CHeS Emergency Preparedness Policy

The Ministry of Education is encouraging DL schools be proactive in encouraging safety and emergency preparedness within the home learning environment. The following yearly drills are encouraged as part of our policy to help ensure safety and preparedness in the home.

• Six fire drills (BC Fire Code requirement)

• Three earthquake drills (BC Earthquake Alliance recommendation)
• Two lockdown drills (RCMP recommendation) – The Ministry of Education recommends lockdowns be practiced in the home as a safety procedure – please adjust to suit your situation.

 

Lockdown drills are means of practicing preparedness in a business (or home) in the event of an intruder or criminal act. Generally an announcement is given that the building is going on an immediate lockdown. At that point, all occupants present at the time of the drill go to a room and lock all doors and windows tight.

 

Refer to the BC Emergency Planning Guide for more detailed information.  The information below is also helpful in preparing your family for emergency safety.

Be Prepared for a Natural Disaster in Your Area

After working through the following information below, please take the Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Quiz. You can take it as a family here. Answer the questions as a family and mark your quiz using the answer key at that end.  Message your results to your teacher.

Helping Children Cope With Disaster

• prepare a family disaster plan
• explain how to call for help
• how to provide comfort
• include the children in all the processes
• leave time for play
• maintain control

Canada Safety Council

• Emergency Preparedness in the Home
• Community Safety

Is Your Family Prepared?

(Get Prepared - Government of Canada)

Information on:

• Know the risks
• Make a plan
• Get a kit
• During an emergency
• After an emergency
• Who does what
• Emergency Preparedness Week
• Emergency Preparedness Week, Day by Day

Disaster Planning for Pets

Do you have a plan for your family pet in case of a flood, earthquake or fire? Pets often become frightened and hide during an emergency, and sometimes become lost, or trapped. What can you do to be prepared for an emergency? Having a plan will save precious time and maybe even the life of your pet.

Personal Preparedness

(Emergency Management and Public Safety Institute) Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighbourhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if you did not have water, gas, electricity or telephones after a major emergency? No matter how well your community has planned their response to a disaster, in the event of a large-scale incident, first response resources may quickly become overwhelmed. To ensure the safety and well-being of you and your family, you should prepare now to take care of your own basic needs for at least the first 72 hours following a major disaster.

Covers:

• Create a Plan
• Train
• In the Home
• Emergency Supplies and Equipment
• Your Automobile
• Community Emergency Response Teams
• Strengthening Preparedness Among Neighbours

Preparing a Family Emergency Plan

• Video (with transcript) from the Government of Canada on Making a Family Emergency Plan.