Emergency Preparedness Week: May 3-9, 2009

April 20, 2009

Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is an annual event that takes place each year during the first full week of May. This national event is coordinated by Public Safety Canada, in close collaboration with the provinces and territories and our partners.

Step 1 – Know the risks
Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to your community and your region can help you better prepare. Find out what the hazards are in your region.

Step 2 – Make a plan
It’s easy and essential. Every Canadian household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do if disaster strikes. Make your own plan and print it out today.

Step 3 – Get a kit
It’s a good idea to have an emergency kit in your home. It doesn’t take long – find out what goes into an emergency kit, or where you can buy one. An emergency kit helps ensure you and your family are ready to cope on your own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency.

In case of a major event you will need some basic supplies set aside. That way you will always be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours while emergency workers focus on people in urgent need.
A basic emergency kit should contain water (at least 2 litres per person per day), food (that won’t spoil… canned, energy bars, fried food), can opener, a working flashlight and extra batteries, battery or crank radio, first aid kit, specialty items (prescriptions, baby food & formula, equipment for disabled people), extra keys (to your home, car, etc.), cash (smaller bills, change for payphones) and your emergency plan.

Many of the items required in an emergency kit are found in most people’s homes. It’s just a question of taking some time and putting them together as your emergency kit.

Find out what goes into a basic emergency kit and supplement it with additional emergency/survival supplies. Also, drivers could consider packing an emergency car kit. You can also find out where to buy an emergency kit.

Get started now – get a kit and take a first step to Get Prepared!

For more valuable emergency preparedness information check here.

Written by Deb · Filed Under Community, Emergency, theOwen Features

Lauren Best in (house) Concert

February 21, 2009

Lauren Best in (house) Concert

More at LaurenBest.com or listen to some tunes on her myspace

Written by Ryan · Filed Under Concerts, Emergency, House Concerts, Music, theOwen

Know What to Do After a Disaster

July 4, 2007

Ready?
Right after the emergency, you may be confused or disoriented. Stay calm and remember the following procedures.

Help the Injured

Help anyone who is injured. Get your emergency survival kit (the first aid kit should be with it).

Listen to the Radio

Listen to your local radio station on your battery-operated radio for instructions.

Don’t Use the Telephone

Don’t use the telephone unless absolutely necessary. Emergency crews will need all available lines.

Check Your Home

Check for damage to your home. Remember the following points:

Use a flashlight- don’t light matches or turn on the electrical switches if you suspect damage or smell gas.

Check for fires, fire hazards or other household hazards.

Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas, turn off the main gas valve, open windows and get everyone outside quickly.

Shut off any other damaged utilities.

Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately. Wear protective clothing. For major spills or leaks call in professional help.

Confine or secure your pets.

Check on your neighbours, especially the elderly or people with disabilities.

IF YOU TURN OFF THE GAS, IT SHOULD ONLY BE TURNED BACK ON BY A PROFESSIONAL FROM THE GAS COMPANY.

Watch for Hazards

Post-Earthquake Hazards

Damaged Buildings: Stay out of damaged buildings, even if they look okay.

Aftershocks: Stay put.

Water Gets Cut Off: Use emergency water from water heater, toilet tank, melted ice cubes.

Power Can Go Off: If you live in an apartment, don’t use the elevator. You’ll get stuck in it.

Tsunamis (Huge Ocean Waves): If you live near the ocean, stay away from the waterfront.

Post-Flood Hazards

Contaminated Drinking Water: Use bottled water or bring water to a rolling boil for ten minutes, or add one drop of non-perfumed chlorine bleach per litre of water, or three drops per litre of cloudy water, stir and allow to stand for 30 minutes before consuming. (Water should still have a slight chlorine smell.)

Contaminated Dishes and Utensils: Wash and sterilize dishes and utensils. Use boiling water or use a sterilizing solution of one part chlorine bleach to four parts water; then rinse dishes and utensils thoroughly.

Basement Full of Water: Drain the water in stages, about a third of the volume of water per day. (Draining the water to quickly can structurally damage your home.)

Other Hazards

Food poisoning: Check food supplies in refrigerator, freezers and cupboards for signs of spoilage. When frozen food begins to defrost, it should be cooked. Otherwise it should be disposed of in accordance with the instructions from local health authorities.

Loose or Dangling Electrical Wires: Stay away. Advise the authorities if you can.

Broken Sewer and Water Mains: Advise the authorities if you can.

Contaminated Flood Water in the Basement: Disinfect every three days if the flood is severe and the house is occupied for an extended period. For the average home, mix two litres of liquid bleach into the flood water.

Watch For Mould: Mould is a health hazard. If mould is present, wear a face mask and disposable gloves. Anything that stays wet long enough will grow mould. Dry everything quickly to avoid future problems.

Be Ready to Evacuate

If the emergency is serious enough, you may be asked to leave your home and go to a nearby evacuation centre (like a school gym or a community hall).

If You Have to Evacuate

Leave immediately.

Take your emergency survival kit with you.

Listen to the radio and follow instructions from local emergency officials.

If you are instructed to do so, shut of water, gas and electricity.

Make arrangements for pets.

Wear clothes and shoes appropriate to conditions.

Lock the house.

Follow the routes specified by the officials. Don’t take shortcuts. A shortcut could take you to a blocked or dangerous area.

If you have time, leave a note telling others when you left and where you went. If you have a mailbox, you could leave a note there.

If you are evacuated, sign up with the registration centre so you can be contacted or reunited with your family and loved ones.

If you have to evacuate you home for a prolonged period during a winter power failure, drain the water from the plumbing system. Starting from the top of the house, open all taps and flush toilets several times, and open the drain valve in the basement. Drain your hot water tank by attaching a hose to the tank drain valve and running it to the basement floor drain. (If you drain a gas-fired water tank, the pilot light should be turned off- the local gas supplier should be called to re-light it!) Unhook washing-machine hoses and drain.

Expect Emotional Reactions

You won’t “act like yourself” for a while.
Most people caught in a disaster usually feel confused. They may tremble, feel numb, vomit or faint. Immediately after the disaster, they often feel bewildered, shocked, and relieved to be alive. These feelings and reactions are perfectly normal.

Later, many survivors sleep poorly, have no appetite, are angry with those around them, or panic at the slightest hint of a storm. Children might start thumb-sucking or bed-wetting. These feelings and reactions are perfectly normal too.

How to Get Back On Track

Here are some suggestions to help get yourself and your family back on track after the disaster:

Talk about your feelings. Talk about what has happened.

Encourage your children to express their feelings. They may want to do this by drawing or playing instead of talking. Understand that their feelings are real. Recognize that when you suffer a loss, you may grieve. (Yes, you can grieve the loss of a wedding photo or your grandfather’s favourite ring.) You may feel apathetic or angry. You may not sleep or eat well. These are normal grief reactions. Do give yourself and your family permission to grieve and time to heal.

How to Help Your Children

Children exposed to a disaster can experience a variety of intense emotional reactions, such as anxiety, fear, nervousness, stomach aches, loss of appetite and other reactions. These are normal and temporary reactions to danger. Parents can help relieve such reactions by taking their children’s fears seriously, by reassuring them, giving them additional attention and hugging them.

A CHILD WHO FEELS AFRAID IS REALLY AFRAID
After a disaster, children are most afraid that:

the event will happen again;

someone will get hurt or injured;

they will be separated from the family; or

they will be left alone.

So comfort and reassure them. Tell them what you know about the situation. Be honest but gentle.
Encourage them to talk about the disaster. Encourage them to ask questions about the disaster.
Give them a real task to do, something that gets the family back on its feet.
Keep them with you, even if it seems easier to look for housing or help on your own. At a time like this, it’s important for the whole family to stay together.

Checklists

Think of any special needs that someone in your family might have. Include any other items that your family would need. Here are some suggestions:

Babies/Toddlers

Diapers, bottled milk, toys, crayons and paper.

Other Family Members

Prescription medication, and extra eyeglasses. (Keep at least one week’s supply of medication in your emergency kit, and include copies of prescriptions for your medicine and glasses.)

Pets

dog/cat food

Water

At least four litres per person per day- two for drinking and two for food preparation, hygiene and dishwashing. Be prepared to make your water last three days.

Food

Canned food: soups, stews, baked beans, pasta, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits.

Crackers and biscuits.

Honey, peanut butter, syrup, jam, salt and pepper, sugar, instant coffee, tea.

REPLACE CANNED FOOD AND DRY GOODS ONCE A YEAR.

Equipment

Knives, forks, spoons.

Disposable cups and plates.

Manual can opener, bottle opener.

Fuel stove and fuel (follow manufacturer’s instructions and don’t use a barbecue indoors).

Waterproof matches and plastic garbage bags.

Checklist: Emergency Survival Kit

Flashlight and batteries (in case the lights go out)

Radio and batteries or crank radio (so you can listen to news bulletins)

Spare batteries (for radio and flashlight)

First Aid Kit

Candles and matches/lighter

Extra car keys and cash (including coins/cards for telephone)

Important papers (identification for everyone, personal documents)

Food & bottled water

Clothing & footwear (one change of clothes per person)

Blankets or sleeping bag (one blanket or sleeping bag per person)

Toilet paper and other personal supplies

Medication

Backpack/duffel bag (or something else for carrying the emergency survival kit in case you have to evacuate)

Whistle (in case you need to attract someone’s attention)

Playing cards, games

Checklist: Car Kit

Shovel

Sand, salt, or kitty litter

Traction mats

Tow chain

Compass

Cloth or roll of paper towels

Warning light or road flares

Extra clothing and footwear

Emergency food pack

Axe or hatchet

Booster cables

Ice scraper and brush

Road maps

Matches and a “survival” candle in a deep can (to warm hands, heat a drink or use as an emergency light)

Fire extinguisher

Methyl hydrate (for fuel line and windshield de-icing)

Flashlight

First-aid kit with seatbelt cutter

Blanket (special “survivor” blankets are best)

This information is a synthesis of various sources. For more disaster preparedness information visit the Public Safety Canada Website.

Written by adam · Filed Under Community, Emergency, theOwen

Know What to Do During a Disaster

June 25, 2007

Ready?
Here are some basic procedures for specific disasters. (For more information on these and other disasters, visit the Public Safety Canada Website.)

During an Earthquake

If You Are In a Building:

Stay inside. Stay away from windows. Get under a heavy desk or table and hang on. If you can’t get under something strong, flatten yourself against an interior wall, protect your head and neck.

If You Are Outside:

Go to an open area. Move away from buildings or any structure that could collapse. Stay away from power lines and downed electrical wires.

If You Are In a Car:

Stop the car and stay in it. Avoid bridges, overpasses or underpasses, buildings or anything that could collapse on you and your car.

During a Tornado

If You Are in a Building:

Go to the basement immediately. If there isn’t one, crouch or lie flat (under heavy furniture) in an inner hallway or small inner room or stairwell away from windows. Stay away from large halls, arenas, shopping malls etc. (their roofs could collapse).

If You Are Caught Outside:

If there is no shelter, lie down in a ditch or ravine, protecting your head.

If You Are Driving:

Get out and away from the car. It could be blown through the air or roll over you. Lie down in a ditch or ravine, protecting your head.

During a Severe Lightning Storm

If You Are in a Building:

Stay inside. Stay away from windows, doors, fireplaces, radiators, stoves, metal pipes, sinks or other electrical-charge conductors. Unplug TVs, radios, toasters, computers and other electrical appliances. Don’t use the phone or other electrical equipment.

If You Are Outside:

Seek shelter in a building, cave or depressed area. If you’re caught in the open, crouch down with your feet close together and your head down (the “leap-frog” position). Don’t lie flat- by minimizing your contact with the ground, you reduce the risk of being electrocuted by a ground charge. Keep away from telephone and power lines, fences, trees and hilltops. Get off bicycles, motorcycles and tractors.

If You Are In a Car:

Stop the car and stay in it. Don’t stop near trees or power lines that could fall.

During a Flood

Turn off basement furnaces and the outside gas valve. Shut off the electricity. If the area around the fuse box or circuit breaker is wet, stand on a dry board and shut off the power with a dry stick. Never try to cross a flooded area on foot. The fast water could sweep you away.

If You Are In a Car:

Try not to drive through flood waters. Fast water could sweep your car away. However, if you are caught in fast-rising waters and your car stalls, leave it, and save yourself and your passengers.

During a Winter Power Failure

Turn the thermostat(s) down to minimum and turn off all appliances, electronic equipment and tools to prevent injury, damage to the equipment and fire. Power can also be restored more easily when the system is not overloaded.
Use proper candle holders. Never leave lit candles unattended.
Don’t use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heating equipment or home generators indoors.
Home generators are handy for backup electricity in case of an outage, but there are hazards to be aware of.
To operate a generator safely, follow the manufacturers instructions, and always:

ensure that the generator operates outdoors in well-ventilated conditions, well away from doors or windows;

Connect lights and appliances directly to the generator. If extension cords must be used, ensure they are properly rated cords approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Direct installation of a generator to an existing electrical system should only be done by a qualified technician.

This information is a synthesis of various sources. For more disaster preparedness information visit the Public Safety Canada Website.

Written by adam · Filed Under Emergency, Events, The Environment, theOwen