How would you prepare for an emergency?
If an emergency happened in your area, how would you manage? What about your relatives, friends, neighbours or colleagues – do you know anyone who might need some extra help or support?
What is preparedness?
Preparedness is the steps you take to make sure you are safe before, during and after an emergency. Emergencies can happen with little or no warning, help will arrive but may take some time. Having a plan will enable you to respond and act accordingly if there is any kind of unexpected, serious and/or dangerous occurrence.
The GOV.UK Prepare website provides guidance to help people and communities identify and prepare for the hazards and threats that may disrupt their lives including:
- Get prepared for emergencies
- Be informed about hazards
- Get involved in your community
The Hertfordshire Resilience partnership provides information on preparing for emergencies: Are you ready for anything?
What is resilience?
Resilience is also often referred to as ‘bounce back-ability’ because it describes an individual, organisation or community’s ability to respond to and recover following an emergency or natural disaster. Resilience describes the capacity to withstand adversity and move forward from difficult or dangerous events.
Be informed - know the risks in your local area
Consider the following to help you make your own emergency plan for you or your family:
- Local risks have been identified in the Hertfordshire Risk Register, national risks are described in the government National Risk Register. Identify the risks that are around you and your home, for example are you at risk from flooding?
- Be informed about hazards that could impact you and think about what you could do in advance to prepare.
- Watch a video explaining Community Risk Registers.
Make a plan
Discuss with your family how you would stay in contact in the event of an emergency, where would you meet in a situation where you could not return home? If you had to evacuate, do you have friends or relatives outside the area to stay with? Do you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours that would need your assistance in an emergency? Find out where and how to turn off the utility supplies in your home and have equipment available to do so e.g. a wrench if needed.
Find out the emergency procedure for your children’s school. Make sure you know the emergency procedure for your workplace.
Government guidance:
Make a kit
Prepare a household emergency kit and a smaller personal kit e.g. in a backpack for use should you need to be evacuated. Make sure everyone knows where the kits are kept. To create an emergency kit look at what resources you use daily and are essential to you and your family and consider what you would do if these became scarce or unavailable.
Consider the basics (plan for at least three days)
- Water: for drinking and hygiene purposes at least 2.5 litres per person per day with small drink containers that can be carried with you
- Food: non-perishable items such as canned food (with a can opener), cereal, fruit bars (ensure they are kept up to date)
- Supplies for child care e.g. bottles, powdered milk
- Food, water and supplies for your pets
- First Aid Kit and manual
- Battery or dynamo (wind-up) powered radio
- Battery or dynamo powered torch
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Spare batteries
- Notepad and pencil
- Whistle
- Tools to turn off utility supplies
- Local maps
- Rubbish bags with plastic ties, moist wipes
- Dust mask, plastic sheeting, duct tape
Consider what specific needs you or your family have
- Emergency phone numbers e.g. 105 number to report a power cut, school, doctor's surgery, relatives, friends, vets
- Prescription medicines (ensure stored items are kept up to date), prescription glasses, hearing aid batteries
- Non-prescription items such as pain relief tablets and medication for an upset stomach or diarrhoea
- Toiletries and sanitary items
- Change of clothes, waterproof clothing and boots, shoes and blankets
- Documentation in a waterproof container (e.g. identification, bank account details, birth certificates, insurance documents, passport, benefit and pension details)
- Eating utensils, paper towels, paper cups and plates
- Disinfectant
- Fire extinguisher
- List of Local Radio Station frequencies (BBC Three Counties Radio 95.5 FM, 103.8 FM, 104.5 FM, 98 FM, 90.4 FM, 92.1 FM, 94.7 FM) (BBC Radio 2 88-91 FM) (BBC Radio 4 92-95 FM, 103-105 FM)
- Mobile phone
- Cash and credit cards
- Books, games for children
Go in, Stay in, Tune in (Shelter-in-Place)
If you are close to an incident or believe you are in danger, unless you are told otherwise by the emergency services:
Go in - Go inside and close doors and windows
Stay in - Stay inside for as long as it is safe to do so – depending on the incident, stay away from doors and windows
Tune in - Tune in to your local radio station, TV or internet news channels for information and advice. If there is a major emergency radio and TV companies will give public safety advice and information on the incident.
There will be times when it is not safe to ‘go in’ – for example if there is a fire or if you are advised to take alternative action by the emergency services.
Evacuation
Further information on evacuation is provided on the Emergency Assistance Centres page.
ICE (In Case of Emergency)
Store the emergency contact details for your family on your phone under the acronym “ICE” (In Case of Emergency). This will enable the emergency services to find out who to contact if you are injured in an incident and cannot tell them. More than one contact can be added by numbering each contact, e.g. ICE 1.
Counter terrorism advice and guidance
The Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire Counter Terrorism Security Advisors have issued general advice about open spaces, crowded places and events. ProtectUK is a new central hub for counter terrorism and security advice.