| EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS - WHO NEEDS IT? Maybe
you have noticed recent government ads about preparing ourselves and our families
to manage for a short period of time without some of the services and items that
we all take for granted. Some of us have already encountered problems with gasoline
shortages due to a refinery fire, and power outages caused by a recent snow and
ice storm. Most of us tend to react to these interruptions in our usual way of
life with anger and a feeling of helplessness. We also are suddenly forced to
recognize how dependent we are on things like a reliable supply of electricity,
fuel, food, and safe water. Without electricity many of us can't heat our homes,
cook a meal, communicate with the outside world, or see to carry on activities
during the long, dark nights. A lack of fuel may also interfere with home heating
and cooking, as well as with transportation to work, stores, etc. When we go to
the grocery store, we expect the shelves to be well stocked with the items we
need. When we turn on the tap, we expect to get clean water for drinking, cooking,
and washing. How will we manage during periods of time when these goods and services
may not be available? Whose job is it anyway to make sure that we have the things
we need? Society has a responsibility to develop plans for providing needed services
to its citizens under abnormal conditions, but we share this responsibility in
terms of planning our own response to unexpected situations. The
Tri-Congregational Parish Nursing Ministry (TC-PNM), which now involves four congregations
(Iona, St. Cyprian's, St. Christopher's, and Trinity Mandarin), is actively involved
in planning designed to help the churches and their individual members be ready
for potential future emergencies (e.g. influenza pandemic). Over the course of
the next few months, watch for educational sessions, pamphlets, and handouts dealing
with general emergency preparation as well as protection and management during
a flu pandemic. With the help of our partner churches, we will provide information
in appropriate languages (English, Mandarin, Cantonese) to ensure that it is "user-friendly"
for all. Please stay tuned to this channel
God
has blessed us in this community with an abundance of resources and the intelligence
to decide how best to use them in promoting and protecting our own and others'
health. It is up to each of us individually, and all of us in the Body of Christ
in this neighbourhood, to accept the challenge of preparing ourselves for potential
emergencies. Then instead of feeling like angry, helpless victims, we can feel
that we have some degree of control in whatever situations arise. | |