infonews.co.nz
INDEX
NEWS

Daylight savings good time to check emergency supplies

Environment Canterbury

Friday 2 April 2010, 11:45AM

By Environment Canterbury

290 views

CANTERBURY

Along with the end of daylight saving on Sunday April 4, the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group is recommending that people use this day to check and update their emergency supplies as well.

Jon Mitchell, Canterbury Regional Emergency Management Office Manager, says the Fire Service recommends people check the batteries in their smoke alarms at this time of year.

“We encourage people to go a step further and check their emergency survival items and plans as well. Winter is just around the corner, and if we have one like Europe and North America experienced this year, we had better be prepared,” says Jon Mitchell.

People should be prepared to have enough food, water and other emergency supplies to live on for at least three days or more. Emergency plans are also important for people so they know what to do when at home, work or another location.

“Recent earthquakes, tsunami warnings and tropical storms remind us that we should be ready for anything. Updating your survival items and discussing your plans at home and work is an easy and commonsense way to make sure you are ready to get through,” says Jon Mitchell.

People can get more information about preparing for emergencies on www.getthru.govt.nz or www.cdemcanterbury.govt.nz.