How can I prepare for an emergency in my building?

• Test the fire alarm in your apartment every six months. Ask your property manager for a copy of its instructions.
• Make an emergency kit to keep everyone living in your apartment healthy for 72 hours.
• Ask your property manager for a copy of the building’s Fire Safety Plan. Share it with everyone living in your apartment.

What do I do if there is an emergency in my building?

• Call 911 for emergencies.
• If your building has a superintendent or security guard on site, call them so they can meet first responders (police, fire, ambulance) and bring them to you.
  • Without leaving the patient alone, send someone down to the front doors to let first responders in.
• For high-rise building property managers:
  • Staff should ensure that an elevator is ready at ground level when first responders arrive.
  • Staff should also be able to help first responders reach the residents who need them.
• Check local media and monitor social media for updates on emergencies.
• Visit your local police and municipality’s websites:
  • Halton Police
  • Oakville
  • Milton
  • Burlington
  • Halton Hills

Know when to stay inside or evacuate

During an emergency, you may be asked to stay inside (shelter-in-place) or evacuate. In the event of an emergency, officials will advise you on whether you should stay inside or leave.

• Shelter-in-place involves staying in your apartment instead of leaving to find safety. This may happen if there is hazardous material in the air or a toxic substance nearby.
• If the air is unsafe, building staff will close air vents leading into the building. They will also give you instructions using the building’s communications system, if available.
• Evacuation means leaving the building or the area during an emergency. You may receive a notice to evacuate through:
  • your building’s communications system;
  • loud speaker (if first responders are driving through your neighbourhood);
  • your landline phone; and/or
  • the Alert Ready system (which sends messages to televisions, radios and mobile devices).
• Your building’s Fire Safety Plan tells you what to do if there is a fire or evacuation. It also describes how to shelter-in-place. Read the plan to learn how you can stay safe and help first responders during an emergency.