Sure, you have a first-aid kit and a couple
of canned goods in your kitchen cabinet. But, do you know which items you’d
need most in an emergency?
In the event of an emergency, most of the
time we find ourselves either cooped up at home or need to evacuate to a different place for a couple of days. During this time, there will be limited
availability of resources, forcing you to go for days without basic
necessities.
It can be hard to imagine several days (or
week) of no electricity, no internet or running water. But during an emergency,
there are endless possibilities of what might happen. That’s why you and your
family should have an emergency plan and supplies to be ready for any type of
disaster.
Here’s a look at some of the must-have
items for your emergency kit:
1. Food
Ready.gov suggests keeping three days'
worth of nonperishable food. But to be safe, keep at least two weeks' worth of
food on hand. Look for foods that do not easily spoil and easy to prepare, such
as canned meats, peanut butter, protein bars, and powdered milk.
2. Water
Water is one of the resources you will want
to secure as soon as you find yourself in an emergency situation. Humans can
last about three weeks without food, but only three days without water.
Water is needed for drinking and
sanitation, so it’s recommended to store at least one gallon of water per
person, per day to stay clean and hydrated.
3. Personal Care
You never know how long you’ll need to coop
up in your home or in a shelter, so having an extra soap, shampoo, toothpaste,
and other personal care essentials won't hurt. In my experience, it's always to
be over-prepared than not.
4. Power and Technology
It’s more likely to have your power knocked
out for several days when an emergency or a natural disaster happened. Be sure
that your emergency kit includes extra batteries for flashlights and other
emergency gadgets. With no access to an electrical outlet or reliable power,
the next-best option is to have a solar charger that can provide power with
only a day's worth of sun.
5. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is a must-have in any
emergency plan. The Australian Red Cross recommends regularly checking the kit
contents and expiration dates, to make sure that you have everything you need
in one durable plastic container. The Red Cross also recommends stocking a
first aid kit both in your home and in your car.
Your first aid kit should contain these 10
essential components:
·
Adhesive strip dressings
·
Wound dressing
·
Elastic/Non-elastic bandages
·
Swabs and disposable globs
·
A pair of scissors
·
Tweezers
·
Relief ointments
·
Adhesive tapes
·
A thermal blanket
·
Medications
A little preparation could mean the
difference between life and death during emergencies. It is strongly recommended
that at least one household member is trained in first aid to keep the whole
family safe.
First Aid Darwin offers a number of
courses, designed to help you understand and use first-aid techniques. For more
information, please visit https://firstaidcoursesdarwin.com.au/
or call our office 1300 480 752.
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