Emergency Supplies Blog

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION, IDEAS, ARTICLES, AND BLOG POSTS.


December 29, 2011

first aid kitsAccidents 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.

Whenever you’re planning a road trip somewhere, and even when you’re just going to work, it’s always good to have an auto emergency kit in your vehicle. You never know when you may need it or when you may be of assistance to someone else.  Having this kit can save you time and money for things that you would already have stored in your trunk or in your back compartment if you have an SUV.

There are some essentials that you would need in order to make any progress: A flashlight is very important to have because you will need to see. This is especially crucial if it is nightfall and you need plenty of light to see. You will need light to see what is wrong with your vehicle.

Another thing that you would need is some gloves, preferably leather ones. If it’s cold out, they can keep your hands warm. They can also protect your hands from getting acquiring dirt or getting injured as you are working on the vehicle. If it’s raining, it’s good to have a waterproof poncho so that you can stay as dry as possible.

In the event you become dehydrated, you will need drinking water to keep you going. Not having anything such as food or water is a dangerous mix. You should always have some type of food and water available in order to keep you going in the event you have to wait for assistance.

Keep in mind, assistance may not always come right away. It may take several minutes to a half hour for someone to come to your rescue. It all depends on where you are on the road. If you’re in a rural area, it may take longer. This is because the assistance may have to come from afar. Until the assistance comes, you will need food and water to tie you down.

In the event of an emergency, it’s a good idea to try and park in a lit area, if possible. If not, at least you will have your flashlight and light stick available to get some type of illumination. Make sure that the batteries in the flashlight are good and will work for at least a few hours. It’s even a good idea to carry an extra pack of batteries with you in the event the others stop operating. Some people may think that it’s not necessary to have this, but that is far from the truth. It’s always a good idea to be prepared, whether the trip is long or lengthy.

December 20, 2011

One usefull thing that I learned, that I can contribute, is instead of storing bottled water, I purchased some collapsible folding water containers at a camping store.  I think they are 3 gallons.  We have filtered water in our house, so we do not buy bottled water, we use our own water bottles.  I hope I never have to fill the collapsible water container, but I could in an emergency and we would be good to go or stay.

December 17, 2011

If you need water in an emergency, you probable have 40-50 gallons of water in your homes hot water heater.  Basically, all you need to do is filter this water a little bit and you can use that water, if your water supply is cut off.  Enclosed is a simple little emergency water filter that you can just screw onto your water heater.

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December 13, 2011

Solar BlanketHand WarmersThere are many scenarios in which you may find yourself in need of heating in an emergency situation.  From your house’s heating going out on cold winter’s night to your car breaking down in winter and leaving you stranded for hours, the need to create heat to ward off frostbite and hypothermia is of paramount importance. When you find yourself in need of emergency heat you will need to come to a decision about what to do. Keep safety in mind. If your home heating goes out and is not likely to be repaired within a few hours, you will want to take into consideration not only the ambient temperature but the age and health of your family members. Perhaps it would be wisest to seek shelter elsewhere.    One of the most efficient ways of heating in an emergency situation is through the use of solar blankets and/or solar sleeping bags. Solar blankets are aluminized and are handy in many situations. Not only can a solar blanket keep you warm in a pinch, but if you are stranded in your car on a hot day you can use the solar blanket to deflect the sun and keep your car cooler by putting it in the windows that the sun is directly hitting. In cases of extreme cold, a solar blanket can keep you warm by storing your own body temperature. Just wrap yourself up in the silver blanket and let it’s nearly magical properties keep you warm and toasty. Also available for your heating in an emergency situation needs is a portable water heater. Portable water heaters connect to your garden hose and heat the water in a matter of seconds using propane. This can be useful for many reasons, but think of the hot cocoa producing capabilities on a cold night without heat. The pump runs on a rechargeable battery, so make sure you have the ability to recharge.  If your lighting is also compromised at the same time as your heat, you will want to make sure you have several high powered flashlights and lanterns on hand. Candles are good, but can be dangerous. Instead, stock up on battery powered lighting for your emergency lighting needs. Further products available for your heating in an emergency situation needs include hand warmers. These handy little gadgets work much like the ice packs you find in first aid kits. Emergency heating products definatly need to be included in your emergency preparedness plan.  

December 7, 2011

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.

November 30, 2011

After nearly 5 days without power due to the devastating ice storm last winter a simple emergency kit would have make things easier.  Simple things like a flashlight and an emergency crank radio.  I did not have a portable radio but it sure would really have helped us understand what was going on.  You always want to have some drinking water and some food and some simple things that make sense like a first aid kit.  Don’t learn the hard way get some emergency supplies today.

emergency kit

#1.  Why do you want a gun in your emergency kit?  Do you want the gun for personal protection or hunting?  Often times a large can of bear pepper spray is your best home and personal defense.

#2.  You should consider the safety of having a gun in your home.  If you do decide to keep a gun in your house it should be locked up or use a trigger lock.  You should keep your

#2.  You should consider the safety of having a gun in your home.  If you do decide to keep a gun in your house it should be locked up or use a trigger lock.  You should keep your keep your gun away from children and not store the bullets in the gun.

#3. If you purchase a gun you should know how to use the gun properly.  You should take a gun safety class and you should go to the firing range to hone your firearm skills. 

#4.  Also, you must be willing to take on the added responsibility that comes with owning a gun.  There are liability issues that come with owning a gun and you need to make sure you are taking every precation and are willing to accept the risks.

In conclusion, it is a personal choice for each family, but once you make the choice to own a gun or personal safety product, you need to be responsible for the safety of those around you.

November 19, 2011

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.

November 13, 2011

Terrorism kits and preparedness 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.