When you find yourself faced with an emergency, you may often find yourself wondering what things are a must in your emergency response kit. You may find yourself without some basics that you need or with things that don’t seem to make sense in your kit. Here is a basic rundown of some recommended items for your kit:
1) Flashlight with a spare set of batteries – You never know if an emergency is going to take place in the light or in the dark, you also never know if the batteries will always work when you turn it on.
2) Road flares – When an accident takes place on the road, a road flare is the best tool that you can have to warn other drivers of the emergency ahead.
3) Bottled Water – It’s always a good idea to have a bottle of water (or two) handy, just in case you need to wash wounds, or find yourself stranded.
4) Emergency food – A protein bar or two, a candy bar, and some jerky are a few very good items to have in your emergency kit. The candy bar will come in handy if faced with diabetic situation.
5) Hand Sanitizer – Hand sanitizer can serve multiple purposes, it can be to sanitize your hands before and after helping treat a wound, as well as a great emergency disinfectant for a wound or itchy bite.
6) Latex Gloves – If you allergic to latex, they can be latex free, but it is important to have a barrier between you and any sort of bodily fluids you may come in contact with.
7) Basic First Aid Kit – This should include the basics, tweezers, band-aids, an antibiotic ointment, alcohol wipes, ibuprofen or aspirin, gauze, and medical tape.
A Guide to First Aid Procedure – This can be picked up at your local Red Cross or printed online, it is important, because in the shock of an emergency situation, it can be the difference between knowing what to and having your mind go blank, because you can’t remember what to do. With these basic tools, you can be assured to be prepared for virtually any emergency situation. Just remember, first and foremost, your best tool is to stay calm and level headed and you will be able to handle anything that comes your way.

My Disaster Kit

This must have been going through the minds of hundreds of people during the collapse of the freeway overpasses during the San Francisco earthquake of October 1989. But many are unaware of the death and destruction that took place away from the freeways in other streets and suburbs affecting hundreds of individuals who, for the most part would have been unprepared..

Be Prepared

Of course I am not saying a disaster kit would, or could prevent or stop such devastation but I am saying it could go along way to helping the many that were left hurt and bleeding. If everyone had just the most basic of disaster kits in their cars or trucks. A simple bag with bandages, a flashlight and even some disinfectants, it would surprise you how much of a difference these few things could make during a sudden emergency involving injury.

I know everyone is scarred to help others due to being sued but I for one would help if I could in the event of someone being injured and I am sure the majority of others would as well. Just saying it is not enough though we do need to have an emergency kit in everyone’s vehicles, now!

While most of us do have disaster kits of some form in our home, or if we do not then we know we probably should, there is still a great need to have them with us while we travel about. Emergencies by their own nature can happen when we are not expecting them to. Being prepared is just plain and simple common sense.

While we are relatively lucky living in the US it is still smart being prepared. While natural disasters seem to becoming more prevalent, more cataclysmal, and less healthier, and the underdeveloped poorer countries are being hit the hardest, it is no reason for us to be less vigilant when it comes to disaster kit provisions for ourselves and families and our communities.

This happens daily, somewhere.