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Protecting yourself

Being prepared at home

Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency kit and developing a family emergency plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency.

However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will affect the decisions you make and the actions you take.

Learn more about the potential emergencies that could occur where you live ( see Community Risk Register) and the appropriate way to respond to them.

In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by the Local Resilience Forum. We must be prepared for man-made disasters as well as natural ones.

Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.

In an emergency, if you are not involved in the incident, but are close by or believe you may be in danger, the best advice is to go inside a safe building (close windows, turn off any air-conditioning or ventilation equipment), stay inside until you are advised to do otherwise, and tune in to local radio or TV for information.

• Make sure 999 has been called if people are injured or if there is a threat to life
• Do not put yourself or others in danger
• Follow the advice of the emergency services
• Try to remain calm and think before acting
• Try to reassure others

REMEMBER: Go In, Stay In, Tune In

• Bring your family and pets inside
• Shut doors, close windows and air vents
• Turn off fans, air conditioning and forced air heating systems
• Go into an interior room with few windows, if possible
• Emergency responders may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio or check the internet often for official news and instructions as they become available.

Learn how and when to turn off utilities

• Locate the electric, gas and water shut-off valves
• Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves
• Teach family members how to turn off utilities
• If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn it back on. Do not attempt to do this yourself. Phone Corgi on 0870 401 2600 or the Electrical Contractors Association on 020 7313 4800.