WELL WATER FLOWS DOWNHILL!
or
Emergency Preparedness and Reliance on Well Water
By John Webb
A couple of years ago when we moved from relatively urban south Metchosin to the more frontier like north end of town we discovered that we would move off the CRD water supply and onto a well. There was a drilled well on the property but no infrastructure attached. I met with a well contractor who explained the two pumps we required: one in the house to maintain water pressure and one down the well to bring up the water. It occurred to me that if the well began to run short of water in late summer or the power went out, this system design provided no backup. We could be stuck with little or no water. Instead I asked for a system where the water from the well is not pumped to the house, but to a 3,000 gallon tank up the hill from our house. This tank is automatically kept full. It then feeds downhill to the house – with or without power.
The system has worked flawlessly over the past few years, we have lots of water when we need it for daily use or in the case of extravagant summer watering, the system can then take a day or two to catch up. There is a good reserve for fire-fighting if we ever need it and in the event of lengthy power outages like those we have all shared over the past months there has been a more than adequate supply of water, albeit somewhat colder than wished.
This has been so effective I would recommend those without a holding tank to consider retrofitting if your terrain provides an adequate spot for a tank. A tank mounted on a water tower would be another idea but don’t discount the weight of the water and make sure the tower engineering compensates – a building permit would be required as well.
Showing posts with label Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Community. Show all posts
Monday, October 13, 2008
Septic Savvy
SEPTIC SAVVY
$$$$$$ DOWN THE DRAIN $$$$$$
Have you thought much about your septic system lately? Ever? If you are like many of us, you moved to a rural area from an urban environment where we didn’t really think about what we poured down our drains or flushed through our toilets. It is only when an unmistakable odour comes wafting up from the direction of our drainfield, a toilet backs up or some very suspicious sludge starts moving across the lawn that we wake up to the consequence of an ill-treated septic system. And what a rude awakening that can be!! Fixing a failed septic system can run into many thousands of dollars, pose serious health risks, lead to polluted wells, streams, lakes and groundwater and strain relations with neighbours, especially those downhill.
What is a septic system? There are many different systems, but they generally follow the same basic principals.
A pipe leads from your home to a septic tank. Many older systems have 600 gal (what’s that in metric?) tanks, while newer models for a single family three bedroom residence are now 900 gallons. If installing a new tank, purchase the largest size you can afford, the larger the tank size, the cleaner the wastewater leaving the tank. Older models are single chambered while the newer models are double chambered. Wastes separate and settle out in the tank and bacteria work to decompose the solids. A call to Ken’s Septic revealed that the decomposition occurs at the top of your tank. When the tank cover is removed, there should be no odour until the sewage crust is broken. Some crusts are so thick, a 200 pound man could stand on them! The ideal crust will look like rich, black compost. The wastewater then flows through a distribution box from where it is directed into the drainfield, through a network of pipes with small holes. The water gradually seeps into the soil, where further filtration and microbial activity occur, rendering the wastewater harmless and recharging the groundwater.
Anke Bergner, CRD Environmental Education Coordinator, pointed out the do’s and don’ts of septic system management. Maintenance and monitoring, reduce and refrain are the bywords. They can be summed up quickly as:
• Have your system inspected and pumped out regularly
• Check for signs of failure, such as odours or lush growth in the drainfield
• Reduce the amount of water flowing through the system
• Refrain from putting inappropriate materials down your drains
Perhaps the single most important lessons is what is allowed in your septic system, “yellow and brown flush it down” along with the strongest toilet paper. Paper that disintegrates too easily clogs pipes. That’s it. Anything else can either clog the drainfield or destroy the microorganisms that decompose the effluent. Anke illustrates the perils of improper disposal with a journey of a Q-tip that eventually lodges in a drainpipe, becomes entwined with hair or dental floss and causes a blockage which leads to a system failure. Money down the drain. An effluent filter is highly recommended to reduce clogging and protect your drainfield and can usually be added to your existing system for a reasonable rate. The filters are approximately $70.00 and installation can vary from $0-$300.00. For an additional two dollars you can buy “hair catchers”, which fit over your sink drains to prevent hair and other particles from entering your sewage disposal system. These could also eliminate the expense of callouts to help locate everything from false teeth to diamond rings!
Toxic substances from grease to paint can wreck havoc on the microorganisms that flourish in septic systems, busily digesting and decomposing our wastes. Granular drain cleaners are one of the most toxic substances you can put into your system. Only 2 tablespoonfuls can kill all the beneficial bacteria in a 1000 gal. tank. Instead, if your drains are plugged, try using a plunger, a plumber’s snake, or a recipe of one half cup of baking soda followed by one half cup of vinegar. Cover and let sit 5 minutes and then flush with 2 litres of boiling water. Medications can disrupt the fauna of the septic system. People using strong antibiotics for long periods (which work to kill bacteria) can find they need to pump out their septic tanks more often.
Another common cause of failure is hydraulic overloading of the system. Three teenage kids and two parents having showers, maybe a load or two of laundry and then set the dishwasher, all before leaving for work and school doesn’t leave enough time for the solids to settle or the microorganisms to do their jobs before the wastewater is flushed through the system. Try to space water use throughout the day, so as not to overload your septic system and cause sewage particles to enter the drainfield.
About that drainfield, the best thing to plant over it is grass (some camas, shooting stars and fawn lilies could probably be included) as trees and shrubs will clog the drainage holes in the pipes. Those “good” bacteria in the drainfield need some help too. Don’t saturate the ground over the drainfield with excessive watering (max. 10 minutes), it reduces the oxygen they need to function properly. No buildings, carports or swimming pools, divert stormwater and keep out livestock to have your drainfield functioning properly for decades.
It’s a good idea to draw a map of your system so that you know where your tank, distribution box and septic field are located. It saves money when someone comes to pump out your tank and they don’t have to take a shovel and spend time and effort finding and uncovering the tank cover. It’s helpful information to pass onto a new owner if you decide to sell your property.
There are 30,000 septic systems in the CRD and 700 new permits are issued a year. Twenty-five percent of septic systems in use are thought to be malfunctioning. The average life expectancy of a septic system in the CRD is 19 years but a properly managed system should last as long as your home. Those numbers have the CRD worried and they are considering implementing a bylaw that would regulate septic systems. By 2005 an inspection of all septic systems would be undertaken and pump-outs would be required every 3 to 5 years. Regular maintenance has been stressed by all the companies contacted as crucial in maintaining the health of your septic waste management system. Certification would be mandatory for all service operators and will ensure a high degree of professionalism in the industry. That would decrease the faulty advise one participant received when her tank was recently pumped. She was advised to add some yeast to jump start the microorganisms. While the yeast won’t damage the system, it is unnecessary, all you need are your own waste products. Our guts come fully inoculated with all the right organisms to get things going. No need for dead chickens, cats or fish heads and certainly no need for packaged biological agents. The chemical agents sold to activate a septic system can actually harm it by damaging the structures themselves.
Another way to reduce the flow through your septic system is to use a composting toilet. Michael Rouse, formerly the UK's chief drinking water inspector, recently said that if Britain were planning sewage disposal from scratch today, "we wouldn't flush it away - we would collect the solids and compost it". An interesting idea and perhaps the subject of a future article.
If you would like more information about how to maintain and monitor your septic system, try these websites:
www.nsfc.wvu.edu
http://www.viha.ca/mho/HPES/landuse.htm
www.crd.bc.ca/es/septicsavvy.pdf
www.kensseptic.com
For information on composting toilets try:
www.compostingtoilet.org
$$$$$$ DOWN THE DRAIN $$$$$$
Have you thought much about your septic system lately? Ever? If you are like many of us, you moved to a rural area from an urban environment where we didn’t really think about what we poured down our drains or flushed through our toilets. It is only when an unmistakable odour comes wafting up from the direction of our drainfield, a toilet backs up or some very suspicious sludge starts moving across the lawn that we wake up to the consequence of an ill-treated septic system. And what a rude awakening that can be!! Fixing a failed septic system can run into many thousands of dollars, pose serious health risks, lead to polluted wells, streams, lakes and groundwater and strain relations with neighbours, especially those downhill.
What is a septic system? There are many different systems, but they generally follow the same basic principals.
A pipe leads from your home to a septic tank. Many older systems have 600 gal (what’s that in metric?) tanks, while newer models for a single family three bedroom residence are now 900 gallons. If installing a new tank, purchase the largest size you can afford, the larger the tank size, the cleaner the wastewater leaving the tank. Older models are single chambered while the newer models are double chambered. Wastes separate and settle out in the tank and bacteria work to decompose the solids. A call to Ken’s Septic revealed that the decomposition occurs at the top of your tank. When the tank cover is removed, there should be no odour until the sewage crust is broken. Some crusts are so thick, a 200 pound man could stand on them! The ideal crust will look like rich, black compost. The wastewater then flows through a distribution box from where it is directed into the drainfield, through a network of pipes with small holes. The water gradually seeps into the soil, where further filtration and microbial activity occur, rendering the wastewater harmless and recharging the groundwater.
Anke Bergner, CRD Environmental Education Coordinator, pointed out the do’s and don’ts of septic system management. Maintenance and monitoring, reduce and refrain are the bywords. They can be summed up quickly as:
• Have your system inspected and pumped out regularly
• Check for signs of failure, such as odours or lush growth in the drainfield
• Reduce the amount of water flowing through the system
• Refrain from putting inappropriate materials down your drains
Perhaps the single most important lessons is what is allowed in your septic system, “yellow and brown flush it down” along with the strongest toilet paper. Paper that disintegrates too easily clogs pipes. That’s it. Anything else can either clog the drainfield or destroy the microorganisms that decompose the effluent. Anke illustrates the perils of improper disposal with a journey of a Q-tip that eventually lodges in a drainpipe, becomes entwined with hair or dental floss and causes a blockage which leads to a system failure. Money down the drain. An effluent filter is highly recommended to reduce clogging and protect your drainfield and can usually be added to your existing system for a reasonable rate. The filters are approximately $70.00 and installation can vary from $0-$300.00. For an additional two dollars you can buy “hair catchers”, which fit over your sink drains to prevent hair and other particles from entering your sewage disposal system. These could also eliminate the expense of callouts to help locate everything from false teeth to diamond rings!
Toxic substances from grease to paint can wreck havoc on the microorganisms that flourish in septic systems, busily digesting and decomposing our wastes. Granular drain cleaners are one of the most toxic substances you can put into your system. Only 2 tablespoonfuls can kill all the beneficial bacteria in a 1000 gal. tank. Instead, if your drains are plugged, try using a plunger, a plumber’s snake, or a recipe of one half cup of baking soda followed by one half cup of vinegar. Cover and let sit 5 minutes and then flush with 2 litres of boiling water. Medications can disrupt the fauna of the septic system. People using strong antibiotics for long periods (which work to kill bacteria) can find they need to pump out their septic tanks more often.
Another common cause of failure is hydraulic overloading of the system. Three teenage kids and two parents having showers, maybe a load or two of laundry and then set the dishwasher, all before leaving for work and school doesn’t leave enough time for the solids to settle or the microorganisms to do their jobs before the wastewater is flushed through the system. Try to space water use throughout the day, so as not to overload your septic system and cause sewage particles to enter the drainfield.
About that drainfield, the best thing to plant over it is grass (some camas, shooting stars and fawn lilies could probably be included) as trees and shrubs will clog the drainage holes in the pipes. Those “good” bacteria in the drainfield need some help too. Don’t saturate the ground over the drainfield with excessive watering (max. 10 minutes), it reduces the oxygen they need to function properly. No buildings, carports or swimming pools, divert stormwater and keep out livestock to have your drainfield functioning properly for decades.
It’s a good idea to draw a map of your system so that you know where your tank, distribution box and septic field are located. It saves money when someone comes to pump out your tank and they don’t have to take a shovel and spend time and effort finding and uncovering the tank cover. It’s helpful information to pass onto a new owner if you decide to sell your property.
There are 30,000 septic systems in the CRD and 700 new permits are issued a year. Twenty-five percent of septic systems in use are thought to be malfunctioning. The average life expectancy of a septic system in the CRD is 19 years but a properly managed system should last as long as your home. Those numbers have the CRD worried and they are considering implementing a bylaw that would regulate septic systems. By 2005 an inspection of all septic systems would be undertaken and pump-outs would be required every 3 to 5 years. Regular maintenance has been stressed by all the companies contacted as crucial in maintaining the health of your septic waste management system. Certification would be mandatory for all service operators and will ensure a high degree of professionalism in the industry. That would decrease the faulty advise one participant received when her tank was recently pumped. She was advised to add some yeast to jump start the microorganisms. While the yeast won’t damage the system, it is unnecessary, all you need are your own waste products. Our guts come fully inoculated with all the right organisms to get things going. No need for dead chickens, cats or fish heads and certainly no need for packaged biological agents. The chemical agents sold to activate a septic system can actually harm it by damaging the structures themselves.
Another way to reduce the flow through your septic system is to use a composting toilet. Michael Rouse, formerly the UK's chief drinking water inspector, recently said that if Britain were planning sewage disposal from scratch today, "we wouldn't flush it away - we would collect the solids and compost it". An interesting idea and perhaps the subject of a future article.
If you would like more information about how to maintain and monitor your septic system, try these websites:
www.nsfc.wvu.edu
http://www.viha.ca/mho/HPES/landuse.htm
www.crd.bc.ca/es/septicsavvy.pdf
www.kensseptic.com
For information on composting toilets try:
www.compostingtoilet.org
Say No To Drugs (pesticide use)
Say No To Drugs (pesticide use)
June 3, 2003
The federal government’s new pot bill is in the news these days, with many people voicing concerns for and against. But what about the use of other drugs in our community, ones that are proven to cause serious health problems?
Pesticides are likened to drugs for our lawns and gardens and pesticide reduction, integrated pest management (or IPM) and pesticide free are the new catchwords.
Why should we care? How about these numbers from the World Wildlife Fund? 50,000,000 kilograms of pesticide are used each year in Canada, 70% of which are used on crops. A conventional 18 hole golf course is sprayed with 700 kg of pesticide annually, 700% per hectare more than is used on farmland. On average an apple is sprayed 12-20 times before harvest. Big numbers.
Some members of our community are worried about pesticide use in Metchosin, especially where it can affect the most vulnerable among us, our children and seniors. Pesticide use can contribute to soil and groundwater pollution, it can wipe out beneficial predators and microorganisms as well as the target species and it can affect the health of ourselves, our pets and our loved ones.
Your children are most susceptible because:
• Their small size means that per kilo of body weight they can absorb more pesticides than an adult.
• They are closer to the ground resulting in higher levels of pesticide in their breathing zone.
• They play on the ground where pesticides are more likely to be applied and they put contaminated objects and fingers in their mouths.
• Their defense mechanisms are not fully developed, leaving them more vulnerable to toxic effects.
The federal and provincial governments as well as the CRD and our municipal council have all looked at pesticides and their effect on us and on the environment. Each level of government has recognized the dangers of pesticide use and addressed this issue. Ever the trend setters, our council passed a guideline restricting cosmetic pesticide use on municipal grounds in 2001. Now the CRD Roundtable on the Environment has produced an excellent guide to pesticide alternatives titled “Playing it Safe: Reducing Pesticide Use in Our Community”.
Just as a proper diet is considered an effective preventative measure to reduce the chance of certain cancers and chemotherapy is the mighty drug arsenal used to defeat cancers, so healthy growing conditions prevent most pest outbreaks and pesticide use should be the last resort to fight serious infestations.
There are measures we can all take to reduce or eliminate pesticides in our lives.
• Eat organic and if that is not always possible, these are 12 of the most heavily sprayed foods:
Apricots Bananas Bell peppers Cherries
Grapes Cucumbers Green beans Cantaloupe
Lettuce Potatoes Spinach Tomatoes
When gardening:
• Build healthy soils by fertilizing naturally. Nourish your garden and lawn with compost, manure, grass clippings and/or slow release organic fertilizer.
• Aerate your lawn in spring or fall to relieve compaction.
• Overseed annually to keep your lawn thick and healthy, this helps the grass outcompete the weeds. Although this doesn’t work so well if you are trying to create a native wildflower meadow, where native plants need space to grow amongst the grasses!
• Choose plants and grass seed mixes suitable for your area. Native shrubs like mock orange and flowering currant are beautiful and need little care.
• Use a mixture of plants. There is less chance of a serious pest outbreak when the garden is planted with many different species.
• Some plants, such as marigolds, are said to deter pests.
• Use crop rotation in your food garden.
• Use mulches to prevent weeds from germinating and to protect the soil. A thick layer of newspaper with an added layer of leaf mulch can effectively convert an area of grass to a flower bed without the use of Round-up.
If you discover a pest problem:
• Be sure you know the pest you are dealing with. Consult garden centres, our local gardening club, books, the internet. It does no good to spray for fungus if aphids are the problem.
• How serious is the problem? Are beneficial insects already attacking the pests? Give them a chance to complete their job. Can you live with a certain amount of damage? Is the damage affecting plant health or is it just aesthetics?
• Use the least harmful and most natural solution first. Are there non toxic methods to control the pest that can be used? These can range from biological controls to soaps to hand weeding to the use of disease resistant and native plants. To address fungal problems, the CRD recommends trying a formulation of one tablespoon of baking soda and horticultural oil diluted in four litres of water to be sprayed on leaves.
If pesticides are deemed to be absolutely necessary:
Consult with a professional.
Use the least amount of the least toxic product on only the target species.
Follow label directions and wear protective clothing.
Notify anyone who might be affected.
Wash thoroughly after use to lessen your own exposure.
There are other ways we can make a direct difference in our own neighbourhood.
Council has been attempting to eliminate pesticide use on our school grounds; lobby your school board to forward this initiative. Consider supporting Metchosin farmers. Visit the Farmer’s market on Sundays from 11 am to 2 pm for wholesome, locally grown produce, much of it organic.
Further information can be found online at:
www.crd.bc.ca/rte/toxic.htm CRD initiatives on reducing pesticide use.
www.wwf.ca/learn/pesticidereduction World Wildlife Fund of Canada
www.healthylawns.ca/english/html/hg-e_flash.shtml#flash Government of Canada site
There are two excellent books by Carole Rubin: “How To Get Your Lawn And Garden Off Drugs” and “How To Get Your Lawn Off Grass”
June 3, 2003
The federal government’s new pot bill is in the news these days, with many people voicing concerns for and against. But what about the use of other drugs in our community, ones that are proven to cause serious health problems?
Pesticides are likened to drugs for our lawns and gardens and pesticide reduction, integrated pest management (or IPM) and pesticide free are the new catchwords.
Why should we care? How about these numbers from the World Wildlife Fund? 50,000,000 kilograms of pesticide are used each year in Canada, 70% of which are used on crops. A conventional 18 hole golf course is sprayed with 700 kg of pesticide annually, 700% per hectare more than is used on farmland. On average an apple is sprayed 12-20 times before harvest. Big numbers.
Some members of our community are worried about pesticide use in Metchosin, especially where it can affect the most vulnerable among us, our children and seniors. Pesticide use can contribute to soil and groundwater pollution, it can wipe out beneficial predators and microorganisms as well as the target species and it can affect the health of ourselves, our pets and our loved ones.
Your children are most susceptible because:
• Their small size means that per kilo of body weight they can absorb more pesticides than an adult.
• They are closer to the ground resulting in higher levels of pesticide in their breathing zone.
• They play on the ground where pesticides are more likely to be applied and they put contaminated objects and fingers in their mouths.
• Their defense mechanisms are not fully developed, leaving them more vulnerable to toxic effects.
The federal and provincial governments as well as the CRD and our municipal council have all looked at pesticides and their effect on us and on the environment. Each level of government has recognized the dangers of pesticide use and addressed this issue. Ever the trend setters, our council passed a guideline restricting cosmetic pesticide use on municipal grounds in 2001. Now the CRD Roundtable on the Environment has produced an excellent guide to pesticide alternatives titled “Playing it Safe: Reducing Pesticide Use in Our Community”.
Just as a proper diet is considered an effective preventative measure to reduce the chance of certain cancers and chemotherapy is the mighty drug arsenal used to defeat cancers, so healthy growing conditions prevent most pest outbreaks and pesticide use should be the last resort to fight serious infestations.
There are measures we can all take to reduce or eliminate pesticides in our lives.
• Eat organic and if that is not always possible, these are 12 of the most heavily sprayed foods:
Apricots Bananas Bell peppers Cherries
Grapes Cucumbers Green beans Cantaloupe
Lettuce Potatoes Spinach Tomatoes
When gardening:
• Build healthy soils by fertilizing naturally. Nourish your garden and lawn with compost, manure, grass clippings and/or slow release organic fertilizer.
• Aerate your lawn in spring or fall to relieve compaction.
• Overseed annually to keep your lawn thick and healthy, this helps the grass outcompete the weeds. Although this doesn’t work so well if you are trying to create a native wildflower meadow, where native plants need space to grow amongst the grasses!
• Choose plants and grass seed mixes suitable for your area. Native shrubs like mock orange and flowering currant are beautiful and need little care.
• Use a mixture of plants. There is less chance of a serious pest outbreak when the garden is planted with many different species.
• Some plants, such as marigolds, are said to deter pests.
• Use crop rotation in your food garden.
• Use mulches to prevent weeds from germinating and to protect the soil. A thick layer of newspaper with an added layer of leaf mulch can effectively convert an area of grass to a flower bed without the use of Round-up.
If you discover a pest problem:
• Be sure you know the pest you are dealing with. Consult garden centres, our local gardening club, books, the internet. It does no good to spray for fungus if aphids are the problem.
• How serious is the problem? Are beneficial insects already attacking the pests? Give them a chance to complete their job. Can you live with a certain amount of damage? Is the damage affecting plant health or is it just aesthetics?
• Use the least harmful and most natural solution first. Are there non toxic methods to control the pest that can be used? These can range from biological controls to soaps to hand weeding to the use of disease resistant and native plants. To address fungal problems, the CRD recommends trying a formulation of one tablespoon of baking soda and horticultural oil diluted in four litres of water to be sprayed on leaves.
If pesticides are deemed to be absolutely necessary:
Consult with a professional.
Use the least amount of the least toxic product on only the target species.
Follow label directions and wear protective clothing.
Notify anyone who might be affected.
Wash thoroughly after use to lessen your own exposure.
There are other ways we can make a direct difference in our own neighbourhood.
Council has been attempting to eliminate pesticide use on our school grounds; lobby your school board to forward this initiative. Consider supporting Metchosin farmers. Visit the Farmer’s market on Sundays from 11 am to 2 pm for wholesome, locally grown produce, much of it organic.
Further information can be found online at:
www.crd.bc.ca/rte/toxic.htm CRD initiatives on reducing pesticide use.
www.wwf.ca/learn/pesticidereduction World Wildlife Fund of Canada
www.healthylawns.ca/english/html/hg-e_flash.shtml#flash Government of Canada site
There are two excellent books by Carole Rubin: “How To Get Your Lawn And Garden Off Drugs” and “How To Get Your Lawn Off Grass”
Panic or Prudence? (Possible Pandemic)
October 22, 2005
PANIC! or Prudence?
The Metchosin Community House was full to overflowing on October 14th with Pod leaders, Emergency Preparedness Committee members, Mayor Watson and most current council members as retiring “Pod God” Larry Hildreth welcomed John Hollemans to his new role as head of Pod coordination.
It seems like extreme events are almost becoming the norm and our Emergency Preparedness Committee has been busy assessing Metchosin’s readiness for unforeseen catastrophic events. Plans are afoot to place signage at the 20 metre mark above our marine shoreline, to warn that below this area is a Tsunami hazard zone. Fortunately, it seems we can learn from the tragedies of other populations.
Already somewhat familiar with routines to follow when confronted with floods, fires, storms and earthquakes, we are now being asked to prepare ourselves for an influenza pandemic. This is predicted to be a completely new strain of flu that mutates to form a superflu bug that will have global implications.
Called “The Elusive Plague”, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, in cooperation with the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, has produced a video to help make communities and governments aware of the probable threat of a global influenza pandemic.
The “flu” is a viral respiratory illness that usually occurs in the fall and winter and causes coughs, sore throat, occasional fever and extreme lethargy and malaise, you can feel like you have been run over by a Mack truck. Seniors and those with compromised health are the most vulnerable to fatality and thousands of seniors across Canada die every year from this disease.
There are 3 types of influenza: A, B and C. C is a rare form, and A and B both cause year to year epidemics, with influenza B being a milder form. B and C are both associated solely with humans but A is also associated with birds and animals.
The usual annual flu bugs are described as viruses that mutate gradually and within certain parameters (like a subtle drift from light blue to dark blue), causing various degrees of illness, but being composed of pathogens for which our bodies have developed antibodies. The A virus is more changeable and elusive and occasionally, every 10 to 40 years, it will make a dramatic shift into a completely new subtype (like a shift from blue to yellow), for which we have no antibodies and we can be quickly overcome with the virus.
Influenza A develops in birds, then learns to shift to animals and humans. This can occur when there is close proximity between birds, animals and humans, in fact many pandemics begin in the Far East because of close living conditions between humans and animals.
The new Influenza A subtype adapts to humans and then quickly spreads person to person via the respiratory route through coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc. You can be the most infectious the 24 hours before symptoms even show.
The Spanish flu of 1918-1919 infected just about everyone, with 5% of the global population or 40,000,000 people, perishing. It was particularly deadly to young, healthy adults between 20-35 years of age, many succumbing within hours or days of becoming ill; 50,000 Canadians died.
The Asian flu of 1957 spanned the globe in 6 months and the second wave was even more severe than the first. A pandemic associated with the outbreak of The Hong Kong flu of 1997 was averted because of the slaughter of poultry before the virus learned how to pass from human to human.
It is predicted that the next pandemic will occur sometime in the next 5-10 years. It will probably begin in the summer and will reach Canada within 3-5 months. At 6-8 months, there will be peak mortality and each subsequent outbreak of the virus will probably be more severe. It is predicted that 3,000,000 plus British Columbians will be infected, 1,800,000 will be clinically ill, and 18,500 will be hospitalized. There could be 6,800 deaths. These numbers are projected from the 1957 and 1968 outbreaks, which were less severe than the 1918 pandemic.
Does this sound like fear mongering? It is a projected worse case scenario, that calls for communities to prepare for the worst and as the Girl Guides say, Be Prepared!
Canada has a Pandemic Influenza Plan, that “aims to assist and facilitate appropriate planning at all levels of government for the next influenza pandemic” . Fortunately, Canada is the first country in the world to plan for a secure vaccine supply through the contracting of a domestic supplier. The contract ensures that everything required for vaccine production, including the egg supply and storage facilities, is in place, although it could still take 6-12 months to produce enough vaccine once the virus strain has been identified.
What can be done?
• Plan how to administer vaccine as efficiently as possible, when it becomes available.
• Plan for numerous, mass immunization clinics.
• Each community will need their own “ stand alone” emergency preparedness strategy, with dedicated resources, as communities will not be able to rely on neighbouring regions, which will also be struggling.
• Increase both public and political awareness.
• Plan for a scenario that acknowledges much of the labour force might be unable to work, causing disruptions to essential community services.
Questions that need to be studied include:
• what is our current capacity for response?
• what will be the requirements?
• what gaps have been identified?
• how will vaccine be administered quickly?
• whom can be recruited to assist?
• how and where can the vaccine be safely stored?
• who will be considered as most critical to receive the vaccine?
• how do we deal with shortages of supplies, staff and facilities?
What can you do?
If this type of an event does occur, residents of rural communities such as Metchosin have some options which may promote wellness.
Obviously isolation from the virus is key. Our neighbourhood POD members would have to attempt to be as self-sufficient as possible. Residents will have to take a close look at what they need to do to live locally. Home vegetable gardens, orchards, and small holdings of livestock will be important. People need to become familiar with who is living in their neighbourhood POD.
Volunteer now to help with our Metchosin services such as Search and Rescue, the Fire Department, the Emergency Operations Centre and the Metchosin Community House. Individuals need to consider the possibilities of Pandemic and become aware of what Vancouver Island Health Authority and the Provincial Emergency Preparedness program have set up in preparation for a possible occurrence. Knowledge is power.
• cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough
• stay home when you are sick
• wash your hands frequently especially after touching your mouth, nose, eyes or used tissues
• get your flu shot; even though it is not effective against a pandemic virus, it will help keep your immune system strong, if it is not fighting another flu bug and it will help to build a larger capacity in vaccine production, supply and distribution.
Approximately one billion dollars are lost annually due to absenteeism, lost productivity and health care costs associated with the every day variety of the flu. Losses from a pandemic are expected to exceed that exponentially in addition to the tragic consequences to families and friends. It seems a prudent time to start considering Metchosin’s response to this predicted global pandemic catastrophe, before we panic.
Resources:
BC Pandemic Influenza Plan website: http://www.bccdc.org/content.php?item=150
Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan website:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cpip-pclcpi/
Vancouver Island Health Authority website: www.viha.ca/
Provincial Emergency Preparedness website: www.pep.bc.ca/
PANIC! or Prudence?
The Metchosin Community House was full to overflowing on October 14th with Pod leaders, Emergency Preparedness Committee members, Mayor Watson and most current council members as retiring “Pod God” Larry Hildreth welcomed John Hollemans to his new role as head of Pod coordination.
It seems like extreme events are almost becoming the norm and our Emergency Preparedness Committee has been busy assessing Metchosin’s readiness for unforeseen catastrophic events. Plans are afoot to place signage at the 20 metre mark above our marine shoreline, to warn that below this area is a Tsunami hazard zone. Fortunately, it seems we can learn from the tragedies of other populations.
Already somewhat familiar with routines to follow when confronted with floods, fires, storms and earthquakes, we are now being asked to prepare ourselves for an influenza pandemic. This is predicted to be a completely new strain of flu that mutates to form a superflu bug that will have global implications.
Called “The Elusive Plague”, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, in cooperation with the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, has produced a video to help make communities and governments aware of the probable threat of a global influenza pandemic.
The “flu” is a viral respiratory illness that usually occurs in the fall and winter and causes coughs, sore throat, occasional fever and extreme lethargy and malaise, you can feel like you have been run over by a Mack truck. Seniors and those with compromised health are the most vulnerable to fatality and thousands of seniors across Canada die every year from this disease.
There are 3 types of influenza: A, B and C. C is a rare form, and A and B both cause year to year epidemics, with influenza B being a milder form. B and C are both associated solely with humans but A is also associated with birds and animals.
The usual annual flu bugs are described as viruses that mutate gradually and within certain parameters (like a subtle drift from light blue to dark blue), causing various degrees of illness, but being composed of pathogens for which our bodies have developed antibodies. The A virus is more changeable and elusive and occasionally, every 10 to 40 years, it will make a dramatic shift into a completely new subtype (like a shift from blue to yellow), for which we have no antibodies and we can be quickly overcome with the virus.
Influenza A develops in birds, then learns to shift to animals and humans. This can occur when there is close proximity between birds, animals and humans, in fact many pandemics begin in the Far East because of close living conditions between humans and animals.
The new Influenza A subtype adapts to humans and then quickly spreads person to person via the respiratory route through coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc. You can be the most infectious the 24 hours before symptoms even show.
The Spanish flu of 1918-1919 infected just about everyone, with 5% of the global population or 40,000,000 people, perishing. It was particularly deadly to young, healthy adults between 20-35 years of age, many succumbing within hours or days of becoming ill; 50,000 Canadians died.
The Asian flu of 1957 spanned the globe in 6 months and the second wave was even more severe than the first. A pandemic associated with the outbreak of The Hong Kong flu of 1997 was averted because of the slaughter of poultry before the virus learned how to pass from human to human.
It is predicted that the next pandemic will occur sometime in the next 5-10 years. It will probably begin in the summer and will reach Canada within 3-5 months. At 6-8 months, there will be peak mortality and each subsequent outbreak of the virus will probably be more severe. It is predicted that 3,000,000 plus British Columbians will be infected, 1,800,000 will be clinically ill, and 18,500 will be hospitalized. There could be 6,800 deaths. These numbers are projected from the 1957 and 1968 outbreaks, which were less severe than the 1918 pandemic.
Does this sound like fear mongering? It is a projected worse case scenario, that calls for communities to prepare for the worst and as the Girl Guides say, Be Prepared!
Canada has a Pandemic Influenza Plan, that “aims to assist and facilitate appropriate planning at all levels of government for the next influenza pandemic” . Fortunately, Canada is the first country in the world to plan for a secure vaccine supply through the contracting of a domestic supplier. The contract ensures that everything required for vaccine production, including the egg supply and storage facilities, is in place, although it could still take 6-12 months to produce enough vaccine once the virus strain has been identified.
What can be done?
• Plan how to administer vaccine as efficiently as possible, when it becomes available.
• Plan for numerous, mass immunization clinics.
• Each community will need their own “ stand alone” emergency preparedness strategy, with dedicated resources, as communities will not be able to rely on neighbouring regions, which will also be struggling.
• Increase both public and political awareness.
• Plan for a scenario that acknowledges much of the labour force might be unable to work, causing disruptions to essential community services.
Questions that need to be studied include:
• what is our current capacity for response?
• what will be the requirements?
• what gaps have been identified?
• how will vaccine be administered quickly?
• whom can be recruited to assist?
• how and where can the vaccine be safely stored?
• who will be considered as most critical to receive the vaccine?
• how do we deal with shortages of supplies, staff and facilities?
What can you do?
If this type of an event does occur, residents of rural communities such as Metchosin have some options which may promote wellness.
Obviously isolation from the virus is key. Our neighbourhood POD members would have to attempt to be as self-sufficient as possible. Residents will have to take a close look at what they need to do to live locally. Home vegetable gardens, orchards, and small holdings of livestock will be important. People need to become familiar with who is living in their neighbourhood POD.
Volunteer now to help with our Metchosin services such as Search and Rescue, the Fire Department, the Emergency Operations Centre and the Metchosin Community House. Individuals need to consider the possibilities of Pandemic and become aware of what Vancouver Island Health Authority and the Provincial Emergency Preparedness program have set up in preparation for a possible occurrence. Knowledge is power.
• cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough
• stay home when you are sick
• wash your hands frequently especially after touching your mouth, nose, eyes or used tissues
• get your flu shot; even though it is not effective against a pandemic virus, it will help keep your immune system strong, if it is not fighting another flu bug and it will help to build a larger capacity in vaccine production, supply and distribution.
Approximately one billion dollars are lost annually due to absenteeism, lost productivity and health care costs associated with the every day variety of the flu. Losses from a pandemic are expected to exceed that exponentially in addition to the tragic consequences to families and friends. It seems a prudent time to start considering Metchosin’s response to this predicted global pandemic catastrophe, before we panic.
Resources:
BC Pandemic Influenza Plan website: http://www.bccdc.org/content.php?item=150
Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan website:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cpip-pclcpi/
Vancouver Island Health Authority website: www.viha.ca/
Provincial Emergency Preparedness website: www.pep.bc.ca/
Mosquitos and You (West Nile)
“Mosquitoes and You” or “Buzz Off”!!
Steady winds and dry summers all combine to allow many of us in Metchosin to brag about the few mosquitoes we encounter in our yards. With the imminent arrival of West Nile disease we want to ensure that we retain our bragging rights.
There are many simple steps we can take to reduce the chance of mosquitoes breeding in our yard or if they are there, to make sure their predators are there too.
There are 2500- 3000 species of mosquitoes worldwide, of which 46 species reside in BC. They all share a similar life history that takes place in the remarkably short span of seven days. Many species can use any small container of standing water in which to reproduce; from old tires to flower pot saucers, from bird baths to bottle caps. Yes, four mosquito larvae can live in the stagnant water in a bottle cap! Be vigilant, search your property and empty all containers, even those non-biodegradable plastic fast food containers or the cellophane from a discarded cigarette pack.
➢ At least once a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, livestock watering troughs, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
➢ Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
➢ Remove discarded tires and other items that could collect water.
➢ Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.
Once you have done all you can to ensure you are not inviting mosquitoes to your breed on your property, then you need you need to mosquito proof yourself and your family.
➢ Deet is the active ingredient in chemical mosquito repellent that seems to offer the greatest degree of protection. Apply sparingly to exposed skin. The more DEET a repellent contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better—just that it will last longer. DEET concentrations higher than 50% do not increase the length of protection. Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors. Do not use on children under 2 months of age.
➢ Keep away from the eyes, nose and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands of children.
➢ Pregnant women should minimize use.
➢ Wash treated skin after coming indoors.
➢ Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Products containing permethrin, derived from a species a chrysanthemum, are very effective in killing mosquitoes on clothing and fabrics. Do not apply repellents containing permethrin directly to exposed skin. A combination of permethrin on clothing and a skin safe product on your exposed skin, gives the most effective protection. Spray repellant onto mosquito netting that you hang around your bed or camp-cot. This will give the double benefit of excluding the mosquitoes and poisoning the insects as they rest on the netting.
➢ Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with young babies.
For those who are uncomfortable with chemical insecticides; there are a number of plants that have been identified as having some mosquito repellent success. The following is gleaned from various sources and has not been verified.
➢ Citronella, cedar, catnip, verbena, lantana, pennyroyal, geranium, lavender, pine, cajeput, cinnamon, rosemary, basil, thyme, allspice, garlic, lemongrsss, eucalyptus and peppermint. These are often mixed in combination with tea tree oil, coconut oil, soy oil or almond oil.
➢ The following is a sample recipe for a do it yourself repellent:
20 drops Eucalyptus oil
20 drops Cedarwood oil
10 drops Tea Tree oil
10 drops Geranium oil
2 oz. carrier oil ( such as Jojoba )
Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities . Experiment with different percentages of essential oil.
➢ Half and half clear, real vanilla (not extract) and water
➢ Some people swear by Vick’s Vapo-Rub
➢ One vitamin B-1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg) tablet a day April through October. The odor the tablet gives out through your skin (YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitoes, black flies, no-see'ms, and gnats. It does not work on stinging insects.
Products which apparently don’t work include electronic “bug zappers” and sonic repellers. The bug zappers are reported to be much more likely to attract and kill almost any other flying insect.
Research seems to indicate that mosquitoes are attracted to skin temperature, moisture, carbon dioxide (exhaling), lactic acid (produced in muscles from exertion and found in sour milk) and floral fragrances. Strategies that reduce these attractants can be helpful.
➢ When possible, wear light colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.
➢ Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.
➢ Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
➢ Avoid perfumes, sweet oils, creams and eating bananas as these seem to attract mosquitoes
This seems to suggest that lying around wearing light coloured clothing, breathing shallowly and perhaps sipping a non-sweet beverage might be the best method to get through mosquito season!
To mosquitoes, we are not all created equal. They show a preference for adults over children, although this drops off as we age and for men over women, which is a sexist bias I can live with! Larger people can also be unfairly singled out, perhaps because of greater relative heat and/or carbon dioxide output.
Before you decide to blacktop your local pond or lake, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources claims a healthy wetland provides habitat for many unique animals -- including the natural enemies of mosquitoes. Mosquito populations are held in check in by birds, bats, frogs, fish and insects that feed on mosquito adults and larvae. Wetlands can decrease mosquito populations by providing proper habitat for such predators. For example, when Essex County, Mass., restored a 1,500 acre wetland, the mosquito population dropped by 90 percent. Other states, such as New Jersey, have also been controlling mosquitoes the "natural way" by eliminating small, stagnant breeding depressions and using water management practices to increase mosquito predators. These "natural methods" reduced the cost of mosquito control over the traditional method of insecticide application, by more than 97 percent. Some of these aquatic predators include dragonflies, damselflies, water striders, backswimmers, predaceous diving beetles, topminnows and mosquitofish. Even our native sticklebacks will feed on mosquito larvae.
Mosquitoes are an important part of the food chain and we can get help from our wild neighbours to keep them in check. Erect birdhouses that will attract insectivorous birds such as purple martins and swallows. Some swallows have been found with approximately 1000 mosquitoes in their stomachs! The addition of bat boxes is also a good idea. For example, a single little brown bat can consume 1,200 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour.
If you find dead birds, especially crows and jays, that you suspect of having West Nile, do NOT contact the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) or our local Public Health branch. They are able to collect sufficient birds for testing. Dispose of the dead birds as you would normally. Wear gloves, bury or double bag and dispose of in the garbage and wash your hands.
Most of the agencies handling information on West Nile disease stress that it is unlikely that any one person will contact the disease and even more unlikely that it would develop into a serious illness.
Much of this article was plagiarized from the following sites:
Further information on West Nile disease and reducing the risk of mosquito bites can be found through the BCCDC at their website: www.bccdc.org/news.php?item=148
Information on bats and bat house plans can be found at: www.batcon.org
Be prepared, this next site comes with the very annoying sound of a whining mosquito www.fnr.purdue.edu/inwood/past%20issues/DEVOURMOSQUITOES.htm
The Canadian Centre for Disease Control:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm
A child friendly site showing the life history of mosquitoes:
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/mosquito/
Steady winds and dry summers all combine to allow many of us in Metchosin to brag about the few mosquitoes we encounter in our yards. With the imminent arrival of West Nile disease we want to ensure that we retain our bragging rights.
There are many simple steps we can take to reduce the chance of mosquitoes breeding in our yard or if they are there, to make sure their predators are there too.
There are 2500- 3000 species of mosquitoes worldwide, of which 46 species reside in BC. They all share a similar life history that takes place in the remarkably short span of seven days. Many species can use any small container of standing water in which to reproduce; from old tires to flower pot saucers, from bird baths to bottle caps. Yes, four mosquito larvae can live in the stagnant water in a bottle cap! Be vigilant, search your property and empty all containers, even those non-biodegradable plastic fast food containers or the cellophane from a discarded cigarette pack.
➢ At least once a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, livestock watering troughs, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
➢ Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
➢ Remove discarded tires and other items that could collect water.
➢ Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.
Once you have done all you can to ensure you are not inviting mosquitoes to your breed on your property, then you need you need to mosquito proof yourself and your family.
➢ Deet is the active ingredient in chemical mosquito repellent that seems to offer the greatest degree of protection. Apply sparingly to exposed skin. The more DEET a repellent contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better—just that it will last longer. DEET concentrations higher than 50% do not increase the length of protection. Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors. Do not use on children under 2 months of age.
➢ Keep away from the eyes, nose and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands of children.
➢ Pregnant women should minimize use.
➢ Wash treated skin after coming indoors.
➢ Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Products containing permethrin, derived from a species a chrysanthemum, are very effective in killing mosquitoes on clothing and fabrics. Do not apply repellents containing permethrin directly to exposed skin. A combination of permethrin on clothing and a skin safe product on your exposed skin, gives the most effective protection. Spray repellant onto mosquito netting that you hang around your bed or camp-cot. This will give the double benefit of excluding the mosquitoes and poisoning the insects as they rest on the netting.
➢ Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with young babies.
For those who are uncomfortable with chemical insecticides; there are a number of plants that have been identified as having some mosquito repellent success. The following is gleaned from various sources and has not been verified.
➢ Citronella, cedar, catnip, verbena, lantana, pennyroyal, geranium, lavender, pine, cajeput, cinnamon, rosemary, basil, thyme, allspice, garlic, lemongrsss, eucalyptus and peppermint. These are often mixed in combination with tea tree oil, coconut oil, soy oil or almond oil.
➢ The following is a sample recipe for a do it yourself repellent:
20 drops Eucalyptus oil
20 drops Cedarwood oil
10 drops Tea Tree oil
10 drops Geranium oil
2 oz. carrier oil ( such as Jojoba )
Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities . Experiment with different percentages of essential oil.
➢ Half and half clear, real vanilla (not extract) and water
➢ Some people swear by Vick’s Vapo-Rub
➢ One vitamin B-1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg) tablet a day April through October. The odor the tablet gives out through your skin (YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitoes, black flies, no-see'ms, and gnats. It does not work on stinging insects.
Products which apparently don’t work include electronic “bug zappers” and sonic repellers. The bug zappers are reported to be much more likely to attract and kill almost any other flying insect.
Research seems to indicate that mosquitoes are attracted to skin temperature, moisture, carbon dioxide (exhaling), lactic acid (produced in muscles from exertion and found in sour milk) and floral fragrances. Strategies that reduce these attractants can be helpful.
➢ When possible, wear light colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.
➢ Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.
➢ Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
➢ Avoid perfumes, sweet oils, creams and eating bananas as these seem to attract mosquitoes
This seems to suggest that lying around wearing light coloured clothing, breathing shallowly and perhaps sipping a non-sweet beverage might be the best method to get through mosquito season!
To mosquitoes, we are not all created equal. They show a preference for adults over children, although this drops off as we age and for men over women, which is a sexist bias I can live with! Larger people can also be unfairly singled out, perhaps because of greater relative heat and/or carbon dioxide output.
Before you decide to blacktop your local pond or lake, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources claims a healthy wetland provides habitat for many unique animals -- including the natural enemies of mosquitoes. Mosquito populations are held in check in by birds, bats, frogs, fish and insects that feed on mosquito adults and larvae. Wetlands can decrease mosquito populations by providing proper habitat for such predators. For example, when Essex County, Mass., restored a 1,500 acre wetland, the mosquito population dropped by 90 percent. Other states, such as New Jersey, have also been controlling mosquitoes the "natural way" by eliminating small, stagnant breeding depressions and using water management practices to increase mosquito predators. These "natural methods" reduced the cost of mosquito control over the traditional method of insecticide application, by more than 97 percent. Some of these aquatic predators include dragonflies, damselflies, water striders, backswimmers, predaceous diving beetles, topminnows and mosquitofish. Even our native sticklebacks will feed on mosquito larvae.
Mosquitoes are an important part of the food chain and we can get help from our wild neighbours to keep them in check. Erect birdhouses that will attract insectivorous birds such as purple martins and swallows. Some swallows have been found with approximately 1000 mosquitoes in their stomachs! The addition of bat boxes is also a good idea. For example, a single little brown bat can consume 1,200 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour.
If you find dead birds, especially crows and jays, that you suspect of having West Nile, do NOT contact the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) or our local Public Health branch. They are able to collect sufficient birds for testing. Dispose of the dead birds as you would normally. Wear gloves, bury or double bag and dispose of in the garbage and wash your hands.
Most of the agencies handling information on West Nile disease stress that it is unlikely that any one person will contact the disease and even more unlikely that it would develop into a serious illness.
Much of this article was plagiarized from the following sites:
Further information on West Nile disease and reducing the risk of mosquito bites can be found through the BCCDC at their website: www.bccdc.org/news.php?item=148
Information on bats and bat house plans can be found at: www.batcon.org
Be prepared, this next site comes with the very annoying sound of a whining mosquito www.fnr.purdue.edu/inwood/past%20issues/DEVOURMOSQUITOES.htm
The Canadian Centre for Disease Control:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm
A child friendly site showing the life history of mosquitoes:
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/mosquito/
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness Meeting
October 29, 2004
Establish an out of province contact number
Ensure everyone knows a safe meeting place
Emergency supplies
The Scout’s and Guides motto of Be Prepared! could have been the theme of the Pod Leaders meeting held October 29th at the Community House.
Larry Hildreth, overall Pod Coordinator of Metchosin ably directed an evening which included useful information, excellent food and friendly neighbourhood networking.
A video presentation described a series of steps to prepare yourself and your family for unexpected emergencies followed by an excellent dinner of BBQ brisket, squash with rosemary, Wallace potatoes, a superb salad medley and the perfect fall dessert of baked Glen Rosa apples, prepared and served by Emergency Operations, Pod and Community House volunteers. I don’t know how the bears missed the Hammond orchard, but the apples were delicious!
1) Analyze what types of accidents (fire, earthquake, snowstorm, flood) are likely to occur and what you can do about them.
2) Check your insurance policies and know the extent of your coverage. Take photos or videos of your most valued possessions and store important papers and irreplaceable treasures in a safe deposit box or in an alternate trusted location.
3) Establish an out of province contact number of a relative or friend that is to be used by family members to reach each other. In a serious emergency provincial phone lines could be down or overloaded. Make sure children memorize this number and carry it with them at all times and ensure their schools have this number as part of your child’s contact information.
4) Develop an emergency plan with your family. Define hazards within the home, such as heavy objects hanging above a bed or a bookcase that could come loose and cause serious injury. Remove or bolt them to the wall. Remove wood stored against the house-it’s a fire hazard. Consider covering your windows with a film that prevents them from shattering and causing serious injury. Check to see if your walls are bolted to your foundation, bolts should be placed every 6 ft. Check for loose masonry on your chimney. Practice fire drills and plan escape routes. Agree upon a safe meeting place so you will readily know who is or isn’t accounted for. In the case of earthquakes, know the safest locations in each room: under a sturdy object such as a table and inside hallways and doorways. Know where to turn off water and electricity and have a wrench placed near your gas or propane inlet (call a professional to restart gas or propane). Strap down the hot water heater, it can be a valuable source of clean water, as is the water in the toilet tank. Check your stored chemical products, are they in spill-proof containers? Never store bleach and ammonia products together, they combine to form toxic fumes. Keep several small fire extinguishers around rather than one large one. Fill gallon containers with water and set them in the bottom of your freezer, this will help keep your food frozen longer and provide extra safe water (if needed, use 4 drops of bleach per gallon to purify water-let sit 30 minutes). Keep an extra supply of infant, pet and livestock food on hand and sufficient medical supplies to last you at least one week. Keep fit and take a first aid course.
5) Prepare emergency survival kits. One main kit for the house, one for each of your vehicles and Grab and Go bags under each bed. Each Grab and Go bag should carry a first aid kit, flashlight and food and water for 12 hours. Keep a pair of sturdy shoes under your bed. A garbage pail will store a large quantity of emergency supplies, consider filling it with:
flashlight and batteries
radio and batteries or crank radio
first aid kit
candles and matches/lighter
extra car keys and cash (including coins/cards for telephone)
important papers (identification for everyone, personal documents)
food and bottled water (it is recommended to have 4 litres/per person/day)
clothing and footwear (one change of clothes per person)
blankets or sleeping bags (one blanket or sleeping bag per person)
toilet paper and other personal supplies
medication
backpack/duffel bag (or something else in which to carry the emergency survival kit in, in case you have to evacuate)
whistle (in case you need to attract someone's attention)
playing cards, games
Keep a separate kit in your car with the following items:
shovel
sand, salt or kitty litter
traction mats
tow chain
compass
cloth or roll of paper towels
warning light or road flares
extra clothing and footwear
emergency food pack
axe or hatchet
booster cables
ice scraper and brush
road maps
matches and a 'survival' candle in a deep can (to warm hands, heat a drink or use as an emergency light)
fire extinguisher
methyl hydrate (for fuel line and windshield de-icing)
flashlight
first aid kit with seatbelt cutter
blanket (special 'survival' blankets are best)
6) Know your neighbours and check on anyone who might need your help.
Living in Metchosin, many of us feel almost complacent in our ability to come through an emergency. However, taking the time to discuss, plan and implement emergency preparedness with your family will give extra protection to you and your loved ones in the event of a crisis. Like an insurance policy, it will give extra peace of mind.
Consider becoming active in your pod or revitalizing one that has become dormant. It’s a fun and constructive way to meet your neighbours and establish closer ties with your community. Contact Larry Hildreth at 474-1865 for assistance.
If you need a warm and congenial meeting place for a pod gathering, the Metchosin Community House (478-5155), with kitchen and bathroom facilities, is available for only $5.00/hr.
For more information on Emergency Preparedness contact Charlie McNeil at 474-0201 or view www.pep.bc.ca/
October 29, 2004
Establish an out of province contact number
Ensure everyone knows a safe meeting place
Emergency supplies
The Scout’s and Guides motto of Be Prepared! could have been the theme of the Pod Leaders meeting held October 29th at the Community House.
Larry Hildreth, overall Pod Coordinator of Metchosin ably directed an evening which included useful information, excellent food and friendly neighbourhood networking.
A video presentation described a series of steps to prepare yourself and your family for unexpected emergencies followed by an excellent dinner of BBQ brisket, squash with rosemary, Wallace potatoes, a superb salad medley and the perfect fall dessert of baked Glen Rosa apples, prepared and served by Emergency Operations, Pod and Community House volunteers. I don’t know how the bears missed the Hammond orchard, but the apples were delicious!
1) Analyze what types of accidents (fire, earthquake, snowstorm, flood) are likely to occur and what you can do about them.
2) Check your insurance policies and know the extent of your coverage. Take photos or videos of your most valued possessions and store important papers and irreplaceable treasures in a safe deposit box or in an alternate trusted location.
3) Establish an out of province contact number of a relative or friend that is to be used by family members to reach each other. In a serious emergency provincial phone lines could be down or overloaded. Make sure children memorize this number and carry it with them at all times and ensure their schools have this number as part of your child’s contact information.
4) Develop an emergency plan with your family. Define hazards within the home, such as heavy objects hanging above a bed or a bookcase that could come loose and cause serious injury. Remove or bolt them to the wall. Remove wood stored against the house-it’s a fire hazard. Consider covering your windows with a film that prevents them from shattering and causing serious injury. Check to see if your walls are bolted to your foundation, bolts should be placed every 6 ft. Check for loose masonry on your chimney. Practice fire drills and plan escape routes. Agree upon a safe meeting place so you will readily know who is or isn’t accounted for. In the case of earthquakes, know the safest locations in each room: under a sturdy object such as a table and inside hallways and doorways. Know where to turn off water and electricity and have a wrench placed near your gas or propane inlet (call a professional to restart gas or propane). Strap down the hot water heater, it can be a valuable source of clean water, as is the water in the toilet tank. Check your stored chemical products, are they in spill-proof containers? Never store bleach and ammonia products together, they combine to form toxic fumes. Keep several small fire extinguishers around rather than one large one. Fill gallon containers with water and set them in the bottom of your freezer, this will help keep your food frozen longer and provide extra safe water (if needed, use 4 drops of bleach per gallon to purify water-let sit 30 minutes). Keep an extra supply of infant, pet and livestock food on hand and sufficient medical supplies to last you at least one week. Keep fit and take a first aid course.
5) Prepare emergency survival kits. One main kit for the house, one for each of your vehicles and Grab and Go bags under each bed. Each Grab and Go bag should carry a first aid kit, flashlight and food and water for 12 hours. Keep a pair of sturdy shoes under your bed. A garbage pail will store a large quantity of emergency supplies, consider filling it with:
flashlight and batteries
radio and batteries or crank radio
first aid kit
candles and matches/lighter
extra car keys and cash (including coins/cards for telephone)
important papers (identification for everyone, personal documents)
food and bottled water (it is recommended to have 4 litres/per person/day)
clothing and footwear (one change of clothes per person)
blankets or sleeping bags (one blanket or sleeping bag per person)
toilet paper and other personal supplies
medication
backpack/duffel bag (or something else in which to carry the emergency survival kit in, in case you have to evacuate)
whistle (in case you need to attract someone's attention)
playing cards, games
Keep a separate kit in your car with the following items:
shovel
sand, salt or kitty litter
traction mats
tow chain
compass
cloth or roll of paper towels
warning light or road flares
extra clothing and footwear
emergency food pack
axe or hatchet
booster cables
ice scraper and brush
road maps
matches and a 'survival' candle in a deep can (to warm hands, heat a drink or use as an emergency light)
fire extinguisher
methyl hydrate (for fuel line and windshield de-icing)
flashlight
first aid kit with seatbelt cutter
blanket (special 'survival' blankets are best)
6) Know your neighbours and check on anyone who might need your help.
Living in Metchosin, many of us feel almost complacent in our ability to come through an emergency. However, taking the time to discuss, plan and implement emergency preparedness with your family will give extra protection to you and your loved ones in the event of a crisis. Like an insurance policy, it will give extra peace of mind.
Consider becoming active in your pod or revitalizing one that has become dormant. It’s a fun and constructive way to meet your neighbours and establish closer ties with your community. Contact Larry Hildreth at 474-1865 for assistance.
If you need a warm and congenial meeting place for a pod gathering, the Metchosin Community House (478-5155), with kitchen and bathroom facilities, is available for only $5.00/hr.
For more information on Emergency Preparedness contact Charlie McNeil at 474-0201 or view www.pep.bc.ca/
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