What to Include in Your Emergency Preparedness Kit

Juliet D'cruz

Updated on:

 

According to the World Economic Forum, flooding accounts for 43% of all the natural disasters in the world. Storms account for 28% of natural disasters. In the last 20 years, floods and storms have caused more than 70 percent of natural disasters around the globe.

No matter where you live, it’s important to prepare for emergencies and natural disasters that can occur. This guide will discuss some important things you should have in your emergency preparedness kit. Keep reading to learn more.

Food and Water Are Vital

One important thing to keep in your kit is an emergency supply of food and water. A three-day supply of water is the recommended amount. This should include about a gallon of water for each person in your household per day.

In terms of food, you’ll need non-perishable items that can last for months. You should stock up on food that doesn’t need refrigerating in case you have a power outage.

Dry and canned goods are your best option. Make sure you always have extra fruits, and vegetables, canned soups, beans, cereal, pasta, dried fruit, and peanut butter.

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A First Aid Kit

A quality first aid kit is another vital part of your emergency preparedness kit. Your first aid kit should include a variety of items for minor cuts and burns. These should include different size bandages, gauze, disinfectant wipes, and ointments.

Bigger kits can include C-splints and tourniquets to help stabilize broken bones or a sprained limb in cases where accessing emergency care is impossible. Get a First Aid certificate, if you want to make sure you will know what to do in these situations.

Make sure you also keep a 90-day supply of all medication for your household with you at all times. Pharmacies might remain closed during disaster situations, and you want to have access to vital medication as long as possible.

Extra Face Masks and Hand Sanitizer

Times have changed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and this has led to adjustments in the recommendations for your emergency preparedness kit.

Make sure you always keep extra face masks in your emergency kit for added protection from the coronavirus if you need to evacuate to a center. Face masks are also important in emergencies like wildfires and earthquakes. A mask will keep your lungs safe from smoke and dust.

You should also keep extra bottles of hand sanitizer in your pack. While soap and water are best to wash away germs, hand sanitizer is a worthy replacement when you don’t have access to water.

Other Hygiene Products

You’ll also need to keep other hygiene products in your emergency kit. A week’s supply of toilet paper is important in case access to stores becomes difficult in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

You’ll need to keep extra toothpaste, toothbrushes, menstrual hygiene products, baby wipes, and diapers if needed. Make sure you keep this part of your kit replenished. Personal hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness and keep infections away during an emergency crisis.

You Need Light and Heat

Light is one of the first things you lose during a natural disaster. Trying to navigate through the dark can pose a risk to your life, so make sure to keep an emergency flashlight in your kit.

A lightweight headlamp and lantern are good things to keep in your kit when you need to walk through the dark. These are great tools to own regardless. Take them with you on your next camping trip and place them back in your emergency kit when you return.

If a natural disaster occurs during the cold season and you’re left without heat, you’ll need a way to keep warm. A fire starter tool makes it easy to start a fire. With a fire, you can cook, keep your family warm, and send a distress signal.

You Need to Keep the Power On

Losing power during a storm isn’t ideal. You won’t have a way to charge your devices needed to communicate with friends or family, and you won’t be able to keep the food in your fridge cold for long.

Keeping a portable generator in your home is crucial to helping you keep the power on until your utility company can restore service. You can purchase a generator to power your entire home or a smaller one to keep the essentials on. Check out https://www.ablesales.com.au/generators-melbourne.html to learn more.

Other emergency supplies you should keep in your kit include a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, and a solar charger.

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Other Emergency Kit Tools

There are other miscellaneous tools you should have in your emergency kit. A gas container that will keep gas stored in a safe place can help with powering your generator. You can also use your stored gas for your car if gas becomes scarce after a natural disaster.

A multi-use tool is another thing you should always have in your emergency preparedness kit. A good multi-use tool should be able to help you make different repairs around your home. It should include pliers, wire cutters, a knife, and a bottle opener.

A Form of Storage

Quality storage containers are needed to keep all your emergency preparedness supplies safe from harm. Waterproof containers are essential in case of flooding.

Try to keep your storage containers out of the sun to prevent sun damage as well.

Here’s What You’ll Need in Your Emergency Preparedness Kit

This list includes some of the most important items you should include in your emergency preparedness kit. A quality first aid kit is important. You should also invest in a generator to help you keep the power on in case of emergencies.

Check out some of the other blogs on our site if you found helpful tips reading this one.