When an emergency strikes, you may be forced to leave your home and have only enough time to grab your family and your evacuation kit. There is a good chance that you may not be able to return for a few days and that outside help may not be available for days. When an emergency occurs you will probably not have the luxury of going around the house gathering up needed items, especially if you have to evacuate your home on short notice. Take time now to gather whatever your family needs to survive for three days (72 hours) based upon the assumption that those items are the only possessions you will have. Store these kits in a closet near the front door or some other easily accessible place where they can be quickly and easily grabbed on the way out the door. Your emergency kit should contain the necessary items to sustain life for those first few hours and days following a disaster. When assembling your kit, remember to make it easy to use and portable so that a woman or child could carry it. Sturdy backpacks for adults and older children seem to work best. Include your small children in your planning. They could use a day pack and carry their own personal items. Pack all items in Zip-loc type bags to keep them dry and air tight. This will prevent a liquid item from spilling and ruining other items in your kit and keep rain and other forms of moisture away from the items stored. Fear may well be responsible for more deaths than exposure, hunger and injury combined. Realizing you have fears and that these are normal emotions in unfamiliar situations, you will be aware of t hem and better able to cope with t hem as they appear. Fears can be expected in any outdoor problem situation. Fear of the unknown and fear of your ability to cope with the situation will be foremost, along with a fear of being alone, darkness, suffering, or death. Fear is usualy based on lack of self-confidence and lack of adequate preparation and experience. Knowledge and experience (practice sessions), will help to instill confidence and help to control fear. Water - It is recommended a minimum of two quarts per day for each adult. However, a person can survive quite well on less, and the load of carrying six quarts of water with a pack is great. Outdoor survival course veterans agree that a two-liter bottle should be adequate. Water purification tablets need to be a part of each kit. Food - You should include in your kit a three-day supply of non-perishable food. The food items should be compact and lighweight, in sealed packages. Plan nutritionally balanced meals, keeping in mind that this is a survival kit. Include vitamins or other supplements, if desired. If you have any canned foods, don't forget the can opener. Possible foods for a kit might include:
Shelter and Bedding - It is extremely important to be physically protected from the elements of nature. There are many types of shelter and bedding that can be easily included in your 72-hour kit.
Clothing - Include in your kit one change of clothing and footwear. Be prepared for severe weather conditions. If you have a growing family, remember to update clothing sizes and needs at least once a year. Include a rain poncho, hat and gloves for each family member. First Aid Kit - Be sure to keep your CPR and first aid skills updated. The American Red Cross offers classes in First Aid and CPR that cost little or nothing. Keep your first aid kit well supplied. Take into consideration specific health needs of family members, including prescriptions, medications and equipment. Be sure to rotate as necessary. The following list is some basic medical supplies recommended for a kit. Upgrade it as you increase your training:
Miscellaneous - Some other miscellaneous items that might be very helpful are:
Vital Family Information - In addition to emergency survival supplies, you should also collect vital family information. Each family member should have a laminated personal identification card. This card should include the following information:
In a plastic, water-proof bag or envelope, include copies of important vital records, such as birth and marriage certificates, deeds, wills, titles, citizenship papers, social security numbers, etc. On a separate sheet of paper, include the following information:
Emergency Car Kits - Your car is frequently your home away from home. Anything from a traffic jam to a major disaster could force you to rely on your car for short-term shelter and survival. It is wise to keep simple provisions for emergencies in your car. Be sure to rotate items like, batteries, food, water, etc. Following is a suggested list of items:
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Emergency Fundamentals will prepare people for emergencies at home from natural or man-made disasters by giving them access to emergency preparedness information. They will also be able to purchase products and kits to prepare for these emergencies.
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