What You Should Have in Your Emergency Preparedness Kit?

12/5/2022 (Permalink)

The following items are recommended for a basic first aid kit

What Should Be Included In Your Emergency Kit?

If you're planning to be prepared for the next emergency, you'll want to make sure that your emergency preparedness kit is ready. Of course, there are a lot of things that go into an emergency kit, such as food, water, and medications, but here's a list of some of the items you can't forget:

Water

In addition to food, water is one of the most important things to have in an emergency preparedness kit. You should store a gallon of water per person, per day, for three days. If you need to evacuate your home, you should be able to survive on this amount of water for at least 72 hours. The recommended amount of storage for a home is two weeks' worth, but it's better to overstock than not have enough if disaster strikes.

Food 

It is important to have a supply of food for yourself and your family. Preferably a 3-day supply for evacuation, and a 2-week supply for home use.

Your food supply should consist of that doesn’t need cooking or refrigeration as part of your emergency kit. This includes:

• Canned meats, fruits and vegetables
• Cereals and dry foods like crackers, peanut butter and granola bars
• Powdered milk products such as powdered eggs or formula for infants

Flashlight

A flashlight is an essential item to have in your emergency kit. A flashlight can help you to see in dark places, and it will also be useful if the power goes out. Flashlights should have a high-quality, durable light bulb that won't burn out right away. 

Battery-powered radio

Another important tool in your kit is a battery-powered radio. You will be able to use this device to stay informed about the weather, as well as find out what it's like in your area. Most importantly, you'll also be able to use it to find out if there are any severe weather alerts that might require evacuation or other action on your part.

First aid kit

The following items are recommended for a basic first aid kit:

• bandages - adhesive bandages, gauze pads, sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape.
• eye wash and eye pads.
• analgesic gel or sting relief cream to treat insect bites or stings, such as wasp or bee stings.
• antiseptic solution (such as iodine) to clean wounds and prevent infection.

7 day supply of medications 

When you’re preparing for an emergency, it’s important to have a supply of medications and medical items in your kit. The quantity of each item varies based on your family size and needs.

• 7-day supply of over-the-counter medications: Allergy medication, fever reducer (e.g., Tylenol), pain reliever (e.g., ibuprofen), stomach upset treatment (e.g., Pepto Bismol), electrolyte replacement drink mix (e.g., Pedialyte)
• Any prescription medications 

It is also important to have toilet paper, paper towels and hand sanitizer on hand during an emergency. You should also include feminine hygiene products in your kit if you think you might need them.

Copies of personal documents

These include birth certificates, social security cards, passports and other identification papers. They are also useful as a source of information if you ever need to apply for new forms of identification or get in touch with family members following an emergency.

If you want to keep your papers dry during an emergency, it’s best store them in a waterproof container such as a Ziploc baggie or plastic tub. These are widely available at any grocery store.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to preparing an emergency kit. Hopefully this list has given you some ideas about what should be included in yours. If you find yourself lacking any of these items, don’t worry—the best time to prepare for an emergency is now. Just take some time to think about what situations might come up and how they will affect your family or community.