WEST CARLETON – With everyone now spending a lot more time at home and indoors, the Canadian Red Cross recommends taking the time to make sure your home is ready to ‘weather’ a winter emergency.

“People have a lot of things to worry about these days, but whether you’re going to be okay in a winter emergency doesn’t need to be one of them,” senior director, Emergency Operations, Canadian Red Cross Tatjana Radovanovic said. “Know the risks, make a plan and build a kit so you feel safe knowing that if something does happen, you’re well prepared.”

With store closures and lockdowns, it’s hard to know if you can get what you need should a disaster happen unexpectedly. At the Canadian Red Cross, we think it’s better to be prepared.

 If you already have an emergency kit, it is a good idea to review its contents and replenish any supplies. The Red Cross recommends making sure you have a kit with enough food and water to last for seven to 10 days and adding the new COVID-19 essentials such as masks and hand sanitizer.

• Statistics show that only 1 in 6 people take all the preparedness actions needed to keep themselves and their family safe ahead of an emergency.
• An easy to remember three-step plan is: Know the Risks, Make a Plan, Build an Emergency Kit The home is where most emergencies take place, but more than 65 per cent of Canadians say they have not taken steps to prepare their hope for a disaster.
• Some steps for winter could include winterizing your home and vehicle and making sure you have snow removal equipment handy.
• House fires are one of the most common emergencies that Canadians experience and they mostly happen during the winter months.
• 20 per cent of house fires are caused by cooking and 12 per cent by heating equipment.