Getting You Ready for Anything
We live in an increasingly unstable world. The Doomsday Clock reads 90 seconds to midnight, dictators are misusing social media for nefarious reasons, and the extreme right has taken power in traditionally centrist countries.
We’re also making the climate crisis worse, generating more freak weather events and displacing thousands of Americans yearly.
The world is less peaceful today than at any time in the past decade, with more cross-border tension escalations and deepening civil war conflicts. This should concern us because weakened global peace exacerbates problems for us and our allies.
Terrorism, gun violence, and knife attacks remain high. It can be extremely challenging to know how to navigate such instability.
Fortunately, there’s something you can do to prepare for a major incident: create an emergency preparedness kit. It could save your life—and protect those you love. Are you interested in knowing more? Here you’ll find out exactly what emergency preparedness kits are, what to put in them, and where to keep them.
What is an Emergency Preparedness Kit?
Making an emergency kit is key to disaster preparedness and should be a priority for all individuals, couples, and families. It’s relatively easy to put together your kit, and work on doing so should start today.
The kit should contain all the items you’d need in the event of a catastrophe. This may be in the form of fleeing a natural disaster, becoming stuck in your home or being hurt.
It’s an awful reality to think about, but after an emergency, you may have to fend for yourself for a while. You may have children, older adults, or companion animals who rely on you; being prepared for them is essential.
Those best prepared for a crisis stand a higher chance of surviving. Being ready for an emergency could be the difference between living and dying.
Most items in an emergency preparedness kit are cheap and available in most retail shops and malls. We’ll let you know exactly what you need so you can create a list to take to the shops with you.
What to Include in an Emergency Preparedness Kit
The Red Cross recommends that emergency preparedness kits should include a flashlight and radio (wind-up or battery-powered in case of mass power outages). Spare batteries should be included.
Having a list of emergency contact numbers, essential medications, and a first aid kit is also important. Performing first aid may be necessary if someone becomes hurt. Your kit should feature three days worth of tinned food and bottled water.
Maps of your state and the wider country are necessary, as well as an emergency blanket and extra cash. At least one cell phone with a charger is vital. A good supplies kit should also include a multi-purpose tool and personal hygiene items.
While not listed as necessities by the Red Cross, you may also wish to consider including the following items in your survival kit. Consider your dependents, including baby and animal supplies, if appropriate to your situation. Also include spare keys, a manual can opener, a pencil, paper, a whistle, and children's games. Copies of important documents should be kept in waterproof bags in case of flooding.
Across the pond, the British Red Cross recommends an ice scraper, snow shovel, and jumper cables, which you may wish to include in your kit.
Any additional items you choose to include will depend on your situation, lifestyle, and medical needs. For example, spare glasses or contact lenses aren’t relevant to everyone, but they may be essential for you too. Consider the types of natural and human-made disasters that happen in your state and prioritize the items in your kit accordingly.
You could even create multiple kits to be kept in different places—one that stays at home in the event of being snowed in and one that stays in the car should you need to flee a catastrophe.
The Bottom Line
Emergency survival is possible with access to the right tools. Prepare for the worst-case scenario by organizing your emergency preparedness kit today. Your kit must include all the items you might need in an emergency, including an emergency blanket, manual can opener, and medical supplies. Following the Red Cross’ advice is best practice.
They say it's better to be safe than sorry, and there’s no better way to ensure your safety than by making an emergency preparedness kit.