What you can do to prepare for an emergency?

The Government has produced a web page which tells you how you can help yourself and your family in emergencies. The page can be found on the direct.gov website.

• Make a list of important contact details, such as family, friends, neighbours, GP, veterinary surgery, public utility companies etc. 
• Familiarise yourself with emergency procedures both at work and for children at school. 
• Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies. 
• Know how to tune your radio to local stations. 
• Know how your family will stay in contact in the event of an emergency. 
• Make up an emergency pack
• Discuss with family and friends to see if there could be a safe place for you to go to if you cannot stay at home.  Having a plan of where you can go and how to get there if you needed to, will save you time and effort at the time.

Home Emergency Pack

Try to keep enough of the following in your household at all times to last at least two days:

Suggested list

• Lighting (torch/candles) and spare source of power (batteries etc) or wind-up torch. 
• Cooking equipment (including tin-opener, utensils and cutlery). 
• Drink (cans of juice, bottled water etc). 
• Long life food and milk - Items that can easily be consumed such as ready to eat meats, canned fruits, crackers, cereal bars or biscuits. Check use by date and replace when necessary.) 
• Portable radio and spare batteries or wind up radio. 
• First Aid Kit - Include items such as assorted bandages, cleansing agents, pain relief tablets. Remember prescription medication. 
• Contact list 
• Warm / Dry clothing and blankets. 
• Personal hygiene products such as soap, toothpaste, feminine supplies 
• Medication (including baby items). 
• Entertainment items such as board games or books

Useful numbers to make a list of and put in your emergency pack

• Doctor 
• Insurance Company 
• School 
• Bank 
• Family 
• Utilities

In the Car:

These could vary depending on the time of the year, but could include items such as:

• First Aid Kit. 
• Bottled Water. 
• Torch with spare batteries. 
• In car mobile telephone charger 
• Sweets or long life snacks 
• Blanket, warm clothing and woolly hat 
• Spare socks and gloves 
• Waterproof clothing and Wellington boots.