It's a double whammy for safety this week, as Emergency Preparedness and Safety and Health Week began back on Sunday.

Presenting the double feature to city council last night was Ed Fonger, Occupational Health and Safety/Emergency Measures Coordinator for the city.

He explained that this year, both Emergency Preparedness Week and Safety and Health Week were being rolled up into one conglomerate, seeking to help make people more aware of what it takes to be safe in the workplace, and how to be ready in the event of an emergency that lasts multiple days.

He was especially adamant that even as we exit the pandemic, there were still other emergencies that occurred during the same time period.

"There have been many other emergencies and disasters such as flooding, wildland fires, and severe summer and winter storms," reminded Fonger. "These natural disasters, they continue to increase in size and intensity."

He elaborated on catastrophes like the multi-day power outage suffered by the community in and around Maple Creek, caused by the late winter storm that rocked the area a few weeks ago.

"There is a need to increase the awareness for the people to be better prepared for these situations," stressed Fonger. "In an emergency first response, the agencies focus their efforts where the need is the greatest. That is why individual emergency preparedness is so important to everyone."

He went on to explain how they have been working to teach people how to prepare kits that help people survive without power, running water and other infrastructures. These kits are designed to help stave off the worst of shortages for 72 hours and are easy to learn.

 He spoke about how there is a registration for alerts via the city website, as well as the Saskatchewan Emergency Alert App for cell phones. These services are only used to inform the public about upcoming or ongoing emergencies.

Fonger went on to explain more about the second part of the joint awareness week, in the Safety and Health Awareness section.

Safety and Health Awareness Week has been ongoing since 1997 and is a staple of not only Canada but the U.S and Mexico as well.

"Over the past eight years, we've continued to eliminate hazards before starting any task or job," detailed Fonger. "We continue to invest time and resources into our employees so they are properly trained and of the education, before they start a job."

The cities programs for safety have reduced injuries, and have helped to encourage a culture of safety both on the job and at home.

Fonger summarized "Safety doesn't start at seven, nor does it stop at five. Stay healthy, have a safe week and a safe year."