Preparing your family for emergencies
As a family, you can prepare for the unexpected. Developing a family emergency plan and creating a ‘grab bag’ of the essential items you may need if you were to leave your home can help you and save valuable time.
Download a template of a Household Emergency Plan
This could include things as simple as;
- If you are experiencing a power cut and you have not received prior notice, find information about power cuts in your area on the National Grid website
- Recording key contact details of insurers, GP, utility suppliers
- Actions each member will take to secure the property
- Where and how to turn off the utilities to the house.
- Escape routes the family can use and where to meet if split up
Grab bag items could include;
- A copy of your Family Emergency Plan.
- Details of regular prescription items for your family.
- Useful telephone numbers e.g. friends, family, insurance, doctors, utilities, etc.
- Mobile phone and charger.
- Important documents e.g. passport, birth certificates, insurance, etc. Consider keeping these in waterproof material.
- Toiletries.
- First aid kit.
- Bottles of water.
- Wind-up or battery-powered radio and spare batteries.
- Wind-up or battery-powered torch and spare batteries.
- Notebook and pen.
- Essential keys e.g. house, car, etc.
- Special items e.g. glasses/contact lenses and solutions, items for babies/children / elderly/disabled.
- Cash, debit/credit cards.
- Non-perishable food (cereal bars, etc.).
- Supplies for very young children or pets.
- Any other items you feel you may require.