Tips in Preparing Emergency Kits

Emergency kits are essential must haves in every household. In preparing an emergency kit, you need to keep in mind the following tips below.

1)    Choose a container to hold all the essential things you need. Make sure it is portable so that in case you need to leave your house, you do not be having a hard time in carrying your kit.

2)    Include in your package cell phones with fully charged batteries. Make sure you include means of recharging your phone. It could be a car charger or battery packs.

3)    Purchase self powered radios and flashlights. In most emergency cases, you will not have the means to charge batteries.

4)    Glowsticks are much safer than candles especially if there are gas leaks in your vicinity.

5)    Pack your emergency kit with first aid kit. Knowing some basic treatment with minor injuries could bring a big difference.

Apart from preparing an emergency kit, you need to orient and have a drill with your family in case of emergency. Let them know what they should do.

You need to prepare first a checklist of items on what to include in your earthquake kits. To give you a guide, here is a checklist of items that you need to include in your kit:

The Essentials

1)    At least one week supply of drinking water for all the members of the family

2)    A kit for purifying water

3)    First aid kit with new stocks of medicines

4)    First aid manual

5)    Easy to prepare and eat food items

6)    Sleeping bags or big blankets

7)    Flashlight with spare batteries

8)    Spare car and house keys

9)    Fire extinguisher

10) Cash (loose bills and coins)

11) Baby supplies such as diapers, bottles, milk and sterilized water

12) Transistor radios with batteries

13) Sanitation supplies

14) Pet supplies such as carrier or leash

15) Heavy gloves

16) City map

1)    One flashlight per family member must go inside your kit. Put some extra batteries

2)    Include non-perishable food items and water per family member that will last for three days. Your kit must also have utensils of how you will eat your food.

3)    Warm clothes, sleeping bag and heavy blankets per family member must be in your kit.

4)    Tools must be included as well in case you need to fix something or escape your house in time of emergency situations.

5)    A first aid kit must be included in your emergency kit which must have sterile gloves, different sizes of bandages, prescription drugs, thermometer, antibiotic ointment and pain reliever drugs.

Emergency kits are one of the most important investments of a family. You need to prepare for the unavoidable circumstances. You never know when an emergency will strike.

You need to be informed on how to cope with the specific emergency scenario or disaster. You need to be aware as well the risks involve. One of the best ways to be prepared in any given situation is to prepare an emergency kit that will last for 72 hours for the consumption of all family members. Here is a sample list of things that must go inside your emergency kit.

1)    Blankets

2)    Gallons of water

3)    Battery operated transistor

4)    Sterile dressings

5)    Gauze wraps

6)    Antibiotic ointment

7)    Flashlights

8)    Ice packs

9)    Matches or lighter

10) Canned foods with easy opener (no need for can opener)

11) Candles

12) Batteries

13) Food for your pets

14) Pocket tool

15) Travel-size toiletries

An emergency kit will surely save your family’s life if you have prepared one.

1)    You need to identify what type of earthquake kit you need. You need to prepare different kinds of kit such as for your car, home and office.

2)    Consider the other members of your family – your pets’ needs during disaster. You need to prepare a kit for them as well.

3)    If you have a baby or elderly persons in your home, special needs must be addressed.

4)    Apart from the basic needs you put in your kit such as food and water, you need to add first aid kit, thermal blankets, light sticks, biohazard waste bags, flashlight and wrench and other medication.

 After you have prepared your kit, you need to let all your family members know what it contains and where you keep the kit.

You and your family can put up your own survival kits in order to get through these things until the rescue authorities find you. If you have planned your strategies together with your family, it is also important that you place all basic things that you need in your family survival kit. These items should include medical items (band aids, first aid cream, medicines), tools (all around knife, can openers, pry bar etc.), water, flashlights, emergency blankets, candles, tissues and sanitary pads and food bars.

Here’s a list of items that you must include in your earthquake kit.

First Aid Kit

1)    Different sizes of gauze pads

2)    Different sizes of sterile adhesive bandages

3)    Safety pins

4)    Latex gloves

5)    Cleansing soap

6)    Scissors and tweezers

7)    Non-prescription drugs

8)    Thermometer

Supplies and tools

1)    Cash

2)    Battery operated radio

3)    Spare batteries

4)    Flashlight

5)    Plastic utensils and paper plates and cups

6)    Fire extinguisher

7)    Pliers and wrench

8)    Signal flare

Sanitation

1)    Disinfectant

2)    Feminine supplies

3)    Liquid soap

4)    Toilet paper

5)    Garbage bags

6)    Household bleach

7)    Scooper and pop bags

8)    Pail with lid

Self-Protection

1)    Warm clothing

2)    Sturdy shoes

3)    Sleeping bags

4)    Rain gear

5)    Spare eyeglasses

6)    Blankets

Along with survival preparations, the emergency authorities have listed down the necessary items you can put in your survival kits in case you get trapped at home or in the office during these events. These kits are your first line of survival, so you need to make sure you stock up on basic items like food, water, tools and medicines. If you have pets, you will also need to have an extra supply for their needs. Be sure to have well-laid out strategies and through plans if ever there is a need to evacuate from your home to a safer place.

It is not advisable either to drink, wade through or drive through the flood waters. In case of serious floods in your area, your survival kits should be able to get you through several days while rescue is still unavailable. Secure your house and unplug all electrical devices. Move all your essential things up to your upper floor. Do not forget to turn off the utilities if you were instructed to do so.