Emergency Supplies Blog

When we talk about first aid kit the first thing that comes into our mind is the collection of supplies that are used to give emergency support. A first aid kit differs in its contents depending on the purpose of its use. The more advanced version of a first aid kit used by the emergency responders is called a trauma kit. Trauma kits generally contain advanced emergency support materials such as supplies to control bleeding, breathing barriers for performing CPR and should also contain some medicines.

All kits are assembled in different types of containers depending on whether they are commercially produced or assembled by an individual. The advanced first aid kits often come in durable plastic boxes, thick fabric pouches or even in wall mounted cabinets. Both natural and man made disaster leave physical injury and emotional distress. Some accidents often make us feel guilty when we realize that the disaster could not have been as destructive if the emergency supplies would have been available. This is why first aid kits and trauma kits with complete emergency supplies should be made accessible.

A first aid kit is a means of providing initial care to certain self controlled illness or injuries where advanced medical care may not always be required. The trauma kits on the other hand are more advanced medical kits, also called as trauma bags or a first responder bag. Deciding on what kind of first aid kit would be appropriate for your needs might be confusing. The selection of kits should depend on the purpose of use.

Here’s a list of different types of first aid kits to determine what types would best be used depending on circumstances:

Traditional: commonly available in kit style in the market. These are the best first responders usually kept in home or at work centers. - Unitized First Aid Kits: especially to be carried on boats, in tool boxes, at job sites, buses and swimming pools. The contents kept in this type of box are categorized into first aid and trauma aid elements. Unitized kits are great to be used in messy or wet regions.

Dispensing: these are small cabinet kits mounted on walls. The contents are well packed in special boxes with perforations the top. It usually holds a large number of items compared to most other kits.

First Responder: these are not necessarily meant for medical experts. The content to be kept in these types of kits depends on the intended use of it. The first responder first aid kits are custom made to be carried quickly to the wounded.

Specialized - Custom Kits: first aid kits are often available with various emergency supplies all made to fit a unique situation. First aid kits and trauma kits require efficiency and knowledge about the casualty that may arise and should contain a first aid book or you may need to add one.

Purchasing first aid kits and trauma kits online with emergency preparedness supplies companies is easy nowadays and just a few clicks away. 

In the circumstance of a of fire, the first and the foremost step to be taken by the occupants are to immediately evacuate the place. Every building should follow an evacuation plan that includes both primary and a secondary evacuation passage. Sometimes the life of the occupants is at stake and it completely depends on the rescue team on how to implement the entire operation while fire engulfs an area or building. But in the case of the initial absence of a rescue team, you need to be abreast with the basics of evacuating an entire building, establish a designated area to meet outside the building and maintain the primary safety procedures. Be sure the safe spot selected is familiar with everyone and is far away from the affected zone.

Moreover, your evacuation plan should incorporate a warning call announcing the initiation or completion of evacuation procedure. Following a proper evacuation plan and/or search and rescue plan and having a reliable fire extinguisher, some smoke marks, a couple fire blankets, flashlights, communication devices, trauma kits, an a few search and rescue items to back you up. These rescue emergency supplies do not cost a lot but can certainly save a priceless life.

Evacuation Tips: Immediately leave the building after the call or alarm is sounded. Do not take risk of an immediate investigation if you are not trained enough. While leaving close all doors preventing the smoke, flames or choking odor to spread out. Never run, but walk swiftly to the closest exit out of the building. Do not re-enter into the fire-affected area before it is subdued. Assemble at the designated area. Never use the elevator in a hurry to exit the building as that may prove even more disastrous. Once the all residents leave the place the entire responsibility turns over to the first responders.

Nevertheless, proper training on the part of your team is highly commendable. The training should include fire safety basics along with a detailed knowledge on the types of fire extinguishers and their proper use. The training should also include the discretionary use of extinguishers with a controlled fire. The building owners and managers should go through the emergency evacuation and safety measures making sure that a safe escape has been provided to all. It depends on individual discretion on how efficiently we meet a challenging situation. It is also true that only a smart thought out process cannot help every time unless there is adequate safety equipment available to you.
 

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are in charge of educating people about disaster preparedness for hazards that occur all of a sudden. They educate people about how to survive when disaster strikes. Basic skills like light search and rescue, fire safety, disaster medical operations and team organization are taught to the people. The instructions are formally given in classroom training schedules. Having acquired the necessary skills, the CERT members become efficient enough to offer a helping hand during any crisis or disaster, irrespective of its place or magnitude. Their important service helps when professional rescue takes time to reach.

In 1985, the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) had developed and implemented the CERT concept. It was in the year 1987 when a major earthquake hit the Whittier Narrows area in Los Angeles County, California, that the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs was felt. As a result of which, the LAFD created a disaster preparedness bench with the intention of training citizens along with private and government employees. CERT plays a responsible role in preparing citizens against any kind of disaster. It also helps them in understanding how efficiently they can help their friends and family even in the absence of emergency supplies.

In case of emergency crises, professional CERT training and emergency CERT products can come in real handy. CERT products such a emergency response kit combined with the CERT Field Manual can help save lives when professional medical assistance or emergency help are not at hand. In order to have a global reach, CERT offers a number of allied non-technical products too, and these may include the famed CERT Logo Baseball Hat or the Bull Horn 10 Watt, each of which are as good as the core CERT products.

Community Emergency Response Teams need a large number of emergency products including a 3 day - 72 hour emergency kit.   CERT emergency supplies include first aid kits, first aid cabinets, medical emergency kits and supplies, and trauma kits and supplies. It is not that you can only buy CERT products if you belong to a local response team. You can have the products for your personal safety too and may be able to help your neighbor in times of crisis.

You can buy the CERT supplies and first aid kits by either visiting a store or from online retailers. Getting the CERT colors and logo’s on your teams gear is important and helps the public know your on a CERT team. CERT logo and colors can be found on products like survival kit backpacks, bull horns, C.E.R.T. embroidered patches, C.E.R.T. field manuals, C.E.R.T. form books, polo shirts, action response units, hard hats, emergency ponchos, EVAC (Emergency Volunteer Air Corps) roll stretchers, etc.  Its always best to have your emergency kits and emergency supplies ready to go and/or to help others that you may need help in a crisis situations.
 

People may be suprised to know that the most common disaster in the USA are house fires, as of today. 

This is one of the reasons why a fire escape plan, a fire extinguisher, a smoke and carbon dixoide detector, an emergency evacuation plan, and secure fire document storage on and/or off site is important for every home.   

With respect to weather related disasters, floods and flash floods are the number one disaster related killer of people, as of today, in the USA. 

Both natural and man-made disasters result in emotional and physical injury. Most of the survivors of natural disasters, war, and terror attacks suffer from acute trauma and emotional turbulence. They may have come out unscathed from a hurricane, earthquake or a bomb blast, but the traumatic experience often paralyses them and deters them from recuperating completely. Physical and emotional trauma, if not handled immediately with first aid kit and emergency supplies, can go horribly out-of-hand and wreak havoc in the life of the victim. This is why a trauma kit with a complete set of emergency preparedness supplies should be made available for employees in a workplace as well as in public domains.

Most of these trauma kit should be attached on walls or should be strung up in plain sight so that in case of emergency people do not have to exert themselves to reach, find,  or access the the first aid kit. Acquiring a trauma kit has become all the more simple as they can be purchased online. Whether you need a trauma kit as a personal safeguard, or need a large one that is part of medical first aid kits for 10-200 strong workforce, availing one today is as easy as buying a hat from a street vendor.

Building a trauma kit needs much more caution and homework than packing a simple medical emergency kit. You need to survey the kind of situations you may experience trauma from as well as the environs around. You may need a foldable stretcher or quick splint and bandage wraps or ointment for a spider bite – all of which, if untreated or unattended to, can cause the injuries to turn into more severe ones. A trauma kit may contain everything – from a simple burn ointment to complete rolls of bandages and foldable stretcher units

Trauma kits have helped hundreds save themselves – right from the scene of the London Subway bombings to Hurricane Katrina victims. And as far as buying such trauma kits or emergency supplies are concerned, right from small personal kits to deluxe emergency bulk-heads for a 1,000 strong crowd is easily available online. The importance of trauma kits are one of the most important first aid supplies to have in emergency situations, this cannot be stressed enough. Injuries may heal, but without trauma treatment with the help of medical first aid kits complete recuperation may take a long time!

Whether it’s an earthquake, fire, flood, or other natural disaster, it’s important to be prepared if things go bad.  Keeping extra water, food, and medical supplies on hand is always a good idea.  You should have at least two first aid kits or medical supply boxes.  We suggest one in your car and one in your house at all times.  It’s hard to prepare for a disaster, after all, you can’t know all the minute details until the disaster is upon you.  But it’s a good idea to have your supplies readily accessible and/or even have extra supplies outside your home, like in your car.  You should also set a meeting point with family and friends.

If you prepare for an emergency or disaster beforehand, you will be much calmer and able to address the situation should the unthinkable occur.  Being prepared is not just about having the right planning and supplies, it’s about abstaining from fear.

In the time of crises we often lose control over our thought process and become nervous. Such traumatic emergency situations or conditions need to be handled with proper care and intelligence. Your safety should always be the top priority in any case because unless you are safe you cannot provide help to others. Safety is always the top priority and emergency communications is the basic element to this safety. It requires a lot of courage on the part of the victim to wake up and take charge after the devastating damage that comes with a natural or man-made disaster.

It has also been witnessed that after a massive earthquake, a devastating flood or a harrowing tsunami, that the existing communications system may not be available. The cause may be either due to physical damage or system overload. Consequently, the entire communication suddenly stalls with the damage of telephone wires, damage of cellular phone towers and antennas losing power. Even the government system fails in meeting the large scale damage control and the demands of the civilians affected. This is the time for any voluntary or non voluntary organization to respond quickly in the event of an emergency. There are many organizations that have developed emergency communication plans to carry out the communications and operations offering rapid response during a crisis. The communication devices that can be used during a crisis:

Amateur Radio: In time of a natural disaster an amateur radio is often used as an important medium of emergency communication. An amateur radio is especially helpful when wire phone, cell phones and other communication mediums fail to respond. Unlike other communication devices, the amateur radio is not completely dependent on land facilities. Amateur radio operators are experienced in using the device. It can easily be powered with an automobile battery.

AM /FM Solar Dynamo Radio with Flashlight: An AM/FM Solar Dynamo Radio with flashlights is also used as an emergency communication device. The radio with its flashlights converts the solar energy for rechargeable lanterns, blinking lights and an AM/FM Radio for indoor and outdoor activities. These radio types are especially great for power failures.

AM/FM Radio (TRANSISTOR) With Speaker: These radio transistors can best be used to give access to emergency news and warnings. The compact radio keeps one updated on warnings and emergencies even during power failures. These radio transistors are generally available with head sets and carry straps.

Brass Whistle with Lanyard: This brass whistle includes a lanyard and is a great attention catching device. The device is especially compact and affordable. There’s a special method of using the device - to indicate a call for help three sharp bursts are used and to answer a call, only two bursts are used.

Some other important communication devices that can be used during a crisis include, AM/FM Radio Siren Flashlights, Bull Horn, Walkie Talkies, Weather Band w/Dynamo Charging System, Lifeline Emergency Kit w/Phone, Solar Dynamo Radios along with Flashlights Models, Megaphone, some with Sirens, Pocket Compass, Solar AM/FM Shortwave Radio, and shack flashlights.

Emergency communications are important during any crisis or emergency. Since being prepared and informed is always vital, people need to be updated at all times. A successful communication plan and proper emergency supplies is the best possible means to stop overwhelming damage from large-scale disasters.

Emergency sanitation and hygiene kits may not appear to be important to a lot of people. In a time of crisis, there are more important things to worry about, like where you are going to get your supply of clean food and water or shelter. So spending time to think about where you are going to find things to clean yourself with or where to properly dispose your wastes seem too trivial. But if you are one of the people who think this way, you can never be more wrong. During emergencies, your survival does not only depend on food and water, but also in keeping yourself clean and sanitary. Remember that many people get sick and even die in evacuation camps that do not have proper waste disposal systems. Keeping yourself clean and making sure that your wastes, such as stool and urine, are properly disposed of can prevent the spread of diseases and infections.

Aside from keeping an emergency hygiene and sanitation kit inside your home in preparation for hurricanes, earthquakes or other unwanted incidents, you also need to keep such kit inside your car, van or RV. This is particularly important if you are planning to take your family on a road or nature trip. If you are traveling with your kids, you also need to be prepared for any eventuality. You know that children cannot properly hold their urge to vomit or use the bathroom so you need to be ready or else you have to get used to having funny smell inside your car throughout the duration of the trip.

Now that you know the importance of emergency hygiene and sanitation equipment, the next step is to determine what your kit should contain. First, you ought to make sure that you all have the necessary tools to keep you and your family clean. A personal hygiene kit that contains toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and other cleansing products is necessary for every member of your family. Next, you also need to pay attention to your sanitation needs; you can bring an emergency toilet (especially if you are going camping), self-heating washcloths or hot water on demand, and toilet bags.

Although you can make your own emergency hygiene and sanitation kit, you really do not have to. There are a lot of kits available in the market. We can help see our “Hygiene and Sanitation” category on our web site and click on these kits on our home page. Surely, you will find one that would fit your needs and that of your family.

Bird flue emergency kits should also be a part of the home survival kits of every household in the US and the rest of the world. Although you are probably more likely to experience disasters due to hurricanes, earthquakes and flooding, it does not mean that you should not prepare for whatever might endanger your health. The threat of bird flue becoming a global pandemic is still very much likely, especially now that traveling to different parts of the world can be very easy and fast. Just recently, a representative of the United Nations warned that the threat of bird flue is real and a pandemic might have a bigger impact on the country and the world than the present financial crisis. In the 14th century, the black plague claimed millions of lives all around the globe. This can still happen if the virus responsible for avian flue mutates into something that can enable man-to-man transmission.

The bird flue emergency kits you should keep must contain a particulate respirator because this is your first line of defense against contracting the disease. But studies have shown that not all masks or respirators can be effective in filtering the avian flue virus; thus, you need to make sure that your kit has at least an N95 particulate mask, which can filter at least 95% of airborne particulates. Other important components of an avian flue kit are antiseptic hand sanitizer, to stop the spread of microorganisms, and anti-microbial wipes, which are vital in keeping everything more sanitary and hygienic.

You also need to consider adding to your bird flue emergency kits items like safety goggles, in case there is defogging in your community; hooded coveralls, to cover your entire body; plastic sheeting, which can prevent contaminants from entering your room or home; and nitrile gloves, which helps prevent the spread of diseases. But aside from making sure that you have bird flue emergency kits for every member of your family, you also have to remember that a healthy and strong immune system is necessary to make you more resistant to the avian flue virus.

If you do not know what items to include in your emergency kit, you can use our free information and  you can click on these flu kits on our home. Always remember that even if the threat of a bird flue epidemic in the country is low, you need to prepare your body physically and emotionally for such a possibility.

Terrorism preparedness and kits were not viewed as important in the years before the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York. But right after the incident, people realized that bombings and chemical attacks from terrorists are a real threat not only in the US, but in other countries as well.

Now, you can never be too sure that you will be spared from a terrorist attack even if you live in the countryside. So, the best thing to do is to be prepared for anything, and that means having emergency kits.

All emergency kits, including terrorism preparedness and kits, should contain clean water and food that can last for at least three days and up to three or six months. Even if you get trapped inside your home, you and your family can at least survive for a considerable length of time while rescue is on its way. Aside from food and water, your terrorism emergency kits also need to protect you from the aftereffects of biological, chemical and even, nuclear attacks. You should not take any chances when it comes to your safety and that of your family.

So, what other items must be included in terrorism preparedness and kits? First, you need a gas mask and the accompanying filter cartridge. Make sure that your gas mask fits your face properly. It would even be better if you have a water canteen that can also be used with your gas mask, preferably the same as the ones used in the military. Next, you need to include protective suit, which can guard you from residues and other harmful traces of biological and nuclear attacks. To make sure that your hands and feet are also protected, you can look for boots and gloves that are thick and have silver shield to assure that harmful radiation can not permeate into your skin. If you have young kids, make sure that you have terrorism emergency kits prepared for them as well.

During emergencies like terrorist attacks, communication is very important. Thus, your terrorism preparedness and kits should also include a flashlight, preferably one that does not require batteries, and a crank transistor radio to allow you to know what is happening in the outside world. And apart from the terrorism emergency kits you have for everyone in your family, you should know what to do when the emergency comes. So, as early as now, it might be a good idea to read about survival techniques during terrorism emergencies in books or even in articles available on the Internet and get a basic emergency kit to start.