Emergency Supplies Information and Emergency Preparedness Ideas

For many people, it’s difficult deciding what kind of emergency kits to purchase. After all, there are so many options available, and you have the added pressure of knowing the safety of your family very well may depend on the quality of the products that you choose. With that in mind, make sure that you have the following items at your immediate disposal.

For one, always make sure you have access to clean, safe drinking water. This is perhaps the most important factor in staying healthy and safe. In a similar vein, you also want a store of non-perishable food. In your emergency supplies, don’t forget to also include a light source such as matches, lighters, or candles. You’ll also want to be stocked with a high quality first aid kit in case anyone sustains injuries during the disaster.

Emergency lighting is as important as food and sanitation in times of disaster and other unpredictable circumstances. Just imagine how hard it is to locate mountain climbers who fall through traps or slip down deep ravines if they do not have a shake flashlight or emergency light wand. Do you think people who live in high-rise apartments will be able to properly evacuate in case of fire or disaster if their building’s stairwells do not have emergency light? Indeed, people take the importance of light or electricity for granted. They only realize its significance when they are in a tight and dark situation.

Emergency lighting devices are useless if they are just kept in places where they are inaccessible. Even if you do have a lot of flashlights lying around in your home, but you placed them inside storage boxes in the attic or, worse, you do not know where they are, then these things would not be of any help to you under urgent situations. So, aside from making sure that everyone in your family has their own handy flashlight, you also need to make sure that these lighting gadgets are located or kept in places that are accessible to every member of your household, including your five-year-old kid. Moreover, your housekeeper or babysitter should also know where emergency supplies, including flashlights, lanterns and rechargeable lamps, can be found even if you are just going away for a few hours.

Another important thing to remember is to provide extra batteries for your emergency lighting system. There is no use having a lamp or heavy-duty flashlight if they do not have power. Thus, you need to regularly check these gadgets and make sure that they are charged or they have batteries. It may also be a good idea to keep a shake flashlight or emergency light wand in your car, RV, and even in the office.

See our “Lighting and Heating” category on our web site and you will learn that emergency lighting is also an important travel device. If you love to go camping, fishing, spelunking and even when you sleep in a hotel or rent a cabin, you need to prepare yourself and your family for any eventuality. It is wise to invest in fuel tablets, solar blankets, dynamo flashlights and radio whenever you are visiting a place or area that is new to you or is located in far flung areas. While traveling overseas, bringing a small or handy flashlight or mag light is also a very good idea.

If you were forced to rough it in an emergency situation or evacuate from your home how portable are your emergency supplies?   If the emergency shelters are full, you will quickly discover that you will need to provide a shelter for your family.  You can pack a tent or pack several tarps and a rope to rig up a temporary shelter.  Your shelter should be able to withstand the wind and rain.   Also, make sure that you have portable cooking equipment and a good lighter or matches. 

You should store your emergency gear and supplies in buckets, sealed bags and/or backpacks.  For many families this would mean hiking backpacks are best.  If you are evacuating by car you will want to be sure your emergency gear and your families emergency kits fit nicely in your car and don’t forget to consider the special needs of your family members. 

I suggest you take your pet with you and I would buy a pet emergency kit and supplement the kit with items particular to your pet.

Make sure your pet’s vacinations are current and you have a copy of their records.  You will need them especially if you do decide to use a boarding facility. 

Also, make sure that your pet’s collar has your cell phone number listed on it.  This will prove especially important in rescuing your pet quickly should you become seperated during your emergency evacuation trip. 

With respect to places that will take your pet.  Check out dogster.com, catster.com, and petpop.com for sitters.  These sites are useful in other respects besided pet sitters.  Nancy

With respect to emergeny evacuations for pets you will need to have a place to stay that will welcome you and your pet too.  Your relatives or friends may be able to help you.  I would suggest that you check out dogfriendly.com as they recommend places that have pet friendly accomodations.

What is in your first aid kit?  The Red Cross suggests keeping a first aid kit in your home and another in your car.  There are a lot of first aid kits available today.  You probable do not have to buy a first aid kit if you would rather make your own.  Here is my recommended list of items that should cover 90% of basic care.  You can also add items you feel are important.

Bandages & Medical Supplies:  Two 4 by 6 absorbent compression dressings, 30 adhesive bandages in assorted sizes, one large roll of cloth tape, an assortment of gause pads, and an assortment of roller bandages, 10 packets of antibotic ointment, 2 packets of hydrocortisone ointment for bee stings and rashes, and aspirin. 

Protective Gear: A breathing barrier with a one way valve and some latex gloves.

Additional Supplies:  a couple of space blankets, scissors, tweezer, a first aid book, an oral thermometer, and a list of emergency phone numbers.

I live way up north in Minnesota.  It makes sense to me to keep some Canadian bills in my emergency cash, along with my passport.  If I had to move fast changing currency is only going to slow you down.  Really there are not too many scenarios that would require you to leave the county, but why close that option.  Having the extra cash is the important thing for most people to remember.

I totally disagree with the last comment.  If you have ever been through a disaster it is important to have copied and kept secure somewhere your important documents, lists, medical information, and contacts.  You need to keep these documents in a sealed plastic bag.  This will save you from having to track them down if you lose everything you have and also the time and hassle.

I looked at your printable emergency forms on your web site in the free information.  They are good and a lot of people will use them.  Nevertheless, I would suggest putting all of your emergency contact information, checklists, and plans on a zip drive.  Thats my preference since I travel with a lap top most of the time.

Triage is defined as the act of prioritizing patient according to the severity of their injuries. The idea behind a triage system is that it allows the medical personnel to treat as many patients as possible in situations where treating them is difficult due to situation, terrain, or shortage of medical personnel. Triage kits and their use are an essential part of the success of any triage operation.  You will want to obtain a basic triage kit to set up your operation.

A triage kit contains a number of items essential to any rescue and medical situation. Safety vests and colored tape to designate the different levels of severity of injury are just scratching the surface of triage kits and the use. The levels of a triage unit are generally minor, delayed, immediate and morgue/deceased. Those defined as having minor injuries obviously don’t need urgent help. Patients who are diagnosed as delayed can wait for transport to a hospital. Those diagnosed as immediate are taken to hospitals right away. For those morgue patients, body bags will be needed. Also included in a triage kit are a book on setting up your triage unit and how to perform common operations. You will also want to obtain the tools necessary for quick and efficient CPR as well as a portable stretcher or two or three for easy and quick evacuation of the most seriously injured patients. Triage kits and their use are something most of us hope never to need. But imagine the moment arises that your community needs to set up an emergency triage unit and you’re able to help. Nothing will feel more fulfilling in that situation. Being able to contribute supplies such as your trauma kit or solar blankets to keep the patients warm in the field operation will be invaluable to your community in its time of need.  

In most cases of natural disaster situations such as earthquakes, non medical personal will find themselves involved in a type of triage known as S.T.A.R.T. which stands for simple triage and rapid treatment. This is simply designed to identify the injuries quickly and get the most seriously injured to hospitals for full care as soon as possible. That’s why it is important for volunteers to know the ins and outs using a triage kitalong with other items in your emergency kit.

As you plan and review your emergency supplies, take a look around your home for a few tools that you can include.  If your only going to add one tool to your emergency kit add a multi-tool.  Leatherman makes great multitools.  You can find these at most good camping supply stores on the web.  It is important to have a basic tool kit at home and in the trunk of your car so you can make basic repairs. A few good screwdrivers like a flat head and philips in different sizes, a hammer, a sharp knife, a hatchet, and some basic tools to shut off the water and gas.  It is important that you have the tools and knowledge to protect your family.

I would recommend at a minimum you have one gallon of water for each person included in your emergency kit.  I saw a FEMA web site that recommended two.  I think one is more than enough for clean up and drinking.  Its the most important thing you can do.  You can use one gallon containers or small pouches or bottles.

 After the water then you need three days of emergency food for each person in your party.  One great option is to use food bars or military MRE’s (Meals ready to eat).

After you have the food and water covered, I would just buy a good emergency kit and supplement the kit with the following items, if they are not in your emergency kit.  You may need a mess kit or disposable bowels and silverware; a good flashlight; hand sanitizers; garbage bags; emergency blankets; a hygiene kit; supplies for baby or kids; and some extra cash.

Before you jump in your car and hit the highways this summer make sure your care is properly maintained and bring along a basic car safety kit.  Little thought will be given to the car except for making sure it has fuel.  What if there is an accident and you are stuck on the highway for hours or an isolated roadway?  In winter you could get stuck in snow and stranded for a days.  Always check weather and road conditions before you travel.  The Weather Channel has up to date forcasts.  You can program the road condition numbers for the states you will be traveling into your cell phone.  Before you travel bring along a auto emergency kit.  Just a little preparation can make a world of difference.  Most of the items I will need are in my auto emergency kit and I also add in additional items as follows.

 Water - always carry at least a gallon of bottled water in your vehicle and cycle your water regularly. 

Blankets - a warm blanket or a solar blanket can come in handy.  You may need more than one. 

Food - Pick food that will not be affected by temperature extremes like emergency food bars, crackers, granola bars, and so on. 

Wetwipes - for quick clean up.

Toilet Paper  its worth a million dollars when you need it and don’t have it.

Don’t forget to thow in some fun activities for the kids, if you have them, and have a safe and wonderful trip. 

Just one thing on that last post.  I hate to break it to you, but the almighty dollar is probable just going to slip over time and probable quite a bit in the coming future.  I would consider keeping a little silver and/or gold.  I recommend some 1 oz. silver rounds along with your cash.  Just something to consider for the diversified emergency portfolio of goods.

I agree.  All good stuff.  Many people do not realize or consider the importance of emergency preparaedness or food storage to be a part of their financial plan, but it is.  Being prepared to financially handle whatever life throws at you makes emergency preparedness a good investment, like life insurance.  I could probable keep my family of 5 fed for about 6 months. I still need to get a emergency backup generator since we live in the country and are on a well, so no power, no water.  I was also glad to see the discussion on keeping some extra cash at home. Imagine a day if there was no natural disaster to be found, but your credit cards don’t work.  That’s why I would say keep a $1,000 of cash on hand just for emergencies.  Finally your emergency plan will be ever evolving as member of your family mature and health conditions change.

Building a useful and prepared trauma kit requires attention to detail and forethought. Will you need ice packs and burn cream and splints and pain relievers? How many people do you expect this trauma kit to provide? Luckily, trauma kits and supplies are available in pre-prepared kits. Whether you need a one person, a fifty-four person, or a one hundred person trauma kit, you can get one fully supplied and ready for use. There are even OSHA approved medical kits available that meet all workplace safety standards.

When someone is injured, the type of first response they receive can be the difference between life and death. Loss of blood and infection are just two of the traumas that can befall someone who has been injured and is not tended to correctly. This is just one of the many reasons it is wise to have a well stocked trauma kit and supplies. Being able to properly respond to a workplace injury, in the field injury, or home injury can provide relief from pain and set the victim on their way to proper care and healing. Be prepared to deal with burns and head trauma and you’re ensuring the safety of your family and/or coworkers. From basic first aid kits to deluxe medical emergency kits capable of attending to one thousand people, trauma kits and supplies are out there that meet your specific situation and conditions. Perhaps you have the need for a portable stretcher. If so, there is one available that folds up in a roll and stores nicely in the case alongside the rest of your medical supplies. Most of us will have no need to perform complicated field surgery in our lifetimes. But being prepared to splint and wrap a sprained ankle or treat a spider bite can save someone’s day, not to mention life. 

The first step to building your trauma kit and supplies is to assess your needs. Is this going in your home or office? Does your workplace contain heavy machinery or work with tools such as in the construction industry? If so, you’ll need a more heavy duty medical emergency kit than perhaps you’d need in a law office. From a first aid kit for your automobile to a deluxe first aid kit they are available and ready to ship. Check the First Aid Kits and Trauma Kits section of our website for more information.

People that live in wooded areas should be prepared for a evacuation due to forest fires.  Most people don’t expect to experience this or anything like this.  In a forest fire most houses burn down from the roof, due to flying sparks hitting the asphalt shingled roof.  I have to ask, how many people are prepared for an emergency evacuation and have their emergency kits packed and ready to go and also know where all their important documents are?  I would start be getting all of your importand document into a document fire bag or fire box.

Then each member of your family should have there own basic 3 day personalized emergency kit and clothing bag.  You will feel so much better, especially if you never need to evacuate your home due to a fire.

When you leave for work in the morning, you never know what the day is going to bring. Maybe they’ll be a freak ice storm, and you find yourself stuck on the freeway and unable to get home. Maybe you’ll be involved in a car accident, and you’ll be in need of emergency gear. We want to believe these kinds of things aren’t possible, because they’re unpleasant to think about. But the truth is that they do happen every day, and the best way we can deal with that is by being prepared.

That’s why you shouldn’t get in your car unless you’re stocked with any number of auto emergency kits. These can contain a variety of products, but the most extensive will have a first aid kit as well as a survival blanket, flashlight, batteries, spare food, and water. Whatever they possess, they might just prove a tremendous help if you ever do find yourself stuck in an unexpected and unpleasant situation.

Accidents can happen at any time to anybody, and the family that’s determined to be as safe as possible will acknowledge this possibility. If you want to make sure that your family has access to at least basic medical aid, make sure that you choose a first aid kit for your family. Sort through all the first aid kits at the store to ensure that you’re picking the one that’s right for your family. If you find that it’s lacking something, purchase the missing elements and make sure that they fit within the first aid kit. In this way, all the emergency medical supplies are together in one place.

The first thing to do with a first aid kit is make sure that everyone in the family knows exactly how to use all the elements within the kit. They aren’t of much use, after all, if no one can actually identify or use the products within it. The other important thing is that you check the kit every month to ensure it’s still fully stocked. Minor things like Band-Aids are sure to get used first, and a kit can quickly run out of these items.