Practical planning
What should you include in a personal emergency plan?
A useful personal emergency plan brings together the person's support needs, trusted contacts, essential information and agreed arrangements. It should explain who will do what, where to find the current information and which questions still need an answer. Build it with the person who will use it.
Where should you start?
Start with an established planning resource and adapt it to your circumstances. Australian Red Cross offers RediPlan for household emergencies. Its guidance covers learning about risks, building connections, organising important information and preparing an emergency kit.
Use the relevant local emergency service's advice for the hazards in your area. The suggestions here are for organising a planning conversation; the actions for a flood, fire or other emergency need to follow current official advice.
Source: Australian Red Cross
What information is useful to discuss?
The following prompts can help a person and their support network find gaps. They are a starting point to work through together, rather than a completed emergency plan.
| Part of the plan | Questions to work through |
|---|---|
| The person's preferences | How would you like people to communicate with you? What helps you understand a change? |
| Everyday support | Which activities depend on a person, transport, equipment or a service being available? |
| Trusted contacts | Who has agreed to help? How can they be reached, and what can they actually do? |
| Important information | Where is the current information kept? Who has permission to access it? |
| Local arrangements | Where will you get official warnings? Which transport or meeting arrangements need checking? |
| Outstanding actions | What is still unconfirmed, who will check it, and when will you discuss it again? |
Avoid filling a blank with an assumption. If transport has not been agreed, record that it needs arranging. If someone has not confirmed they can help, keep that visible. This lets the group distinguish a useful contact from a dependable arrangement.
How do you make the information usable?
Imagine a trusted person opening the plan for the first time. Can they tell whose plan it is, when it was updated and whom to contact? Can the participant understand the plan in its current format? Short headings, familiar words and a clear date can make a document easier to navigate.
Keep specialist instructions linked to their current source. For example, record where an existing professional care plan is held and whom to contact about it, rather than rewriting clinical instructions from memory. Discuss any health or equipment questions with the relevant qualified professional.
Agree how authorised people will reach the information if the usual device or connection is unavailable. A printed copy or another agreed format may be part of that discussion. If you use several copies, decide how to identify the current version and replace old ones.
When should you revisit the plan?
Return to the plan after a relevant change: a new contact number, a move, a different support arrangement or an update to essential information. Also agree a routine review date so the plan does not rely on someone remembering to bring it up.
- Confirm the participant's preferences still match the plan.
- Check that nominated people still understand and agree to their roles.
- Work through one scenario and note where the instructions are unclear.
- Update the date and tell authorised holders which version to use.
Sources and further reading
- Prepare for emergencies and RediPlan resourcesAustralian Red Cross
This article combines the linked guidance with Lifebox's practical planning prompts. It is general information to support a conversation with your support network.
Continue the conversation
Find out about the Lifebox P-CEP Pilot or get in touch with a question about your situation.