March 30, 2009
Planning For Evacuation: Health Care And Family Preparations
Manitoba Health advises that, although widespread evacuations are not anticipated, high water levels and road closures could isolate some Manitobans during flooding, limiting access to health-care services or making it more difficult for emergency responders including paramedics to reach people in a medical emergency. If you live in an area potentially affected by flooding, please consider the following information.
Your Health Care and Evacuation Plans
To ensure you are prepared:
· Have an extra two-week supply of prescription medication for yourself and your family members on-hand.
· Contact your health-care provider for advice if you’re receiving specialized medical care like dialysis or cancer treatment.
· Identify any medical needs of your children, parents or other dependants and write down the details.
· Consider moving to an alternative location with friends or family outside of the flood zone if you have medical issues.
· Midwifery clients are encouraged to contact their midwife to discuss the impact of flooding on their prenatal care and birth plan.
· Understand and follow the province’s boil water advisory if you use a private well for drinking water.
· Store fresh drinking water either in bottles or by filling bathtubs and sinks that have first been sanitized with bleach.
· Keep food items in stock that do not require cooking.
· Review your immunization records and be aware of your last tetanus shot in case you receive a puncture wound or a wound becomes contaminated.
· Recognize anxiety and stress related to flooding and understand that support is available.
· Ensure you have important phone numbers readily available should you need to call for police, fire, ambulance or hydro.
· Stay in touch with your neighbours and your community. Be prepared to offer support to vulnerable people who may not connected to home-care or other services.
Home care and public health clients (like expectant mothers) in areas that may flood are being contacted directly by regional health authorities (RHAs) to talk about how these services might be affected. The RHAs will work with clients, family members and other caregivers to develop a plan to continue care during a flood.
Prepare Your Home and Property
· Know where to turn off gas, water and electricity.
· Shut off electricity before flooding has reached your area and only if the electrical panel is completely dry. Do NOT attempt to do this if any water is present.
· Turn off basement furnaces and the outside gas valve.
· Move furniture, electrical appliances and other belongings to floors above ground level.
· Remove all chemical products from the basement and other flood-prone areas to reduce the risk of contamination.
· Remove toilet bowls and plug basement sewer drains and toilet connections with a wooden stopper if you have your own septic system.
· Disconnect eavestroughs if they are connected to the house sewer.
· Keep important and valuable papers in a fire and waterproof container.
· Check whether your property insurance covers flood-related damages.
· Keep books, games and toys available to occupy time and entertain children.
· Have enough food and other supplies on hand for pets and include them in your flood preparedness plans.
More detailed information is available at www.manitoba.ca.
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