Emergency kits are a basic element of disaster planning, but it’s astonishing how many people we come across that are unclear about what exactly goes into making one. The key elements of an emergency kit are Food, Water, and First Aid Supplies. But which foods? How much water? Find out below:
Water
On average, human beings consume about four liters of water per day, so for three days worth of supplies you’ll need three four liter jugs of water per person. You’ll need to strike the right balance between quantity (more is always better) and available space. Make sure that you store your water in unbreakable, plastic containers. Generally it’s recommended that you keep a minimum of three days worth of supplies on hand for an emergency situation.
Food:
Non perishable food items are the backbone of any well put together emergency kit. Canned soups, fruits and vegetables, dried and powdered foods are all perfect additions. Don’t include anything that needs to be refrigerated. You just won’t have access to that sort of amenity unless you live in the Arctic Circle. High energy foods like peanut butter, crackers, nuts, protein bars, trail mix and health food bars are recommended. You may also want to include vitamins if you take a daily multi vitamin.
More likely than not, you won’t have access to any of the appliances that would normally come in handy for food preparation. As a result, you should stay away from foods that are not consumable in their off the shelf state. For example, pastas may seem like a good idea, but the necessity of boiling water for their preparation makes them impractical. Also remember to include plastic cups, paper plates and utensils.
First Aid:
A good first aid kit should have tensor bandages, sterile wipes, adhesive tape, needles, tweezers, scissors and antiseptic. Pain relievers and other medications are a good addition, but make sure to stay one step ahead of their expiration date.
Other Supplies You May Want To Include:
There are a variety of other specialty items that may also be useful to have in your emergency kit. These include: personal sanitary items like toothpastes, toothbrushes, deodorant, lip balm, comb, shampoo, soap and toilet paper. For safety you may also include: a small shovel, plastic bucket, flashlight, sunscreen, extra money, emergency candles or flares, a whistle, plastic garbage bags, disinfectant cleaner and water purification tablets.
Additionally, you may want to include some emergency preparedness supplies like a battery operated radio, compass, pocket knife, lighter, matches, paper towels, aluminum foil and a wrench or pair of pliers to turn off utilities.
For entertainment purposes you may want to have some books, board games, a notepad with a pen or pencil and a deck of playing cards. If you have small children, you will want to include some of these items to keep them preoccupied and take their minds off a potentially stressful situation.
It is also a good idea to meet at least once a year with your family members to discuss your emergency plans. You should also check your emergency kit each year to make sure that no items have expired or been damaged.
Author Resource:
Scott Mitchell is a fire and life safety expert at WPS Disaster Management Solutions. WPS is an industry leader in disaster training and fire safety planning. Please visit our website at http://www.wps-plan.com
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