Wildfires are still burning across western Canada as emergency preparedness week begins. (Submitted Photo/Curtis Wailing)

By Rob Mahon

Emergency Preparedness Week

Emergency preparedness week begins as wildfires continue

May 8, 2023 | 12:00 PM

May 7 to 13 is emergency preparedness week in Saskatchewan, and many in the province have already had to deal with emergencies and even evacuations this season. With that in mind, Parkland Ambulance is asking people to take the time to get ready for an emergency of their own.

“It is summer season and the chances of severe weather such as storms, forest fires, and other natural disasters is that much more prevalent,” said Lyle Karasiuk, director of public affairs with Parkland Ambulance. “Not to say that it doesn’t happen in the winter months, but certainly during the summer months we want folks to be reminded that it’s time to get prepared.”

The first part of being prepared is knowing who you need to have with you when an emergency happens, but most households can answer that question relatively easily. From there, you get into the harder questions, like where to meet once you’ve left the house.

“If you had a fire at home, and everybody exited out, where are you going to meet?” Karasiuk said. “If we had something like a grass fire and we had to leave the house in a hurry, we’d gather up the belongings but where would we go and what would we take?”

The timing of this year’s emergency preparedness week is fitting, as several communities in Saskatchewan have faced threats of wildfires this season already, and two have already had to evacuate. In Alberta, wildfires in the northern part of the province are a growing threat as well.

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

11h ago

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

15h ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

18h ago

“That’s probably the biggest thing besides severe weather in the summertime that we would face,” said Karasiuk. “So we want to remind folks: get prepared… make a plan.”

Another part of being prepared is making a kit that you can grab in a hurry and get out the door. Different families will want to take different things, like heirlooms and photos, but there are some things that should be in every emergency preparedness kit.

“Things like a first-aid kid, things like copies of important papers,” Karasiuk said. “Things like the basics, some bottled water, a leash for the pet, diapers for small children, a board game, a change of clothes. Often we think with our banking industry we all live by the card and very rarely do we carry cash. Maybe some cash would be essential. Any medications as well.”

Karasiuk added if you wanted a full list of what a kit might contain, you can go to the federal government’s emergency preparedness website getprepared.ca.

—

rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP