Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion
It is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. Officials across the country and in Kindersley are encouraging people to take action by getting prepared.
The Town of Kindersley has declared the week of May 6-12 to be Emergency Preparedness Week in the community. The week is a national awareness campaign and a time when people are being encouraged to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families in emergencies.
Chanell Brick, a municipal enforcement officer in Kindersley, is deputy co-ordinator of the town’s Emergency Measures Organization (EMO). She recognized that, generally, people do not pay much attention to emergency preparedness until it is too late.
She noted that jurisdictions including municipalities will use community awareness events to promote messages about important initiatives such as emergency preparedness. The safety of the community is the responsibility of each and every citizen, according to officials.
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Brick said people are encouraged to have a fire escape plan and a 72-hour emergency kit in place at their homes. An emergency kit contains necessities for everyday living and emergency safety supplies for up to 72 hours.
Items found in an emergency kit could include non-perishable foods, a can opener, two litres of water per day for each person, flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, matches, candles and a contact list with important numbers. The kits must be moveable, so items could be placed in large bags or plastic containers.
The kit should also contain a family emergency plan. Brick said certain emergencies could call for people to shelter in place, a term for situations where people are asked to remain in their homes until necessary actions have been taken or services have been restored.
Kindersley is prone to certain emergencies and Brick said people are encouraged to be aware of potential emergencies for the area including tornados, plough winds, snow or ice storms, wildfires or other larger fires, and pandemics or epidemics.
She noted that Kindersley is located on a Canadian National Railway line, so dangerous goods could be travelling on the railway. Chemical spills or dangerous goods accidents are other potential emergencies on road or rail.
In the event of an emergency, Brick said people need to know where to get information. The town’s EMO has an Emergency Response Plan in place for when emergencies occur and Brick said the town should be the first point of contact for residents. The town’s website is the first place people should go for information, she said.
People could visit www.kindersley.ca for more videos and information, and there is even a quiz on the website for people to test their knowledge of emergency preparedness. According to Brick, it is most important to “be prepared in your home” because emergencies could happen at any time.
Large wildfires threatened the Town of Leader in October 2017 and people were evacuated to Kindersley. Brick said several people did not have emergency kits. She said contact lists and other crucial information could be helpful for emergency responders.
If an emergency occurs, EMO, police, fire and emergency medical services responders will be out on the ground. People should be aware of emergency responders and stay clear of any area where they are responding, Brick added.
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