Monday, September 30, 2013

An Emergency Preparedness Kit Is Easy To Put Together

By Paulette Short


Have an emergency preparedness kit and you will be ready for natural and man-made disasters. They are not difficult to put together and store easily. Just a little planning ahead can save you and your family stress, discomfort, and maybe lives.

In the United States the most common disasters experienced have been due to floods, fire, hurricanes and tornadoes. There have also been winter storms that halted all transportation, power, and cell phone usage. Earthquakes, landslides, Terrorism, and Volcano eruptions have also occurred in the United States.

If you live in an area where nature can cause hardships, educate yourself and family members on warning signs and what to do. Have at least one person trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid. Also have an evacuation plan and meeting place set up before hand. Be prepared and make certain everyone knows where to meet and what to do.

After the storm has passed and if basic services are unavailable, you will be glad you prepared with an emergency preparedness kit. Have plain bleach in your kit along with one gallon of water for each person per day. The bleach can be mixed with water to make a disinfectant or if the water supply becomes contaminated, mix sixteen drops of liquid bleach to one gallon of water for safe drinking. Only have liquid bleach that does not have any scent, additional cleaners, and is not color safe.

Enough food and high protein snacks are also vital. A three day supply of nonperishable food, per person is recommended. Try Military Ready To Eat (MRE) packets. Each package equals one complete self-contained meal. The packages are able to withstand exposure to the elements and rough handling. Protein bars and hard candy would be excellent additions to be used as snacks.

You will need a dependable light source. There are glow sticks good for one use and there is a new product on the market that is reusable. This product can be charged with a few minutes of day light or seconds from an intense light source, such as your flashlight. A good flashlight is still a must as are fresh batteries. A portable radio with weather channels preset are also a good idea.

Do not forget to pack a first-aid kit. You should have plenty of bandages, sterile gauze and dressings, cleansing agent, burn ointment, antibiotic ointment, and sterile gloves. Also include aspirin, anti-diarrhea medicine, any and all prescription drugs being used, scissors, petroleum jelly, and tweezers.

Other items you will need to include are a manual can-opener, a pocket knife, blankets, large garbage bags, and sleeping bags. Take a serious look at your family or life style and determine any other items you will need in order to survive for at least three days. Be ready with an emergency preparedness kit that will fill the needs of you and your family.




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