St. John Ambulance Wants to Remind You to Restock your EP Kit
September 28, 2009 (Toronto, ON) – October 4-10, 2009 is Fire Prevention Week. As you go through your house to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, St. John Ambulance wants you to restock your Emergency Preparedness (EP) Kit. Don’t have one? Then assemble one.
An EP kit should contain everything you need to survive comfortably for 72 hours. During an emergency help may be delayed, as community resources are taxed attending critical areas. Your EP kit should be stored in an area where all family members can access it and in a container that is easy to carry, should you need to evacuate. The contents of a standard EP Kit include;
- Flashlight & batteries
- Radio and batteries or crank radio
- Spare batteries (for radio and flashlight)
- First-aid kit
- Telephone that can work during a power disruption (wireless phones may not work or lose their charge)
- Candles and waterproof matches/lighter
- Extra car keys and cash
- Important papers (identification, insurance forms, prescriptions)
- Non-perishable food (items that do not expire or require being cooked)
- Manual can opener
- Bottled water (4 litres per person per day)
- Warm clothing & protective footwear
- Blankets or sleeping bag
- Toilet paper and other personal items
- Medication and needed medical supplies
- Backpack/duffle bag
- Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
- Playing Cards or other games to pass the time
The contents of your EP Kit will change based on your individual needs. To get specialized kit content suggestions, visit
www.emergencymanagementontario.ca. To order a 72 hour preparedness or first aid kit, visit
www.sja.ca.
For 125 years, St. John Ambulance has been training over 140,000 Ontarians annually in first aid and other health care related courses and remains dedicated to saving lives at work, home and play. With over 4,000 volunteers contributing over half a million hours of community service a year, St. John Ambulance is an integral part of the community offering such unique and innovative programs as; medical first response, disaster response, car seat clinics, health and safety related youth programs and therapy dog services. As a charitable, non-denominational, humanitarian organization, proceeds from St. John Ambulance’s first aid training and first aid product sales directly support these vital community services programs. For more information on St. John Ambulance training courses and volunteer opportunities or to contact your local branch, visit
www.sja.ca