After an Emergency
In the hours following an emergency the first thing to remember is to remain calm. Individuals should check themselves and others for injuries, give first aid where needed, assist anyone who is trapped and take care of life-threatening situations first. They should check on neighbors, especially the elderly and people with disabilities. Pets need to be confined, and the battery-operated radio from an emergency kit can be used to listen for information and instructions. It is better not to use the telephone except to to report a life-threatening injury, and to leave the lines free for official use. Sturdy shoes and protective clothing will keep the body protected from debris, especially broken glass. If trapped inside, the building should be checked for structural damage.
Individuals and Families
Individuals take steps ahead of time to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies, and should be able to survive on their own for a minimum of 3 days immediately following an emergency. Everyone should become familiar with the basic principles of first aid and safety.
- Water may be contaminated and need to be purified.
- Toilets shouldn't be flushed if the sewer lines are broken.
- Elevators in a high rise building shouldn't be used during a power outage. If in an elevator, all buttons should be pressed and everyone should exit as soon as possible.
- Children need to be picked up from school or at the agreed reunion location.
- Unless asked to help or qualified to give assistance citizens should stay away from damaged areas.
- Loose or dangling power lines can cause fires and carry sufficient power to cause harm. They should be reported to safety authorities, along with any broken sewer and water mains.
- If the power has been out for several hours food in the refrigerator should be examined in case it has spoiled.
First Responders: Police and Paramedics
Local fire, police, paramedic, search and rescue teams are normally the first to respond to an emergency. They are responsible for managing most local emergencies as part of the community emergency plan.
Non-Governement Organizations
There are several non-profit, non-government organizations (NGOs) that play very important roles in emergency management, including disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Some examples include the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and The Salvation Army. They work in partnership with governments to help Canadians deal with emergencies, from providing first aid training to disaster itself.
Provincial and Territorial Governments
Every province and territory has an emergency management organization (EMO), which manages large-scale emergencies and provides assistance to municipal or community response teams as required.
Federal Governement
Federal departments and agencies support provincial or territorial EMOs as requested. They also manage emergencies that involve areas of federal jurisdiction, such as nuclear safety, national defense and border security.
If there is suspicion that the home is unsafe, individuals should leave and not re-enter. It is dangerous to turn on light switches or light matches since there could be a gas leak or flammable liquid spills. A flashlight should be used to check utilities, but they shouldn't be shut off unless they are damaged, leaking (a gas leak smells like rotten eggs) or if there is a fire. If the gas is turned off, a qualified technician will be required to turn it on again. If tap water is available, the bathtub and other containers should be filled in case the supply gets cut off. If there is no running water, there may be some in hot water tanks, toilet reservoirs or ice cube trays.
Sylvie Roy - Writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I studied Multidisciplinary Arts, where I dabbled in journalism, english ...
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