A Toronto school gym set up for a Red Cross training exercise
Last Friday night, a massive fire broke out in my apartment building, and my neighbours and I had to be quickly evacuated from our homes. I was able to grab my purse and a precious photo album while running out the door. But, I had no other clothes than the ones I was wearing. I also had no clue when I was going to return home, if ever.
Fortunately, the above scene wasn’t real. It was the scenario of a Red Cross training exercise I participated in last weekend. I was part of a group of actors who played clients at a pretend Canadian Red Cross shelter so our volunteers could practice their skills for when, and if, a disaster strikes in Toronto.
Every year, Red Cross responds to several disasters in the city such as house fires. When a family is forced out of their home because of a fire, Red Cross provides shelter, food, personal hygiene items, and emotional support for 72 hours to help them get back on their feet.
I’ve worked with Red Cross for four years, but this was the first opportunity for me to see first-hand what our clients feel and experience following a disaster.
As they would in a real life situation, Red Cross volunteers took excellent care of us. They didn’t let us down despite any situations we threw their way (ranging from losing identification to an asthma attack). They constantly checked on us; our safety was always their main concern.
This exercise reminded me how important it is to have a grab-and-go emergency kit. That will ensure that if I am ever evacuated from my home for real, I will have an extra change of clothes for comfort, some water and snacks, and a deck of cards for entertainment, to name a few. Being prepared not only helps me, but also helps the people trying to assist everyone affected. And that’s not pretend.
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