Talk with your family about potential emergency situations and why it's necessary to prepare for them.
Involve each member of your family in the planning process. By showing them simple steps that can increase their safety, you can help reduce their anxiety about emergencies.
- Plan where to meet after a emergency if your home becomes unsafe.
Choose two places, one just outside your home and one outside your neighbourhood in case you are told to evacuate.
Be sure your car has at least half a tank of fuel.
- Determine the best escape routes from your home. Try to identify two escape routes.
- Make sure each member knows who your family’s out-of-home contact is and instruct them to call this person and tell him/her where they are.
- Practice your evacuation routes.
- Teach each member of your family how to use a fire extinguisher, if you have one.
- Take into account the special needs of children, seniors or people with disabilities, family members that don’t speak English and pets.
The preparing for emergencies booklet.pdf (1309Kb) is a short useful guide to help you protect you and your family.
The booklet is available in a number of languages.
Links to guidance relating to specific emergency situations is available.