Posted by Sudbury Northern Life 
Students from Lively District Secondary
School partipated in a mock emergency for on May 1. They
spent the entire night in their school library and relied
solely on the contents of their emergency survival kit.
They slept on cots, ate army rations for breakfast
provided by Meal Kit Supply Canada and had limited access to
electricity. The exercise kicks off emergency preparedness week
from May 3 - 9.
Presented by Emergency Management Ontario (EMO), the City of
Greater Sudbury and the Rainbow District School Board, the mock
emergency focused attention on the importance of being
prepared in the event of a disaster.
Lively District Secondary School is the first school in Ontario
to take part in this survivor event, which will simulate a
blackout. A Toronto school will hold a similar emergency
exercise on May 7 and 8 as part of Emergency Preparedness Week
events taking place throughout the province.
"Emergencies can occur at any time and without
warning," says Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez.
"The City of Greater Sudbury is prepared to effectively
respond to municipal emergencies but citizens must also be
prepared to do their part. A 72 hour emergency kit can help
keep your family safe and comfortable, while first responders
deal with the most urgent situations."
"This event will teach students practical survival skills
should an emergency happen, and better enable them to take care
of themselves and their families during the crucial period
immediately after a disaster strikes," says Rick
Bartolucci, Sudbury MPP and Minister of Community Safety and
Correctional Services.
"Rainbow District School Board welcomes the opportunity to
partner with Emergency Management Ontario and the City of
Greater Sudbury on this important initiative," says Board
Chair Judy Hunda. "Students will gain hands-on knowledge
about emergency preparedness that will benefit their families
and the community at large."
EMO provided all students with an emergency survival kit,
including a crank radio, duffle bag and first aid kit. Prior to
the event, students were encouraged to customize their
kits with items from home, such as medicine, eyeglasses, food
and copies of personal documents.
Throughout the evening, guest speakers from EMO, the City's
Emergency Services, and non-government organizations, such as
the Canadian Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, delivered
informative presentations about emergency preparedness.
Participants learned search and rescue techniques and
wilderness survival skills. They also took part in a team game
in the dark, with flashlights and a generator providing the
only sources of light and electricity.
A number of topics were covered during the mock emergency
such as:
- Learning what items to include in a personal emergency
survival kit and the importance of emergency preparedness
- Basic First-Aid skills
- How to protect their pet during an emergency
- What local hazards and risks exist in our community
- How to survive during a blackout, and how gas-powered
generators work
- The importance of developing an escape plan
- The role of Amateur Radio Emergency Services in
communicating key emergency information to the public
- Weather-related emergencies, their consequences and how to
protect themselves
- How to cook safely indoors (including carbon monoxide
safety)
- How to secure and return home following an emergency.
Watch Northern Life's video report on this story to hear
from Emergency Management Ontario and City officials, as well
as students. Visit
www.northernlife.ca/video
and enter "emergency" in the search field.
