Swine Influenza Virus - Severe Respiratory Illness

The District of Saanich is continuing to monitor and assess the risk posed to residents by the H1N1 virus. Saanich Staff are maintaining regular contact with representatives from VIHA, the Provincial Emergency Program and the Ministry of Health Services. Here are five simple, common sense precautions that can help safeguard everyone's health: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away immediately and wash your hands. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

Wash your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from getting sick. When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. You can become ill by touching a surface contaminated with germs and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, and avoid smoking, which may increase the risk of serious consequences if you do contract the flu.

You can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, 24 hours a day/seven days a week to speak to a nurse if you have more questions or are concerned about any illness/symptoms experienced by you or your children. To obtain up to date information and bulletins regarding the H1N1 Pandemic Influenza, please check the Vancouver Island Health Authority site

In support of the Health Authority's recommendation to avoid contact with individuals who are sick, we would like to remind residents of the various municipal service delivery options available on-line.

The Saanich Emergency Program

The Saanich Fire Department is responsible for the Saanich Emergency Program. The Deputy Fire Chief is the Program Coordinator.

Saanich has an Emergency Plan which is reviewed and revised annually. The Community Liaison Team and Emergency Preparedness volunteers meet with community groups and neighbourhood associations to discuss earthquake and emergency preparedness initiatives.

The heart and backbone of the Saanich Emergency Program are the more than one hundred and fifty dedicated volunteers who belong to these services groups:

• Search and Rescue Service is often called out to assist in searching for a lost or missing person. In an emergency situation this group will assist in casualty evacuation and treatment of the injured.
• Emergency Social Services is responsible for the operation of Reception Centres and seeing to the needs and well being of those persons who require food, shelter and lodging during and after an emergency or disaster.
• Emergency Communications Service assists with radio communication in emergency or disaster situations. The members of this group are usually Ham Radio operators, bringing considerable technical expertise to the communication function.

To find out more about these volunteer service groups, contact the Emergency Program office, telephone (250)475-7140, fax (250)475-5556.

Emergency Reception Centres

The Recreation Centres are designated as the primary emergency reception centres in Saanich.

Be Prepared, Not Scared

If you are unprepared for a disaster, it can shatter your life. No community is equipped to handle all the demands of a catastrophe. Help your community by preparing yourself - knowing what to do when a disaster strikes will help you better control the situation and be in a better position to recover more quickly.

Emergency Preparedness Starts With You!

For additional information about what you can do to prepare for an emergency, browse through our related links and publications pages. The Individual and Neighbourhood All Hazard Emergency Preparedness Workbook is an excellent and highly recommended read.

For more emergency preparedness information, or to inquire about how to become a volunteer member of the Saanich Emergency Program, contact the Emergency Program office, telephone (250) 475-7140, fax (250) 475-5556, email:  kristie.robbins@saanich.ca

7 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Family for An Emergency

Residents need to be prepared to be self sufficient for a minimum of 3 – 7 days, with 7 days becoming the new standard based on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina.  Please add one or two items to your kit each day this week, by the end of the week you will have built a solid foundation for your family’s emergency preparedness kit.

Day 1 – Water – Make your first bottled water purchase.  It is recommended that families stock 4 litres of water per person per day. (2 litres for drinking, 2 litres for cooking and cleaning/hygiene per person per day, and remember your pets.)  Most bottled water has a 2-year shelf life, rotate stock with new purchases to keep supplies fresh.

Day 2 – Food – Set aside food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried fruits.  Make sure it’s food that everyone in your family will eat, make additional purchases if necessary.  Replace once a year or prior to expiry so that it doesn’t go to waste. (Include a manual can opener.)

Day 3 – Flashlight and Radio – You will need a separate flashlight and portable radio to stay with your emergency kit.  If they are battery powered make sure to include extra batteries and to replace them once a year.  Wind-up radios and flashlights are ideal.

Day 4 - First Aid Kit – Your emergency kit will require one that stays with it at all times.  If you don’t have the necessary supplies at home to make one, there are numerous safety supply stores that sell first aid kits.

Day 5 – Special Items – This will be different for every family but may include items such as prescription medications, infant formula, pet food and equipment for people with disabilities.

Day 6 – Other Essential Items – Extra keys for your car and house.  You will also want to include some cash in smaller bills as there may not be electricity for bank machines or direct debit, also include change for payphones.   Candles, matches or lighters; remember to use these items with caution.

Day 7 – Assemble Your Supplies and Your Family’s Emergency Plan – Prepare a family emergency plan including out of area contact information and a family reunification plan.  Store this plan along with your assembled supplies in a suitable container/bag in a safe and accessible area in or near your home.  Water may need to be stored separately due to size and weight.

Day 8 – Sleep Well – Well done, you’ve created a great foundation for your family’s emergency preparedness kit.  If you are still motivated there are additional recommended supplies you could add such as: extra clothing and footwear, sleeping bags, whistle, garbage bags, toilet paper, safety gloves, basic tools such as hammer and screw driver etc., small camp stove and fuel.

The Saanich Emergency Program is committed to increasing emergency preparedness for Saanich residents.  To learn more about emergency preparedness, educational courses, or how to volunteer with the Saanich Emergency Program you can contact us at 475-7140.