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HCFDC

Get prepared
 
Family Print
Discuss with all your family what might happen to you if there is a disaster. Be aware that you need to be prepared to face such an event. Every member of the family should be involved in working out together a family emergency plan.   Explain as simply as possible the actions and the steps you can take to increase everyone’s safety. If you do this, everyone will be less worried in an emergency.
  • Make sure that every member of your family knows where the first aid and disaster kits are kept.
  • Find out where your water stopcock is, the main gas valve and the master switch for electricity.
  • Make sure that all the members of your family know where they are and know how to switch them off if there is a problem or accident.
  • Teach your family members how to use a fire extinguisher. 
  • Keep a pair of shoes and a torch close to your bed in case of a problem during the night. 
  • Work out the best way of leaving your house: 
    • Work out two evacuation routes for each part of the house,
    • Plan how and where you and your family members will meet if you can no longer get in to your home,
    • If you have to evacuate your house, arrange two meeting points: 
      • one near your house,
      • the other outside your local area.
  • Choose one or two family members or close friends whom you and your children can phone if necessary. You should tell these people that they might be contacted in this way.   
  • Make sure that all your family members have the contact details of these relations/friends. 
  • Practise your evacuation plan and your stay-at-home plan with your family in order to check that they work well.  
  • Make a credit-card sized “emergency card” for each family member. The card should contain information about the card holder (name, address, etc), emergency numbers, and the people to be contacted first in case of accident.
  • Take into account the specific needs of your family members (children, the elderly) while working out your plan.
 
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