Do you have a first aid kit at your house? A cabinet with Band-aids and Tylenol and a few spare tampons? That’s great! But those things are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to emergency preparedness.
Have you thought about what your family would do in a flood or fire? What about a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake? What about displacement from war or unrest? Have you considered what you would do if you experienced an emergency while in the car?
If you haven’t thought about these situations, now is the time – before you are in a bad situation. You have the ability to prepare for emergencies now and try to prevent or lessen negative outcomes. Once disaster strikes, you won’t have the ability or headspace to make the best plans. At that time, you will thank yourself for thinking ahead.
Now, there is no need to panic. Don’t let yourself go into full doomsday mode as you prepare your family for possible emergencies. Be pragmatic and realistic as you put together your emergency kits, and assure yourself and your family that thinking ahead should help you all rest easier, not cause more anxiety.
Helpful Emergency Kit Items
This list is not exhaustive, but it’s a good place to start.
- Bottled water
- Nonperishable food
- Clothing and shoes for each family member (for both warm and cold weather)
- Medical supplies such as over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, bandages, ointments, a thermometer, etc.
- Hygiene products such as soap, wipes, tampons, toothbrushes and toothpaste, etc.
- Spare glasses and contacts (if needed)
- Small sewing kit
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Candles and matches
- Can opener
- Pocket knife
- Blankets
- Heat source for cooking
- Baby supplies (if needed)
- Pet supplies (if needed)
- Radio
- Local map
- Extra cash
- Copies of important documents
These are just the basics. You might consider looking at these websites, which have more complete lists:
Some companies offer ready-made kits that you can purchase. Here are a few suggestions:
There are tons of items like these on the market, so shop around for the best options for you. And, make sure to add your personal items like prescriptions, glasses, clothes, etc.
Keep in Mind
Remember to keep a few things in mind as you move forward building your emergency kits.
First, it’s a good idea to have emergency kits anywhere you go. While your kits at home may be robust, you should also have some emergency items in your car, diaper bag, and other spaces. Have your kids include small kits in their school backpacks. Think of all the places you regularly go, and make sure you have access to emergency items at all times.
Furthermore, think about what you need to tweak in each kit. Your car emergency kit might need things like flares, window breaker, setbealt cutter, and jumper cables, which you might not have in your home kit.
Also, you’ll need to regularly update them to make sure the food hasn’t expired, the clothes still fit, etc. You’ll need to replace items you might have used, too. Set a calendar notification to go through your kits every six months, or maybe make it a family tradition to update your kits once a year on a special day, like Black Friday after Thanksgiving. Do whatever works for you to make sure your kits get updated regularly.
Now, it’s your time to dive in and set your family up for success! Remember, you can live a more carefree life if you are appropriately prepared. So be well and enjoy life with your loved ones!