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Advice in the home

in_the_home1Some emergencies will require you to stay in your home or others might mean you need to evacuate. Some simple steps will mean you can be more prepared should an emergency occur and you are at home.

Remember to talk to your family, or other people in your house about your plans.

Why would I need to stay in my home?

This may be because of of hazardous chemicals or substances, smoke from nearby fires or an unknown risk in your neighbourhood. You may even have to stay indoors for up to 3 days in serious, but rare, circumstances.

You should follow the:

advice.
Go in – wait inside until all clear is sounded. Do not use your phone, keep lines free for emergency use only

Stay in – Close and stay away from windows and doors Stay calm. If you have Children who are at school they will be looked after.

Tune in – listen to local TV and radio for further information/instructions

This Go in, Stay in, Tune in, advice is recognised and used worldwide for major emergencies that require you to remain indoors.
The following local radio stations will provide you with regular information as to what is happening BUT REMEMBER there may be a possibility that your electricity supply has been affected and so we also recommend that you buy a wind up or battery operated radio and a supply of batteries as a back up.

Local radio stations:

in_the_home2A Birmingham City Council Emergency Information Line will also be activated and will provide access to information for you if you are affected.

You may be required to remain in your home for a longer period than expected and so you should keep sufficient supplies that meet your household needs for at least 72 hours.

Remember to think about what you would need if your electricity, gas or water supply was cut off as a result of the incident.

Your stock list should include:

What if my children arrive home before I do?

If possible make prior arrangements with your next door neighbours for the children to join them or vice versa Remind your children that they will need to close windows and doors – show them how to close heating/air vents. Leave a list of contact details close to the telephone so they can get reassurance from a friend or relative if they are unable to contact you. Remind your children they can access any news bulletins via the internet, television or radio (remember to pre set the radio channels to local stations). Remember to show children where the battery operated radio is kept and how to use it just in case your electricity supply is affected. Show your children how to turn of gas/electric/water supply taps. These are guidance notes for parents/guardians responsible for children. Parents will need to decide whether individual children are old enough to take responsibility for the tasks listed above.

What happens if the school is located close to the incident and children cannot leave at their normal time?

Contact the school/college to find out what their emergency plans are.

There may be times where an emergency occurs and you need to evacuate your home. This may be due to flooding, a fire or incidents causing structual damage, for example the Birmingham Tornado in July 2005.
You may only be given limited time to leave your home and so it is better to be prepared for this type of emergency and already have a pre-packed bag available to pick up and go.

The following items are a guideline on what you may need to pack

You may also want to prepare by photocopying the documentation listed above and keeping them safe in an alternative location outside of your home