How prepared are you for an emergency?
Whether you’re at home or at work, on your own or surrounded by family, emergencies can happen anywhere and anytime. One thing is for sure: an emergency will happen when you least expect it, which means it’s all the more important to be organised to deal with a stressful situation. Here we look at some common emergencies to look out for and some tips on what to do if you find yourself in a sticky situation.
Common emergencies to be aware of:
Funny smells
Does everyone, be that in your workplace or at home, know what gas (or a gas leak) smells like? The smell can be likened to that of a rotten egg. If you notice an odour like this wafting through your home or workplace, quickly open all the doors and windows. Next, you should turn off your gas appliances and make sure no one uses a lighter. It’s also important not to turn on electrical appliances or lights on or off. If you can still smell gas, you and everyone else on the premises should leave. You also need to call the gas distributor. It’s a good idea to have their number handy (it can be found on your bills) on a noticeboard in the kitchen of your home and workplace. Make sure everyone knows where these emergency numbers are.
Faulty electrics
If you notice that any of your electrical appliances – oven, toaster, kettle, photocopier and so on – are taking longer than usual to work or something seems off (for instance, funny noises, overheating or smoke coming from them), stop using them straightaway. It could signal a major problem. Don’t try and fix it yourself – speak to someone at your work who is placed to deal with OHS issues or if you’re at home, call the company the item is made by or notify an authorised repairer.
Also do not ignore any small or big shocks from an electrical appliance or power tool. Disconnect immediately and contact your energy provider.
Faulty electrical appliances can start fires and when touched shock the body. This can stop the heart, cause burns, force muscles to contract and paralyse breathing. If someone has been shocked, switch off the power and pull the plug of the appliance if it’s safe to do so. If you cannot turn it off, use something made of rubber, a dry cloth or cured dry wood to free the shock victim. Remember not to touch the shock victim until they are free of electrical currents. Call 000 for immediate medical assistance.
Fire safety
According to Home Fire Safety, there were 3,800 house fires in 2012 resulting in the loss of 12 lives and causing property damage in excess of $97 million. The most common causes of fires are accidents or distractions from cooking, fireplaces and heater-related incidents and electrical faults. Here are some tips on how to avoid potential fire hazards:
- Never leave cooking, heaters or candles unattended
- Don’t overload power boards
- Ensure all cigarette ash and butts are out
- Do not dry clothing less than a metre from heater or fire
Keeping a working smoke alarm, fire blanket and extinguisher at your home and/or workplace is a great way to ensure you’re prepared for any emergencies. Teach everyone whom lives/works with you how to use all of these items so they are prepared should something happen.
Accidents and injuries
From cooking burns, adventurous kids with scrapes or choking on food, accidents in the home are all too common. Do you have a stocked first aid kit? Ideally, you should have a couple at home, in the car and at work. A first aid kit won’t be any help if you don’t know how to use it though. There are plenty of resources online or take a first-aid course so you will feel confident to act in a time of need.
Emergency preparation cheat-sheet:
The most important thing to do in preparing for an emergency is to make sure you are organised before anything happens. Here’s how…
- Keep emergency numbers all in one place and near the phone. Include your gas, energy, water providers, as well as the numbers for the local police and doctor.
- Call 000 if a serious or life-threatening situation arises. Be ready to provide your name, location, number of people involved and details of the emergency. Note: It’s never too early to teach children how to call emergency services.
- Familiarise yourself on how to prepare and sustain a safe environment. There are many courses available on this topic. The Open Training Institute’s Certificate III in Work Health and Safety is a great one that teaches you how to assess and control risks as well as how to identify and prevent emergency situations.
- In any case, make sure you have a plan for emergencies. This should include what to do, who to notify, how to evacuate the house and where to meet.
For information about the Open Training Institute and the courses on offer, or to simply ask a question, call 1300 915 692.