The UK Government has urged all households to familiarise themselves with three specific items at home as part of its new emergency Be Ready campaign. Launched last week, the initiative aims to motivate households to take straightforward steps to remain prepared should everyday services be temporarily disrupted.
This marks the first stage of a three-year campaign to help households across the UK feel more equipped for events such as extreme weather, which can impact services including power, water, phones and the internet.
Three Key Features to Know
Households are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with three crucial features in their homes. To safely shut off water, gas or electricity during an emergency, all UK residents should know the location of the water stop cock, the gas isolation valve, and the electricity isolation switch.
Part of the Government's emergency Be Ready plan reads: "If you have time and it is safe to do so, you might need to turn off the mains water, gas or electric to your home during an emergency. Familiarise yourself with where these are."
It adds: "WARNING: You can turn the water and electricity back on yourself but NOT THE GAS. This must be done by a qualified engineer."
Government and Prime Minister Support
Security Minister and MP Dan Jarvis said: "Those who can follow this advice should follow this advice. By taking simple steps to be ready for everyday emergencies like severe storms, people can reduce pressure on emergency services, helping them prioritise people who need more support in an emergency.
"This is just the sort of community-focused campaign the UK needs to improve our resilience as a nation. It will bring us into line with European counterparts, where advice like this is a normal part of everyday life."
Following the campaign's launch last week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that people must be better equipped to handle emergencies, and has stood behind Government guidance to stockpile food, water and other essential supplies.
He noted that "unexpected events seem to be becoming more and more common", and suggested that, alongside the recommended emergency supplies, people should be allowed "a glass or two" of wine to get them through a difficult situation.
Emergency Checklist and Supplies
Members of the public have been urged to stockpile three days' worth of supplies, comprising food, water, batteries, torches, baby or pet food, and various other essentials.
Alongside outlining these necessities, the Government has released an "emergency checklist" detailing the steps people should take to ensure they are adequately prepared. This includes food, water, hygiene products, torches, batteries, communication devices, money and documents, first aid kits, medication, baby supplies, and pet supplies.
