Get ready before a disaster hits
Why personal emergency kits?
- To encourage all staff to take an interest in their personal emergency preparedness.
- To assist you in an emergency and facilitate evacuation in an emergency – it may take you several hours to get home.
- To hold your personal emergency items.
- To carry water – it is key to your survival.
Seminars
The University may, from time to time, offer information sessions about emergency preparedness at UC and how the personal emergency kit and other resources can assist you in your own personal endeavours to keep safe during a critical incident on campus.
We will let you know about upcoming seminar dates on this website.
Set up and maintain your UC personal emergency kit bag
Your personal emergency kit bag contains information to help you be prepared for a major emergency event. You can tailor your kit bag to your own needs by adding additional supplies. Avoid including so many items that your bag becomes too heavy to carry comfortably.
ICE cards (In Case of Emergency)
In the event of an emergency, the ICE card informs first responders instantly of your next-of-kin and/or allergies – important information at their fingertips.
We suggest you take the time to fill this card in once you receive your bag.
If you also add these details on your mobile phone under the contact name ICE, this will enable the ICE contact to be called.
Additional supplies to consider adding to your kit
Other emergency supplies you might need include:
- Can opener (manual)
- Clothes – warm and weatherproof
- Contact details for your immediate family (ICE – In Case of Emergency)
- Face and dust masks
- First aid kit
- Food – non-perishable and high-energy items, such as canned & dried packet food, muesli bars, chocolate and sweets (remember to check and replace expired food)
- Medication
- Petty cash
- Plastic bags and containers
- Radio – portable battery powered with spare batteries
- Sanitary items – including hand sanitiser and wet wipes
- Shoes – comfortable walking shoes
- Sunhat and sunscreen
- Tissues
- Toilet paper
- Torch and batteries
- Towel
- Water (3 litres per person per day – refresh the water in your bottle annually)
- Whistle.
Get Ready, Get Through
Be prepared to cope on your own for up to 3 days, or more. This is when you will be most vulnerable.
The information in the 'Never Happens? Happens' brochure in your personal emergency kit will show you how to look after yourself, your family, home, business and community.
Take the time to go through this brochure and develop your own personal safety plan.
For more information on emergency preparedness techniques visit the Get Ready and Get Thru websites.
Where to keep your bag
If you are leaving personal items or prescription medication in your bag, please store your bag appropriately.
The bag should remain on campus and be readily accessible so that you can respond should the University face a major event.
This bag will not serve its function if you cannot lay your hands on it quickly.
Emergency items – other UC staff initiatives
Resqme tools
UC fleet vehicles are now equipped with UC-branded Resqme tools to assist occupants escape in emergency situations by slashing their seat belts and breaking the windows.
This initiative follows the issue of Resqme tools by NZ Police to frontline officers after a dramatic rescue of an occupant of a sinking car in Auckland. The Resqme tool was highlighted on TVNZ's Seven Sharp programme.
For more information please contact the Emergency Management Team
