This booklet could
save your life.
Read it.....
Fill it in.....
Keep it handy
This booklet could
save your life.
Read it.....
Fill it in.....
Keep it handy
PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
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ARE YOU
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About this
booklet
The aim of this booklet is to provide clear practical advice to help you
prepare for and respond to an emergency. A lot of the information is
common sense, but it has saved lives in the past.
It is important that you, your family, businesses and local communities are
prepared.
You can significantly reduce the risks for you, your family, and your property
by being informed and ready to respond to events.
All the responding agencies in the Thames Valley work hard to make sure
that they are as prepared as they can be in the event of an emergency.
Plans are regularly reviewed, and staff from the emergency services and
other agencies take part in simulated emergency exercises and training.
In the first stages of an emergency, the priority will be to protect life and
property wherever we can, and then to help communities recover as quickly
as possible.
Sometimes a major emergency will only affect one area of the community,
at other times it could affect a wider region. Whatever the extent, we will
work closely with the media to get information out to you quickly, so that
you can assess any likely impact on you and your family.
This booklet is prepared by members of Thames Valley Local Resilience
Forum which is made up of local Emergency Services, Health Agencies, Local
Authorities, the Military and the Environment Agency. Contact information
for these can be found on pages 24-25.
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Contents
Content Page
So are you ready for an emergency? 2
General advice
Emergency first steps 2
Being prepared 2
“Get Ready” test 3
Household emergency plan 4
Emergency “grab bag” 5
What would I save? 6
Be a good neighbour 6
Have “emergency friends” 7
In Case of Emergency 8
Emergency information schemes 8
Health Advice - Choose well 9
Coping with an emergency 10
Fire 10
Building evacuation 11
Severe weather 11
Flooding 12-14
Heavy snow and extreme cold 15-16
High winds 16
Hot weather 16-17
Infectious diseases 17
Loss of power and water 18-20
Security incident 20-21
Household emergency plan 22-23
Emergency contact list 24
Further information 24-25
2
General advice
Emergency first steps
If you find yourself in an emergency, your common sense and instincts will usually
tell you what to do, this would normally be:
If people are injured or in danger, contact the emergency services by
dialling 999 and follow their advice.
Remain calm, reassure others and think before acting.
Check for injuries - remember to help yourself before helping others.
Stay informed by listening to local radio, watching local television stations
If you are not involved in the emergency, but are close by or believe you may be
in danger, in most cases the advice is:
GO IN to a safe building.
STAY IN until you are advised to do otherwise.
TUNE IN to local TV or radio for more information.
Of course there are always going to be particular occasions when you
should not ‘go in’ to a building for example if there was a fire. Otherwise
GO IN, STAY IN, TUNE IN. Remove yourself and others from harms way.
Being prepared
There are some simple steps you can take now that might be of critical
importance in an emergency:
Know how to find and turn off water, gas and electricity supplies in your
home, check these work regularly.
Know which of your neighbours might be vulnerable and need assistance.
industrial site near where you live.
These steps can help you to react quickly and effectively to an emergency.
and checking useful websites listed on page 24.
Try our ‘Get Ready’ test on page 3.
Prepare a household emergency plan (see page 4).
Prepare a basic emergency “grab bag” (see page 5).
Know how to tune into your local radio stations (see page 23).
Know the emergency procedures for your school, workplace or the local
3
“Get Ready” for an emergency.........
Before you read on, find out how ready you and your
1. Do you have a household emergency plan?
Yes
No
2. Have you discussed your plan with family and friends?
Yes
No
3. Do you know the emergency plan for your children’s
Yes
No
school/nursery/college?
4. Do you know the emergency plan for your place of work?
Yes
No
5. Have you completed a personal emergency contact list?
Yes
No
6. Have you prepared a check list for your emergency “grab bag”,
Yes
No
or packed it ready to go?
7. Do you have ICE contact(s) in your phone, wallet or purse?
Yes
No
8. Do you have an emergency friend - someone unlikely to be
Yes
No
affected by the same emergency - who can keep family and
friends informed?
9. Do you have a wind up or battery-operated portable FM/AM radio?
Yes
No
10. Do you have alternative, agreed meeting points?
Yes
No
11. Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?
Yes
No
12. Do you have adequate contents and buildings insurance?
Yes
No
13. Do you have copies of your most important documents stored
Yes
No
somewhere other than at home?
14. Do you have a written list of your valuables, plus photographs
Yes
No
or DVD/video?
15. Have you undertaken a basic first aid course?
Yes
No
16. Have you checked if your property is in a flood risk area?
Yes
No
17. Have you thought about arrangements for pets if you need to
Yes
No
leave your home?
18. Have you identified possible exit routes from every room in
Yes
No
your home?
If you answered YES to 12 or more questions - your preparations are going well,
congratulations! Just make sure you keep all your plans and information up to date.
Scored between 8 and 12 - it’s great that you’ve started work on your emergency
preparations - however there’s a lot more you can do.
Less than 8 - you’ve not made enough preparations. Perhaps because you don’t like
thinking about the subject. Remember, the more prepared you are - the better you will
cope in an emergency.
family are by taking the following test, click on a box.
4
One of the most important things you can do to prepare for an emergency is to
spend a few minutes putting together a household emergency plan and making
sure all your family know about it.
There are many types of emergencies that could disrupt your daily life, some of
which can leave you isolated from immediate help. Emergencies can come in
many forms but could include:
Severe Weather - snow, ice, flooding, heatwave, high winds.
Infectious Diseases such as pandemic influenza or norovirus.
Animal Diseases such as foot & mouth or avian flu.
Transport accidents such as train or plane crashes.
Industrial incidents - perhaps from a chemical factory, a fuel storage depot
or even a fireworks store.
Having a household plan can help you deal quickly and effectively in a stressful
situation. Involving your family in writing the plan can help them be prepared too.
It doesn’t need to be complicated, but you should consider what is around you:
where you live, work or visit,
including schools, shops etc.
For example, do you live near
a river, airport or factory? Ask
yourself and your family the
question, ‘what if?’; then find
the answers.
Think about emergency
friends, important contacts
and how people would know
your needs in an emergency.
to help you to do your plan.
You can fill in your own plan
Household emergency plan
Have a look at pages 24 & 25
on page 22.
5
Emergency “grab bag”
In an emergency situation you may need to move quickly, so it’s important to
have a few necessities to hand. Ideally, prepare a small easy-to-carry bag with
essentials and store it in an accessible place ready to go. At the very least, have
an up-to-date check list for things to put into your emergency “grab bag”. The
bag contents will vary depending on your needs but may include:
E
Emergency items
Essential/prescribed medication,
plus asthma and respiratory aids
Hearing aids
Spectacles/contact lenses
Useful phone numbers
Mobile phone and charger
House and car keys
Money & credit cards
First aid kit
Basic toiletries e.g. toothbrush
and toothpaste, sanitary towels
Other essential items can vary
according to your needs and the
weather, but may include:
Supplies for babies and small
children
Food, formula and drink
Change of clothing
Nappies
Toys, books and activities
Food and water
Bottled drinking water
Special food needs
Canned or dried food
Can opener
Clothing & Equipment
Wind and rainproof clothing
Strong shoes for outdoors
Waterproof torch and spare
batteries (check regularly)
Radio and spare batteries
(check regularly)
(perhaps you could consider getting
wind-up torches and radios)
Other items to consider
Copies of insurance documents
Anti-bacterial hand wipes/gel
Blankets and sleeping bags
Sun hats and sunscreen
Toilet paper
Rubbish bags
Thermos flasks
Pet supplies
*
This is a guide - review your family
needs. Type other items here:
Be a good neighbour
In many emergencies some members of the community may be more vulnerable
than others, so it is good to know your neighbours.
For example, the elderly, very young or
disabled are more vulnerable to extreme
heat and cold.
You should always ensure you and your
family are safe first. However, helping your
friends and neighbours is also important and
can save lives.
Just checking that someone is well,
providing extra blankets, collecting supplies
for them or even having a chat may make
the world of difference.
What would I save?
Apart from family members, what else in your home would you not want to lose?
This could be:
Documents including insurance, birth and marriage certificates
or passports.
Photographs.
A piece of furniture.
A favourite toy or baby blanket.
By considering now what you would not like to lose, you can take prompt action
to save or preserve it. You could:
copy documents and photographs and ask someone to look after them.
prepare to put furniture etc. upstairs or up high to prevent water damage.
consider purchasing a fireproof/waterproof container for those special
items.
REMEMBER: NO ITEM OF PROPERTY IS WORTH LOSING A LIFE OVER
6
Have “emergency friends”
One of the easiest ways of preparing for emergencies is to identify ‘emergency
friends’.
Emergency friends should be people you trust who can help you in an emergency.
You should identify at least one emergency friend who lives nearby and a second
one who lives further away.
Emergency friends should arrange to help each other if one of their homes or
members of family have been affected by an emergency. Examples of how you
can help each other out include:
Swap house keys. You never know when you might lock yourself out or
need pets feeding if you get stranded away from home.
Provide each other with a place to stay if you have been evacuated from
your home or if it’s been affected by flood, fire or utility failure.
Arrange to look after each other’s children or to pick them up from school
if you have an emergency at work or in the family.
If you are suffering from an infectious disease, like flu, the NHS might ask
you to send someone to collect your medication for you.
Keep copies of your most important documents or pictures safe for each
other.
Be an emergency point of contact for family members who may be
separated in an emergency.
Make sure all your family knows who your emergency friends are and make a
note of them in the Household Emergency Plan form in this booklet. Sit down
and have a chat with each other so you identify all the ways you can help one
another.
Top tips to help
you prepare for
an emergency
7
8
‘In Case of Emergency
Find an ‘ICE’ partner, ICE stands for ‘In Case of an Emergency’.
This is a quick and easy way for the emergency services to find the contact details
of your next of kin if you are injured and unable to tell them who to contact.
This simple idea of storing the word ICE in your mobile phone address book
before the name and number of the person you would want to be contacted,
could be invaluable.
Make sure that:
The person whose name and number you are using has agreed to be your
ICE partner.
Your ICE partner has a list of people they should contact on your behalf
and knows any important medical information.
If your ICE contact is deaf - type ICETEXT - then the name of your contact
before saving the number.
If you want more than one ICE partner, simply save them as ICE1, ICE2
etc.
Emergency information
schemes
There are several local schemes available to assist you to store important
personal and medical information which would be useful to have available in
schemes, but many others are available:
Talisman bracelets - available from retailers.
Message in a bottle - contact your local Lions Club for information.
an emergency. Coverage depends on location. Listed below are a couple of
9
Health Advice - Choose well
If you become unwell or are injured a range of NHS services exist
to help you get well. Choosing the right one will ensure you receive the
best possible treatment.
Get training
A simple first aid course can provide you with basic skills that could help you
save the life of a family member or friend.
Local courses are provided by St. John Ambulance
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/
or British Red Cross
http://www.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk/
Choking.
Chestpain.
Blacking out.
Blood loss.
Cuts.
Sprains.
Rashes.
Minor fractures.
Feverish children.
Vomiting.
Ear pain.
Feeling ill.
Diarrhoea.
Minor infections.
Headache.
Travel advice.
Unwell.
Unsure?
Confused.
Need help?
Hangover.
Grazed knee.
Sore throat.
Cough.
For symptoms of serious
illnesses and major accidents,
choose A&E (Accident &
Emergency).
For trips, falls, skin complaints
and minor injuries, choose
NHS Walk-in-Centre or NHS
MIU
(Minor Injuries Unit ).
For hot children, infections
and persistent symptoms
choose your GP.
For tummy upsets, insect
bites, coughs and colds
choose a pharmacist.
For absolutely any question
about your health, choose
NHS Direct.
For minor ailments, grazes,
bruises and similar problems,
choose self-care.
10
Coping with an emergency
You are responsible for preparing and protecting your property so it’s vital you
take steps to insure and protect your home and possessions.
Look at your local council’s website for information on their emergency plans
and find out what they and other emergency responders do for the whole
community.
The following sections give good advice about what you should do before, during
and after an emergency to help you cope with it better.
Fire
Reduce fire hazards in your home - contact your local fire service for more
information and a free home fire risk check.
Fit and maintain smoke alarms - at least one on every floor (check batteries
every week).
Plan an escape route should fire break out at night - most fire deaths occur
while people are sleeping.
Do not overload electricity sockets.
If there is a fire, get out, stay out and call 999 and follow the advice of the
Fire Service.
DO NOT use a lift.
If you are moving or
trapped in smoke,
stay close to the floor
where the air is cleaner.
Never re-enter your
home until the Fire
and Rescue Service has
made it safe.
Consider storing
important documents
in a fire-proof safe.
11
Building evacuation
If the emergency services tell you to evacuate your home you should do so.
Refusing to leave on their advice will put you, your household and those trying to
help you at risk.
Local authority resources may be limited and you should try to stay with an
emergency friend. If you are stranded, however, the council will provide basic
accommodation (in a rest centre). If you are evacuated this may be for some
time (ranging from a few hours to several months), so you should bring the
If you have pets you should have a plan for where they can stay in the event that
you are evacuated from your home. There will only be very basic facilities for
pets in the rest centre.
The people who run rest centres are trained to give you support and advice.
They will help you through the stress of an evacuation and prepare you for what
to do afterwards.
Severe weather
There is a lot you can do to reduce the effect and potential cost of damage
caused by severe weather.
If you are concerned about severe weather affecting your area then you should
check local and national weather forecasts on local television, radio or on the
Meteorological Office website -
www.metoffice.gov.uk.
The following pages contain information on:
Flooding.
Heavy snow and extreme cold.
High winds.
Hot weather.
Infectious disease.
Loss of power & water.
Security incident
relevant items identified in the emergency “grab bag” list (see page 5).
Flooding
One in six properties in the UK are at
risk of flooding. Flooding can come
from several sources: rivers, coastal
waters, groundwater, surface water or sewage surcharges. There are a number
of things you can do in advance to prepare for flooding and to minimise its effects.
Preparing for a flood:
Ensure that you know your property’s risk to flooding and what type.
To assess your risk from river flooding visit:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ or call Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
If you are at risk you may be able to register for the Environment Agency’s
free flood warnings service, via the website or by telephone. Ensure you
keep the Floodline number and your quick dial code handy to get the latest
information.
Get to know the flood warning codes and what they mean from the
Environment Agency’s website.
Check your buildings and contents insurance policy to confirm you are
covered for flooding and to check you haven’t underestimated the value of
your home contents.
12
Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies. If you have
any doubts you should ask your supplier for advice. Putting stickers on the
taps and switches you need to turn off during a flood makes it easier to
remember and quicker to do.
Think about what you will do with pets, cars, furniture, electrical
equipment and garden furniture should you be affected by flooding. You
can download a template to produce a household flood plan from the flood
pages of
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/.
If your home is prone to flooding, buy flood protection equipment in
advance. The National Flood Forum has information on flood protection
equipment at
www.floodforum.org.uk.
Responding during a flood:
Tune in to your local radio station or call Floodline to get the latest
information.
Report property flooding or river blockages to the Environment Agency
incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
If safe to do so, turn off gas, electricity and water supplies before flood
If your home has been flooded you are advised to move your family and
pets upstairs, or to a high place with a means of escape - remember to take
13
water enters your home and read the utility disruption section on pages 18
and 19 for further advice.
your emergency”grab bag” with you (see page 5).
14
Do not touch sources of electricity when standing in flood water.
Never drive through flood water. Eighty per cent of flood deaths occur in
vehicles.
If there is raw sewage in your property you should not enter your property
at all and you should seek alternative accommodation until it has been
cleansed.
If a flood is likely, put plugs in sinks and baths and weigh them down.
After a flood:
Find out if it is safe to return to your property by monitoring the media
and local authority website - check falling river levels via Floodline and the
Environment Agency’s website.
Ring your insurance company as soon as possible and follow their advice.
If you can access your property, take photographs for evidence.
To protect against contamination always wear waterproof outerwear,
Wellingtons and gloves.
Get your local electricity supply checked before switching back on and
have your gas or oil central heating checked by a qualified person.
Your local council may help provide skips for clearing flood-damaged
household items.
Check the Environment Agency’s website for more advice on what to do before,
during and after a flood.
15
Heavy snow and extreme cold
Preparing for severe winters
Home Preparations:
Ensure you have enough insulation around your water tank(s), loft and
external water pipes.
Check you have de-icer, salt/grit and the necessary tools to keep your
home safe and clear of snow.
Walking considerations:
If you are going outside, wear several layers to avoid losing heat and cover
your head. Keep moving your arms and legs to help the blood circulate.
Wear practical footwear that is warm and has good grip for the conditions.
Consider using a walking stick to aid balance.
Travel considerations:
Consider whether you really need to make the journey.
If you are travelling when snow or ice is forecast, make sure that you and
your car are fully prepared for the trip and that:
You have warm clothes, food, water, fully charged mobile phone,
torch, spade and possibly a reflective jacket.
Tell somebody when you expect to arrive and the route you plan to
take.
Make sure there is enough screenwash in the windscreen washers, and
have some spare to top up if needed.
Try to wait for the roads to be treated/gritted before travelling - note it
may be that only the major roads are treated.
snow. The main points are:
Slow down. Allow extra room - it can take 10 times as long to stop in
these conditions.
If you start to skid, ease gently off the accelerator and avoid braking.
If braking is necessary pump the brakes, don’t slam them on.
If you get stuck, stay with your car and tie something brightly coloured
to the aerial.
If you must drive, check the Highway Code for advice on driving on ice and
16
Other snow considerations:
Keeping the paths around your property clear of snow.
Knock down any icicles that form to prevent them falling onto someone.
Check to see if your gutters are being affected by the weight of snow.
Put salt or grit on paths and driveways.
Consider getting together with neighbours to clear footpaths and
community areas.
High winds
Preparing for high winds
Secure or store loose objects outside that could blow into windows.
Close and fasten doors and windows securely.
Park vehicles in a garage or well away from trees, buildings, walls and
fences.
During high winds
Stay indoors as much as possible - do NOT go outside to repair damage
whilst the storm is in progress.
Find shelter in a substantial, permanent, enclosed building.
Slow down if driving on exposed routes, such as over bridges, and find
alternative routes if possible. Take particular care of side winds if driving a
high-sided vehicle or if you are towing another vehicle or container.
Do not touch electrical or phone cables that have been blown down or are
still hanging.
Hot weather
During extended periods of hot weather, people and animals are at risk from the
effects of heat. To reduce the risks then the following should be considered:
Apply high-factor sun-screen regularly during the day.
Try to keep your house cool; closing blinds and curtains can help.
At night, keep your sleeping area well ventilated.
Take cool (not cold) showers or baths or sprinkle yourself with water
throughout the day.
17
Wear lightweight, loose, light-coloured clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
Drink plenty of cold fluids, but not alcohol or caffeine, which dehydrate the
body.
If driving, keep your vehicle ventilated to avoid drowsiness. Take regular
breaks and have plenty of water in the vehicle.
Try to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day
(11.00am - 3.00pm).
Avoid being in the sun for long periods of time.
The elderly and very young are most at risk. If you have elderly neighbours
check on them daily.
Avoid excessive physical activity (it can cause heat stroke or heat
exhaustion), or do it in the cooler ends of the day.
Ensure that babies, children, elderly people or animals are not left alone in
stationary cars.
Be alert and call the health services if someone is unwell or further help is
needed.
Infectious diseases
There are a number of infectious diseases that may lead to localised, national or
even international outbreaks if they are not rapidly controlled. Some of these
diseases include Pandemic Influenza, Norovirus (sickness and diarrhoea), Measles
and Tuberculosis. Many diseases are not common due to previous vaccination
programmes but there is a risk that they may return or a new disease may
develop. As a result everyone needs to be prepared to listen to medical advice
and take the appropriate action.
You can reduce the risk of catching or spreading any infectious disease by:
Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing - use a tissue.
Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully - bag and bin them.
Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing your hands frequently
with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to
your face or to other people.
Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. kitchen worktops, door handles) frequently,
using a normal cleaning product.
If you are worried about any illness then, unless otherwise directed, you should
contact your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or go to the NHS Choices website
at
www.nhs.uk.
18
Loss of power & water
Disruptions to power and water supplies may be rare, and are often linked to
severe weather events.
These simple steps will help you to stay safe and as comfortable as possible
throughout any disruption.
Check if your neighbours have also lost services; knowing if others are
affected will make a difference to what you should do.
If you have a pre-pay meter, check you still have credit.
Contact your supplier to report the fault and ask for information.
If you lose power for a prolonged period, take precautions to stay safe:
Take care using candles, naked flames and even portable heating. Never
leave lit candles in unoccupied rooms or with unsupervised children or
animals.
Make sure your home is well insulated. A well insulated house can stay
warm for 12 hours or longer.
Register with your utility providers if you consider yourself to be vulnerable.
Electricity failure
If you have an electricity failure and only you have lost power then:
Check your trip switch (a circuit breaker fuse system - it will be near
your electricity meter). If the trip switch is still on, call your suppliers’
emergency line for your area.
If the trip switch is off, switch it back on.
If it switches back off, one of your appliances may be faulty so unplug all
appliances and reset the trip.
If only part of your supply has failed and the trip won’t reset, there may be
a fault with your wiring so contact a registered electrician.
If electricity is lost for a prolonged period over a wide area, being prepared can
make a difficult situation easier.
Have at least one standard landline phone in the house as cordless phones
will not work in a power cut.
Do not open fridges for any longer than is necessary - they will normally
stay cold for many hours.
19
Gas failure
If you smell gas in your home, call the free 24-hour national gas emergency
number 0800 111 999, whether the smell is inside or outside the property.
You’ll be asked a series of questions designed to build a picture of the reported
gas escape or gas emergency. From these details, the operator can identify the
right gas safety advice for you - such as:
Do not turn electrical switches on or off.
Open doors and windows.
Avoid using naked flames.
An engineer will be sent to make the property safe. National Grid aims to attend
all uncontrolled escapes within one hour and all controlled escapes within two
hours. If the gas is lost for a long period, National Grid will send you details about
the incident (e.g. update on the situation, when they can safely restore supplies,
alternative heating and cooking provisions etc).
If gas is lost for a prolonged period over a wide area, being prepared with
emergency heating can make a difficult situation easier.
To conserve existing heat in your home, use just one or two adjacent
rooms. Keep these areas isolated by closing doors and/or hanging blankets
over doorways. The kitchen and an adjoining room are usually good
choices.
If the authorities inform you that you could be without power for several
days, your best option may be to move in with an emergency friend.
20
Loss of water supply
When safe drinking water is unavailable, it is more than just an inconvenience - it
can become a health emergency.
If the whole area has lost water supply your water supplier has a duty to provide
you with alternative water sources. This could be bottled water, stand-pipes or
water tankers. If you are unable to go out to collect water make sure you have
an emergency friend that can collect water for you.
Make sure you have an emergency water supply. Everyone’s needs will differ, but
the Food Standards Agency advises that the average adult should take in 1
1
/
2
to 2
litres of water in a typical day, (6-8 250ml glasses).
Security incident
Whilst it is important that we all go about our daily business normally, it’s also
sensible to remain alert to danger and to report any suspicious activity you see
or hear.
Always report suspicious activities, you may have vital information. If you hear,
see or come across anything that may be linked with terrorist activity, please tell
the Police. They want to hear from you.
To report suspicious activity:
Call 999, in an emergency, or for non-emergency calls to Thames Valley
Police, call: 0845 8 505 505
Call the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321
Crimestoppers - a national organisation independent of the Police. You can
talk confidentiality on: 0800 555 111
Remember, terrorists need…
A place to live: Are you suspicious about any tenants or guests?
To Plan: Have you seen anyone pay an unusual amount of attention to
security measures at any location?
Money: individuals may set up bogus bank accounts, copy credit cards,
return goods for large cash refunds.
Equipment: If you are a retailer, do you have any cause to be suspicious
about anything being bought?
21
Be vigilant. Do not hesitate to tell the Police. Stay Alert.
If there is a security incident including a bomb alert near you, follow the
instructions of the emergency services. In most cases when there is a security
alert including a bomb warning:
Go inside a safe building.
Stay inside until you are advised to do otherwise.
Tune in to local radio or TV for more information.
Make sure that you know the security plans at your place of work and what
to do in an emergency.
If there is an explosion near you then unless you have been advised not to by the
emergency services, in most cases you should:
Move away from the immediate source of danger.
Wait for the emergency services to arrive and examine you; if you go home
unchecked you could contaminate others.
If you see the explosion, stay in a safe place and tell the police what you
saw.
If the incident/explosion involves a chemical, biological, radiological or
nuclear
agent then the emergency services are equipped to respond to such
incidents. They are able to decontaminate large numbers of people quickly if
necessary. This involves showering and dressing in temporary clothing. It is
important that this takes place where the incident happened so that other people
and areas, including homes, are not contaminated. If necessary, you would also
be assessed by health service personnel.
Household emergency plan
Who will collect children from school if we are unable to get there?
Neighbours we will check on.
Where we turn off:
gas
water
electricity
22
Who Contact no.
Who Contact no.
Where we will meet if we can’t get into, or stay in our home?
- type in the white boxes.
Who can we stay with if we are evacuated?
Who can be our emergency friend to get medicine and supplies if we have to stay
at home?
23
Who will look after our pets if we are unable to?
Who Contact no.
Who Contact no.
Who Contact no.
Local Radio Station Frequency
Asian Star (Slough) 101.6
Banbury Sound 107.6
BBC Radio Berkshire 94.6, 95.4, 104.1,
104.4
BBC Oxford 95.2
BBC Three Counties 90.4, 92.1, 94.7,
95.5, 98.0, 103.8
Heart (Bucks) 97.6
Heart (MK) 103.3
Heart (Oxford) 97.4, 102.6
Heart (Reading) 87.0, 102.9
Jack FM 106.4, 106.8
Mix 96 96.2
Newbury Sound 105.6, 107.4
Oxford 107.9 107.9
Reading 107 107.0
Time FM 106.6
BBC Asian Network (MK) 630 AM
Gold (Bucks) 828 AM
24
Emergency contact list
Name Number
Work
Doctor
School(s)
Water supplier
Electricity supplier
Gas supplier
Telephone supplier
Home insurance company
Home breakdown services
Emergency friend
Floodline quick dial number
Further Information
Organisation Website and Phone Number
Emergency Services 999
Non emergency police 0845 8 505 505
NHS Direct
www.nhs.uk 0845 4647
Anti-Terrorism Hotline 0800 789 321
Environment Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
General Enquiries 08708 506 506
Floodline 0845 988 1188
Incident Reporting 0800 80 70 60
DirectGov – Preparing
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/
Dealingwithemergencies/Preparingforemergencies/index.htm
Local Resilience Forum http://thamesvalleylrf.org.uk/
UK Resilience www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ukresilience
Met Office
www.metoffice.gov.uk
You should type in and store these contact details.
25
Organisation Office hours Out of hours
Berkshire
01344 352000 01344 786500
0118 9373737 - 24/7
01628 683800 01753 853517
01753 475111 01753 553717
01635 42400 01635 42161
0118 974 6000 0800 212 111
01753 860441 - 24/7
01189 503094 - 24/7
01183 225111 - 24/7
01753 633000 - 24/7
01189 452888 - non emergency
Buckinghamshire
0845 3708090 - 24/7
01296 585858 - 24/7
01494 729000 - 24/7
01895 837200 - 24/7
01494 461000 - 24/7
01296 315000 - 24/7
01494 552200 - 24/7
01296 744400 - non emergency
Milton Keynes
01908 252967 01908 226699
01908 278660 - 24/7
01908 660033 - 24/7
Oxfordshire
01865 792422 24/7
01295 221572
01865 249811 - 24/7
01491 823000
01235 520202
01993 861000
01865 741166 - 24/7
01295 275500 - 24/7
01865 336800 - 24/7
01865
842999 - 24/7
Bracknell Forest Council
Reading Borough Council
Royal Borough of Windsor &
Slough Borough Council
Maidenhead Council
West Berkshire Council
Wokingham Borough Council
NHS Berkshire East
NHS Berkshire West
Royal Berkshire Hospital (A&E)
Wexham Park Hospital (A&E)
Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service
Buckinghamshire County Council
Aylesbury Vale District Council
Chiltern District Council
South Buckinghamshire District Council
Wycombe District Council
Stoke Mandeville Hospital (A&E)
NHS Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service
Milton Keynes Council
NHS Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Hospital
Foundation Trust (A&E)
Oxfordshire County Council
Cherwell District Council
Oxford City Council
South Oxforshire District Council
Vale of White Horse District Council
West Oxfordshire District Council
John Radcliffe Hospital (A&E)
Horton Banbury Hospital (A&E)
NHS Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
TT
This booklet is supported by the following agencies:
Oxfordshire Fire &
Rescue Service
Buckinghamshire Fire
& Rescue Service
Berkshire Fire &
Rescue Service
Printed on 100%
recycled paper
F126-01 (03/10)