Pandemic or not, will you be prepared in the event of an emergency?

Yorkregion.com
May 31, 2021

Plan ahead for floods, tornados and power outages, writes Central York Fire Services Chief Ian Laing

Each spring across Canada, we focus on helping our communities prepare for emergencies.

Although we're in the midst of a pandemic, it’s important to recognize that disaster can strike when you least expect it, and it’s essential to prepare for the more common natural disasters and emergencies, such as floods, tornados or power outages.

By taking an active role in developing and practising an emergency plan, you are helping to build a culture of preparedness. A little preparation, practise and a home escape plan can help you and your family get to safety in time.

With COVID-19 keeping us at home this spring, now is the ideal time to plan for emergency situations.

Emergency preparedness involves three basic steps. Central York Fire Services (CYFS) reminds residents to:

1. Know the risks in your area -- Prepare for the various emergency risks in your area, such as flooding, tornados, blackouts and fire.

2. Make a plan -- Every household needs an emergency plan to help you and your family act quickly and efficiently during an emergency. Emergency plans include an emergency kit, an outline of your home's exit points, a safe meeting location and a designated person to contact emergency services.

3. Prepare an emergency kit -- in an emergency, you will need basic supplies to last your entire family for at least three days. It is important to store your emergency kit in a location that is easily accessible and known by all members of your home, so it can be located quickly if needed.

In addition to the above steps, CYFS also asks residents to create a home escape plan together as a family or with roommates. Here’s what it should include:

Step-by-step escape: Your escape plan starts with knowing what to do when the smoke or carbon monoxide alarm sounds. Together, talk through the steps each person would take to get out in a safe and timely manner.

If you have children who are old enough to be left alone, discuss what happens when they are home by themselves or looking after younger siblings.

Draw out a floor plan of your home: Map out all floors, rooms, doors, windows and any features such as a garage. Identify two ways out from each room, if possible, and include them on the map.

Establish a meeting place (such as a tree or streetlight) that is a safe distance from the home where everyone can gather.

Practise the plan: Come up with various emergency scenarios and how each member of the household would escape. For example, if there is smoke in the building, remember to “get low and go” under the smoke to the nearest safe exit.

The best way to practise is to go through the motions. Practise evacuating the home and meeting at the designated meeting place with all members of the household.

When planning and practising, consider the needs of those who may require additional assistance. Incorporate special practises into emergency drills and when building a kit. Examples of who may require special planning may include: young children, older adults, pets, and persons with disabilities.

Remember that once outside the home, get out and stay out. Call 911 from a cell phone or a neighbour’s phone and communicate with all members of the household that no one should ever re-enter a home until authorized by emergency officials.

Finally, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms must be installed on every level and outside all sleeping areas of the home. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms provide the early warning signal needed to help escape a home in an emergency.

To learn more about emergency preparedness and Central York Fire Services, visit cyfs.ca and check out @CentralYorkFire on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Central York Fire Services on YouTube.