No matter where you live or who you are, emergencies can and will happen. Therefore, it’s important to be prepared before a natural disaster or another problem occurs. You should always keep emergency preparedness items in your home at all times, no matter where you live. The following five items can help you survive if you have an emergency.
Food
Being in a natural disaster means you might not be able to head to a grocery store for a long time. If this happens, you’ll need enough food to last at least 72 hours. Some foods to pack include high-energy foods, peanut butter, fruit or protein bars, canned juices, and dried fruit. Having a sufficient amount of food means you can stay stronger for the days ahead. It’s a good idea to pack a 72-hour kit for each member of your household. This will ensure there’s enough food for each person for a few days until you are able to receive more help.
Water
If a disaster strikes, you might not have access to clean water for sanitation and drinking. Storing at least a two-week supply of water for the whole family is smart. Be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight and replace it with fresh, clean water every six months.
First Aid Kit
Whether someone gets seriously injured or has a minor cut or scrape, it’s wise to keep a first aid kit handy. It can be especially useful for dealing with broken bones or other serious injuries while you wait for the arrival of emergency responders. Items to put in a first aid kit include adhesive bandages, tweezers, and an emergency blanket, among other things. Make sure you are always keeping inventory of your first aid kit. If you have to use items in it, make sure you replenish it quickly to keep it fully stocked at all times.
Flashlight
When a natural or man-made disaster strikes, the first thing to go out is often the electricity. To avoid being stuck in the dark, you’ll need a flashlight. Plus, having a flashlight can help rescuers find you. You will also want to make sure you have plenty of extra batteries for your flashlight. You may want to get a flashlight for each member of your family. A generator can also help you get some light if you run out of battery power, so it’s a good idea to have one in your home.
Cell Phone
When you’re stuck in an emergency situation, a cell phone can make it easier to call 911 or someone else for help. Indeed, you or someone else could be injured and may need medical attention. Remember to add a backup battery and chargers for your phone just in case. But if you’d rather not put together an entire emergency kit, you can purchase one of the useful custom disaster survival prep kits online. This means you won’t have to take extra time and effort to do it yourself.
Taking everything into account, having the right items in your home emergency kit is a smart way to be prepared. After all, you never know when a medical problem could arise or you run out of food or water. Other items to put in your kit are a whistle, manual can opener, a multi-tool, and various others. Look for resources online for more tips of what you should keep in your home in case of an emergency. It may seem excessive to prepare for emergencies, but you will be glad you did.
