Preparing your community for an emergency

There are straightforward things that you can do, as an individual, with your family and friends and with your community, which will help you and the people around you cope better in an emergency.

Just having a few everyday items easily to hand can save you a lot of trouble all year round, and allow the emergency services to focus on the most urgent cases.

Here are some examples:

• a torch and radio with spare batteries for both (or wind-up ones)
• emergency phone numbers
• essential medicines, a first aid kit and toiletries
• three days worth of food and water that won't go off
• baby and pet supplies, if needed
• spare keys for home and car
• pencil, paper, penknife and whistle
• a shovel, especially in winter for snow
• copies of important documents like insurance details and birth certificates

You should also know how to turn off your water and electricity supplies at home.

Thinking about how you would keep warm if your heating failed is equally important, as is considering how you could reduce energy bills. You might even qualify for free insulation - get in touch with Home Energy Scotland for more information.

To help you prepare you can download an emergency kit checklist and an emergency household plan at the Ready Scotland website.