Emergency Preparedness Week is an annual event that takes place each year during the first full week of May. This national event is an opportunity for the Canadian Red Cross to remind families to plan for emergencies. Disasters can strike anywhere at any time, and Canadians should be prepared to care for themselves and their families for at least 72 hours in a disaster, and up to two weeks in a health emergency like a pandemic.
Being prepared means having the knowledge, plans, and tools to cope in an emergency. We encourage Canadians to have a plan in place by learning about the risks in your community, making a work and home evacuation plan, and making or buying an emergency preparedness kit.
To learn about the risks in your area, visit Public Safety Canada’s Disaster Database.
To help Canadians prepare for emergencies, emergency preparedness kits and first-aid fanny pack kits are available at a 10 per cent discount at www.shop.redcross.ca.
For more information on how to help you take care of yourself and your loved ones during an emergency, visit www.redcross.ca/prepare.