Emergency Disaster Survival » Survival Kit

Your Personal Emergency Preparedness Survival Kit

2Eklectik — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:45:04 +0000

Your basic emergency survival preparedness kit will contain the most essential items such as water, food, a battery operated radio and flashlight. But it is also important to remember that other factors such as your particular location (flood, tornado or hurricane zone), your local weather, personal/family medical needs, and pets, will also impact what your survival kit should contain.

In an emergency disaster survival situation, you want to try to be as prepared as possible. It is better to have something and not use it, than to need something and not have it. So in addition to your basic survival preparedness kit, here are a few more items to consider when putting together your survival kit.

Prescription medications for yourself and family members (also note if these are to be taken with food, water, milk, etc)
Eyeglasses and/or contact lenses
Infant formula and diapers
Pet food and extra water for your pet
Copies of important family documents stored in a portable, waterproof container. These could include insurance policies, birth certificates, identification (passport ID page), bank account records, etc.
Cash, travelers checks and change
Emergency first aid reference material
Sleeping bag or blanket for each person (additional bedding if you live in cold climate)
Complete change(s) of clothing including long sleeve shirts, pants and shoes (boots). Again, additional clothing as appropriate for cold-weather climates
Household chlorine bleach (unscented without additives) and an eyedropper. This can be used as a disinfectant (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) or in extreme situations to treat water (16 drops bleach to 1 gal of water)
A fire extinguisher
Strike anywhere matches in a waterproof container
Feminine personal hygiene products
Mess kits, one per person, including paper cups and plates, plastic utensils, and towels
Paper and pencil
Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Depending on your personal requirements, your emergency preparedness survival kit may include some, none, all or more of the items listed. Remember, the most important thing is to not just prepare your survival list in advance, but then to assemble it, since it’s better to have something and not use it, than to need something and not have it.

Emergency Disaster First Aid Supplies

2Eklectik — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:34:34 +0000

Image by Mat Honan

Being prepared for a disaster is the easiest way to improve your chances for survival. Emergency preparedness will also help to reduce the fear, anxiety and losses that are associated with disasters. An important element of any emergency disaster survival kit is a first aid kit.

An emergency first aid kit should contain a variety of basic supplies that will enable you to handle the most typical, non-life threatening injuries. You can either purchase a pre-assembled first aid kit, or create your own. In either case, your first aid kit should contain at least, the following items.

Bandages:

Adhesive bandages of various sizes
5” x 9” sterile dressings
3” square sterile gauze pads
4” square sterile gauze pads
Roller gauze bandage
Triangular bandages
A roll of 3” cohesive bandage
2” wide adhesive tape

Antibacterial Items:

Germicidal hand wipes or alcohol based hand sanitizer
Antiseptic wipes
Antibacterial ointment
Pairs of medical grade, Non-latex gloves

Miscellaneous:

Tongue depressor blades (can be used as finger splints)
Cold packs
Scissors (small, personal)
Cotton balls
Tweezers
Safety pins, assorted sizes
Thermometer
Tube or small jar of petroleum jelly
Sunscreen
CPR breathing barrier (face shield)
First Aid reference manual

This basic list should be customized based on where you live (hot or cold climates) and the most probable type of emergency disaster situation you expect to encounter (do you live in a flood plain, a hurricane or tornado region, earthquake zone, or an area prone to wildfires, to name a few. Additionally, if you or your family members have any special medical needs (such as prescription medication) these should also be included in your emergency first aid kit.

In an emergency disaster situation, there are basic supplies that will greatly improve your chances of survival and an adequate first aid kit is one of them.

Emergency Disaster Survival Supplies

2Eklectik — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:08:01 +0000

The ability to survive an emergency disaster situation does not depend as much on luck, as it does on being prepared. There are several simple steps that you can take immediately to increase your preparedness for an emergency disaster situation.

The first thing you need to consider is if there are any disaster situations that may be specific to where you live. Do you live in a flood plain, an earthquake zone, or a region that is prone to hurricanes or tornados? Each of these events will require you to customize your basic emergency survival kit.

Your basic emergency survival kit should contain the following items:

Water – At least 1 gallon per person, per day, for at least 3 days. This will be for both drinking and sanitation
Food – At least a 3 day supply per person of non-perishable food
A can opener, if your emergency supply contains canned food
A battery powered radio or weather radio with extra batteries
A flashlight or lantern with extra batteries (or fuel)
A first aid kit
A whistle to signal for help
A dust mask, to filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting (like a painters tarp) and duct tape to create a shelter-in-place
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation
A suitably sized wrench and /or pliers to shut off utilities
Local maps

It is important to remember that this is not an all inclusive survival kit, but more of a basic emergency preparedness kit. You will also need to account for unique family needs such as prescription medication, eye glasses (or contact lenses), infant formula and diapers, and pet food, just to name a few.

To insure you have the ability to evacuate at a moments notice, your emergency disaster survival kit should be stored in a portable container, and its contents should be reviewed yearly as your family’s needs change.

Your emergency disaster survival plan should not be based on luck. It is important to be prepared, and a little advanced planning can go a long way to improving your chances for survival.