Emergency Preparedness (Page 2)

Your phone has the power to send you life-saving alerts. By broadcasting alerts through your cell phone, the system can send geo-targeted alerts and warn you directly of any imminent danger. If your cell phone is compatible you will hear a distinct tone that will be followed by a message.

As Canadians, we know what it’s like to suffer through a long winter and full of hope we prepare for warmer weather and spring. However, with warmer weather and melting snow, we should also prepare for flooding.

On December 11^th, 2017 a fire broke out at the Crestview Housing Cooperative in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan damaging several of the apartments and displacing a lot of the residents. In an overwhelming show of support, the citizens of Moose Jaw, with help from some teams from the Canadian Red Cross, rallied to the scene.

At the Canadian Red Cross, we talk a lot about personal preparedness. Be ready for disasters by knowing the risks, making a plan, and getting an emergency kit. But how does the Red Cross prepare for these situations?

Every year, hundreds of snowmobilers lose their lives in accidents that could have been prevented by taking a few basic safety precautions. Again this year, there have been more tragic incidents involving snowmobiling.

Every year, hundreds of people are affected by carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal. 
Last winter, 49 people were hospitalized and two people died due to carbon monoxide poisoning following the ice storm in New Brunswick. 

A tsunami warning was issued overnight for people living in coastal regions of British Columbia following a strong earthquake off the coast of Alaska. Fortunately, the warning was later lifted with no damage was reported. However, it did spark renewed interest in how to best prepare for tsunamis and what to do in case of a tsunami warning.

​In winter, fires are already more likely to occur, but a recent cold snap resulted in an increase in responses, largely due to the use of space heaters and wood stoves. Throw candles, dry trees, and kitchen fires into the mix and you get an explosive cocktail.