September 5, 2000

 

City Offers Emergency Prep Workshops

The City of Vancouver launches the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program September 12, by offering the first in a series of workshops that will provide residents with information, training and skills to help them through an emergency.

In a disaster, residents would most likely be on their own for at least 72 hours. Demands on emergency services may be so great that not all calls will be responded to immediately. As well, access to phones, gas, water, sewer and electrical services may be cut off. Learning to be prepared is vital.

From September to December, the NEPP will run four different workshops that cover important areas such as personal preparedness; minimizing hazards, and establishing neighbourhood emergency teams that will provide residents with the necessary skills to assist with fire suppression, light rescue, damage assessment, first aid, shelter and care giving.

Workshops will be held at community centres around the city, and are open to all Vancouver residents for free or at a nominal cost. The workshops are:

1) Personal Emergency Preparedness and Neighbourhood Team Training (free)
-includes personal preparedness tips such as creating a family emergency plan and kit; preparing your neighbourhood by taking inventory of your immediate area for skills and equipment; and establishing a neighbourhood emergency team.

2) Fire Suppression and Utilities (free)
-includes how to safely extinguish fires, shut off utilities, and identify hazardous situations.

3) Home Damage Assessment and Basic Search Techniques ($10)
-includes how to assess damage to homes and buildings; locate trapped and injured persons; conduct a safe building evacuation; and make homes safer.

4) First Aid and Caregiving ($10)
-includes information on basic first aid and emotional support to the injured, and ways to provide shelter, food and water to neighbours in need after a disaster.

For a full schedule of dates, times and locations of workshops, see the Web site at www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/nepp; call 871-NEPP or e-mail nepp@city.vancouver.bc.ca

Media enquiries:

Robert Bryan
Risk and Emergency Management
871-6306

 

 

 

[News Release Index]

Comments or questions? You can send us e-mail.

(c) 2000 City of Vancouver