Emergency Preparedness
With a little planning and common sense you can prepare yourself and your loved ones for the unexpected. Whether it's an incident on the freeway, at work or in your home, or the aftermath of a major disaster, your ability to deal with an emergency depends on your level of preparedness.
An emergency could occur anywhere but when it does, you will most likely be at, or near, your workplace, your home or your car. You need to have emergency supplies on hand at each location.
Emergency supplies to store at home:
- first aid and survival kit (Columbia Custom Kits offers a wide selection to choose from)
- fire extinguisher (Columbia Fire and Safety offers quality products)
- A gallon of water per person per day
- Canned goods, three cans per person per day
- Propane camp stove or barbecue
- Pot and pan for cooking
- Eating utensils
- Plastic cups
- Waterproof matches or lighter
- Zip lock bags
- Non-electric can opener
- Aluminum foil
- Two-person tent, or larger
- Wool blankets or sleeping bags
- Emergency space blanket
- Extra prescription medications
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Lantern
- Candles
- AM/FM radio with extra batteries
- Pen, pencil and paper
- List of important phone numbers
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- Crow bar
- Leather work gloves
- Multi-function pocket tool or knife
- Plastic tarp
- Nylon rope
- Duct tape
- Wrench or other tool for shutting off gas and water main valves
- Portable chemical toilet and disinfectant crystals
- Toilet tissue
- Garbage bags
- All-purpose liquid soap
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Disposable razor
- Feminine Hygiene products
- Latex gloves
- Gallon of disinfectant
- Adequate clothing and footwear
- Quarters for telephone calls
- Minimum of $50 cash
- Photocopies of ID
- Spare cheques
- Playing cards or other forms of entertainment
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Emergency supplies to store in your vehicle:
- first aid and survival kit (Columbia Custom Kits offers a wide selection to choose from)
- fire extinguishers (Columbia Fire and Safety offers quality products)
- Emergency water rations
- Emergency food rations, canned or dried
- Extra clothing and an emergency blanket
- Tent or other shelter
- AM/FM radio with extra batteries
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Waterproof matches or lighter
- Can opener
- Multi-purpose pocket tool or knife
- Multi-tip screwdriver
- Pliers
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- Leather work gloves
- Maps
- Quarters for telephone calls
- Minimum of $50 cash
- Garbage bags
- Latex gloves
- Pen, pencil and paper
- List of important phone numbers
- Small sack of sand for traction
- Small shovel
- Booster cables
- Always keep your vehicle's fuel tank at least half-full
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Emergency supplies to store at work:
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- Emergency food and water rations
- Emergency blanket
- Flashlight with extra batteries
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In addition to storing emergency supplies, it's also important to establish an emergency meeting place for all your family members and have an emergency communication plan. Be sure everyone knows where the meeting place is and what to do in the case of an emergency. It's a good idea to have an out-of-state or out-of-province contact that all family members can communicate with. Also, be sure every family member carries identification with them at all times. At least one family member should have some level of first aid training. If you have family pets, also account for them in the emergency plan.
