Media Release

Monday 28 November 2016

Southern DHB staff preparedness helps good cause

Southern DHB staff are putting foodstuffs from their household preparedness kits to a good use this Christmas.

Staff are being reminded to update their household preparedness kits and at the same time donate their near-use-by date non- perishable food items from their kits or cupboards to the food banks to replenish stocks in the lead up to Christmas.

Four years ago Southern DHB Emergency Management Manager, Paul McNamara came up with this great idea and the DHB has run the scheme each Christmas ever since.

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“The aim of the scheme is to highlight the need for staff to be prepared for emergencies by having adequate supplies of food, water and other essentials at home. It’s also a great way to give something back this time of year to food banks.

“The recent earthquakes are a timely reminder about personal readiness. No one knows when the next emergency event is going to happen, nor what shape that event will take. However, there are still some basic things that you can do to help ease the impact of an event, and this scheme is a good way of reminding people what they need to do to get through such an event,” said Paul.

Collection points have been set up at Dunedin Hospital and Southland Hospitals main reception areas, at Lakes District Hospital, and in the staff cafeteria at Wakari Hospital. The scheme will run until mid-January and members of the public are also more than welcome to donate too.

Civil Defence Emergency Management recommends that a minimum of three days’ supply of food should be maintained in household preparedness kit. The Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management website shows how easy it is to personally prepare in three easy steps providing a guide of the things people need to consider and have, to better respond in an emergency.

ENDS

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