Are You Prepared Or An Emergency?

1. You are driving when heavy snow starts and you are stuck in a traffic jam - it's stop start all the way. There is someone at home waiting for you to arrive but as you go to call them to let them know you're safe, you have no reception. Do you...

Get out your vehicle and look for a pay phone

Send a text message

Get out your car and walk to higher ground

Ask a passing police car to borrow their phone

Your car is safe and warm; you shouldn't leave it unless advised to by the emergency services. If you write a text message and press send, it will be stored in your outbox until enough signal is available to send the message. This will be much less and shorter than for a phone call, and is particularly important if you are ever in an emergency where the phone network is overloaded - where lots of people are trying to ring to let people know they are safe. The phone network will change which phone numbers it can give signal to, and you could have a short burst of signal - which is enough for a text message to be sent.

Explanation

Your car is safe and warm; you shouldn't leave it unless advised to by the emergency services. If you write a text message and press send, it will be stored in your outbox until enough signal is available to send the message. This will be much less and shorter than for a phone call, and is particularly important if you are ever in an emergency where the phone network is overloaded - where lots of people are trying to ring to let people know they are safe. The phone network will change which phone numbers it can give signal to, and you could have a short burst of signal - which is enough for a text message to be sent.

2. It's 2am and you are asked to evacuate from your property. The house next door is on fire and you have to leave quickly. As you walk out the door do you...

Go back and get your phone, wallet and keys

Grab a bag with emergency items like spare clothes, emergency phone numbers, spare keys, cash, hanging next to the door

Put up a note to let the emergency services know the property has been evacuated

If someone from the emergency services tells you to leave your home, do so immediately without going back for any property. You may be out of your home for a few days and without basic essentials like money, phone numbers and spare clothes, you could be sat in your pyjamas without telling anyone where you are! A grab bag by the front door doesn't need much, just a few every day essentials to make your life easier in an emergency - you can find out what you should put in it at http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/services/m-r/preparingforemergencies/makeanemergencygrabbag.htm . The bag isn't just for evacuations, it can help you out in a power cut or loss of water.

Explanation

If someone from the emergency services tells you to leave your home, do so immediately without going back for any property. You may be out of your home for a few days and without basic essentials like money, phone numbers and spare clothes, you could be sat in your pyjamas without telling anyone where you are! A grab bag by the front door doesn't need much, just a few every day essentials to make your life easier in an emergency - you can find out what you should put in it at http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/services/m-r/preparingforemergencies/makeanemergencygrabbag.htm . The bag isn't just for evacuations, it can help you out in a power cut or loss of water.

3. If there were a flood or gas leak, does everyone who lives at your house know where to turn off the gas and electricity?

I know where to turn off the gas and electricity but not all the family know

Someone in my family knows where to turn off the gas and electricity, they'll do it in an emergency

Everyone in my family knows where the gas valve is and how to turn off the electricity

During a flood or gas leak, the emergency services may tell whoever is at home to turn off the utilities, and of someone doesn't know they could be putting theirs and their neighbours lives at risk. During a flood, live plugs and electrical items in the water can electrocute anyone also in the water. By turning off the power you protect your family, pets and emergency services if they have to enter your property.

Explanation

During a flood or gas leak, the emergency services may tell whoever is at home to turn off the utilities, and of someone doesn't know they could be putting theirs and their neighbours lives at risk. During a flood, live plugs and electrical items in the water can electrocute anyone also in the water. By turning off the power you protect your family, pets and emergency services if they have to enter your property.

4. You walk along the street and see a tree that is withered and dying. Nothing unusual or something more sinister? What does the tree tell you?

Evidence that a chemical bomb is being produced somewhere nearby

Infestation by a caterpillar that can cause anaphylactic shock on skin contact of some people.

All of the above

None of the above

It is called Oak Processionary Moth and particularly eats Oak trees.

Explanation

It is called Oak Processionary Moth and particularly eats Oak trees.

5. Whilst on the subject of snow, what should you carry in the back of your car in the winter?

Nothing, as a lighter car improves fuel efficiency

Spade, water, bag of grit, spare winter coat, blanket

Camping stove, gas, water, torch,

Torch, spade, blanket, water

During the winter carrying a few light items in the boot could save you if you break down, particularly in the snow when most breakdowns occur. Don't overfil your boot, as a heavier car uses more fuel, which wastes money and damages the environment. Certain items like a torch and water, should be left in your car all year - just check the batteries regularly!

Explanation

During the winter carrying a few light items in the boot could save you if you break down, particularly in the snow when most breakdowns occur. Don't overfil your boot, as a heavier car uses more fuel, which wastes money and damages the environment. Certain items like a torch and water, should be left in your car all year - just check the batteries regularly!

6. An energy company is in your road digging up the pavement, and has accidentally ruptured the gas pipe. You are informed you will have to leave your home for a couple of hours. It's a nice sunny day so you walk off to the park, but you forget to tell the fire brigade who are on scene what?

Where the gas valve to your house is to protect your gas pipes from any pressure changes

What gas company you are with so that they can let them know you are an affected customer

That there is an elderly person on your street who may not have heard there is an evacuation

Your phone number so that they can call you to tell you it is safe to return

When you are evacuated, it is your responsibility to find out if your property is safe to return to - they may give you a phone number to call or tell you how long the repair might take. The gas company will need to get to your meter to ensure there are no gas flow problems to your property, but they will tell you this when you return. More importantly if you know you have a neighbour who cannot hear well or cannot get to the door easliy, tell the emergency services so that they can make sure that person gets evacuated.

Explanation

When you are evacuated, it is your responsibility to find out if your property is safe to return to - they may give you a phone number to call or tell you how long the repair might take. The gas company will need to get to your meter to ensure there are no gas flow problems to your property, but they will tell you this when you return. More importantly if you know you have a neighbour who cannot hear well or cannot get to the door easliy, tell the emergency services so that they can make sure that person gets evacuated.

7. You are at home, and hear an explosion. Do you...

Go outside and see if you can see what has happened

Ring the police to report what you have heard

Tune in to the local radio station, stay inside and lock all the doors and windows

Ring your neighbour to see if they know what has happened

if there has been an explosion, you don't know what has been thrown in to the air. The explosion could have come from a gas line, warehouse, petrol station or large oil stirage facility in the borough, and you should stay inside with the doors and windows shut and tune in to your local radio station. If you ring other people, you are using up network capacity and could hinder the emergency services, and only ring the emergency services if you have information such as the source of the explosion or other valuable information or if there is a risk to life. Go in, Tune in, Stay in!

Explanation

if there has been an explosion, you don't know what has been thrown in to the air. The explosion could have come from a gas line, warehouse, petrol station or large oil stirage facility in the borough, and you should stay inside with the doors and windows shut and tune in to your local radio station. If you ring other people, you are using up network capacity and could hinder the emergency services, and only ring the emergency services if you have information such as the source of the explosion or other valuable information or if there is a risk to life. Go in, Tune in, Stay in!

8. Your drinking water has been cut off thanks to a power outage at the water treatment works. How much water will you be given per day?

5 Litres

10 Litres

15 Litres

25 Litres

35 Litres

It's 10L a day - or 5 large bottles of water. With that you need to wash, drink, cook food, even flush your toilet. Better start thinking about your priorities!

Explanation

It's 10L a day - or 5 large bottles of water. With that you need to wash, drink, cook food, even flush your toilet. Better start thinking about your priorities!

9. Each area across the UK is looked at to see what emergencies could occur. In the West of London, which emergency is considered the biggest risk to the area?

Flooding

Plane Crash

Pandemic Flu

Animal Disease such as Foot and Mouth or Bluetongue

Gas Pipeline Explosion

A Community Risk Register is compiled and the risk of an incident occurring is a calculated using a combination of likelihood and the size of the emergency. Pandemic Flu is considered to be highest risk, with Flooding rated as Very High, Animal Disease as Medium, and an aviation accident and gas explosion as High. The rating doesn't change in light of the recent flu pandemic. The risk register can be seen at http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Documents/West_Dec_09.pdf

Explanation

A Community Risk Register is compiled and the risk of an incident occurring is a calculated using a combination of likelihood and the size of the emergency. Pandemic Flu is considered to be highest risk, with Flooding rated as Very High, Animal Disease as Medium, and an aviation accident and gas explosion as High. The rating doesn't change in light of the recent flu pandemic. The risk register can be seen at http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Documents/West_Dec_09.pdf

10. If flooding was likely in your area, what warnings would you get?

Sirens would sound

You'd get a text message or phone call from the Environment Agency if signed up with them

Your TV program would be interrupted with a News Flash

The Environment Agency send messages to those people signed up to its Floodline service - see if you are at risk from flooding at their website - just search for Floodline in any search engine. Encourage your friends and family to check too!

Explanation

The Environment Agency send messages to those people signed up to its Floodline service - see if you are at risk from flooding at their website - just search for Floodline in any search engine. Encourage your friends and family to check too!