Supporting you through wildfires: Tools for pharmacy teams
Wildfire season can bring evacuation orders, air quality warnings and disruptions to health services and medication access. For pharmacy professionals, these emergencies can create significant challenges for both patients and pharmacy operations.
CPhA is here to support you with a growing toolkit of pharmacist-specific resources to help you care for your patients, prepare your practice, and respond effectively during times of crisis.
Tools to help pharmacists support patients
To help pharmacy professionals prepare for and respond to the impacts of wildfires and other emergencies, CPhA has developed a suite of practical, pharmacist-focused resources:
Supporting displaced patients
This resource is designed for pharmacy teams supporting patients displaced/evacuated due to natural disasters. It provides a step-by-step checklist to ensure the continuity of medication therapy and helps evaluate a patient’s urgent needs.
Medication coverage in emergency situations
During emergencies, such extreme weather events, pandemics or evacuations, access to essential medications becomes an urgent priority. This resource summarizes pharmacist prescriptive authority during emergencies and how emergency medication coverage is handled across Canada.
Wildfires resource
A focused handout offering guidance on:
- Counselling patients on reducing exposure and staying safe
- Recommending emergency supply plans and air quality monitoring
- Identifying and supporting high-risk populations
Continuity of care toolkit
This set of operational resources—Ensuring Continuity of Care During and After Emergencies and Top Considerations for Pharmacy Managers—is designed to help you:
- Manage temporary closures and ensure staff safety
- Transfer prescriptions and provide emergency fills
- Communicate effectively with patients and colleagues
- Prepare for surges in demand for medications like inhalers and epinephrine
Emergency preparedness for patients
This Medication Checklist and Grab & Go Medication Bag resource can help patients keep their medication records and supplies organized—tools that are particularly useful for pharmacists when care continuity depends on quick, informed responses.
Staying resilient, staying connected
Every season, pharmacy professionals step up—keeping doors open, answering questions, delivering care and offering stability when it’s needed most. Whether you're navigating a temporary closure, dealing with disrupted supply chains or supporting displaced patients, you're not alone.