Emergency planning

Emergencies are happening somewhere almost every minute of every day. Most are dealt with by the police, fire and ambulance services as part of their day to day work.

Sometimes an incident is more serious and needs to involve other agencies – such as local councils, the Environment Agency, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the National Health Service, amongst others. All of these agencies work together to plan how we would respond to and manage any major emergency.

We have plans in place to protect people, communities and the environment in a range of situations, such as:

Plans are regularly reviewed, and the emergency services and other agencies regularly simulate emergency exercises and carry out training.

In the initial stages of an emergency, the priority is to protect life and property wherever we can, and then help communities recover as quickly as possible.

Sometimes a major emergency will only affect one area of the community, at other times it could affect a wider region. Whatever the extent, we will work closely with the media to get information out to you quickly, so that you can assess any likely impact on you and your family.

Severe weather

One of the main challenges over any period of severe weather is providing support to vulnerable people who might struggle to clear drives and pathways to make it to the shops and pharmacies for essential items.

It would be incredibly helpful if all residents across North East Lincolnshire could
think about being a ‘good neighbour’ and check on people who they know might be
affected by the weather and provide whatever support they can.

Practical support in the following areas is likely to be gratefully appreciated by the most vulnerable members of the community:

providing assistance/support to people who can’t get shops for essential food items
providing assistance/support to people who can’t get to pharmacies for essential medication
encouraging all residents to be ‘good neighbours’
helping to clear footpaths and drives wherever practicable
promoting advice on keeping warm during cold conditions
advising people to take extra care and wear boots or shoes with good grip when they go out. (Some outdoor shops sell ice grips that can be fitted onto shoes).

Preventing burst and frozen pipes

The following can help prevent your pipes from freezing:

keep the home as warm as possible, and even if you are out lag pipes in exposed or draughty places
leave the trap door to roof-space open to let warm air flow in
ensure that taps are turned off properly, especially last thing at night
never use an electric, gas or paraffin heater in the roof-space
become familiar with your water supply system now and find the main stopcock which turns off the water supply to your property.

If you think a pipe is frozen but has not burst:

contact a plumber, or, if it is safe, try to thaw the affected pipe using a hairdryer or hot water bottle. Start at the end of the pipe nearest the tap and work away from it. Do not use a naked flame to do this. Be aware of the dangers of electricity and water.
store some water for personal and toilet needs, in case you have to switch the mains water off later.

If you find a burst pipe or have water dripping:

first, switch off your electricity at the mains – but if there is any danger of mains switch being wet seek advice from an electrician first
do not touch any light or power fittings until mains has been disconnected
turn off the water at the stop-cock, if the flow of water cannot be stopped, open all the cold taps to drain the system Phone for a plumber, and if extensive damage is likely, phone your house insurance provider
if the burst is on a pipe from the storage tank, turn off the stop valve in the storage tank, turn on all hot taps to drain the system, allow the fire to burn out or turn the heating off until the burst pipe has been attended to by a plumber
think about the effects of no water or electricity in your house – if you have problems ask neighbours, family or town and parish council for help.

Additional general cold weather advice is available from the Met Office Weather Ready.

The following is Government guidance on staying warm during very cold weather.

Heating your home

To keep warm at home during the day try to:

heat your main living room around 18-21°C (64-70°) and the rest of the house at 16°C (61°F)
heat all the room you use during the day
make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed
set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed
in very cold weather set the heating to come on earlier, rather than turn the thermostat up, so you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up.

To keep warm at home during the night you should:

try to keep the temperature about 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight
open the window or door a little at night for ventilation if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom during winter
never use an electric blanket and a hot water bottle together as you could electrocute yourself
check what type of electric blanket you have – some are designed only to warm the bed before you get in and should not be used throughout the night
make sure your electric blanket is safe to use by getting it tested every three years – the Fire and Rescue Service, Trading Standards, and Age UK can test your electric blanket for safety.

Financial help for heating your home

You may also be able to claim financial help with heating your home, including:

winter fuel payment
cold weather payment
heating rebate scheme
warm front scheme

The DirectGov website provides information on the eligibility of getting help with
heating your home: DirectGov – Help with heating your home.

Wearing warm clothes

You can help keep warm by:

wearing plenty of thin layers, rather than one thick one
putting on a coat, hat, scarf, gloves, and warm shoes or boots when you go outside
wearing clothes made of wool, cotton, or fleecy synthetic fibres
wearing bed socks and thermal underwear at night

Eat well

Eating regular meals will help keep your energy levels up during winter.

Try to:

have plenty of hot foods and drinks
plan your meals and keep your diet as varied as possible
aim to include your daily 5 portions of fruit and vegetables. This includes tinned and frozen fruit and vegetables
stay active
exercise is good for your overall health and it can keep you warm in winter even a small amount of exercise can bring health benefits. If possible, try to move around at least once an hour.

If you really can’t avoid travelling during severe weather the Automobile Association has partnered with the Environment Agency to provide advice on how to stay safe during difficult driving conditions. The information included on their website ranges from how to deal with the heat, to driving in icy conditions. They even have specific advice on how to tackle fords. Go to The AA – Seasonal driving advice.

Industrial accidents

Information on what an industrial accident is, how to report one, what to do if there is
an industrial action and if you are evacuated because of a chemical incident what
should you do.

Large industrial accidents are extremely rare and both the industries and authorities concerned go to great lengths to make sure that if an accident does happen, it can be dealt with effectively and local communities are alerted and protected.

The industries that fall under the Control of Major Accident Hazards regulations 1999 (COMAH) are some of the most closely regulated and safest in the country. Multi-agency emergency plans are in place to ensure that all response and recovery arrangements are implemented effectively should an industrial accident occur.

Dial 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service.

Once connected you will be asked a series of questions relating to the accident you wish to report.

Advice may also be given on what actions you should take depending on the nature of the accident.

If you live close to a large chemical site, you might receive information from the site(s) in your area advising you of the actions to take in the event in an accident.

Generally, the advice in a chemical incident is to ‘Go in, stay in and tune in’. What you should do is:

go into a house or building straight away and stay indoors until you hear an all-clear message
close all external doors, turn off all ventilation and heating systems
close all windows and curtains
tune into your local radio station to receive information and instructions
do not ring the emergency services unless you have a medical emergency, as their telephone lines need to be kept clear
please co-operate with any instructions given by the emergency services
after the all-clear, doors and windows can be reopened and ventilation restored.

On your return home:

open all windows and doors to ventilate your home fully for as long as possible, preferably for several hours
don’t eat any food which was left uncovered prior to evacuation
don’t eat vegetables from the garden until they have been thoroughly scrubbed and peeled
clean all surfaces in the home thoroughly
re-wash any laundry which was left outside on a washing line.

Always listen to advice given to you by the emergency services.

Seasonal and pandemic influenza

Information on what influenza and flu pandemics are, what are the signs and symptoms, how do you catch it, what to do if you develop symptoms, how to protect yourself and how to find out more.

Seasonal flu normally occurs during the winter months. It is a much more serious illness than a cold and it usually results in having to go to bed for several days, feeling very poorly with a high temperature and aching limbs.

Older people and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma) are most at risk of developing complications if they catch the flu. This is why the Seasonal Flu Vaccination is recommended to these groups of people each year.

A pandemic happens when a completely new strain of flu virus develops which noone has built up any immunity against. As a result, the new flu strain spreads very rapidly around the world and affects many people.

A pandemic could start at any time of the year. Existing vaccines will not protect against the new strain and new vaccines take time to develop, and so are not available immediately. The symptoms of a pandemic flu strain are likely to be similar to seasonal flu but may be more severe and cause more complications.

Historically, pandemic flu outbreaks have happened every few decades. The 2009 Swine flu outbreak was an example of a relatively mild pandemic.

Health organisations in the UK and around the world are closely monitoring flu viruses to anticipate a pandemic, and very detailed plans are in place to help people to respond if, and when, a pandemic happens.

The signs and symptoms of seasonal and pandemic influenza are:

high temperature (38.5c or higher)
headache
tiredness
chills
aching muscles
sore throat
loss of appetite

The incubation period (time between contact with the virus and the onset of symptoms) ranges from one to four days. Most people will feel ill for around a week and will probably feel ‘washed out’ for a few days afterwards.

For most people, flu is just an unpleasant experience but it can lead to serious illnesses, like bronchitis and pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.

Flu is mostly caught by breathing in air containing the virus. The virus is passed into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and others can then breathe it in.

Flu is highly infectious and can spread very rapidly from person to person. People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms, though they can continue to spread the virus for around five days – and longer in children.

What you should do if you develop flu-like symptoms?

If at work go home immediately (after informing your manager/supervisor)
Stay at home and do not go to work or school until you are fully recovered
Take medicines, such as paracetamol, to relieve the symptoms – always follow the instructions on the medicines
Drink plenty of fluids
For advice on treatment, contact NHS Direct on 111
Only see your doctor if you get complications (e.g. chest infection) or a worsening of an existing chronic condition.

Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing
Dispose of the tissue promptly, by bagging and binning it, then wash your hands
Clean hands frequently with soap and water, especially after coughing, sneezing and using tissues. An alcohol hand rub could be used as an alternative for cleaning hands if water is not available
Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose, unless you have recently cleaned your hands

Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza

Use normal household detergent and water to clean surfaces frequently touched by hands
Wash your hands when arriving back from outside activities, before and after direct contact with contaminated surfaces, after contact with bodily secretions, before handling food, before eating or smoking
Make sure all members of your family follow this advice.

Flu vaccinations (flu jabs)

Older people and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma) are most at risk of developing complications if they catch the flu. This is why the seasonal flu vaccination is recommended to these groups of people each year.

For full information on NHS eligibility please visit NHS Vaccinations – Who should have the flu vaccine?.

Seasonal Flu Vaccination is now available from many local pharmacies, please visit NHS Find Services to check availability at your local pharmacy.

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