During an emergency here in Canada, it can take a while before help arrives so it is essential to be prepared for those times. Public Safety Canada offers important advice for Canadians:
- Know the most important risks you face where you live, such as earthquakes, floods, blizzards or wildfires.
- Develop a family emergency plan that lays out where family members should meet in an emergency, how to escape from your home or neighbourhood, how to deal with children at school or daycare and other matters.
- Put together a basic family emergency kit with enough water and imperishable food for three days, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, cash in smaller bills (such as $10s) and copies of your emergency plan and contact list. A larger kit could include candles and matches, changes of clothing, toilet paper, bleach and other items.
Check out the Government of Canada's Get Prepared website which talks about how to prepare your family to cope with emergencies situations lasting up to 72 hours without help. Even if you aren't Canadian, this is a valuable resource where you'll find checklists, links to various publications and, for Canadians, information on where you can buy packaged emergency kits and other valuable tips.
Tip #1: Everyone at home should know the location of the electrical box, the water and gas valves and the floor drain.
[To do: Add more tips]
In an emergency situation, what do you do to be prepared? If you've been in such a situation, what did you wish you had done to be prepared?