Living Well: Prepare for the Unexpected: How to Stay Safe in an Emergency

Prepare for the Unexpected: How to Stay Safe in an Emergency

Emergencies can happen at any time, in any place. If the unexpected happened tomorrow – severe weather, natural disaster, or other threats – would you and your household be prepared?

With proper and effective preparation, you can respond quickly and confidently to emergencies. Doing so can help keep you safe and avoid injury. Not to mention, helping you cope with the aftermath of an emergency.

Be Ready

Creating an emergency kit with basic supplies is just one of the things that can help you and your family best manage a crisis. The Canadian Red Cross and the Government of Canada have lists of suggested items that should be in your kit, such as:

Water – Recommended two litres per person per day
Food – Non-perishables such as canned goods, energy bars, dried fruit, etc
First aid kit
Flashlights and batteries
Blankets and warm clothing
Radio
Personal hygiene items

Ensure your emergency kit is easily accessible and stocked with supplies for a minimum of one week.

Consider also putting together a grab-and-go bag: a smaller version to “grab and go” (from home, work, or while travelling) should you need to leave immediately. Having both a full emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag, will help prepare you for any situation.

Key tips for emergency preparedness

1. Have a plan
  Emergencies are stressful. By having a plan and knowing what to do, you and your family can alleviate some of that stress should something happen.
2. Prepare an emergency kit
  It’s difficult to know what you’ll have access to in the event of a crisis. The more prepared you are, the better. Use our sample lists above to create your own emergency kit.
3. Stay informed
  Having a battery powered radio is a great way to stay aware of what’s happening. Doing so can help you stay informed about how the situation is being handled and any actions you take in the aftermath.
4. Know evacuation routes
  In case you need to get out, map out exactly where you should go and meet others. Family can easily get separated and having a meeting point will only help ease your mind.
5. Practice your plans
  In the event of an emergency, it’s easy to get panicked and freeze. Having already physically gone through your plan will help you and your family stay composed and get to safety.
6. Stay calm
  Most importantly, it is easy to get caught up and distraught during an emergency. Using these tips can help you relieve anxiety and stay calm in a difficult situation.