Health Emergency Management BC

Supporting BC health authorities with emergency management leadership

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC) is a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) which provides emergency management leadership and support to the BC health system, including all regional health authorities, PHSA and the Ministry of Health. At its core, HEMBC is working to create a more resilient health-care system that can effectively mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impacts of emergency events. HEMBC works with its partners to ensure the safety of patients and staff and the continuity of health services during emergencies.

HEMBC has three primary program areas:

  1. Health authority emergency management and fire safety support.
  2. Provincial psychosocial services such as the Mobile Response Team (MRT) and the Disaster Psychosocial Support (DPS) program.
  3. Provincial coordination and operations support for the activation of provincial response structures, multi-jurisdictional alignment and deploying emergency medical equipment, supplies and temporary facilities.

Educational resources 

By being prepared, health-care staff can respond more effectively to emergency events to keep patients safe and ensure the continuity of health services. Browse through the resources below and gain useful insights.

Emergency events

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Extreme heat
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Extreme weather
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Overdose prevention and harm reduction
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Wildfires
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Earthquakes
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Floods
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Mass casualty incidents
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Awareness days

 

Emergency Preparedness Week is a national event held each May that encourages Canadians to be ready to cope on their own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency, while rescue workers focus on those in urgent need. This annual campaign is a joint effort of Public Safety Canada and provincial and territorial emergency management organizations. HEMBC promotes Emergency Preparedness Week across the health-care system each year to raise awareness and help staff and clients be better prepared for emergencies.

By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. It is important to:

  • Know the risks:  Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare.

  • Make a plan: It will help you and your family know what to do.

  • Get an emergency kit: During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.

 

 

The Great British Columbia ShakeOut is an annual province-wide earthquake preparedness drill held every October. On the designated ShakeOut day, people across B.C. ‘drop, cover, and hold on’ for about two minutes—the time it might take for shaking to stop during an earthquake. HEMBC encourages and promotes participation in the ShakeOut across the health-care system each year to help everyone practice how to stay safe during an earthquake.

Image result for shakeout bc

Located in an earthquake-prone region, B.C. experiences over one thousand minor earthquakes each year. As health care professionals, we need to be aware of the impact a major earthquake could have on the people we serve and the demand for health services. Preparing today can help with faster recovery and limit the devastating effects of major seismic activity.

If you are not engaged in a critical function involving direct patient care, at the designated time, drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk and hold on as if a real earthquake was occurring.​

While taking cover, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall? What would be damaged? What steps can be taken to make your environment safer? Consider what to do after the shaking stops.

Visit www.GetPrepared.ca for more resources to help you and your family prepare for all types of emergencies.

 
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Inter- and intra- health authority relocation

The Inter- and Intra-Health Authority Relocation (IIHAR) toolkit includes tools and resources that facilitate patient relocation from a site or community-level event, through all stages of preparation, evacuation, transportation, reception, and repatriation. The toolkit embeds a patient-centered, culturally safe, and risk-based approach throughout these phases, and gives considerations to those who are most vulnerable. Review the reference guide to see how the components work together in the toolkit and the terms of use for background on the toolkit, as well as who to contact for support.