SUPPORT FOR ALBERTANS AFFECTED BY WILDFIRE. Help in a stressful time.

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Randall Flowers
7 years ago
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1 SUPPORT FOR ALBERTANS AFFECTED BY WILDFIRE Help in a stressful time.

2 There are resurces available t help yu and yur lved nes cpe with stress in difficult times. We re here t help. It s nrmal t feel stress. This is a difficult time fr thusands f Albertans directly r indirectly affected by the wildfires. Warning signs yu may nt be cping well include: Thinking abut the disaster r traumatic event all the time. When yu are stressed, yur bdy respnds as thugh yu are in danger. It makes hrmnes that speed up yur heart, makes yu breathe faster and gives yu a burst f energy. Hwever, this reactin can leave yu feeling physically, mentally and emtinally exhausted ver time. Everyne wh ges thrugh a traumatic event is affected in sme way. While yu are cping with a disaster r emergency, it is nrmal t have symptms f stress. Fr sme peple, the signs f stress may nt appear until weeks r mnths after the event has happened. Having flashbacks t the event. A change in yur sleep pattern (sleeping less r mre; waking up thrugh the night; having nightmares r nt sleeping at all). Aviding peple r activities that yu usually enjy. Using alchl r drugs mre. Changes in appetite (eating mre r less than usual). Feeling hpeless. Feeling mre wrried r frustrated mre than usual. Having thughts abut harming yurself r suicide (call 911 if this ccurs).

Warning signs yu may nt be cping well include: Thinking abut the disaster r traumatic event all the time. When yu are stressed, yur bdy respnds as thugh yu are in danger.

3 There are resurces available t help yu and yur lved nes cpe with stress in difficult times. We re here t help. Steps t REACT t stress While yu cannt cntrl a stressful situatin, yu can cntrl hw yu REACT t it. Remve yurself and yur lved nes frm danger. Finding shelter, water, and fd is the first step t cping. This can help yu feel emtinally safe. Eat nutritius fd and drink water. Stay away frm fds r drinks that have a lt f sugar r caffeine. These fds r drinks may give yu a quick bst, but end up making yu feel mre stressed afterwards. Try t drink 250 ml (1 cup) f water every tw hurs during the day. Check that there are n bil water rders in place fr yur cmmunity at Activity. Find balance between activity and rest. Physical activity can help yu feel calmer and cpe better. Walking fr 15 minutes makes the brain release chemicals that help calm yu s that yu cpe better with stress. Get enugh sleep. T little sleep can make yu feel verwhelmed, which makes it hard t cpe. If yu need t, take 15- t 45-minute naps during the day. Dn t nap after 6 p.m. s yu are tired at bedtime. Cnnect. Find ways t help thers when yu can and accept help frm thers. Yu are nt alne; helping each ther builds cmmunity and hpe. Talk. Let friends and family knw where yu are and hw yu are ding. Talk t family, friends, r supprt wrkers abut hw yu feel. Realizing that yur feelings are a nrmal respnse t an unexpected event can help yu in yur recvery.

This can help yu feel emtinally safe. Eat nutritius fd and drink water. Stay away frm fds r drinks that have a lt f sugar r caffeine.

4 There are resurces available t help yu and yur lved nes cpe with stress in difficult times. We re here t help. Yur child needs yu mre than ever All children and teens respnd differently t a disaster r traumatic event. Help yur child learn t cpe with feelings like anger, fear, guilt, and helplessness, t strengthen yur family s ability t cpe with a traumatic event. Help yur child learn wrds t describe and talk abut his r her feelings. Plan regular family meals and have each persn share at least ne psitive thing that happened that day. Ask yur child what makes him r her feel stressed. Teach yur child t knw what he r she can and can t change r cntrl. Limit repeated r cnstant expsure t distressing pictures, TV, r radi reprts. If yur child watches r listens t reprts abut disasters r traumatic events, watch with him r her. Afterward, talk t yur child Let yur child express himself r herself. Listen t yur child s feelings withut judging. Let yur child knw that yu will prtect him r her frm danger. abut what he r she saw t help make sense f the events. Teach yur child hw t call fr help and memrize emergency numbers. Children need guidance, perspective, and reassurance during traumatic events.

Help yur child learn t cpe with feelings like anger, fear, guilt, and helplessness, t strengthen yur family s ability t cpe with a traumatic event.

5 There are resurces available t help yu and yur lved nes cpe with stress in difficult times. We re here t help. Take life ne day at a time Fcus n what needs t happen tday. Decide what s imprtant. It can be easier t cpe if yu break dwn big challenges int smaller, manageable steps. Find a reliable surce fr updates and infrmatin. Take regular breaks frm listening t r watching news reprts. Thinking and talking abut the events t much can make yu feel mre stressed. Decide what can wait fr tmrrw r later. Make a list f what yu need t d t keep Find ut when t apply fr relief funds. yu and yur family safe and cmfrtable. Make a list f key cntacts and keep it with Access supprts fr yu and yur family. yur t-d list. Yu are nt alne. Fllw yur rutines as much as pssible. Rutines like mealtimes, bedtimes, and dayt-day activities can help yu feel calm and in cntrl.

Thinking and talking abut the events t much can make yu feel mre stressed. Decide what can wait fr tmrrw r later. Make a list f what yu need t d t keep Find ut when t apply fr relief funds.

6 There are resurces available t help yu and yur lved nes cpe with stress in difficult times. We re here t help. Imprtant Phne Numbers MENTAL HEALTH HELP LINE Staffed 24/7 by health prfessinals, the Mental Health Help Line prvides: Crisis interventin. Infrmatin n prgrams and services t help yu manage stress and anxiety. Referral t ther agencies where apprpriate. HEALTH LINK ALBERTA Staffed 24/7 by health prfessinals, Health Link Alberta can refer callers t prgrams that can help yu manage stress and anxiety, including cmmunity prgrams nt affiliated with Alberta Health Services. Call tll-free at 811 Call tll-free at If yu are having thughts abut harming yurself r suicide, please seek medical attentin immediately, r call 911.

Infrmatin n prgrams and services t help yu manage stress and anxiety. Referral t ther agencies where apprpriate.

7 There are resurces available t help yu and yur lved nes cpe with stress in difficult times. We re here t help. Other Cntacts POISON & DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE ALBERTA GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY UPDATES ALBERTA SUPPORTS CONTACT CENTRE (Helping yu find and apply fr family and scial supprts) HIGHWAY CONDITIONS AND CLOSURES 511 RED CROSS (Evacuees and family members lking fr evacuees) ALBERTA EMERGENCY ALERTS If yu are having thughts abut harming yurself r suicide, please seek medical attentin immediately, r call 911.

cfm ALBERTA SUPPORTS CONTACT CENTRE (Helping yu find and apply fr family and scial supprts) 1-866-644-5135 HIGHWAY CONDITIONS AND CLOSURES 511 RED CROSS

8 There are resurces available t help yu and yur lved nes cpe with stress in difficult times. We re here t help. Call 911 if yu are having thughts abut harming yurself r suicide. Fr nn-emergency health advice, and infrmatin, call Health Link at r visit LOCAL NUMBERS:

Call 911 if yu are having thughts abut harming yurself r suicide.

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