Things to Have in Your Emergency Preparedness Kits
By now I think, we all know that Emergencies can happen at any time. That is why, you should have an Emergency Preparedness Kit at home, which would provide you with essential items for at least three days, if a disaster would hit. What items should you pack into one of those kits? Well, that depends on the size of your family and your family needs.If you take prescription medications, have a small kid or special needs family members, make sure you adjust your kit accordingly.
Water
Store at least one gallon per person per day. If you have small kids and special needs family members, you will need to store more. Preferably, your water should last you for at least seven days, and if you are out in a hot environment you will need to consume more water. The same is true for infants and special needs family members. Make sure you store your water in clean, plastic containers.
Food
Pack canned food like tuna, vegetables, fruit, juices, milk and soup. Other good items to put in your kit are peanut butter, crackers, jelly, granola bars and trail mix. Comfort and stress foods are also good items to pack and will calm your nerves at least for a little while. Chocolate, hard candy, cookies, cereal, instant coffee or tea bags are only a couple of things you can also include.
Medication
In addition to your precription drugs (make sure you ask your pharmacist about storage), you should have the following items
like pain-relievers and stomach remedies.
First Aid Kit
If you buy a first aid kit at the store make sure it includes different sizes of band-aids, antibiotic ointment, scissors, antiseptic wipes, instant cold and hot packs, non-latex gloves, cotton swabs, splinter material, surgical masks, gauze pads, tweezers and adhesive tape. Also, make sure you pack sunscreen lotion and mosquito repellant.
Other supplies
Flashlights, now a days you can buy flashlights, that don’t need batteries, all you got to do is shack them and they are ready to go. If you are using battery operated flashlights, make sure you pack extra batteries. The same goes for the radio, or you can get yourself a radio, with a hand crank.
Other things you should store are:
-matches (in a waterproof container)
-whistle
-paper and pencil
-non-electric can opener and utility knife
-plastic utensils, paper plates and cups
-cash, checks and change
-shut-off wrench (for your gas and water)
-tape
-needles and thread
-Map of your area
-aluminium foil
-plastic storage containers
-personal hygiene items (like soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, brush and feminine supplies)
-toilet paper (wet wipes)
-plastic garbage bags
-hand sanitizer
-chlorine bleach
-if you wear glasses, pack an extra pair
-compass
Family documents
Those are important documents, that you should put into a waterproof, portable container. You might want to put each document in an extra ziploc bag.
-will, insurance policies, stocks and bonds
-social security cards
-passports
-immunization records
-credit card and bank account numbers and contact information
-important phone numbers
-birth, marriage or death certificates
-inventory of all of your valuable household goods
Clothing
Pack at least one complete change of clothes for each person in your familiy, including a pair of sturdy shoes.
Furthermore, raingear, blankets, a hat, gloves and thermal underwear should be included.
Infants
Include items like
-diapers
-formula
-medicine
-bottles
-powdered milk
-baby food
After you get all these things together, you want to put it in a plastic, garbage can or other plastic, watertight containers or airtight plastic bags.Make sure every family member knows where the kit will be stored. You will also have to inventory, change and switch out your food and water supplies. About every three months you want to do this with your food supplies and every six months with your water supplies. Also, check the batteries and switch those out if needed. You will also have to update your clothes, to make sure you have clothes packed that will fit.You might also want to pack and keep a smaller kit in your car and your work place, if that is possible.
Before an emergency, make out a family disaster plan, talk to family members about what to do in case of an emergency.
