(Joey McRae draws a backpack on the Huron County Health Unit’s “Graffiti Board.” Students were asked to draw something they would need in case of emergency. Photo by Laura Broadley)
GODERICH GETS PREPARED
By Laura Broadley, Goderich Signal Star
If there was ever a safe place to be, the Goderich District Collegiate Institute’s gym on May 4 was it.
The Huron County Emergency Management Committee partnered with the Avon Maitland District School Board and the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board to help put together a program for students during Emergency Preparedness Week.
Last Wednesday, first responders and other organizations involved with emergency response gathered at GDCI to teach students what role they play.
(Curtis Jeffrey tries out the Ministry of Transportation’s drone simulator at the Huron County Emergency Management Committee’s emergency preparedness program at GDCI on May 3. Photo by Laura Broadley)
The Ministry of Transportation, Goderich Hydro, Goderich Public Works, Fire Department, St. John’s Ambulance, Huron County Paramedic Services, OPP, Canadian Red Cross, Health Unit and the OSPCA were all on hand to educate GDCI students.
The Huron County Health Unit may not be a first responder, but its role in emergency response is critical. The spread of disease through food and water is a real threat to the wellbeing of disaster survivors.
Donna Parsons, public health nurse with the Health Unit, said she encourages people to have a 72 hour plan in case of emergency. This can include having a designated place for family members to meet, or even just keeping in touch through social media.
The Health Unit used to promote the use of emergency kits, but it was apparent that not everyone could afford to create or maintain one, so it moved to endorsing a plan instead, Parsons said.
That is the same sentiment behind the message of the Ontario Community Safety and Correctional Services.
(Rob Taylor, left, acting operations commander, and Dave Campbell, duty superintendent, with the Huron County Paramedic Services, hands out an information package to students. Photo by Laura Broadley)
It coordinates the response to an emergency, ensuring that services are running efficiently, said Jude Kelly, public education officer.
If there’s anything Kelly wants people to do in case of emergency, it’s “Be Prepared.”
For many people pets are just as much a part of the family as anyone else, which is why the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was invited to be a part of the program at GDCI. Having a 72 hour emergency pet survival kit is important in case of emergency. Some items that OSPCA said pet owners should include are; 72 hour food and water supply; a current photo of your pet with name, address and brief description; and medications and a pet first aid kit.
The chances of disaster of significant magnitude may be small, but it doesn’t hurt to prepare in case of one, Kelly said.
The Goderich tornado happened within minutes with barely any warning.
Source: The Goderich Signal Star
