This is emergency preparedness week and the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit has some tips to keep you safe.
Officials say emergency events ranging from infectious diseases to extreme weather, flooding and fires can happen here.
They’re encouraging residents to know the risks, make a plan, and have an emergency kit.
Along with figuring out safe rooms to use for shelter, they say locate all utility shutoffs, have a working fire extinguisher and working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.
Below is the full list of considerations when making an emergency management plan:
– Develop an emergency plan with family members and loved ones. Consider conducting drills to practice your plan.
– Know the risks. Consider that all municipalities are vulnerable to many potential emergencies like severe weather, chemical spills, or an influenza pandemic.
– Determine safe rooms in your home to use for shelter.
– Post emergency phone numbers and your address in a central location at your house.
– Choose an out-of-town contact every family member should call or email if the family gets separated in an emergency. An out-of-town contact is less likely to be affected by the same emergency.
– Ensure that even young children know their address and phone number.
– Locate gas, water heater and electrical shutoffs in your home and mark them with labels (colour-coded if possible).
– Prepare for family health needs (medication, medical supplies, etc.), make provisions for any special needs, and learn First Aid and CPR. Establish a meeting place if separated during an evacuation.
– To best protect pets, bring them with you; locate a shelter and pack supplies.
– Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and check that they are working each month.
– Have a working fire extinguisher on hand.
The health unit says for more information on emergency preparedness visit www.GetPrepared.ca.
**With files from Andrew Mendler
