A TOWN council has told people not to be alarmed after it sent them postcards urging them to pack a bag ready for emergencies.

Keynsham Town Council is sending households in the town an information card recommending they get a “grab-and-go bag” of essentials together in case of an unspecified emergency.

The card also includes space to write down important phone numbers, and a QR code to locate the nearest defibrillator.

“This initiative is about being prepared, not alarmed,” said town councillor Martin Burton, chair of the town council’s community resilience committee, which developed the idea.

He added: “We hope residents will take a few minutes to complete the leaflet and think about the practical steps they could take before an emergency happens. Being prepared can make a real difference.”

The card tells people to phone the town council for their nearest place of refuge, but the phone number given is a disconnected number once used by a local plumber.

The town council’s actual phone number is 0117 986 8683, one digit different to the number mistakenly printed on the card.

The card recommends that residents pack food and water, medication, a whistle, batteries, a change of clothes, personal toiletries, a phone charger and battery bank, a radio, a torch, a first aid kit, a pen and notepad, and an emergency plan.

The town council said: “The card is designed to help residents feel informed and prepared rather than concerned. It provides practical advice and information that can reduce stress and uncertainty should an emergency occur.”

Flooding, extreme weather, grass fires, a loss of water supply, or power cut were potential emergencies where the town council said the bag could be useful.

It added: “Please don’t worry it’s not because we’re expecting an emergency. It’s simply there to help you think ahead and be prepared should the unexpected happen.”