Emergency Service Personnel ~ Help them, help you.

In Your Home:

• Always leave at least one light on inside your home at night.
• Ensure that safety railings and other safety features meet standards.
• Make sure that hallways and emergency exits are not obstructed.  Toys or a laundry basket cluttering the hallway can reduce precious life-saving time in an emergency.
• Properly label and store hazardous and chemical items.  They should not be in the home.  Store in a dry, cool place outside of the house.
• If you have a security system (intruder alarm, smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector) check and maintain it regularly to ensure that it is working properly.

In Your Yard:

• It is advisable to leave a light on outside at night and be certain that your street address is visible from the street.
• If you are expecting an emergency vehicle and are able to do so, attract attention to your home by turning on lights and opening your front door.
• Recognize special seasonal needs, such as salt or grit on icy walkways.
• Pathways, driveways and alleys should be kept clear for easy access.  Any broken glass or dangerous debris should be removed.
• Open holes and grates should be covered.

In Your Community:

• When driving, give the right-of-way to all emergency vehicles when you hear the sirens and/or see lights flashing.  Pull over safely and stop.  This is especially important during peak traffic times and at intersections.  Remember, if one emergency vehicle drives by, it is very possible that a second or third emergency vehicle will also drive by.  Be alert and keep the car radio volume down.
• When driving, slow down and move over into the far lane when you see flashing lights (red and/or blue) on an emergency vehicle that has pulled over onto the shoulder of the road ahead.  It is the law in many Canadian jurisdictions to pull over to the other lane in order to create a safe working environment for emergency personnel.
• Respect the no-parking zones indicated on streets.
• Know where the closest fire hydrant for your home is situated.  

In following these basic safety tips, you will allow emergency services to serve your community and to reach you quickly and safely in your time of need.  Remember to think about emergency personnel trying to reach you in a high crisis situation in unfamiliar conditions, with limited lighting or other challenging circumstances.  Now, take the necessary safety measures and adjust the scenario to help them, help you.