Planning in advance for an emergency can save time and save lives. Discuss the dangers of fire, severe weather, and other emergencies with everyone in your home, compile an emergency plan and post it where everyone can see it.

Create an emergency plan
Call your local fire service, provincial emergency planning office, or federal emergency planning office:

• find out what kinds of disasters could strike your area
• ask how to best prepare for a disaster
• how will you be warned of the emergency?
• learn your community's evacuation routes
• ask about special assistance for the elderly, disabled
• ask your workplace about emergency plans
• learn about emergency plans for your children's school, daycare

Emergency preparedness checklist

Post emergency telephone numbers prominently in your home. Teach your children how and when to call for help. In Toronto, 9-1-1 is used to call for police, fire and ambulance. Remember to use 9-1-1 only in a true emergency. When you call 9-1-1, be prepared to state the nature of the emergency, what emergency service is needed, where it is needed and who you are. Stay on the line and follow the instructions of the emergency operator.

Do not use the telephone during or after a disaster unless it is absolutely necessary. Emergency services will need all available telephone capacity. Non-emergency calls may overload the telephone system.

In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate your home within seconds. Thus, develop an emergency escape plan and practice it often with your family.

In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard. Hazard-proof your home by securing shelves and placing large, heavy objects on lower shelves. Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds. Store flammable products away from heat sources. Strap the water heater to wall studs. Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors and gas vents.

Learn first-aid and CPR. Courses are available through the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and other community agencies.

Prepare an emergency survival kit for each member of your family and keep it in a convenient place near an exit.
The kit should contain:

• first-aid supplies and necessary medication including prescription medication
• extra eye glasses
• candles and matches or a lighter (not for children)
• non-perishable, ready to eat, nutritious foods that you like
• drinking water - at least one litre per person, per day
• a blanket or sleeping bag
• a change of clothing and footwear suitable for the weather
  rainwear
• a flashlight and battery-powered radio and extra batteries for both
• extra keys and cash
• copies of important papers and phone numbers and recent
• photos of family members
• toilet paper and other personal supplies
• a manual can opener and bottle opener
• equipment such as cutlery, disposable dishes, a utility knife and garbage bags
• a whistle (in case you need to attract attention)
• playing cards, small games

The kit should sustain each person for at least three days. Keep the kit in a backpack or duffel bag that can be easily carried. Check the kit periodically and replace the products whose "best before" dates have expired.

In a serious emergency, you may be asked to leave your home. Lock your house, leave immediately and take your emergency survival kit with you. Wear protective clothing and footwear. Listen to a radio or television for the location of emergency shelters and follow instructions including routes specified by local emergency officials.

Have an established meeting place and message point for members of your family who may become separated during an emergency. Consider a family friend or relative in a nearby community. If you go to an evacuation centre, register there so you can be located and accounted for.

Keep your vehicle gas tanks at least half full at all times in case you have to evacuate and gas is not available.

Have an emergency kit in each vehicle.
This kit should contain:

• ice scraper and brush
• shovel
• sand or kitty litter (the non-clumping kind)
• blanket
• candles and a deep can in which to burn them
• matches
• tow chain
• warning light or flares
• flashlight and batteries
• warm hat and footwear
• booster cables
• first aid kit
• road maps
• fuel line deicer
• fire extinguisher

Communication during an emergency
During an emergency, warnings, updates, or other information may be broadcast on local radio and television stations. Instructions may also be delivered personally by emergency personnel or telephoned by automated dialling equipment. Having a battery-powered radio with a supply of fresh batteries is essential in the event of a power outage or evacuation.

Weather information can be obtained on the television Weather Network (Rogers Cable 23) or the Weatheradio network at 162.4 MHz (requires special VHF-FM radio).

For more information on planning for emergencies, please call the City of Toronto's Fire Services at 416-338-9512 or fax them at 416-338-9527.

A brochure entitled Be Prepared Not Scared by Emergency Preparedness Canada.

The Canadian Red Cross has emergency preparedness information at www.redcross.ca.