GET READY 2021 - FOR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS & CARERS
IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD A LOOK AT LAST YEAR’S CHALLENGE - STARt HERE
NOTE: We have given you a heap of information in this section. Please don’t feel like you need to complete it all in one go. Maybe break it up into sections and work through it in bite-sized chunks
WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAMME WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK. SIMPLY CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE A SIMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE
THE PLAN
There is something you need to do before involving the rest of the family. Check out your risk using these links and then talk with your family about your place and its risk.
Check out this video for a reminder:
· For more information http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/know-your-risk
· You can also see bush fire prone areas in your area on your local council website. Look for your Bush Fire Prone Land Map. Check if you live on bushfire prone land at https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/development/mapping/bushfire-prone-land
Now, all together as a household: Discuss what to do if a bush fire threatens your home
Many households find that having a discussion over dinner works best as everybody is together and focused.The key to survival is decision making – don’t leave it to the last minute.You will find the RFS plan by clicking here.
This video helps explain some of the things you will need to plan for:
Some of the following things will be valuable to discuss.
How will we know how much time we have?
Make sure everyone who has a mobile phone has the app: Fires Near Me. Set up a watch zone – alarm to sound if fire is within 25km or whatever distance you feel comfortable with.
Have a race to see who can be the first to work out how to set up a watch zone.
If your Bush Fire Survival Plan says that you will Leave Early, then listen closely to official advice.
NOTE THAT: The RFS will not give evacuation orders but they might say something like “If you are planning on leaving early, now is the time to do so”.
What type of fire is it?
Everyone should learn to identify the different types of fire listed on Fires Near Me and be able to tell the difference between a Hazard Reduction or wild fire and then one under control or one being controlled or one not yet under control. More on Fires Near Me later in the program.
When will we trigger our Bush Fire Survival Plan?
Where will we keep our Bush Fire Survival Plan?
Have a designated area in the house that everyone knows about.
What will make up your home ‘Evacuation Kit’ as a family?
Practice assembling your evacuation kit and have it easily accessible. You might want to have a look at this website for more ideas. Emergency Kit Checklist for Kids and Families | CDC
How will we transport the pets?
FIREFIGHTER’S FRIENDs
Talk these over with your younger children and see if they can become a Firefighter’s Friend. Maybe start by sitting and helping them go through the KIDS Module we have put together.
Triggers for talking and doing – encourage your children to answer these questions:
PACKING
Have a look around your own home and especially your bedroom.
Make a list of the things you would really like to take with you if you had to leave your home in an emergency. Think about how you would pack these and could you carry them yourself if you had to.
Does your family have an evacuation plan for leaving home in an emergency?
Where will you meet?
What will you take?
Practice regularly in preparation for the bush fire season. Give your family 10 minutes to get ready to go and see how much gets packed in that time.
BATTERIES
Have a look at this video and then check the emergency list again. Work with your family to make sure that everything on the list is ready to pack and works:
Evacuation from School
Talk to your children about their school plan when they practice it, where do they go and where you should come to pick them up in an emergency.
GRANDPARENTS
Here are some special things for Grandparents to think about:
The safest of all options is to leave early. Discuss your Bush Fire Survival Plan with your extended family.
Set up a watch zone on Fires Near Me so that you can get an alarm when a fire is within a designated distance from your home. Use it as a trigger for leaving early.
Develop an evacuation plan for when the grandchildren sleep over. Practice it with them.
Ensure your mobile phone(s) are fully charged.
Have a battery-operated radio to listen to emergency warnings if the power goes down.
Watch this ‘Warnings that save lives’ - https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/resources/presentation-audio-video/5672
Everyone remember
Leaving early is the safest option. If you decide to stay, make sure you are very well prepared. It is worthwhile looking at this part of the plan as well, just in case you get caught out and it is too late to leave
Whatever you are thinking, click here for the steps to work your way through the plan (if you haven’t already)
Leave early: and have somewhere to keep the children safe and allow them to play
Having a plan to leave early might prevent getting caught by fire.
Tammy Holmes sheltering under the jetty with her grandchildren. (Supplied: Tim Holmes)
PREPARE YOUR HOME AND GET IT READY FOR BUSH FIRE SEASON: whether you are leaving early or staying.
Try this video:
Involve your children in the fire season preparations so that they can understand why you are doing the things you are doing. It may help allay any anxiety for them to know that your home is well prepared.
GAMES TO PLAY:
Pick up sticks: If you have a number of children around to play organise an emu line across the area you want cleared and have them work together. If only one or two children are together, have them see how many they can collect in 10 minutes. Provide a suitable reward for good efforts.
Simon Says: When you are playing Simon Says could you please add in Stop, Drop, Cover and Roll. This is the protocol for children if they get caught in a fire and their clothes catch fire.
Risk or resource: Encourage your children to use observational skills to identify what you might have on hand which could add to the fire risk or help fight spot fires. Spot the hazard: You could challenge them to find 10 hazards around your property and then plan how you could work together to reduce them. Spot the resource: At another time you could challenge them to find 10 things on hand to fight a spot fire then plan and rehearse, how they could be used.
STORIES TO READ and discuss with your children
https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/stories/the-bushfire-book-how-to-be-aware-and-prepare
Try finishing this story:
http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/viewing/L1275/index.html
TALK THESE OVER with your younger children and see if they can become a Firefighter’s Friend
L’il Larrikins: triggers for talking and doing
CLEAN UP RACE
Have a look around your own garden and see if you have any leaves or branches lying in the garden beds or on your lawns. Burning embers can land in leaf litter and cause a spot fire. Garden litter around your house needs to be raked and picked up regularly. Talk to your family about doing this in spring before the hot, dry summer weather can cause problems.
OFF TO THE TIP
Taking the litter for recycling is safer and better for our environment than burning them. You can only burn off under very special conditions and never in summer without a special permit from a fire service. Talk to your family about going to the tip with your litter so you can see how its recycled to be used again
SPOT FIRES
Spot fires start by flying embers and sparks. Spot fires can cause major damage to your home or sheds. It is important to protect your home from this risk by cleaning up around your home, covering gaps and drainpipes where embers or sparks might cause a fire. walk around your home with your family and see if you can see where embers might get in. Remember embers can be very small.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
Fires can be started accidentally, so being cautious and thinking before acting is important. Often people are unaware that campfires, barbeques, fire pits or anything that causes sparks can be considered bushfire threats, especially on Total Fire Ban days. Talk to your family about making your barbeques safer or camp fires safer when you are holidaying. Make sure you know what a Total Fire Ban means.
CALLING 000
Rehearse with younger ones answering all the questions they might get if they called 000. Please don’t get them to actually call 000 - just pretend. In particular, the address that they are at, a call back number etc. If you live on a particularly long road the emergency services may need to know what the nearest cross street is as well.
We do this regularly and it can be surprising how much children do and don’t know and how often they need to rehearse this to get it right every time.
If you need some help with this the following guide might be handy:
For the Team Teens
Have a look around your home and see how many of these things pose a risk or could be fixed up to reduce your risk. Talk to your teens about these and encourage them to help out for some extra pocket money. Your family needs to prepare well beforehand as leaving it to the last minute is too late.
1. TRIM : Are trees and shrubs overhanging the roof of the house or your sheds or garages. Trimming them can stop the fire spreading to your home
2. MOW: Has the grass around the house or shed grown long or if its been cut recently are their clumps of grass lying around. Can you help clear the area around your home?
3. REMOVE: Is there material that can burn around your home (e.g. Wood piles, mulch, leaves, paint). In the last day before a fire impacts or you leave your property, you could bring the door mats inside and help move your outdoor furniture away from the house.
4. CLEAR: Can you see things growing in your gutters? Is there debris and leaves to be cleaned out from the gutters surrounding your home . Burning embers can set your home on fire.
5. PREPARE: Do your hoses reach all the way around your home? Try it and see. Make sure you put them away again. How reliable is the water at your place?
You could use this spreadsheet with your older children (download here)
To contact your local brigade:
› Ring: Elizabeth Ellis, Community Engagement Officer 0411032712
› Email: brfb@bigpond.com
› Or drop in to the Burrawang Rural Fire Station, 2 Hoddle St, Burrawang on Wednesday night after 7 pm.
Other social media sources for up to date and reliable information:
https://www.facebook.com/rfssht This is a facebook page dedicated to community information for people in the Southern Highlands.
Don’t risk your life to last minute preparations
YOUR SAFETY
IS IN
YOUR HANDS
WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAMME WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK. SIMPLY CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE A SIMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE