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Being prepared can save lives

According to Terri Burton, the Director of Emergency Services for the District of Muskoka, taking a few simple steps towards safety can save your life. While many people are thinking about their cottages, in light of unpredictable weather, safety measures are now a concern for homeowners as well.

Burton recommends an up to date First Aid Kit in a house, car, cottage is very handy when needed and reminds once a crisis situation hits, it's too late not to have one. Burton suggests families interested in planning for Safety during emergency situations can visit their website at, www.GetPprepared.gc.ca. A simple safety checklist can mean the difference in saving a life until help arrives.

A basic 72 hour emergency checklist includes, water(minimum two litres per person per day), food that will not spoil, canned or dried, (remembering to update), manual can opener and utility knife, sleeping bags, umbrellas, blankets, water-proof wind up radio, flashlight, batteries, any personal items such as medications (seven day supply) including any pet medications required, extra house, safety deposit box and car keys, extra cash, coins, copy of household emergency plan and contact information as well as other important identification documents such as birth certificate, photo ID, insurance documents, mortgage papers, etc, and keep everything in a waterproof durable container.

“One of the things we learned from Katrina was the difficulty people have trying to prove their identity when their house, wallets, everything is gone,” commented Burton. “Another great service offered is the C.P.R. (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) courses available in most communities. What a great way to get teenagers involved in survival and saving others.”

For cottagers and especially those thinking about renting cottages, Burton recommends first inquiring about the area and finding out what the weather concerns are, making certain everyone, even visitors to the cottage know safety escape routes, the exact address of the cottage, where fire extinguishers are located, and if the cottage is on the lake to remember to take matches and flashlights that are waterproof.

For more information on Safety and emergency survival kits, call 1-800-622-6232, visit www.GetPrepared.ca for your copy of the Emergency Preparedness Guide, or contact Director of Emergency Services, EMS Chief and Community Management Coordinator for the Muskoka District at 705-645-2100 or e-mail tburton@muskoka.on.ca

By Alex Sher

Post date: 2014-07-10 08:33:46
Post date GMT: 2014-07-10 12:33:46
Post modified date: 2014-07-16 17:39:36
Post modified date GMT: 2014-07-16 21:39:36