Have you seen the t.v. commercials about “72-hours?” They’re a bit cryptic, but the jist of them is that, during a major emergency, you and your family should be self-sufficient for seventy-two hours.
The Government of Canada is promoting the 72-hours theme to encourage us all to get ready now, before a disaster or other emergency. To be able to live for three days when there is no electricity or water, and no stores, banks or gas stations open, you simply must prepare ahead of time.
The rationale for the 72-hour duration of self-sufficiency is to give emergency crews like the Équipe d’intervention médicale de Saint Lazare, fire services, civic services, hydro, civil engineers, and others time to respond to the most urgent problems during the emergency situation. It allows those who are prepared to look after their families while emergency crews work to re-establish safety and roll-out emergency health services.
The seventy-two hour campaign has a website where you can find out more about how to prepare: getprepared.ca.
Here is a basic list of items recommended by Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada to put in your emergency preparedness kit for the home. Put these items in a backpack or other transportable container so that they are easily taken with you in case you have to leave in a hurry:
- at least two litres of water per person per day (Include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order);
- Food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (remember to replace the food and water once a year);
- Manual can opener
- Flashlight and batteries;
- Candles and matches or lighter (remember to place candles in sturdy containers and to put them out before going to sleep: candles are the number one source of fires during emergency disasters);
- Battery-powered or wind-up radio(and extra batteries);
- First aid kit;
- Special items such as prescription medications, infant formula and equipment for people with disabilities;
- Extra keys for your car and house;
- Some cash in smaller bills, such as $10 bills (Automated bank machines and credit cards may not work during a blackout or other emergency) and change for payphones;
- A copy of your emergency plan including contact information.
Other items to consider: - A change of clothing and footwear for each household member;
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each household member;
- A whistle (in case you need to attract attention);
- Garbage bags for personal sanitation;
- Toilet paper and other personal care supplies;
- Safety gloves;
- Basic tools (hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, fasteners, work gloves);
- Small fuel-driven stove and fuel (follow manufacturer’s directions and store properly);
- Two additional litres of water per person per day for cooking and cleaning
If you’d rather not prepare your own, emergency preparedness kits may be purchased. St. John Ambulance and the Salvation Army have jointly prepared a “disaster kit,” which can be purchased from many leading retailers. The Red Cross also has kits available online or by contacting them at (514) 362-2930.
In an emergency, call 911.
