Prepare to be safe during Emergency Preparedness Week

Each year in May, we recognize Emergency Preparedness Week, a Canadian initiative to encourage people to take action and prepare ahead for emergencies. Some emergencies may be beyond our control but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of the emergencies we might face.

From May 4 to 10, the Health Department will focus efforts on promoting the availability of potassium iodide tablets, also known as KI pills, to ensure our community is prepared in the highly unlikely event of a nuclear emergency occurring in the region.

Durham Region is home to two nuclear generating stations – one located in Clarington, the other in Pickering. Area residents and businesses located within 10 kilometres of these stations, are encouraged to ensure they have a supply of KI pills available.

KI is a stable iodine salt that is effective in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in the event of a radioactive iodine release when taken at the recommended dose.

Newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant and breastfeeding individuals are at the highest risk of negative health effects to the thyroid from radioactive iodine. These individuals should be the first to receive KI tablets in the highly unlikely event of a nuclear emergency.

Area residents can also find information about KI pills in 10 different languages at preparetobesafe.ca.

I’d like to remind everyone that being prepared to respond, whether an emergency is big or small, is important in handling any urgent situation to protect yourselves and others.

For more information or to obtain a free supply of KI pills, visit preparetobesafe.ca or call Durham Health Connection Line at 1-800-841-2729.