Helping Yourself

Preparing for a Major Incident

In a major incident, the emergency services may not be able to reach you immediately. For example, during prolonged severe weather or a terrorist attack. You may have to survive on your own for a while. Power, gas and water facilities may be lost, or you may have to evacuate at short notice.

So it is important to think about what you and your family might do in an emergency. You should bear in mind that a situation could arise where:

• you are separated from each other
• communication may be difficult
• you or others may be injured
• there may be fires or other dangers present
• power supplies may not be available

Talk to your family and neighbours about things you could do if there is an incident. The response to a major incident is much easier if we are more informed and prepared. Here are a few helpful steps you can take beforehand:

• Make a list of important contact details, such as family, friends, neighbours, GP, veterinary surgery and public utility companies.
• Familiarise yourself with emergency procedures both at work and for children at school.
• Learn some basic first aid skills. For further information visit www.redcross.org.uk/firstaid or http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/.
• 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, this could be by contacting an out of town relative.
• Store important documents such as passports, driving licences, wills, birth or marriage certificates, insurance policies and photos in a secure and waterproof container where they are easily accessible in case you need to evacuate your home quickly.
• Make up an emergency pack as below.

Emergency Pack

Households should be prepared for the different types of hazards by having an 'Emergency Pack' at hand at home, in the car and at work.

Try using plastic boxes or backpacks to keep supplies together. Make sure all members of the household know where the pack is kept. The contents of this pack are a matter of preference. However, items could include:

At home

• Lighting (torch/candles) and spare source of power such as batteries/matches.
• Cooking equipment - including tin opener, utensils and cutlery.
• Drink - bottled water and cans of juice.
• Long life food and milk. Items that you can readily consume such as ready to eat meats, canned fruits, crackers, cereal bars or biscuits.
• Check use by date and replace when necessary.
  Portable battery operated radio including spare batteries.
• 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.
• Infant supplies.
• Entertainment items such as board games or books.
• Copies of important documents such as birth certificates, passports and insurance documents.

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.

At work

You should know the emergency procedures for your workplace.

Depending on the situation, you may have to remain at your workplace for safety. This could be overnight. It would be a good idea to think about what you would need if this happened.

Evacuation checklist

You should make an evacuation checklist of items that you might need if you had to leave your home quickly. For example your emergency pack, medication and personal items such as glasses, baby items, mobile telephone and charger, keys and cash or credit cards.