Planning for emergencies

The chances of you or your family being caught up in an emergency are low but it is important to prepare just in case this happens. There are a number of ways you can prepare for emergencies, increasing the resilience of your family and ensuring everyone knows what to do and how to stay safe during an emergency.

Personal contact list

Make a list of all your personal contact numbers, including friends and family. Keep a copy in a place you could find it quickly, and give a copy to each member of your family. It may also be useful to store personal contact numbers on your mobile telephone, but remember that mobile phone networks are likely to be very busy during an emergency.

Emergency kit bag

In an emergency you may be evacuated from your home quickly and it is important to have essentials to hand, so they can be collected quickly on your way out if it is safe to do so. Below are some suggestions of items you could keep in your kit bag:

• key documents – such as passport, driving licence, insurance details
• personal contact list
• First aid kit
• details of prescription medication/equipment – make sure these are kept up to date
• mobile phone and charger
• spare glasses or contact lenses
• whistle – for attracting attention
• toiletries – including nappies and sanitary supplies
• any special items for babies, children, elderly or disabled people
• spare set of keys
• bottled water and energy bars
• coins / cash
• a torch and batteries, or a wind-up torch
• change of clothes
• notebook and pencil

For useful websites and downloads, see Emergency Planning - general information.