Make sure everyone in your household knows how to safely exit your home-by a main exit and an alternate one. Be sure to consider your living situation. For instance, if you live in a high-rise building and have accessibility needs, talk to your building manager or neighbours to make arrangements, if necessary.
Keep a list of emergency numbers at the ready and make sure all members of your household know where they are. Teach children when and how to dial 9-1-1 and other key numbers they may need to call. Here are some numbers you should consider having on this list:
Follow general household safety rules for smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. More information on how many to have, where to place them, and how often to check and replace them can be obtained from your local fire department.
Every adult in your household, and older children, should know how to turn off main utilities-water, electricity, gas. In certain emergencies, authorities will ask that these be turned off for safety reasons. Write out instructions, if needed, and post somewhere visible. Everyone should also know where the floor drain is located and ensure that it is not obstructed, in case of flooding.
Make copies of important documents-insurance, main identification documents like a driver's licence, passport, birth and marriage certificates, and wills. Keep these with your plan in a safe place. Consider sharing copies with out-of-town relatives or friends, or keep a set in a safety deposit box.