Emergencies

Household emergency kit

Include essential items your household may need for at least 72 hours, such as:

• First aid kit
• Personal hygiene supplies
• Flashlights
• Radio, either battery-powered or a wind-up radio
• Extra batteries, including a backup battery for your smartphone
• Special need items, such as baby supplies, equipment for individuals with disabilities and prescription medications
• Water, two litres per person, per day - pack small bottles
• Food that will not spoil (e.g. canned foods, energy bars)
• Food preparation equipment, including knives, forms, spoons, disposable cups and plates, paper towels, and a can opener
• Blankets
• Seasonal items (e.g. sunscreen, sunglasses, hats)
• A copy of your emergency plan and personal documents
• Money in small bills and coins
• Extra keys for your car and house

Accessibility considerations

For community members living with a physical, visual, auditory and/or other non-visible disability, unique accommodations and considerations may be required, including:

• Create a network to assist you in an emergency and ask them to be part of your household emergency plan. Demonstrate how to operate medical equipment and practise emergency procedures, including how to broadcast emergency information or warning if you are hearing impaired or deaf
• Maintain a list of essential items, store it with your emergency kit, and share a copy with your network. Items may include:
  • special equipment and supplies (e.g. batteries for medical equipment or items like hearing aids, assistive devices, catheters, inner tubes for wheelchair tires)
  • prescription names (strengths and dosages, and any special storage requirements)
  • contact information for physicians and pharmacists
• Wear a medical alert tag or bracelet to identify your illness
• Keep a whistle and flashlight near you, as this will help others find you in an emergency; the international signal for help is three short blasts
• Keep walking aids close by, and if possible, an extra cane or walking aid in different rooms and at work
• if you have a service guide dog, keep a cane handy in case the dog becomes injured or is too frightened to help

For community members who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech impaired:

• during an emergency, Text with 9-1-1 provides 9-1-1 call centres with the ability to talk with you using text messaging. To use this service:
  • register for Text with 9-1-1 with your wireless service provider
  • have a compatible cell phone

Learn more and register at textwith911.ca.

Additional resources

• Emergency Planning and accessibility
• Fire Services' Safety and Fire Prevention for People with Disabilities
• Government of Canada's Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs webpage

Vehicle emergency kit

Emergency vehicle kits are essential for driving in Canada. Consider including:

• Emergency food pack with food items that will not spoil, such as energy bars

• Water in plastic bottles that will not break when frozen
• Blanket
• Extra clothing and shoes
• First aid kit with seat belt cutter
• Small shovel, scraper and snowbrush
• Candle in a deep can and matches
• Flashlight with batteries
• Whistle
• Roadmaps
• A copy of your emergency plan and personal documents
• Sand, salt or cat litter (non-clumping)
• Anti-freeze and windshield washer fluid
• Tow rope
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher
• Warning light or road flares

Plan for a pet or service animal

Consider gathering the following for your pet or service animal.

• Bottled water

• Food (can opener if required)
• food and water bowls
• Blankets
• Cat litter and pan
• Leash, collar and harness
• Crate or carrier
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Basic pet first-aid kit
• Vaccination records and medical history
• Veterinarian's contact information
• List of medications
• Emergency contacts
• Photos of your pet in case of separation
• List of evacuation shelters

View the Government of Canada's Preparing for emergencies for pets and service animals webpage for more tips.