Resources
Essential Links
Useful Videos
Emergency Plan for your Pets:
Tornado Preparedness:
Earthquake Preparedness:
Winter Weather Preparedness:
Community Emergency Response Team:
Tsunami Preparedness:
Critical Incident Stress:
Storm Safety
What are the Risks?
Risk of tornadoes, downbursts, flooding, and lightning.
Lightning kills dozens of people every year; flooding kills many more.
What to do in the event of a severe storm
Have a Severe Weather Plan that everyone in your family understands:
Identify a safer area in your home you can take cover in (away from windows, on a lower floor/basement),
Find a way to monitor weather alerts (computer, smartphone, radio),
For children, ensure their school, daycare, etc. have a storm safety plan,
Don’t spend time near windows or exposed to the storm to take photos or videos,
Do not drive through flooded areas, even if the water is only a few inches deep as many are swept away in flash floods each year,
Take shelter in a well-constructed, sturdy building (not tents, gazebos, etc.).
Airplane Safety
How to prepare and react to an emergency on aircraft
When taking your seat, count the number of rows to the emergency exit behind and in front of you. This way, you can count the rows to the exit during a crisis with a lot of smoke or darkness.
If you are not actually moving somewhere, remain seated with your seatbelt fastened at all times as turbulence can hit unexpectedly.
If traveling with a small child/infant, it is worth purchasing an additional seat where you can fasten an airline-approved car seat. It is much safer to have your child in a car seat than in your lap in the event of a crash.
DO NOT take your carry-on luggage in an evacuation. This can slow you down and slow down others trying to evacuate.
Have your children climb over the seats in an evacuation, as it will likely be faster and safer than trying to navigate the crush of people in the aisles.
Bomb Threats
What type of notes to take when receiving a bomb threat
If a bomb threat is called in it is usually because the culprit does not want to actually harm anyone, they just make a statement by giving a warning.
Most devices are actually placed outside the buildings as opposed to inside. So during an evacuation, DO NOT gather close to the building, go across the road or somewhere sufficiently far away instead.
Staff should be familiar with their areas and familiar with staff in order to notice unusual activities.
Keep plants and gardens well maintained.
Empty garbage bins regularly.
Have a list of questions and things to write down for when receiving a bomb threat:
○ Whether or not the caller sounds male or female,
○ Listen for background sounds,
○ Voice characteristics,
○ Incorrect or correct grammar,
○ Ask where the device is, as they are likely calling to warn you to prevent harm,
○ Obtain as much detail as possible,
○ Call the police immediately after or give a note to someone else in the room to call while on the phone but from a location where they cannot be overheard.
Hotel Safety
What to do in the event of a fire or other evacuation-based hotel emergency
Count the number of doors from your room to the emergency exit so you know the distance to an exit in an emergency where there is smoke or no light.
Look for a fire sprinkler system in the hotel — if there is not one, stay on a lower floor for a quicker evacuation in a crisis.
If the fire alarm goes off, evacuate immediately.
Never take the elevator in an emergency evacuation, always use the stairs.
If you encounter smoke, get low — most fire fatalities occur due to smoke inhalation.
Time is of the essence in an evacuation.
NEVER assume it is a false alarm, always evacuate immediately.
Highway Collisions
What to do if you’re involved in a highway collision
Motor collisions are the #1 cause of fatalities of people between 15 and 29 years of age.
If in a minor collision on the highway, steer your vehicle to the shoulder so you are not blocking a lane if it’s possible.
Exit the vehicle if possible and get behind the guard rail or as far away from the travel portion of the highway as possible.
DO NOT cross live lanes of traffic.
If unable to get to a safe location, do not exit your vehicle — you are safer to stay inside than try and cross live lanes of traffic.
Risks such as fuel leaks, fire, or other vehicles approaching may be present after the collision occurs — BE AWARE!
If attempting to stop to aid a collision, be very cautious of such dangers that may be present.
Summer Camps
How to ensure your child’s summer camp has an adequate safety/emergency plan in place
Ask if the camp has an emergency plan,
Request to see it,
Ask what their communication plan with the parents is,
Ask about their response plan,
Ensure they have done the research and that staff has the appropriate training.
Essential Links
Useful Videos
Emergency Plan for your Pets:
Tornado Preparedness:
Earthquake Preparedness:
Winter Weather Preparedness:
Community Emergency Response Team:
Tsunami Preparedness:
Critical Incident Stress:
Storm Safety
What are the Risks?
Risk of tornadoes, downbursts, flooding, and lightning.
Lightning kills dozens of people every year; flooding kills many more.
What to do in the event of a severe storm
Have a Severe Weather Plan that everyone in your family understands:
Identify a safer area in your home you can take cover in (away from windows, on a lower floor/basement),
Find a way to monitor weather alerts (computer, smartphone, radio),
For children, ensure their school, daycare, etc. have a storm safety plan,
Don’t spend time near windows or exposed to the storm to take photos or videos,
Do not drive through flooded areas, even if the water is only a few inches deep as many are swept away in flash floods each year,
Take shelter in a well-constructed, sturdy building (not tents, gazebos, etc.).
Airplane Safety
How to prepare and react to an emergency on aircraft
When taking your seat, count the number of rows to the emergency exit behind and in front of you. This way, you can count the rows to the exit during a crisis with a lot of smoke or darkness.
If you are not actually moving somewhere, remain seated with your seatbelt fastened at all times as turbulence can hit unexpectedly.
If traveling with a small child/infant, it is worth purchasing an additional seat where you can fasten an airline-approved car seat. It is much safer to have your child in a car seat than in your lap in the event of a crash.
DO NOT take your carry-on luggage in an evacuation. This can slow you down and slow down others trying to evacuate.
Have your children climb over the seats in an evacuation, as it will likely be faster and safer than trying to navigate the crush of people in the aisles.
Bomb Threats
What type of notes to take when receiving a bomb threat
If a bomb threat is called in it is usually because the culprit does not want to actually harm anyone, they just make a statement by giving a warning.
Most devices are actually placed outside the buildings as opposed to inside. So during an evacuation, DO NOT gather close to the building, go across the road or somewhere sufficiently far away instead.
Staff should be familiar with their areas and familiar with staff in order to notice unusual activities.
Keep plants and gardens well maintained.
Empty garbage bins regularly.
Have a list of questions and things to write down for when receiving a bomb threat:
○ Whether or not the caller sounds male or female,
○ Listen for background sounds,
○ Voice characteristics,
○ Incorrect or correct grammar,
○ Ask where the device is, as they are likely calling to warn you to prevent harm,
○ Obtain as much detail as possible,
○ Call the police immediately after or give a note to someone else in the room to call while on the phone but from a location where they cannot be overheard.
Hotel Safety
What to do in the event of a fire or other evacuation-based hotel emergency
Count the number of doors from your room to the emergency exit so you know the distance to an exit in an emergency where there is smoke or no light.
Look for a fire sprinkler system in the hotel — if there is not one, stay on a lower floor for a quicker evacuation in a crisis.
If the fire alarm goes off, evacuate immediately.
Never take the elevator in an emergency evacuation, always use the stairs.
If you encounter smoke, get low — most fire fatalities occur due to smoke inhalation.
Time is of the essence in an evacuation.
NEVER assume it is a false alarm, always evacuate immediately.
Highway Collisions
What to do if you’re involved in a highway collision
Motor collisions are the #1 cause of fatalities of people between 15 and 29 years of age.
If in a minor collision on the highway, steer your vehicle to the shoulder so you are not blocking a lane if it’s possible.
Exit the vehicle if possible and get behind the guard rail or as far away from the travel portion of the highway as possible.
DO NOT cross live lanes of traffic.
If unable to get to a safe location, do not exit your vehicle — you are safer to stay inside than try and cross live lanes of traffic.
Risks such as fuel leaks, fire, or other vehicles approaching may be present after the collision occurs — BE AWARE!
If attempting to stop to aid a collision, be very cautious of such dangers that may be present.
Summer Camps
How to ensure your child’s summer camp has an adequate safety/emergency plan in place
Ask if the camp has an emergency plan,
Request to see it,
Ask what their communication plan with the parents is,
Ask about their response plan,
Ensure they have done the research and that staff has the appropriate training.
