Friday, May 02, 2014
Perth District Health Unit
Are you prepared? Emergency Preparedness Week Reminds us to be Ready!
May 4 to 10 is Emergency Preparedness Week across Canada and the Perth District Health Unit is reminding residents that it is important to be ready.
“As we saw last year with the ice storms, an emergency, such as a natural disaster or weather event, can strike anywhere and anytime,” says Dale Lyttle, Senior Public Health Inspector. “The ice storm events lasted several days and caused power outages, property damage, and disruption to residents’ lives in Perth County and Toronto.”
Perth County residents need to be prepared to cope on their own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency. “It may take several days for rescue workers to reach you while they help others in urgent need or because they cannot get to the affected area, as we saw in the Toronto ice storm response,” Lyttle adds.
Be Prepared!
You can help yourself and others around you by preparing for an emergency. Here are three simple steps to help you better prepare:
1. Make a plan: In an emergency, your family may not be together, or you may be asked to evacuate your home. Think about what you would do in different situations and prepare a plan with every member of your family. Don’t forget to practice and discuss the plan so everyone is aware of what to do.
2. Build a Kit: Your emergency survival kit should have everything you and your family would need to be safe in an emergency. Basic supplies should include: a three-day supply of water, food that won’t spoil (i.e. canned or dried food), a can opener, a flashlight, batteries, battery-powered or wind-up radio, first aid kit, pocket knife, prescription medications, an extra set of keys, and money.
3. Be informed: Sign up for Ontario’s emergency alerts, and learn more about the hazards you can face and how you can be prepared for them. During an emergency, you can stay tuned to local news channels or monitor the Health Unit website at www.pdhu.on.ca or Twitter feed @pdhealthunit if possible. Be sure to have a portable, battery-operated or crank radio in your survival kit in case of power outages.
For more information on making a plan, building a kit and staying informed, go to the Emergency Management Ontario website at: www.emergencymanagementontario.ca.
Every household needs an emergency plan. It will prepare you and your family to know what to do if disaster strikes. Being prepared for these types of emergencies can make a world of difference.
For More Information:
- Call Health Line at 519-271-7600
 519-271-7600 ext 267 or toll-free at 1-877-271-73481-877-271-7348 ext 267 - www.pdhu.on.ca
- www.facebook.com/pdhealthunit
- www.twitter.com/pdhealthunit
Media Contact:
Rebecca Hill
Communications Manager
519-271-7600519-271-7600 ext 279
rhill@pdhu.on.ca
|