Emergency Preparedness
Week
May 6th-May 12th
This is an especially memorable week for
me, as my grandfather George Moon started the Emergency Measures Organization
in Guelph Ontario back in 1957; known to many of us as the EMO. My grandfather was a member of the fire
brigade in England during the Second World War, in charge of EMS. He brought that knowledge with him to
Canada. An article about the EMO and my
grandfather can be read in the Wellington Advertiser at the following link: http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/index.cfm?page=colDetail&itmno=720
Unless we have an emergency we tend to
forget about the importance of planning and being prepared. Emergency Preparedness Week brings this
information to the forefront of our minds, but how many of us really pay heed
to this information! Are you prepared?
Do you stay abreast of what is happening in the world around you that
might trigger an emergency locally? Do
you follow Emergency Management provincially for weather related emergencies,
pandemics or other health related emergencies such as SARS?
Preparedness starts at home but does not
end there. Workplaces should also train
their employees and be prepared for emergency situations. The government of Canada has provided
resources for each and every one of us to use as a guide to prepare. Take the time this week to refer to this link
and find out how you can prepare your family, friends, and even those in your
workplaces for emergencies situations.
Find out what to do before, during and after an emergency. http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx
Do you have qualified first aiders on site
in your workplaces? Take this week and
check all certificates to ensure they are current. Register workers to take first aid training
to ensure you have a qualified first aider on each shift and job site.
Do you have an emergency management plan in
place? Do you have individual emergency
plans for persons with disabilities? Do
you have an emergency plan at home? Are
you sure you are prepared?
My grandfather taught me many lessons as a
child that until adulthood I thought was silly and unnecessary. With health and safety being at the forefront
of my mind with my line of work, I see the value in his teachings today. He taught St. John’s Ambulance first aid
training throughout the county’s around Guelph and received a citation from the
Governor General Rolland Michener for his loyal and dedicated service to the
safety and wellbeing of many of us in Southern Ontario.
As my grandfather would say, “the safety
and wellbeing of others is everyone’s responsibility”. So take the time this week to educate
yourself on how you can protect your loved ones, your friends and co-workers if
and when an emergency situation strikes.
Save a life – it
may be your own! - Don’t react; make the changes and necessary plans today!
Human Resources, Safety & Risk Management Experts
Taking the Complexity out of Compliance
President
Beyond Rewards Inc.
Phone: 519-821-7440
Cell: 519-830-7480
mail: lbard@beyondrewards.ca
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