Did you know?
Emergency Preparedness Week is approaching and runs May 3 to 9, 2026. This year, the national theme released by Public Safety Canada is: Be Prepared. Know Your Risks.
It only takes “four simple steps” to become better prepared to face an emergency:
- Know the risks & plan for every season
- Make an emergency plan
- Build an emergency kit
- Stay informed
Be prepared: Know your risks & plan for every season
Across Canada, we face a number of hazards, which can vary from region to region. Knowing what to do is an important part of being prepared. It’s important for you to understand the risks—such as flooding and wildland fire potential—in your area and learn what action you can take to protect yourself and your family.
Be prepared to take care of yourself & family for 72-hours or longer
If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to get to you. Additionally, you should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72-hours.
Make an emergency plan
A family emergency plan will help you and your family know what to do in the case of an emergency. Public Safety Canada has developed an online version of a home emergency plan at: www.getprepared.gc.ca
Your home emergency plan: The first four-steps
There are eight easy steps in creating your home emergency plan; here are the the first four steps:
Step 1 – Identify escape routes
- Plan emergency exits from each room of your home; try to think of two possibilities for each room; obviously, windowless rooms—such as bathrooms—will only offer one way out.
- If you live in an apartment, do not plan to use the elevators.
- Identify an evacuation route from your neighbourhood in case you need to leave in a hurry; think of more than one option.
Step 2 – Establish meeting places
- Whenever possible, the meeting place should be on the same side of the street as your home; this way you don’t need to cross the street into traffic or in front of emergency response vehicles during an emergency.
- Where will the location of your safe meeting place near your home be?
- Where will the location of your safe meeting place outside of your immediate neighbourhood be?
- What are the evacuation routes from your neighbourhood?
Step 3 – Plan for children
- If an emergency occurs during school hours, you may need someone else to pick up your children from daycare or school.
- Always ensure the daycare or school has up-to-date contact information for both yourself and other adults whom you have authorized on the pick-up list.
Step 4 – Address any special health needs
- Establish a support network of friends, relatives, healthcare providers, coworkers, and neighbours who understand your special needs.
- Write down details in your home emergency plan about your medical conditions, allergies, surgeries, family medical history, medications, health screenings, recent vaccinations, emergency contacts, and insurance information.
- Also, include household members’ special needs and any medical equipment as well.
- Pharmacies may be closed for some time, even after an emergency is over.
- Consider talking to your doctor about having an extra two weeks supply of medication and medical supplies on hand if possible.
- Include prescriptions, medical documents, and health information that you can put into your easy to carry emergency kit.
- Identify a safe location for your emergency kit.
Don’t miss next week’s Safety Tidbits Column! I’ll be sharing the final four-steps to help you create a home emergency plan.
Remember, taking the time to learn and practice injury prevention costs you nothing. Failing to do so, could lead to the unthinkable … the loss of your life and the lives of those you hold dear.
Safety—it starts with you.
