Emergency Preparedness Tips

Stay ready at home.
When you change your clocks:
  • check your smoke detector
  • change the batteries in your kit(s)
  • review your emergency contact information
  • update your medical information
  • practice your Evacuation & Reunification Plans
  • check expiry dates on water and food supplies, and restock if necessary. 

Other good ideas to be prepared:

What to do in the event of an Earthquake:

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DROP, COVER AND HOLD:
  • DROP down onto your hands and knees UNDER a sturdy piece of furniture (desk or table is best).
  • COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible). If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
  • HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops AND for 60 seconds after the shaking has stopped. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

What to do in an earthquake if you are INDOORS:
  • If there is NO TABLE OR DESK - cover your face and head with your arms and crouch against an interior wall or corner.  Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and exterior walls.
  • Stay clear of items that could fall.  Prepare by securing large furniture to the walls.
  • If in bed - stay there, hold on and protect your head with a pillow.
  • Stay inside until the shaking stops.
Remember: the electricity may go out, the sprinkler system may activate, and fire alarms may go off.

What to do in an earthquake if you are OUTDOORS:
  • Stay there and get into the open. Stay clear of buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you.

What to do in an earthquake if you are DRIVING or in a VEHICLE:
  • Move the car out of traffic and stop. Avoid stopping under buildings, trees, or under or on bridges or overpasses. Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines. When you resume driving, watch out for road hazards. Avoid roads, bridges or ramps.

Also important:
  • if you're near the ocean, be aware that tsunamis are associated with large earthquakes. Get to high ground.
  • DO NOT Stand in a doorway: In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house, and the doorway does not protect you from the most likely source of injury- falling or flying objects. You also may not be able to brace yourself in the door during strong shaking. You are safer under a table.
  • DO NOT run outside or to other rooms during shaking.
  • DO NOT get in the "triangle of life" - if you have been advised to do this, please note this information is NOT CONDONED by emergency planning experts, please visit: www.earthquakecountry.info/dropcoverholdon/
  • DO NOT use the elevator.

Sources:
http://www.earthquakecountry.info

Resources

There are seemingly ENDLESS resources on the web about emergency planning and safety.  In designing our kits and our Family Emergency Planning Tool, we've gathered all the information that you really need to know.  However, if you want more information, we've put together some of our favourite resources on emergency planning and safety in Canada.