How your New Year's resolutions could keep you safe
Think emergency plans, emergency kits and first aid training
The Canadian Red Cross is hoping Islanders will keep safety in mind in setting their New Year's resolutions.
In a news release on Tuesday, the Canadian Red Cross shared a list of safety-related resolutions with Islanders.
"A lot of people make New Year's resolutions that they end up never keeping because they weren't practical or just not achievable," said Dan Bedell, the Atlantic communications director for the organization.
"And something like committing to taking a first aid training course is something that anybody can do."
Emergency kit
Making a family emergency plan and kit made it to the top of the organization's list. Bedell said it's a key way to ensure safety in the year ahead.
"The one thing that almost all cases have in common is that people didn't think this would happen to them," he said
"People don't often think for example that they know there could be an evacuation order issued in their area because of something that's happened on the road, a transportation incident or a chemical leak," Bedell said.
These are skills you'll have for life.— Dan Bedell
He said when it comes to packing your kit, selecting the items that will be most useful to you in an emergency situation depends on who your household is comprised of and what their specific needs are.
Bedell noted that additional tips on how to put together an emergency plan or kit are available at the organization's website and app.
Education
Another safety-related resolution suggested by the Canadian Red Cross is for people to make more of a concerted effort to educate themselves on safety.
Some of the easiest ways to become more educated on safety, Bedell said, is to sign up for a first aid course or swimming lessons.
"These are all basic lifesaving skills — you never know when you may be confronted with a situation where you need first aid skills for a member of your own family or for someone at work or for a complete stranger, it does happen," he said.
"Just a bit of proper training, it only takes a day or two to go through a standard or basic first aid course and these are skills you'll have for life."