PUBLIC INFORMATION

Although the Greater Manchester Local Authorities and the emergency services can respond to emergencies, only you can prepare yourself and your household.

Listed here is information about the highest risks faced by Greater Manchester and recommended action that you and your family can take.  By taking action both now and in the event of an emergency you can help to prepare and limit the impact of an incident.

Click on the various links for further information about the emergencies and for important advice on how to respond and prepare.  Do your bit to spread the word: share the information with your family, friends and colleagues.

General Information

In August 2004 the Government sent a booklet 'Preparing for Emergencies - What You Need to Know' to every home in the UK.  It covers a number of types of emergency and important advice.  The booklet can be found at: www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk

The following generic advice applies to any major emergency.

If you are involved in any emergency it is important to:

· Make sure 999 has been called if people are injured or if there is a threat to life
· Not put yourself or others in danger
· Follow the advice of the emergency services
· Try to remain calm and think before acting and try to reassure others
· Check for injuries - remember to attend to yourself before attempting to help others

If you are not involved in an accident but are close by or believe you may be in danger, in most cases the advice is: GO IN, STAY IN, TUNE IN.

To prepare for an emergency, you should take time to find out:

· Where and how to turn off water, gas and electricity supplies in your home
· The emergency procedures for your children at school
· The emergency procedures at your workplace
· How your family will stay in contact in the event of an emergency
· If any elderly or vulnerable neighbours might need your help
· How to tune in to your local radio station

If you are at home and an emergency happens, try to gather together:

· A list of useful phone numbers, such as your doctor's and close relatives'
· Home and car keys
· Toiletries, sanitary supplies and any regularly prescribed medication
· A battery radio, with spare batteries
· A torch with spare batteries, candles and matches
· A First Aid Kit
· Your mobile phone (and your charger)
· Cash and credit cards
· Spare clothes and blankets

Also, it is always useful to have:

Bottled water, ready-to-eat food (e.g. tinned food) and a bottle/tin opener, in case you have to remain in your home for several days.

Information About Specific Risks

Fire or Explosion

Fires and explosions that would be considered an emergency mainly involve gas and fuel storage facilities and pipelines.  Small fires and explosions are common in Greater Manchester and are responded to by the Fire Service and where neccesary the Police.

The risk rating in Greater Manchester is medium.

Use these links for further informtion on how to respond and prepare for a major fire or exposion:

www.firesafe.org.uk  (Fire Safety)
www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk/emergency/fire  (Fire Safety)
www.manchester.gov.uk/emergency  (Evacuation Procedure for Manchester)

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Chemical Incident

Chemical incidents that are considered an emergency in Greater Manchester include a toxic chemical release and major land, air, or water contamination.

The risk rating in Greater Manchester is high.

Use these links for further informtion on how to respond and prepare for a chemical incident:

www.hpa.org.uk  (Health Protection Agency)
www.defra.gov.uk/ENVIRONMENT/  (Contaminated Land Advice)
www.ifst.org  (Insitute of Food Science and Technology – Contaminated Water Advice)

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Plane or Rail Crash

Plane and rail crashes could affect any part of Greater Manchester.

The liklihood of an incident is very low but the impact is potentially very high.  For this reason the risk rating in Greater Manchester is high.

Use these links for further informtion on how to respond and prepare for a plane or rail crash:

www.ukaepg.org/  (UK Airlines Emergency Planning Group)
www.raib.gov.uk/home  (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)
www.aaib.gov.uk/home  (Air Accident Investigation Branch)

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Severe Weather

Severe weather that could affect Greater Manchester and potentially cause an emergency include:

· Storms and gales
· Low temperatures and heavy snow
· Heat waves
· Flooding

The risk rating in Greater Manchester of most of these risks is high.

Use these links for further informtion on how to respond and prepare for a severe weather emergency:

www.meto.gov.uk (Met Office)
www.environment-agency.gov.uk (Flood Warnings and Risks)
www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/333.aspx  (Travel Advice)
www.dh.gov.uk/AboutUs  (Heatwave Information)www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/floods.php  (Flood Advice)

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Human Health

Human health emergencies that could affect people in Greater Manchester include:

· Influenza type disease (epidemic)
· Influenza type disease (panemic)
· SARS type virus
· Infectious disease outbreak (eg. Legionella, Meningitis)

The risk rating in Greater Manchester for these risks varries from medium (infectious disease, SARS), to high (endemic influenza) to very high (pandemic influenza).

Use these links for further informtion on how to respond and prepare for a human health issues:

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk  (Health Advice)
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/  (Animal Disease – Bird Flu)
www.hpa.org.uk  (Health Protection Agency)

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Other sources of information include:


· www.ukresilience.info
· www.homeoffice.goc.uk/terrorism/protect/index.html (terrorism advice)
· www.mi5.gov.uk (level of risk)
· www.londonprepared.gov.uk (for Business Continuity advice)

First aid material :  


· www.redcross.org.uk  (Red Cross)
· www.sja.org.uk  (St. John Ambulance)
· www.firstaid.org.uk  (St Andrew’s First Aid)
                                 

GMeP

©2005