What you can do

Preparing for emergencies

Information for businesses

Advice on how businesses can prepare for emergencies is available from the Bedfordshire and Luton Local Resilience Forum| (new window) website.

Information for the public

What are the most important steps you can take?

• Decide how family members will stay in touch in the event of, or after, an emergency.
• Agree on how you will contact each other if not at home, who will collect children from school, and who will check on elderly or disabled neighbours.
• Organise an out-of-town person your family or household members can contact in case you are separated. Make a list of that person's contact details (home, mobile and work numbers, e-mail) and provide them to your workplace and to your children's school.
• Agree on a place for family or household members to meet if separated.
• Make arrangements for pets.

Store important documents safely

• Store important documents including wills, passports, photos, birth and marriage certificates, powers of attorney and insurance policies, in a fire proof container or safe deposit box.
• Review your insurance policies to ensure they are current.
• If you keep them in your home, try to take them with you if you evacuate.

Learn about your home

Find out how and where to turn off electricity, gas and water supplies in your home.

Find out about your local emergency services

• Make a list of your local Emergency Telephone Numbers (County, Borough or District Council, Gas, Electricity, Water, Environment Agency Floodline etc.) and keep them near your phone.
• Remember to dial 999 for Police, Fire and Ambulance.

Learn some basic first aid

• Knowing the basics of First Aid can be very useful in any emergency and you are encouraged to enrol in an accredited first aid course, such as those run by St John Ambulance (new window) and the Red Cross (new window).  

Find out about emergency plans

• Your children's schools - find out if children will be kept at school or sent home on their own and how you can arrange for them to be picked up.
• Your workplace - check if your workplace has plans in place for Emergency Evacuations and find out what you are meant to do.
• Your rented house or flat- check if your landlord has plans in place for emergency evacuations and who is responsible for those plans.
• Local authorities may also have plans affecting your area.

Prepare an emergency kit and keep it handy

Keep the items listed below in your home so they can become your emergency kit for use in all types of emergencies:

• Battery-operated radio (with spare batteries)
• Torch (with spare batteries), candles and waterproof matches
• First Aid kit and manual
• Medications, toiletry and sanitary supplies
• Special needs for infants, the aged and people with disabilities

• Spare clothes and sleeping equipment, including strong shoes, hats, gloves
• A mobile phone, spare battery and charger.
• Rucksacks, grips, or strong plastic bags (for clothing, valuables, documents and photographs)
• Extra car and house keys
• Car emergency repair kit
• Copies of important family documents (birth certificates, passports and licences)
• Contact details for your agreed out-of-town contact or Next of Kin.
• Playing cards or games; and
• A copy of these notes.

 

What to do if an emergency occurs

If an emergency occurs there are a number of things you can do:

• Call 999 and request the Emergency Services. DO NOT assume others will do this.
• Seek reliable information and advice from the Emergency Services. This may be:
  • in person by Emergency Services at the scene
  • via radio, especially local radio stations or television
• Check on your neighbours, especially those who are elderly or disabled or who may not understand English well
• You may be advised to stay in or evacuate your house - follow the advice of the Emergency Services as it will be tailored to the circumstances
• Should evacuation be advised, remember to take any prescribed medications with you.
• Seek medical attention if you or anyone around you is injured
• Apply basic First Aid until professional medical assistance arrives
• Check for any damage to your home, including fires and gas leaks, and shut off electricity, gas and water if necessary. In darkness, use a torch to find them
• DO NOT light matches or candles or turn on electrical switches.

What to do in specific emergency situations

The following guidelines outline steps to take in response to some specific emergency situations.

If you are asked to stay inside your home:

Stay inside and close all windows and external doors.

• If advised by the Emergency Services, turn off heating
• Close the fireplace vent
• Close internal doors to reduce air movement
• Gather your emergency kit and make sure the radio is working
• Go to an internal room, ideally one at ground level with no windows
• If advised to do so, use wide tape to seal all cracks around the doors and any vents into the room and seal over windows with plastic and tape
• Continue to listen to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are advised to evacuate - Emergency Services may later call for the evacuation of specific areas and issue specific instructions.

If you have to remain in your home for several days following an emergency, and power, water or gas services are not available, you should try to have the following at hand:

• A quantity of clean water in a sealed container and enough easily prepared packaged food to last for three days.
• Barbeque or portable stove with fuel
• Duck or other wide tape and a sheet of plastic to seal doors and windows, scissors, and a combination pocket knife; and
• A fire extinguisher

If you live in an area where there is a high risk of floods, violent storms or other natural hazards, the Emergency Planning Organisations of the various agencies should be able to advise on specific contents for an emergency kit. Your local council can advise whether your area is subject to those risks.

If you are outside at the time of an incident with a danger of contamination:

• Move away and upwind of the incident site
• Call 999 and ask for Police, Fire and Ambulance
• Wait for instructions from the Emergency Services
• If you think you have been contaminated, ensure you advise the Emergency Services
• Under the supervision of the Emergency Services, you may have to undergo preliminary decontamination: removing your outer clothes and rinsing your hair and body in a shower.

If you are inside at the time of an incident with a danger of contamination:

• Remain inside and follow the instructions about a chemical release
• Public health authorities will assess the risk from radiation exposure quickly and will implement measures to limit the dangers.

If you are asked to evacuate your area because of an incident with a danger of contamination:

• When directed by Emergency Services, turn off the electricity, gas and water, unplug appliances, shut doors and windows
• Take your emergency kit with you, including important documents
• Listen for warnings and safety advice on radio (especially local radio) or television.
• Leave as quickly as possible as you may become more endangered the longer you stay
• Allow for special needs of infants, the aged and people with disabilities
• Do not forget your pets.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, a hat and sturdy shoes for extra protection
• Take your mobile phone, together with its charging unit
• Collect family members or go to your agreed meeting place
• Use travel routes specified by Emergency Services. Do not use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous
• Stay away from fallen power lines
• If you go to an evacuation centre, register your details at the registration desk
• If you evacuate to a relative or friend's house, consider registering with the local evacuation centre to help others find you
• Call your out-of-town contact and let them know where you are going
• Follow the instructions issued by Emergency Services
• When you return to your home after being told it is safe to do so, open windows to provide ventilation.

Bomb explosion

Get out of the building as quickly and calmly as possible.  

• In the event of falling debris, shelter under a sturdy table until the situation has stabilised enough for you to leave.
• When safe, leave quickly, watching out for weakened floors and stairs.
• Ensure your own safety before trying to help others
• If trapped in debris, do not light a match. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Rhythmically tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can hear where you are.

Fire

• Cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth and protect any exposed skin.
• Vacate the building as quickly and safely as possible and proceed
• to the agreed assembly area.
• Do not go through closed doors that are hot as there may be fire on
• the other side.
• If you cannot escape, hang a light coloured sheet out the window to alert rescuers to your presence.

Receiving a suspicious package

If you have not opened the package - DO NOT open it.

If you receive a package that appears to be out of the ordinary - for example, from someone you do not know, or if it is badly wrapped or if it has unusual contents - follow the steps below

• Leave the package where it is
• Get everyone out of the room and close the door. Isolate the room and prevent others from entering
• Call 999 and ask for Police
• Make a list of people who were in the room to give to the authorities
• If applicable, alert the building security staff
• Wait in a safe place until Emergency Services arrive and follow their instructions.

Hazardous chemicals release

• Hazardous chemicals can be released by accident or as a deliberate criminal act
• They range from household chemicals and more toxic industrial Chemicals, to highly toxic chemical warfare agents
• Exposure could cause serious or fatal injury.
• Emergency Services will identify the hazard and tell you what to do
• You may be asked either to remain in the protection of your home or workplace and seal windows and doors, or to evacuate the area
• For your safety, in all circumstances, listen to advice from Emergency Services.

If a spill or other chemical release occurs it is important to:

• Stay away from the scene
• Attempt to get upwind of the contaminated area, and
• Call 999 and ask for Police, Fire and Ambulance.

If you believe a toxic chemical has been released in a closed space such as a tunnel, underground railway or a building:

•  Move away quickly to an upwind location to avoid the spread of contamination and try not to inhale fumes
• Call 999 and ask for Police, Fire and Ambulance
• If you have any of the chemical on your skin or clothes, avoid touching your mouth and eyes, remove your outer clothing and do not leave the area. You may need to be decontaminated by Emergency Services before you receive any medical treatment that may be necessary
• To assist the Emergency Services to identify the chemical, keep track of your symptoms including your breathing, heart rate, perspiration, dizziness, blurred vision, skin tones and deliriousness, and report them as soon as possible
• Use caution in helping others who may be contaminated, as you may become affected.

 Biological agent release

•  Biological agents are bacteria, viruses or biological toxins that can be released by accident or deliberately dispersed in a population to cause injury or death
• Some are infectious and can be passed from people to people
• If biological agents are released without any warning, the first indication that a release has taken place may be the reporting of symptoms by those affected
• If you experience any unusual symptoms, you should seek medical attention
• If you are at a site where Emergency Services advise that there has been a deliberate release of a biological agent, you should comply with their directions
• You may need to be decontaminated to remove any agent from your clothes and skin
• Emergency Services and health authorities will assess and manage the risks for anyone who has potentially been exposed to a biological agent
• Health authorities may recommend treatment with antibiotics if you have been exposed. Pay close attention to all official health instructions.

Radiological incident

The likelihood of a radiological incident of any kind is extremely remote due to the stringent controls in place for the movement and use of radioactive materials. However, a radiological emergency could result from either an accidental or deliberate release of radioactive materials.

Exposure to radiation can have serious adverse health effects.

How to cope emotionally

Natural reactions

Remember: the traumatic experience was abnormal, but the following reactions are normal, and may include:

• Shock and disbelief – 'I can't believe...'
• Fear and anxiety - increased heart rate, palpitations, shaking, sweating, nausea, tension, dizziness
• Helplessness – 'I should have done more'
• Sorrow and grief – crying, distress, for injury, loss of death
• Shame – for helplessness or emotion
• Guilt – for being alive, soul-searching and self-questioning
• Rage, anger, impatience, intolerance – 'Why me?'
• Intrusive images and memories – out of the blue, or triggered by external factors
• Poor sleep
• Numbness – feeling cold and distant, not feeling anything
• The need to talk – talking endlessly about the event
• Disinterest – in family, friends, hobbies, loss of concentration, inability to make simple decisions
• Depression
• Exhaustion – increased sleep, a need to withdraw from people (even family, colleagues, and friends)
• Horror

What to do

You need to remain calm so you can control your fear and actions. If you are feeling particularly anxious or frightened, follow this advice:

• Keep your family together wherever possible
• Ensure shelter and safety is maintained in the coming hours and days
• Comfort each other and support those who are with you
• Focus on your feelings - talk calmly about them with family and friends
• Focus on what practical tasks you and your family can do – these are helpful and will lessen anxiety
• Take some satisfaction in having come through a very stressful and threatening situation
• Monitor information from Emergency Services by listening to your radio or television - DO NOT continuously watch disturbing footage on television
• Take turns listening to the news with other adult members of your family or household
• If separated from family members, find out where they are and arrange to reunite with them when it is safe
• When the danger has passed, check if your neighbours are distressed - talk to them about their experience.

Following the emergency you may experience a range of physical and emotional reactions. Should they continue for an extended period, consult the Health authorities, who have professionals who can help you deal with the psychological aspects of the emergency.

Helping children

After an emergency, children are most afraid that the event will happen again, someone will get hurt or injured, they will be separated from the family, or that they will be left alone to help children cope:

• Comfort and re-assure them
• Keep them with you
• Explain what is happening and what they may be feeling
• Encourage them to talk about what happened, and respond simply and clearly to their questions
• Let them help
• Avoid exposure to excessive television replays of events
• Provide normal activities such as school and shared family activities as soon as possible, when safety is assured.

Positive actions and attitudes, comforting yourself and others, will help adults, families and children deal with emergencies.

Other websites for more information

Flooding information| (new window)
Home Office| (new window)
Terrorism information| (new window) from the Home Office
Met Office Home Page – UK Weather| (new window)
Met Office – What to do in severe weather| (new window)
HM Government Document – Preparing for Emergencies| (new window)