Introduction: Its common for people to assume that a home is a very safe place.

Well, it may not be as safe as you think. Every year, there are millions of home injuries, resulting in around 20,000 deaths. Most of these deaths are caused by falls and poisonings but there are other cases like fires, burns, suffocation, drowning, electric shocks, and more. Records reveal that a lot of home injuries can be avoided. This is why its important to be educated about home safety. Knowing what to do when an accident or emergency occurs would save valuable time. Fire Safety Plans Developing a Fire Safety Plan will saves lives in the event of an emergency. All multi-family residential buildings should have one. Fire safety plans are for the use of the supervisory staff within the building to help residents evacuate. They also help the fire department use during an emergency. Measures provided in a fire safety plan Fire Safety plans need to include:

emergency evacuation procedures; supervisory staff appointments and responsibilities; documentation for emergency systems and floor plans; and inspection, testing and maintenance requirements for in-building fire protection systems.

It is the responsibility of the building owner, or strata, to develop a fire safety plan. Regular updates to the plan must be completed when building or supervisory staff changes occur. An approved copy of the plan should be posted in the building at all times and a copy on each floor area of the building in a prominent location. Fire Safety Plan Assistance Cooperation between building owners, their representatives and the Fire Department is important to make sure residents are safe. An up-to-date fire safety plan forms an integral part in maintaining a fire-safe environment.

Make a Plan Before an Emergency: Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and well-stocked first aid kit. If you live in an apartment, know where the fire alarms and emergency exits are located. Everyone in your home should know where to find the fire extinguisher. All capable adults and older children should know how to use it. Check with your local fire department for more information. Older children and adults should know how to turn off the homes water, electricity and gas. Make large, easy-to-see signs for water and gas shut-offs as well as for the breaker panel or fuse box. Teach children how and when to call emergency services as well as how to call the designated out-of-town contact. Early warning and Escape Smoke Detectors Smoke detectors should be installed. Smoke detectors are inexpensive and are required by law in many localities. They provide an early warning which is critical because the longer the delay, the deadlier the consequences. Escape Plan Establish advanced family planning for escape. It is an important partner with smoke detectors and it will prepare for a fire emergency. Small children should be included as a part of the discussion and rehearsal. It is especially important to make sure they understand that they must escape; they cant hide from fire under a bed or in a closet. Using public resources Members of the local fire department should conduct a walk-through of the residences so that they are familiar with the layout and any potential hazards. A relationship with a local ambulance service can be established so transportation is readily available for emergencies. Arrangements with nearby medical clinics or other facilities should be made to handle emergency cases and to provide medical and first-aid services to residents. First Aid Training

If an infirmary, clinic, or hospital is not, ensure that onsite person(s) have adequate first-aid training. Treatment of a serious injury should begin within three to four minutes of the accident. Consult with a physician or other professional to order appropriate first-aid supplies for emergencies. In an emergency Follow your emergency plan. Get your emergency kit. Make sure you are safe before assisting others. Listen to the radio or television for information from authorities. Local officials may advise you to stay where you are. Follow their instructions. Stay put until all is safe or until you are ordered to evacuate.

Evacuation orders If ordered to evacuate, take the emergency kit, your wallet, personal identification for each family member and copies of essential family documents with you. Bring a cellular phone and spare battery or charger with you, if you have one. Use travel routes specified by local authorities. If you have time, call or e-mail your out-of-town contact. Tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Once you are safe, let them know. Tell them if any family members have become separated. If possible, leave a note telling others when you left and where you are. Shut off water and electricity if officials tell you to do so. Take pets with you. Lock your home. Follow instructions from authorities. If you go to an evacuation centre, register your personal information at the registration desk. Do not return home until authorities advise that it is safe to do so. Basic emergency kit Water at least two litres of water per person per day; include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order Food that wont spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (replace food and water once a year) Manual can-opener Wind-up or battery-powered flashlight (and extra batteries) Extra keys to your car and house Some cash in smaller bills, such as $10 bills and change for payphones A copy of your emergency plan and contact information

If applicable, other items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, or food, water and medication for your pets or service animal (personalize according to your needs) Two additional litres of water per person per day for cooking and cleaning Candles and matches or lighter (place candles in sturdy containers and do not burn unattended) Change of clothing and footwear for each household member Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each household member Toiletries Hand sanitizer Utensils Garbage bags Toilet paper Household chlorine bleach or water purifying tablets. When in doubt, do not drink water you suspect may be contaminated. Basic tools (hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, work gloves, dust mask, pocket knife) Small fuel operated stove and fuel A whistle (in case you need to attract attention) Duct tape (to tape up windows, doors, air events, etc.)

Emergency vehicle kit Prepare a small kit and keep it in your vehicle. The basic kit should include: Blanket Candle in a deep can and matches Extra clothing and shoes First aid kit with seatbelt cutter Flashlight (wind-up or battery-powered) Food that wont spoil (such as energy bars) List of contact numbers Radio (wind-up or battery-powered) Small shovel, scraper and snowbrush Warning light or road flares Water Whistle Antifreeze, windshield washer fluid Fire extinguisher Road maps Sand, salt or cat litter (non-clumping) Tow rope and jumper cables

After the Disaster Remain calm and patient. Staying calm and rational will help you move safely and avoid delays or accidents caused by irrational behavior. Many people will be trying to accomplish the same things you are for their familys safety. Patience will help everyone get through a difficult situation more easily. Put your plan into action. Having specific steps to take will keep you working toward your familys safety. Listen to local radio or television for news and instructions. Local authorities will provide the most appropriate advice for your particular situation. Check for injuries. Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people. Taking care of yourself first will allow you to help others safely until emergency responders arrive. Help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities--and the people who care for them or for large families who may need additional help in an emergency situation. Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes. Disaster areas and debris contain many hazards. The most common injury following disasters is cut feet. Check for damage in your home. Disasters can cause extensive damage, sometimes in places you least expect. Look carefully for any potential hazards. Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Battery-powered lighting is the safest and easiest and does not present a fire hazard for the user, occupants, or building. Avoid using candles. Candles can easily cause fires. They are quiet and easily forgotten. They can tip over during earthquake aftershocks or in a gust of wind. Candles invite fire play by children. More than three times as many people have died in residential fires caused by using candles after a disaster than from the direct impact of the disaster itself. Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged furnaces or electrical appliances. Fire is the most frequent hazard following floods. Check for gas leaks. Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, open a window and get everyone outside quickly. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbors home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service. Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water from undamaged water heaters or by melting ice cubes. Clean up spills immediately. This includes medicines, bleach, gasoline, and other flammable liquids. Watch for loose plaster and ceilings that could fall. Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims. Confine or secure your pets. They may be frightened and try to run. Let your family contact know you have returned home and then do not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be clear for emergency calls to get through. Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off. Water is often contaminated after major disasters. An undamaged water heater may be your best source of drinking water. Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately. Getting damaged utilities turned off will prevent further injury or damage. If possible, set out a flare and stay on the scene to warn others until authorities arrive. Operative measure for the Rescue Team Rescue teams are expected to be totally self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of a deployment. The equipment cache used to support a task force can weigh more than 60,000 pounds and is worth more than $1.4 million US. They should be able to:

Conduct physical search-and-rescue in collapsed buildings Provide emergency medical care to trapped victims Utilize search and rescue dogs to find survivors of the collapse Assess and control utilities and hazardous materials Evaluate and stabilize damaged structures

Techniques

In a disaster situation the goal of a search and rescue operation is to rescue the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time, while minimizing the risk to the rescuers. Sizeup Gather facts and make decisions on the course of action. For example, what types of structures are involved, the extent of damage, the layout of the building(s) involved, what hazards are present (such as downed power lines, natural gas leaks, flooding, animals, hazardous materials, or a structure susceptible to additional collapse during the rescue), and what rescue personnel and equipment are available. Structural damage can be categorized as light, moderate, or heavy. Sizeup is an ongoing process which should continue during all phases of search and rescue so operations can be modified as needed. Search Searchers should use a buddy system or two-in, two-out system and have backup teams available. Techniques for searching for potential victims are based on identifying possible locations of victims, or areas of entrapment. Areas of entrapment inside damaged structures are called voids. There are several types of voids, such as the pancake void (multiple floors of a building have collapsed diagonally onto each other), and the lean-to void (a single wall or floor has collapsed diagonally against another wall). Voids can also include spaces where victims may have entered for self-protection during a disaster - such as under desks or in bathtubs or closets. Once the potential areas of entrapment have been identified and the potential number of victims sized up, search operations should commence in an orderly manner, beginning with verbally calling out for victims to identify their location if possible, and searching using a systematic search pattern. Possible search patterns include triangulation (using three searchers approaching a potential area of entrapment from three different directions), a right/left search pattern (one team searches the left side and one team the right side of a building), or a bottomup/top-down search pattern. Searchers should stop frequently to listen for noises or attempted communication from victims; often this can involve all searchers stopping activity at specified periods of time to listen. In situations where multiple structures are searched such as after a hurricane, the outside of buildings can be marked using the FEMA or INSARAG marking systems to indicate buildings which have already been searched, the results of the search, and to avoid duplication of search efforts. Rescue Trapped victims are removed and medical aid rendered as necessary. The triage system can be used to prioritize medical aid with those needing immediate attention aided first. Removal or stabilization of debris is often necessary to remove victims. This can be accomplished using leveraging to lift the object, or cribbing (constructing a rectangular wooden framework known as a box crib underneath th e object to be stabilized). Leveraging and cribbing can be combined. Victims who are ambulatory can then self-extricate, or victims can be removed using lifts, drags, or carries. Removal of victims should be done so as to avoid any further injury: Where any neck

or back injury is suspected, the cervical spine should be immobilized first before attempting to move victims, and dragging should be avoided in situations where the presence of debris (e.g., broken glass) would cause further injury by doing so. No public or private entity is immune to disasters and no single segment of society can meet the complex needs of a major emergency or disaster on its own. By being prepared and identifying the risks and hazards associated with the surrounding regions ahead of time, you may be better able to address an emergency or event when the time comes. While municipalities, first responders, non-governmental organizations and the provincial government play a key role in emergency management, individuals are our first line of defense. Emergency management begins at home. It is essential for every household to be responsible for their own safety, preparedness and well-being for the first 72 hours of any event. Assemble an emergency kit, make a plan and practice it. By being prepared, you may lessen the burden on emergency responders so they can address those with the greatest needs first.