An emergency kit is an essential component of life in all settings – home, office, and car alike. Discover how to select and pack one accordingly. bugout bags
A practical survival kit should include a functional knife, two methods for starting fires, food and water purification tablets, a flint striker, matches, and a whistle. Your geographical region may require additional items.
Water
Water is an essential survival kit item to have on hand during emergencies. Natural disasters like hurricanes can quickly overwhelm public water supplies and contaminate private wells, so having access to clean, potable water in an emergency kit is of critical importance. FEMA suggests including one gallon per member of your household per day plus three days’ supply in your emergency survival kit for proper preparedness.
As well as having enough drinking water in your survival kit, you should also include purification supplies. A water filtration straw or portable boiling system are both great ways to purify any source of freshwater – they’re small and compact enough to carry around easily in a survival backpack or car.
Water is an extraordinary molecule with numerous beneficial properties and plays an essential role in supporting life. Not only can it dissolve most molecules, but its presence also plays an integral role in maintaining cell structures and membrane integrity – something scientists continue to learn more about! Water’s remarkable properties remain unexplained, yet scientists continue their quest for new ways of discovering its unique qualities.
Food
If an emergency prevents you from reaching home quickly, having food that can last is essential. Emergency survival kits usually include foods like jerky and crackers with long shelf lives, but instant soup packets may provide vital vitamins and nutrients quickly. Consider choosing low-sodium options as well as checking expiration dates to ensure adequate storage conditions.
As part of your survival kit, it is also recommended that you include a manual can opener and extra storage containers; these will make food preparation simpler in an emergency. Furthermore, investing in a water filter could improve water quality during a crisis.
Additionally, for food supplies, it’s a good idea to stockpile nonperishable medication for emergencies. Most people require some form of prescription during an emergency; local pharmacies may be closed or otherwise unavailable. A seven-day supply is advised in your emergency survival kit so you can easily add to it as necessary.
Your kit should include supplies to protect you from dust and debris kicked up by passing vehicles or falling objects, as well as eyeglasses and comfortable walking shoes that could come in handy during an emergency.
First Aid
A first aid kit should be an essential element of any survival kit. This should include supplies to treat minor injuries like cuts, scrapes, and burns, as well as basic medical supplies like bandages, gauze, and ointment. Emergency medications may also be included. Individuals who suffer from asthma may require emergency rescue inhalers in their kits. Finally, essential items include face masks to filter contaminated air while keeping you healthy, as well as paper maps in case they get lost while evacuation occurs or they become stranded.
Make kits for your home, work, and car if you live in an area prone to natural disasters, especially if they can be easily accessible. When it comes to an evacuation situation, ensure everyone in the family knows where it can be found easily and quickly. In an ideal scenario, an evacuation kit would include enough food and water supplies as well as a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with extra batteries as well as some cash.
As part of your home emergency kit, other essential supplies should include duct tape. Duct tape has many uses during an emergency, from making repairs and binding loose ends to mending broken clothing. In addition, having solar chargers or hand-crank lights available so you can stay safe at night is another must-have.
Shelter
Shelter can provide much-needed protection from wind, rain, snow, and too much direct sunlight. A backpacking tent should be included as part of your survival kit along with a tarp or survival blanket, multi-tool, paracord cords, compact tarp, and flashlight with extra batteries, which are also essential items in this regard.
If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, wildfires, or flooding, make sure your survival kit contains items to cope with these natural disasters. Tornado zones must prepare for hurricanes; those living in mountainous regions should prepare for possible avalanches or mudslides.
As you assemble your survival kit, keep in mind the needs of every member of your household when making choices for emergency supplies. For example, if young children are living at your address, don’t forget diapers and formula.
Many resources online offer checklists to assist with creating a survival kit, but the ideal kit will be customized specifically to your own needs. While pre-made emergency supply kits purchased from grocery stores may provide basic supplies such as first aid items, these may often be lower quality than their customized equivalents and lack essential items like first aid supplies – both of which you can avoid by creating your personalized survival kit.
