If you had to evacuate your home in half an hour would you know what to take? If a disaster strikes your community and you have to shelter at home or work, do you have everything you need to survive for three days? If an emergency takes place in your community, it may take first responders time to get to you as they help those in the most desperate need. As such, St. John Ambulance would like to encourage every household in Ontario to plan ahead and create an Emergency Preparedness plan. Here are some things to consider when drafting your plan:
Know your risks. Beside inherent risks to your home/workplace like a fire or carbon monoxide, you should be aware of regional factors like flooding, forest fires, ice storms, tornadoes etc and plan accordingly.
Take a First Aid Course. Being trained in first aid gives you the confidence and knowledge to deal with emergencies as they arise. Knowing what to do and how to prioritize decisions will help you weather any storm.
For Evacuating
Have an exit strategy. Choose the safest exit in your house as your emergency exit – it should be easy to get to and free of debris or other hazards.
Choose meeting places. You should have a meeting place picked out should you need to reunite with family/friends out front of your house, or outside of your neighbourhood.
Have an Emergency Preparedness kit. Every member of the household should have an emergency preparedness kit with the things they need to stay comfortable and healthy for at least three days.
Have a preparedness partner. If you are stranded by an emergency make sure you have someone you can call to take care of your kids, or watch any household pets.
Have a fallback friend. Talk to your friends (preferably one close by and another out of town) about staying with them incase an emergency forces you from your home.
Place your pets. If you have to evacuate your home it is important you come up with a plan for your pets. Most evacuation centers will not take household pets, only service animals. Your pet will either have to go to an animal shelter, family member or lodge with you in a pet friendly hotel. Don't forget an Emergency Preparedness Kit for your pet!
Shut it down. If you have to evacuate your home there are some important things you’ll want to do before you leave. Make sure to turn off your main gas and water valve in case of leaks. You may also want to put a bit of antifreeze in your toilets to prevent the pipes from freezing in extreme cold. Make sure to turn off your main electrical breaker. If you can’t turn off your breaker unplug your appliances and electronics or power everything down. Lock all doors and windows before exiting the house.
For Sheltering At Home or work
Choose a safe spot to wait it out. When sheltering at home or work you should choose a safe room to stay in. This is usually a room without windows such as a basement, or a room more central (away from the outside walls) such as a bathroom, printer room, etc.
Create a base. When you have found a safe room that can accommodate everyone move everything you need in to that room. The less traveling you do the less likely you are to get injured in dark hallways or by broken windows.
Most importantly, stay calm. Listen to media updates to keep track of the situation, or to get travel advisories, and evacuation orders. Unless otherwise directed stay home until everything passes over. For more information on creating an Emergency Plan, visit Emergency Management Ontario,
One of the most important elements in an Emergency Preparedness plan is a survival kit. Each member of the household should have their own, containing the items they need to stay alive and comfortable for three days should you have to shelter at home, or evacuate.