
next step is to prepare a family emer-
gency plan.
Choose an out -of -area contact who is
someone each family member can call or
e-mail in case of emergency.
They should also be far enough away
they will probably not have been affected
by the same situation.
Temporary accommodation should also
be arranged, which can also serve as a
meeting place.
Each family member should know what
to do if it is necessary to leave a residence
in an emergency.
The plan should be practised at least
once a year.
After preparing the plan, emergency
kits should be assembled for home, vehi-
cle and emergency survival.
Home
• enough supplies for at least three
days; •at least three litres of bottled
water per person; •canned food; •non-
perishable items such as honey, peanut
butter, nuts and instant coffee.
Evacuation kits
• special needs items for infants, seniors
and family members with medical condi-
tions; • first aid supplies; • candles,
matches or lighters • changes of cloth-
ing; • flashlight and batteries; • food and
water; • tools; • duct tape; extra car and
house keys; • copies of essential docu-
ments.
Car Kits
• spare clothing; • tow rope; • warning
light, flares; • first aid kit.
Other areas of emergency planning
include finding out about community
planning such as knowing where emer-
gency shelters are located, designated
emergency routes and the closest emer-
gency services offices.
Another aspect is knowing the emer-
gency plan of schools or day -cares your
children attend and whether they can be
picked up or will be sent home on their
own.
Basic first-aid training is important in
an emergency that will allow you to help
yourself, as well as others around you.It
will also help to evacuate injured people
from buildings. Always tend to yourself
first, than assist others.
A basic first aid kit should include:
• safety pins; • sterile bandages; • sun-
screen; • scissors; • antiseptic; • ther-
mometers; • first aid manual; • non pre-
scription drugs.
In the event of an emergency, there are
steps to take to maintain control of the
situation:
• check for injuries to yourself and
those around you. • check for damage
without lighting matches or candles. Do
not turn on electrical switches. • shut off
damaged utilities • secure pets\ • call
family contact • check on neighbours,
especially elderly and disabled.
During and after emergencies, those
caught in the situations feel confused,
shocked and bewildered which is normal.
Survivors are liable to sleep poorly,
have little appetite and may be angry
with people around them. Children may
experience symptoms such as nervous-
ness, stomachaches and fear.
They are afraid the event will happen
again, the family will be separated, they
will be left alone or someone will be hurt.
Encouraging children to ask questions,
explaining the situation to them and giv-
ing them jobs to do will alleviate the situ-
ation. Other steps that can be taken are
not to expose victims to repeated televi-
sion coverage of disasters.
For more information on emergency
preparedness, check the goverment of
Canada Web site at www.emergencypre-
parednessweek.ca/ or www.redcross.ca/.
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