CanDo StudioFamily emergency card and checklist
A blank card to carry with you, a family contact plan and a supplies checklist, for you to fill in yourself. For the full steps, see the "Family emergency preparedness" and "Staying safe and getting help" guides.
Pocket emergency card
Carry a valid BC Services Card with you day to day. If you have a sudden serious illness and do not have the card, get help first. Do not lose time going home to look for it. Getting the emergency care you need does not mean every cost will be free. When you call for emergency help, give the location where it is happening right now, not just your home address.
Privacy reminder: do not write down your SIN, bank card details, passwords, your full PHN/MSP number or door entry codes. Once the card is filled in, keep the phone numbers and health information on it safe. Share them only when needed, with contacts you trust or with emergency responders.
This template is based on PreparedBC advice on family plans and health information cards.
Before going to a remote area, an island or a First Nations community, ask what number to call there for police, fire or ambulance: some communities in B.C. still have to dial a local 10-digit number instead of 911. Save the number in your phone, and also write it on paper and carry it. See section 7 of Guide No. 40.
Family contact and safe exit plan
Keep this page in a safe place at home | Fill it in after talking with the people involved
If there is a specific, immediate danger, call 911 right away. Do not wait for the agreed check-in time. If there is no immediate danger but you have a specific safety concern, call the police non-emergency number where the other person is, and ask the police to check whether they are safe. You do not need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. Do not force a door open or go into a dangerous place on your own.
Emergency supplies and regular checks
Tick and add items based on what your family really needs | You do not have to buy everything at once
Supplies at home
□ Food and water: plan for at least three days, and a week if you can. Include what children, health conditions and pets need.
□ For water, start with about four litres per person per day for drinking and cleaning, and adjust as needed. This is not a rule for how much to drink each day.
□ Food you can eat without cooking, a manual can opener, hygiene supplies, garbage bags.
□ Flashlight, batteries, radio, power bank and the right charging cables.
□ Medicines you need, glasses and assistive items. Ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist how much to keep and how to store it.
A grab-and-go bag you can actually carry
□ Portable food and water, medicines and a list of them, basic first aid supplies.
□ Phone charging supplies, a flashlight, clothes for the season, items to keep warm, and a whistle.
□ Contact information and maps on paper, secure backup copies of important ID documents, a small amount of cash.
□ Special items and care plans for babies and young children, seniors, people with disabilities and pets.
Regular checks
□ Check expiry dates on food, water and medicines. Update contacts and medication information.
□ Check whether alarms, batteries, power banks, equipment and supplies are still fit for use.
□ Confirm exits, meeting places, local alert sign-up and evacuation routes. Do not actually call 911 to test it.
□ If your phone cannot get through, agree ahead of time who will call for you. Go to a staffed location for help only if you can get there safely.
Source and detailed checklists: PreparedBC. For the full steps, see the "Staying safe and getting help" and "Family emergency preparedness" guides.