Canadian Association of
Nurses for the Environment

Association canadienne des infirmières
et infirmiers pour l'environnement

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Climate Change/Disaster Preparedness Questionnaire (extreme weather events)

Disclaimer:

The PeriPHAT tool is meant to offer tips. It is not for emergencies. For an emergency, please call 911. For non-emergency related health advice, call 811.

What is Planetary Health and Climate Change?

Planetary health is a new term. It describes the global movement to protect and care for human life and the natural systems that we depend on for health and survival. To learn more about planetary health, follow this link:

Climate change describes average, long-term environmental changes across the planet. Examples are warming temperatures and changes in precipitation. Climate change describes the effects of Earth's warming, including rising sea levels and shrinking mountain glaciers. To learn more about climate change, follow these links:

Introduction

The questions in this part of the PeriPHAT tool are designed to help you and your family and community be prepared for a disaster.

General questions (for each table):

The designers of this tool ask the following questions to ensure that this tool is helpful to clients and families from diverse backgrounds, identities and life circumstances.

Western Canada (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) Central Canada (Ontario and Quebec) Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador) North (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)
urban area suburban area rural/remote area
Yes No
Low-income and housing insecure Low income and housing secure Middle income High income You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)
Man Woman LGBTQ+ Two-Spirit Intersex You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)
Indigenous Newcomers Refugees seeking asylum Black Latin-X Asian Person of Colour White You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)

Disclaimer

These may be challenging questions and topics for you to think about. If you are currently struggling with your mental health, please contact your primary care or mental health care provider, local medical or community health centre or call 811 for support. First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Hotline at 1-855-242-3310. If you are feeling suicidal, please contact 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room. You can also call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 988, for help anywhere in Canada.

Understanding dangerous or extreme weather is important to prepare yourself and your family.

Some areas of Canada do not have a stable internet connection, especially if they often have storms.

Yes No I don't know

Climate change is impacting all Canadian regions. Different regions have different outdoor environments, which in turn affect the rates of mosquito and tick-borne diseases in Canada.

flooding (give flooding info)
tornado (tornado info)
severe thunderstorms (info)
Extreme heat (extreme heat info)
wildfires
hurricanes
none of the above
Yes No I don't know
Yes, I have an emergency kit that is checked and maintained regularly with supplies to last 72 hours (3 days) No, I do not have an emergency preparedness kit that is checked and maintained regularly

Do you have a route to take to evacuate? Do you have plans for evacuating children and pets?

Example:
Government of Canada: Your Emergency Preparedness Guide

Yes No I don't know

Is there someone you can call in case of an emergency?

Is this phone number memorized or written down somewhere?

I have someone I can call if I have an emergency I have the phone number of the person I can call memorized or a physical copy of their phone number I do not have someone I can call in an emergency

Do you have young children or pets living in your home?

Select all that apply

Yes, children No children Children up to 3 times a week in my home Yes, pet(s) No pet(s)

Do you have a baby or child that is chestfed, breastfed, formula-fed or relies on donor milk?

Chest FedMilk that comes from the chest of the birthing person. Also called breastfeeding./Breast Fed Formula-fed Mixed FeedingUsing formula and chestfeeding Donor milkBreast milk that is either prescribed or comes from another birthing person’s supply All the above None of the above

Do you or your family members have medical conditions or needs requiring special consideration during a dangerous or extreme weather event or natural disaster?

If so, do you have a list of medications and important information in case of an emergency?

Yes, my family member or I have a medical condition or medical need that requires special consideration Yes, and we have prepared a list of medication and important medical information in case of emergency No, my family members and I do not have a medical condition or medical needs that require special consideration

Do you and your family know where to find community resourcesFor example:
-Local emergency resources
-Evacuation sites
-Practice drills
*HCP completing the form can help the perinatal client look up the information while providing the anticipatory guidance that comes up when the answers are completed. during a dangerous or extreme weather event or natural disaster?

Yes No I don't know

Do you have a member of your family trained in first aid and/or CPR?

Yes No I don't know

Did this extreme weather event/natural disaster impactHave an effect on you or your family in any way you? For example, after an extreme weather event or natural disaster, did you feel upset or worried?

Yes No No, but I worry about it happening again
Yes No I don't know
Yes No I don't know

A) What is Planetary Health and Climate change?

Planetary health is a new term. It describes the global movement to protect and preserve human life and the natural systems we depend on for health and survival. To learn more about planetary health, follow this link:

Climate change describes the average long-term changes over the entire Earth. Examples of climate change are warming temperatures and changes in rainfall and snowfall. Climate change also describes the effects of Earth's warming, including rising sea levels and shrinking mountain glaciers. To learn more about climate change, follow these links:

B) How can extreme weather and natural disasters impact my family and health?

Extreme weather events and natural disasters can affect you and your family in the short and long term. Preparing for these events can minimize the effects.

Information on extreme weather and natural disaster impacts to families:

C) How can I prepare for extreme weather events and natural disasters?

There are ways you can prepare for an extreme weather event. Some simple actions you can take are:

  • Follow Health Canada Weather Alerts
  • Have an emergency preparedness kit ready
  • Make an emergency plan with your family/support
  • Follow the advice of emergency officials
  • Have a feeding plan in place for babies and young children
  • Talk to your healthcare provider, healthcare team or walk-in medical clinic about safe storage and adequate supply of essential medications
  • Ensure vaccinations are up to date

If you want to learn more information, see these links below:

D) Where Can I Learn More About Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters?

Refer to the resources below. Remember that you are not alone and can reach out for more support.

E) Child Safety During Extreme and Pregnancy/Breastfeeding/Chest feeding and Emergency Delivery Specific: Weather Events and Natural Disasters

If you have children in your care, preparing for natural disasters and extreme weather events can look different based on their age and needs. Explore these resources to help you prepare:

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding, and Emergency Delivery

F) Pet Safety During Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters

Prepare for your pet's needs during a natural disaster or extreme weather event. Follow the links below for how you can prepare:

G) First Aid and CPR

To become certified, follow this link - Canadian Red Cross - First Aid at Home Courses. A free online CPR and First Aid course can be found here: Safe and Sound: Free Online First Aid and CPR.