What if?
What if you had a fire in your home or flood water was coming through your front door. Would you know what to do?
This week BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, working together with Warwickshire County Council’s Emergency Planning Unit, Fire and Rescue Service, Coventry City Council, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service, British Red Cross and the Environment Agency, will be asking the question “What If?” as they aim to raise public awareness about the importance of planning for an emergency.
The three-day campaign running on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire is designed to help people be better prepared.
On Monday during the Breakfast and Mid Morning Shows there will be sections within the programmes covering planning for emergency incidents, how they are dealt with, and the parts played by local authorities and the voluntary sector, together with a studio discussion.
Tuesday’s programmes will be dealing with precautions that individuals can take themselves, together with fire protection/prevention aspects, and precautions to be taken against fire and chemical hazards.
On Wednesday the topic they will be concentrating on will be flu and putting a pandemic into context with the health sector.
Tim Bowtell, Head of Emergency Planning for Warwickshire County Council said:
“It is more important than ever that residents know what to do in the event of an emergency and the ‘What If’ programme will help people to understand what they can do to reduce the risks of having a fire in their home and plan for what they may need, should they have to leave their homes in an emergency. Simple things such as a grab bag with essential medication and family contact details can really make a difference in an emergency situation.
In certain emergencies the advice may be to GO IN, STAY IN, TUNE IN. GO IN, as the safest place may be indoors, closing all doors and windows. STAY IN until you are advised otherwise by the emergency services or local radio. TUNE IN to your local radio station or television for advice and guidance.
“As well as finding out more information on how to help yourself, you will also find out how emergency planners respond when they get the call!”
For further information log onto http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventryandwarwickshire or for information on emergency planning go to http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/epu
Entities for this story
- www.bbc.co.uk/coventryandwarwickshire
- www.warwickshire.gov.uk/epu
- head
- Governor
- Head of Emergency Planning
- BBC
- West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service
- Warwickshire County Council’s Emergency Planning Unit
- British Red Cross
- Coventry City Council
- Warwickshire County Council
- Fire and Rescue Service
- Environment Agency
- Indiana
- Tim Bowtell
- emergency services
- chemical hazards