Emergency Preparedness: Canada Gets Ready This Week

May 4-10 marks Canada’s Emergency Preparedness week. It is an annual initiative by the Canadian government to ensure the safety and preparedness of its constituents. To enable first-responders to focus on people who are in urgent need, this year’s theme is “72 hours – Is your family prepared?”. Canadians are encouraged to be ready to cope on their own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency.

Preparedness Anecdote Encourages Some Fun Prep

Let me start this article on disaster preparedness with a funny, personal anecdote.

Two years ago in October, we had a black-out that lasted several days. There was no end in sight during the black-out. It was extremely cold at night and I was honestly scared. I experienced it as a drama.

When the whole ordeal was over, I made a resolution. Never again a drama. I decided that I would cook my Christmas dinner early that year. Just in case we would have a blackout during the holidays. At least we would have something celebratory… So, I made a lavish lamb stew which I could warm up over a fire in our fireplace and stacked the portions in the freezer. I was all set for XMAS I thought.

Well, it turned out we had another power outage about a week after I made the stew. To make a long story short: we had our XMAS dinner early that year. The meal turned a time of disaster into a fine candle-lit yummy party. We actually had fun.

So, while the rest of this article is pretty serious information, I recommend you include something to take your mind of the disaster. An emergency XMAS dinner, IF you live in an area where likely black-outs are likely. As well as this, I suggest you keep candles and matches handy. And if you have kids, I’d consider having ‘fun things’ on hand like marsh mellows and long metals sticks for roasting in the fireplace. A pack of cards…. Prepped ideas like these, can change a ‘drama time’ into a ‘very fun, romantic~family time’.

OK. Now the serious part of the article:

Survival-related Individual Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness Week is about increasing individual preparedness, taking 3 simple steps:
1. know the risks,
2. make a plan, and
3. get a kit,
so you can be better prepared for an emergency.

It’s suggested Basic Emergency Kit includes:

The key is to make sure the items are organized, easy to find and easy to carry (in a suitcase with wheels or in a backpack) in case you need to evacuate your home. Whatever you do, don’t wait for a disaster to happen. Make your own kit today… even if you don’t live in Canada!

Easy to carry – think of ways that you can pack your emergency kit so that you and those on your emergency plan can easily take the items with you, if necessary.

Water – two litres of water per person per day (Include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order)
Food – that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (remember to replace the food and water once a year).

Manual can opener — if your food supplies include cans.
Flashlight and batteries.
Battery–powered or wind–up radio (and extra batteries)

First aid kit
Special needs items – prescription medications, infant formula or equipment for people with disabilities
Extra keys – for your car and house.

Cash – include smaller bills, such as $10 bills and change for pay phones. Why? Bank machines won’t work when there’s a power outage.
Emergency plan. It is suggested to include a copy of your plan in your kit, and to ensure that is has both in–town and out–of–town contact information featured.

Besides this basic emergency kit, the website below also offers suggestions for additional survival supplies; an emergency car kit and where to buy an emergency kit.

Be SAFE … Be prepared.

Source/more info: GetPrepared.ca

By A. Lee – all rights reserved.