In the aftermath of the tragic 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, the United Kingdom has seen a pivotal shift towards bolstering public safety at venues across the nation. Martyn’s Law, a proposed legislative measure named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the victims, is at the forefront of this transformation. It underscores the urgent need for venues to have comprehensive security plans, including the implementation of emergency grab bags. These bags are not just an additional safety measure but a fundamental component in ensuring a swift and efficient response in the face of unforeseen threats.
Emergency grab bags are designed to contain essential items that can aid venue staff and emergency responders during a crisis. Typically, these bags include first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, emergency contact lists, and basic survival items. However, their contents can be tailored to meet the specific needs of a venue, taking into account its size, capacity, and the nature of events hosted. The presence of these grab bags is a testament to a venue’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its patrons, enabling a rapid response that could potentially save lives.
The importance of these emergency resources cannot be overstated, especially in scenarios where every second counts. In the chaos that follows a security incident, accessing neatly organized, readily available emergency supplies can make a significant difference in managing the situation effectively. For instance, in the event of a lockdown or evacuation, staff equipped with grab bags can provide immediate assistance, manage crowds, and facilitate communication with emergency services, thereby minimizing panic and confusion among attendees.
Moreover, the incorporation of emergency grab bags into venue security protocols aligns with the broader objectives of Martyn’s Law, which advocates for meticulous preparedness and resilience against terrorist threats. By mandating venues to prepare and maintain these bags, the law emphasizes a proactive approach to security, encouraging venues to anticipate and mitigate risks before they escalate into full-blown crises.
In essence, emergency grab bags symbolize a critical layer of defense in the complex matrix of venue security. Their strategic placement and regular maintenance reflect a venue’s dedication to upholding the highest safety standards, in compliance with Martyn’s Law. It is a clear message that the safety of patrons and staff is not just a regulatory requirement but a moral imperative.
As the UK continues to navigate the challenges of public safety in an ever-evolving threat landscape, the adoption of emergency grab bags by venues is a practical, effective measure that resonates with the spirit of Martyn’s Law. It is a step towards creating safer spaces for everyone, ensuring that joy, entertainment, and community can thrive without being overshadowed by the fear of what might happen in the absence of preparedness. In honoring the legacy of Martyn Hett and all those affected by such tragedies, the implementation of emergency grab bags stands as a beacon of hope and resilience, a testament to the collective commitment to never let terror dictate the terms of our public life.
EVAQ8 produce a range of emergency grab bags, from the standard emergency grab bag for business to the 2 specific examples below; The Mass Casualty First Aid Kit and the Site Evacuation Kit,
In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, data centers and essential workplaces (think power generation, water treatment plants, hospitals and healthcare facilities, fire stations) have become the backbone of our daily operations, whether it’s in the realms of communication, finance, health, or security. However, what happens when unforeseen circumstances, like natural disasters or pandemics, strike and disrupt the supply chain? This is where the strategic stocking of freeze-dried food comes into play, offering a reliable solution for maintaining operational continuity in critical environments.
Freeze-dried food is a form of dehydrated food where moisture is removed through a freezing process, leaving the food lightweight and with a significantly extended shelf life. It retains most of the original taste, nutrition, and texture of the food. This technology has been widely used in space missions and military operations, but its benefits are equally valuable in civilian sectors like data centers and essential workplaces.
Key Benefits of Freeze-Dried Food in Critical Work Environments
1. Long Shelf Life and Low Maintenance
Freeze-dried foods can last up to 25 years or more when properly stored. This long shelf life eliminates the need for frequent replacement, making it an ideal emergency food supply. They are also impervious to changes in temperature and humidity, making them suitable for storage in various environments.
2. Nutritional Integrity
In emergency situations, maintaining the health and well-being of the staff is paramount. Freeze-dried foods retain most of their nutritional value, providing essential vitamins and minerals necessary for maintaining energy levels and cognitive function during stressful situations.
3. Easy Preparation
During emergencies, access to cooking facilities might be limited. Freeze-dried foods are easy to prepare, often requiring just the addition of hot water. This ease of preparation ensures that staff can have a hot, comforting meal without the need for extensive cooking facilities.
4. Space Efficiency
In environments like data centers where space is at a premium, the compact nature of freeze-dried food is a significant advantage. They take up minimal space, making them easy to store in large quantities without compromising the operational area.
5. Diverse Options
Freeze-dried foods come in a variety of options, from full meals to fruits, vegetables, and desserts. This variety ensures that dietary preferences and restrictions can be accommodated, which is crucial for maintaining morale and inclusivity among staff during extended stays.
Implementing a Freeze-Dried Food Strategy
Assessing Needs and Capacity
The first step is to assess the potential duration of emergencies and the number of staff that might need to be supported. This assessment will guide the quantity and variety of freeze-dried food required.
Storage and Accessibility
Identify secure, but accessible, areas within the workplace for storing the freeze-dried food. Ensure that these areas are known to all staff and easily accessible in case of an emergency.
Regular Review and Rotation
While freeze-dried foods have a long shelf life, it’s important to periodically check their condition and rotate stock if necessary. Regular training and drills should include the process of preparing and accessing these emergency food supplies.
Employee Training
Educate employees on the importance of emergency preparedness, including how to access and prepare freeze-dried foods. This training can be part of broader emergency response training.
Conclusion
In conclusion, incorporating freeze-dried food into the emergency preparedness strategy of data centers and essential workplaces is not just a matter of convenience, but a critical step in ensuring resilience and continuity of operations. By preparing for the worst, we can ensure that our most critical infrastructures remain operational, no matter the circumstances, safeguarding the data and services that form the backbone of our modern society.
The British Standards Institution (BSI) periodically reviews and updates its guidelines to ensure they continue to meet the changing requirements of society and technology. The BS 8599-1:2019 standard is the latest version of these guidelines, specifically designed for Workplace First Aid Kits including critical injury kits. This blog post aims to provide an overview of what the updated standard means for critical injury kits in the United Kingdom.
The Importance of British Standards
British Standards, including BS 8599-1, serve as guidelines to ensure that products meet minimum safety, reliability, and quality criteria. These standards are essential for consistency, ensuring that whether you’re at work, at a public event, or in an educational institution, you can expect a certain level of care and effectiveness from your first aid kit.
Changes Introduced in BS 8599-1:2019
The 2019 update to BS 8599-1 made several key changes to the contents and recommendations for workplace first aid kits, including those specifically designed for critical injuries. The changes were designed to meet the emerging needs of modern workplaces, which may involve newer types of risks compared to the past.
Key Components for Critical Injury Kits under BS 8599-1:2019
Critical injury kits, as defined by this standard, should contain specialized items that are geared towards dealing with life-threatening injuries. Some of these include:
Tourniquets: Important for controlling massive bleeding from limb injuries.
Chest Seals: To manage penetrating chest injuries.
Haemostatic Dressings: These dressings contain agents that promote rapid blood clotting.
Burn Dressings: Specifically formulated for more severe burn injuries.
Adhesive Tape: For securing dressings and other medical devices.
Resuscitation Face Shields: To aid in CPR procedures.
Trauma Dressings: For heavy-duty wound dressing needs.
Nitrile Gloves: For the first-aider to use, reducing the risk of bloodborne diseases.
Why Adherence to Updated Standards is Vital
Comprehensive Care: The updated guidelines aim to ensure that the critical injury kits are equipped to handle a wider range of life-threatening scenarios, from severe bleeding to burns.
Legal Compliance: Businesses and organizations are expected to comply with the latest standards to fulfill their obligation to ensure employee safety.
Quality Assurance: Adhering to BS 8599-1:2019 ensures that each component of the kit meets rigorous quality and safety checks.
Updated Based on Research: The new standard considers the latest medical research and practices, ensuring that the kits are as effective as possible.
Applications and Contexts
The critical injury kits based on BS 8599-1:2019 are ideal for a variety of settings:
Industrial Workplaces: Factories, construction sites, and other high-risk environments.
Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges where lab work or physical education activities take place.
Outdoor Activities: Camping, hiking, and sporting events.
Public Events: Concerts, festivals, and large gatherings where the risk of injury is higher.
Conclusion
BS 8599-1:2019 provides an updated, comprehensive guide for assembling a critical injury first aid kit that meets the complex needs of today’s workplaces and public spaces. By adhering to these standards, organizations can ensure they are well-prepared to offer immediate, effective care in life-threatening emergency situations, thereby potentially saving lives. Always remember that having a well-stocked, up-to-date critical injury kit is not just a box to tick off for compliance but a vital resource for safety and well-being.
What? That sounds like a slogan and you’re right, it is. Actually, it’s a good one because it elegantly sums up what preparedness is all about. But what exactly does ‘capabilities and capacities’ actually mean, why should you care and what does it have to do with preparedness? These are excellent questions. Here is a quick explainer.
In a nutshell: capability is your ability or skill to do something and your capacity is about whether you actually have the means and tools to do so.
So, how does ‘capabilities and capacities’ apply to preparedness and why should I care?
It’s all about you and what exactly happens when you are affected by an emergency or disaster. Fact is: in a real emergency or disaster, the emergency services will respond but cannot get to everyone right away. It pays to be ready and better prepared so that you are not left entirely helpless and can respond.
Preparedness capabilities and capacities are about what YOU can do – YOUR skill set – and how well you can apply your skill set because of the tools and equipment you can access.
So, as you can see, the two concepts build on each another and come together. Thus the slogan ‘Preparedness is all about capabilities and capacities’ works pretty well. And there is more…
Preparedness is about being pro-active rather than just re-active. Another way of saying this is
‘Preparedness is (the capacity and capability of) bouncing forward so that you can bounce back faster’
But back to ‘capabilities and capacities’ and some more detail. Naturally you need real life skills such as first aid training and emergency planning for which we give you a lot of free resources at our preparedness hub.
That’s a good start but it’s actually not enough. Just imagine for a moment that you are the best trained doctor or nurse in the world but your first aid kit /emergency grab bag / crisis response kit is empty….Right, you immediately get where this is going: you need the right tools to be better prepared. Luckily you already are in the best place for just exactly that – it’s easy:
Get better prepared – bounce back faster: upgrade your capabilities and capacities. Start today!
Monika
For more Resilience Blog simply use the right hand navigation. For emergency kits and practical resources use the top navigation. For more on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness head over to our FREE resources at the Preparedness Hub and find out why we use humour. If you like this post, please share it to help raise awareness for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.
For real-life insight into professional capabilities and capacities, take a look at the BBC’s ‘Hospital’ episode 1 season 2 | London Bridge attack victims being treated at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington.
The latest National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) guidance recommends a CRISIS RESPONSE KIT containing the right tools to safely manage a major incident for ‘crowded places’. This includes different sectors1 as well as business such as high street shops, shopping centres, bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, event venues, cinemas, theatres and tourist attractions.
— Terrorism Police UK (@TerrorismPolice) June 8, 2017
NaCTSO writes (emphasis added)
“The threat we face from terrorism is significant. As we have seen in the UK and across Europe attacks can happen at any time and any place without warning. Understanding the threat we all face and of the ways we can mitigate it can help keep us safer. Everyone can play a role in this effort by taking steps to help boost their protective security.”
There are legal as well as commercial reason why business should plan and prepare because of the potential of criminal prosecution and penalties under health and safety legislation2. Efforts to raise awareness for business preparedness and drive the protective security/crisis response message are well under way across the UK:
LondonProtect launching CT Awareness week at the Royal Albert Hall. Thanks to RAH, participants and my team pic.twitter.com/AnarenXTfU — London Protect (@LondonProtect) June 12, 2017
For business, or any sector listed in the NaCTSO crowded places guidance, crisis response planning means you also need a CRISIS RESPONSE KIT grab bag and a basic checklist appears on their page 156. Naturally, each sector or business is different so a ‘one size fits all’ approach is actually not really fit for purpose. That’s why we have put together a comparison list to help you make the right choices for your Business Preparedness.
Right-click on the image to open a larger version and use CTRL+ on your keyboard to magnify; a PDF is available and the list also appears at Emergency Grab Bag: what and why.
For more Resilience Blog simply use the right hand navigation. For emergency kits and practical resources use the top navigation. For more on Personal Emergency and Disaster Preparedness head over to our FREE resources at the Preparedness Hub. If you like this post, please share it to help raise awareness for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.
finally, emergency preparedness is going mainstream in the UK
No, I’m not talking ‘prepper’, they’ve been at it for many years and are mentioned in this blog elsewhere (use the search function if you’re interested). I’m talking main stream embracing emergency preparedness: regular households, small and medium sized businesses, schools and other communities, even places of worship. That is, truly, encouraging and very timely.
It aims to be a guide for ‘Public Immediate Actions for multiple casualties from shooting, stabbing or a bombing’. In other words, a practical extension for everyone and following on from last year’s ‘run, tell, hide’ campaign by the government. For more on that see “what are invacuation, lock-down and shelter in place” (not just for business). Other highly useful UK preparedness apps include the Met Office weather app and the British Red Cross Emergency app. FloodAlerts is not an app just yet but you can bookmark it in your phone’s browser. But back to Citizen Aid and their app which works even offline
Yes, is intended to be able to work without internet connection in case it’s unavailable 😉 https://t.co/1lq1bB0lwC
Their brand new website asks an excellent question at this time of the year:
Why not start 2017 with a resolution to be prepared?
Needless to say, I think that’s a very good idea so do download their and the other apps but don’t stop there. If you’re reading this then you certainly are in the perfect place to start properly with emergency preparedness. It’s easy: simply begin at our preparedness hub and browse from there. You will find lots of very useful free resources as well as reliable, cost-effective products that help you get equipped and be better prepared. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, well, we specialise in custom kits so check that out. Follow us on social media and keep updated (facebook, twitter). That’s your preparedness sorted. As for me, I’m particularly excited this year to contribute designing a much bigger and better ‘September is Preparedness Month’ campaign ‘30days30waysUK’ which is beginning to take shape as I write this as well as piloting a brand new ISO/British Standard on Business Preparedness; more on all this later. For now, I leave you with my best wishes for safe and happy New Year and an
easy solution to your New Year’s resolution to be better prepared:
get a kit – make a plan – be prepared; start today!
Monika
Tweet thank you for sharing, raising awareness for Emergency Preparedness!
For more EVAQ8 blog simply use the right hand navigation. For emergency kits and practical resources use the top navigation. For FREE resources head over to our Preparedness Hub and find out why we use humour. If you like this post, please share it to help raise awareness for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness. Thank you!
“We need to recognise that there is a non-negligible chance that we will see further events (flooding) of a similar, or maybe even greater, scale over the next decade.” (Executive summary)
Sadly, awareness of the seriousness of flooding is very thin on the ground. Just 6-8% of people actually living with flood risk know they are vulnerable, a figure that has not changed much since 2014 according to the Environment Agency’s @johncurtinEA.
@wilshamconsult Keeping & raising awareness so people can prepare when it isn’t flooding is a real challenge JC
That was households. What about business? For small businesses that make up 99% of the UK economy, it turns out that SME’s ‘prefer’ to react rather than pro-actively engage in business continuity and business preparedness as discussed recently during @TheFloodExpo . Dr Jessica Lamond (CFCR UWE) showed that, sadly, SMEs are not pro-active (despite this making a lot of business sense), taking active steps only after having been flooded – twice! Even after measures are taken, actual preparedness is just at 60%. These are stark figures.
For those of you who are time pressed or disinclined to read the full report, here are some key points important for household and business preparedness:
UK Flooding: money matters
£2.3 billion will be spent over the next six years from 2015- 2021 to strengthen flood and coastal defences with a particular focus on better protecting 300,000 homes
recovery packages handled by local authorities are currently in place for homes, businesses and farms in areas of Northern England affected by the 2015/6 floods
Flood Re has been established to ensure that households can continue to obtain affordable flood insurance (schemes for small business are being discussed; source: FloodExpo)
Storms Desmond, Eva, & Frank brought severe #flooding to the UK & caused approximately GBP 1.1 billion in damage https://t.co/kLJSsKkAEP
UK Flooding: severe weather and more frequent, stronger storms
the intensity of recent storms is unusual, but not unprecedented
a comprehensive study of trends (1871-2010) shows a robust signal of increasing numbers of strong winter storms and with increasing intensity for the high latitude North Atlantic; further south over the mid-latitude North Atlantic (ie the path of the storms that affected the UK in winter 2013/14) signal are more complex. Although the number of strong winter storms has not increased since 1871, storm mean intensity has increased. Notably, for very strong storms, the mean intensity has increased significantly. However, results are not conclusive and there remains substantial scientific debate about the behaviour of the North Atlantic jet stream and the storms that form along it.
rainfall depends on geography, the west receiving ten times more rain than the east of the UK; England and Wales is divided into six climate regions
based on robust analysis, the Met Office concludes that winter monthly rainfall totals could plausibly be 20% higher than recent past extremes in some parts of the country and up to 30% higher than recent past extremes in other parts
seasonal variability: winter flows have increased in upland, western catchments; autumn flows have increased in Central England and parts of Eastern Scotland. There is no apparent pattern of change in summer flows across the UK
high winter flows have increased over the last 30 years and there has been an increase in the frequency and magnitude of flooding over the same period, particularly in the West and North. However, as with rainfall, longer records demonstrate that there are flood-rich and flood-poor periods in the hydrological record. Reconstruction of floods from sediment records suggests some very large floods in the 18th and 19th centuries
sea level along the English Channel has already risen by about 12cm during the 20th century; this is over and above the increases associated with sinking of the southern part of the UK due to isostatic adjustment from the last Ice Age; this increases the risk of coastal flooding and tidal locking. A further overall 11-16cm of sea level rise is likely by 2030, relative to 1990
the Environment Agency’s Extreme Flood Outlines (EFO) have been stress-tested and found to be a reliable way to identify areas at risk from extreme river and coastal flooding over the next ten years
the risk of extreme river flows resulting in a severe flood are not unusual but the probability of this occurring is low
the 2016 National Risk Assessment (confidential document) for the first time differentiates fluvial and surface water flood risk in place of a single ‘inland flood risk’, allowing a better targeted approach to planning and management (NRR Civil Emergencies)
Limitations of scientific models
statistical analysis used to produce the report assumes that the probability of flooding has not changed significantly over time, for example because of changes in land use, climate change or other climatic variations
interestingly climate change was not identified as a factor, so called ‘natural variability’ dominating extreme rainfall scenarios ; but there was consensus that the techniques used should be developed further to explore a fuller range of possible events
the variable nature of regional/local weather and rainfall plus the complexities of terrain and catchments mean that any results are indicative only and cannot describe all settings
the next set of UK Climate Projections due to be published in 2018 (UKCP18)
“SME’s got a greater role to play in using energy efficient products and services” #postparis Jaise Kuriakose, @TyndallManc
UK flooding: critical national infrastructure and the private sector
We depend on a secure supply of services such as electricity, telecommunications, water, healthcare and transport. Many are delivered by the private sector. Government, sector regulators and industries are working together to ensure security of supply across the 13 CNI (critical national infrastructure) sectors (more, see CPNI). The loss of local services during the winter floods 2015/6 meant that, for the first time, individual sector-by-sector assets at risk from flooding were identified. The complex inter-dependencies between sectors continue to be investigated.
1640 potentially vulnerable national infrastructure asset sites serving a (pragmatically determined) population threshold range from 10,000 to 25,000 have been identified, most of which were deemed ‘defended’
530 key infrastructure sites around the country are currently vulnerable to flooding (again within the 10,000-25,000 threshold)
infrastructure sectors are at different stages in the resilience building process, some have yet to complete their analysis. Losing electricity or hospitals are particularly acute ‘worst case’ scenarios impacting communities
the electricity industry will invest £250 million (2015-2021) to protect the network against flooding; sites serving more than 10,000 people which are not protected against an extreme flood have been surveyed and have a plan in place to deploy temporary barriers if required and feasible
work with the water industry to extend analysis to cover all relevant water assets (clean and waste) serving more than 10,000 people continues
transport is vulnerable, investments are under way
Network Rail is planning to spend £900 million over the next three years
Highways England plans to invest £78 million over the next five years to reduce the risk of flooding on major roads, and a further £300 million as part of its Road Investment Strategy
Gatwick Airport following flood-related disruption in December 2013, commissioned an independent review of its vulnerability to flooding and is allocating a further £10 million above and beyond the original £20 million investment in flood resilience over the next 2 years
the Department for Transport promote closer working between ports and Local Resilience Forums to improve overall awareness of, and preparation for, severe flooding and port resilience groups are being set up along the East Coast
(thankfully health and safety is much stricter in the UK)
UK flooding: temporary flood defenses
Permanent flood defenses are clearly preferable to temporary defenses. In some instances, however, permanent solutions either do not offer value for money or cannot improve the situation before next winter. Therefore temporary defenses play an immediate role in strengthening the resilience of local infrastructure: temporary barriers do not provide the same level of protection as permanent defenses; failure rates typically are 20-30%, although this can be reduced by good advanced planning
no type of temporary barrier is universally deployable in all situations, and generally they cannot withstand large wave action. All leak to a certain extent and therefore need to be supplemented by pumps (annex 8 illustrates a range of temporary flood defenses such as tube, filled container, frame barrier, flexible free standing and rigid free standing)
once installed, successful ongoing deployment requires additional support including security against theft and vandalism as well as health and safety measures such as lighting and access maintenance to surrounding homes and businesses
thorough site-specific pre-planning as well as the availability of sufficient numbers of trained staff or volunteers is critical to success (as are training exercises)
engineered hard flood defenses can only ever be part the solution. Benefits of natural flood management has been seen ie in Pickering, North Yorkshire and Holnicote in Somerset. The Government’s future 25 year plan for the environment will look at strengthening the role of local partners, bringing them together to integrate flood management with water planning at a catchment level.
£12.5 million are being invested through the Environment Agency in temporary flood barriers, mobile water pumps and incident command vehicles – stored in strategic locations across the country for fast response
£0.75 million are being invested to provide maintenance grants to enable nationally deployable flood rescue teams to maintain their equipment
a single register of national flood response assets will be kept up to date and will be viewable through ResilienceDirect; developing new capabilities in line with responders’ requirements.
Defra in collaboration with other government departments will establish a standard operating model for local responders and the Environment Agency will work with Local Resilience Forums to identify opportunities to embed good practice in their flood response plans
UK flooding: flood defense and urban development
ultimate aim is to deliver flood defense levels for the Core Cities similar to that of London, Sheffield is the pilot project which, if successful will be broadened to the other core cities
The National Flood Resilience Review also contains interesting case studies in annex 4 which you may be interested to read especially if you are in or near to Carlisle, Calder Valley, Oxford, Exeter, Great Yarmouth, London (Teddington to Thames Barrier). References
BHATTACHARYA-MIS, N. & LAMOND, J. An investigation of patterns of response and recovery among flood affected businesses in the UK: Case study in Sheffield and Wakefield Flood Recovery Innovation and Response, 2014 Poznan, Poland. WIT Press.
Much excellent work continues across the country including the setting up of local Flood Action Groups, Community Resilience Projects (i.e NYLRF) and flood prevention excercises such as
Monika Tweet thank you for sharing, raising awareness for Emergency Preparedness!
For more EVAQ8 blog simply use the right hand navigation. For emergency kits and practical resources use the top navigation. For FREE resources head over to our Preparedness Hub and find out why we use humour. If you like this post, please share it to help raise awareness for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness. Thank you!
The first post in this series looked at what an evacuation is (the immediate and urgent movement of people out of harm’s way to a safe location) and under what circumstances it may occur. It stayed pretty much within the familiar bounds of small scale evacuations from a home or a building of ‘regular’ size. Now I want to begin tackling another fascinating aspect which is ‘mass evacuation’. Timely and ironically perhaps I post this at the very moment a mass evacuation is actually under way in Florida and the Carolinas CNN Hurricane Matthew mass evacuation
Nine miles in five hours. That’s how slow traffic is moving as residents of Charleston, South Carolina evacuate. Video: Jason Hall pic.twitter.com/xAYHIu6yTy
Mass Evacuation: not relevant in peace-time UK ? Think again.
Other than the ‘regular’ emergency evacuations usually inconveniencing relatively small numbers of people because of suspicious packages (ie airports, train stations, high street, shops, shopping centres, and offices etc), sudden finds of unexploded WW devices (Southwark) and even sinking ferries you may remember these two major incidents:
2005 Birmingham evacuates approximately 20,000 people following a security alert
Neither, however, actually classifies as ‘mass evacuation’. According to the Mass Evacuation Framework (2014) by the London Resilience Partnership, evacuating 5,000 or 20,000 people is still ‘just’ a so called ‘medium scale evacuation’. Nevertheless, the Holbon electrical fire on 01 April 2015 is a good example and here is why. In the words of Gary Squires from the London Fire Brigade (BBC)
“lots of people had “self-evacuated” from nearby buildings and it was only the ones on Kingsway that had been evacuated by the authorities.”
This illustrates the point I’m making about the importance of self-evacuation and the need for better preparedness. Why? Because many workers and students were unable to return for several days (36 hour blaze), having left behind wallets, phones, keys and other important personal items in their hurry to get to safety. Thankfully no one was hurt and the incident happened on a relatively fine spring day, not in the middle of rush hour or during severe weather. It would have been a different story.
I also want to mention the 7/7 bombing. Police estimate 4,000 people were caught up in the blasts in some way, many forced to self-evacuate. One of those people was my colleague Ben who has written here on school emergency preparedness. He will talk about his experience in a separate post. For now, I simply wish well all those currently caught up in the events of Hurricane Matthew and stress that preparedness is important and actually quite easy and straight forward where ever you are in the world.
UK organisations and businesses I urge to very seriously consider expanding your capacities and include Workplace Emergency Kits in your Health and Safety, Security and Business Continuity planning. Considering how much such a simple and cost-effective step reduces your risks it is well worth the minor investment. A small item like a Personal Evacuation Pack to which items relevant to the individual have been added can make a real difference.
For more EVAQ8 blog simply use the right hand navigation. For emergency kits and practical resources use the top navigation. For FREE resources head over to our Preparedness Hub and find out why we use humour. If you like this post, please share it to help raise awareness for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness. Thank you!
Often there is confusion about what these, sometimes interchangeable, terms mean. Perhaps this is because the typical safety procedure everyone in the UK is most familiar with is to evacuate – the standard ‘get out – stay out – call 999’ advice of fire safety. In contrast, staying in when ‘all hell breaks loose’ is counter-intuitive at first, especially for commercial or public premises. However, ‘getting out’ is neither possible nor wise in a number of scenarios as will be explored shortly in the wider sphere of workplace emergency preparedness; but first things first, a quick look at the terminology:
“in-vacuation” is probably the least known term but once you understand the meaning as ‘inverse evacuation’ you will always remember this wordplay on opposites
“lock-down” refers to an emergency protocol to prevent people (or information) from escaping and typically involves some form of violence. Lock-down examples in the news typically concern bomb threats or attacks, especially in crowded places such as inner city areas, sports events, theatres, shopping centres, places of worship or schools.
“shelter-in-place” in the UK is mostly understood in two quite specific ways, both rooted in fire safety:
“go in – stay in – tune in”, the ‘classic’ shelter-in-place order issued by the emergency services. Typically, this may happen during a major incident such as a large fire, hazmat or security incident. It means that you have to close (and seal, depending on the severity of the incident) all doors, windows (and vents) to create a contamination free space. Take immediate shelter in a readily accessible safe location and await further instructions. Stay well away from window panes that may shatter and cause injuries
specialist measures to provide safe shelter and security from hazards to vulnerable persons that may have difficulty to evacuate such as wheelchair users, the elderly or persons with disabilities
Since the tragic events in Paris and while UK threat levels remain SEVERE, understandings are now expanding beyond fire safety into emergency preparedness for all persons and at all levels. That includes business, especially if located at or near crowded places. The recent “Run – Hide – Tell” safety video from the National Counter Terrorism Security Office is an excellent example which reflects this.
Why “shelter-in-place”, where and how?
‘Hiding’, or hopefully a more controlled, planned and prepared emergency procedure such as ‘shelter-in-place’ protocols are not only about terror threats such as lone shooter incidents or a firearms and weapons attack as in the above NaCTSO video. Shelter-in-place is highly relevant for a range of scenarios which, broadly, can be divided into ‘man-made threats’ and ‘natural hazards.
Shelter-in place or invacuation rather than evacuation makes sense not only for threats
explosion, structural damage
hazardous materials (HAZMAT, i.e. biological, chemical …)
attack with weapons and/or firearms, bomb threat, drones
civil unrest, riot
but also for natural hazards such as storms and severe weather, severe cold or heatwave, during an earthquake, pandemic or , most relevant for the UK, flooding which destroys more businesses than fire. So, what does an ideal shelter-in-place room look like?
Shelter-in-place: rooms above ground floor, for example …
interior rooms with no windows and/or
exterior rooms with loadbearing walls, few windows and vents that can be sealed
adequate space to sit people, avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms
feature fire doors and a way to barricade yourself in may provide additional safety
Utility rooms, large storage rooms, pantries, conference rooms etc. may work well as designated shelter-in-place areas. In addition
install a landline telephone in the room to call for help, mobile phones may be overwhelmed
mark the room(s) with a ‘shelter-in-place’ sign on the inside of the room only for security reasons and assure your safety personnel and staff are well trained (download free shelter-in-place sign to print)
Specific procedures for shelter-in-place vary depending on the nature of the environment, anticipated and planned for threats and typically include:
close the premises
inform staff, customers and visitors to stay, not leave and go to designated areas immediately
do not walk or drive outdoors
ask all people present to turn their phones to silent and call their emergency contact to let them know where they are and that they are safe unless there is an imminent severe threat where silence must be observed
turn on business call-forwarding or alternative telephone systems. If you have voicemail, change the recording to indicate that you are temporarily closed, that staff and visitors are safe and will remain in the building until authorities have issued the all clear
lock (and seal) air vents, doors, windows; draw shades, blinds or curtains in case of an explosion
turn off or disable fans, heating and air conditioning as well as all other non-essential electricals
get hold of your emergency supplies and go to your previously identified shelter-in place area
keep calm, stay behind solid objects well away from glass
place signs in exterior windows to identify your location where possible
make list of everyone in the room, their address and affiliation with your business (employee, visitor, customer…) and then call your designated emergency contact to report
listen to radio, watch TV or use the internet to stay informed
await further instructions until the all clear is given and it is safe to stand down
Shelter-in-place is usually resolved quickly but may last for several hours or even days. To find out which risks are most pertinent to you see the National Risk Register and the local risk register published by your Local Resilience Forum. You may also find our google slides “Shelter-in-Place at work” useful for your own Emergency Preparedness.
Security, health & safety and duty of care are just some of the reasons why it makes sense to be prepared. Make appropriate plans and get the emergency kit that is right for you. If none of our standard emergency kits are suitable, simply contact us for a competitive bespoke quote. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is always happy to help and advice.
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That’s the UN’s most recent analysis. The world – us – will have emitted enough carbon to warm the planet by 2°C by the year 2036, that’s just 20 years down the road!
“I think it is clear [the targets] will fall well short of what is required for any reasonable probability of avoiding 2° C”
Barring any sudden personal tragedies or the ability to resettle on a different planet, this will impact us all: me, my family and friends as well as you, your family and friends.
What will a world be like with ‘just’ 2°C extra heat – do we actually know?
I’ve heard people joke that they are looking forward to warmer and sunnier days. Well, now that would be lovely indeed, especially if you live quite far north (or south). Joke aside; it is actually an interesting reaction and not necessarily one born out of simple ignorance. For example, Freudian’s would point and say: classic denial, one of the most primitive defence mechanisms, a refusal to accept reality to avoid painful feelings. Cognitive psychologists would describe it i.e. as optimism bias and/or discounting, limitations on our rational cognitive processes (i.e. see earlier post Resilience and Preparedness Roadblocks: what stops us?) It’s probably a bit of all of the above plus a good sprinkling of individual beliefs, personal experiences and personality.
Reality is, however that we will be getting more than just warmer and sunnier days. The crux of the problem is, nobody really knows just exactly what it all means. Climate change is one of the most urgent and profoundly complex challenges we face.
Better and better models – but we are really running out of time
Vast amounts of data feed numerous models every day (i.e. MetOffice) yet in the end they are just that: models, an approximation to reality.
At best, models attempt to explain and hopefully predict the future. How accurately? Well, that remains to be seen. The ukclimateprojections.metoffice data and projections many still use may well be outdated (2009 PDF) because they assume ‘medium’ emission scenarios.
A 2°C warmer world – some reasonable predictions: heatwaves and flooding
Running air conditioners is the short-sighted answer. This is problematic not just because of guzzling energy which may overload the grid but also because it creates and dumps a lot of hot exhaust, adding to the problem rather than reducing it. Where we currently stand with producing not only efficient but also sustainable air conditioning systems is somewhat unclear(see The Guardian). Spraying or dousing heat stressed people with water only works to some extent as Dr Sundeep Dhillon recently explained at the Extreme Medicine Expo, personal factors such as fitness and acclimatization status play a huge role. Treating heat illness will increasingly become a hot topic very soon. Undoubtedly we will see more of this:
Warmer also means more flooding because of more severe weather events. There is a very good chance that the weather will not play by ‘our rules’ as per our models. Exceptional may well become the new normal which means more of this:
Hurricane Fred lashes Cape Verde: Hurricane Fred hit Cape Verde — the first such storm to strike it since 189… http://t.co/0KOkzWGPHr — Breaking News Live (@livenewsalerts) August 31, 2015
Flooding also happens because of rising sea levels. Thermostatic expansion, a volume and height increase as sea water warms plays a role as does melting ice. Some recent predictions are dire for coastal cities such as San Francisco:
Models and projections while essential, don’t necessarily provide solutions. Models don’t’ fix.
Engineering, although playing a hugely important role to i.e. retrofitting, reinforcing and saving infrastructure, building in more resilient ways for the future, can also be problematic as The Rockefeller Foundation recently highlighted:
If we don’t #design solutions together, we could end up engineering our way out of one problem and into another. https://t.co/MjXNmsP1Si
We need more than just design solutions, however. We also will need real alternatives to insurance for while a 2°C World Might Be Insurable, A 4°C World Certainly Would Not Be and we are heading there fast. We need a change in attitudes. We need a sense that we individually can really do something, change behavior, change culture and change our world for the better. It means a serious interest and investment in disaster risk reduction. At the most fundamental level, it all starts with prepared individuals that can achieve realistic confidence in the face of crisis. So, what is your Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Plan? Check our free resources and look through some of the earlier posts here.