Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Repost: Earthquake Survival Kit

Here's a repost from http://welovejenni.blogspot.com/:

ESSENTIALS

* Water - one gallon per person, per day
* First aid kit
* Extra medication
* Extra pair of glasses or contacts
* Battery operated radio plus extra batteries
* Flashlight plus extra batteries
* Blankets

FOOD

* Canned or other non-perishable foods (they may not be on your usual menu, but they'll keep bodies fueled)
* Pet food (if applicable)
* Can opener/Swiss army knife
* Camping stove or grill (optional)

Stock instant coffee or tea drinks (1 year), canned puddings (1 year), whipped topping mixes, hard candies in cans and such snacks as dried fruit, nuts, pretzels, chips and ready-to-eat popcorn (check pull dates). They deliver some nutrition and will help morale.

HYGIENE

* Toilet paper
* Zipper seal bags for waste disposal
* Soap
* Shampoo
* Alcohol
* Toothbrush and toothpaste
* Feminine hygiene supplies
* Baby wipes
* Underwear
FIRST AID KIT

The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:
* 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
* 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
* 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
* 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
* 5 antiseptic wipe packets
* 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
* 1 blanket (space blanket)
* 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
* 1 instant cold compress
* 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
* 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
* Scissors
* 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
* 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
* 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
* 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
* Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
* 2 triangular bandages
* Tweezers
* First aid instruction booklet

Store your survival kits in your hallway or backyard. If you live in a building, your car trunk is a handy place for these bulky items. If you think there is a possibility that your carpark might be affected by the earthquake, store it at a friend's backyard.

Experts recommend that you make three identical emergency kits. Store one kit at home, one at your workplace and one in your car. That way, your chances are good of having a kit handy after a quake.

These supplies are no help if you can't get to them. Make sure every household member knows where they are.

FOR BABIES/KIDS

Baby Food: Buy some packets of instant formula food that needs not mix with water. Keep a track of their expiry date and replace them with new ones periodically.

Diapers: The number of diapers needed depends upon the age and habit of your kid. However, as a rule of thumb you should at least keep 20 disposable diapers and 4 cloth ones. Cloth diapers can be washed and reused in case you run short of disposable ones.

Clothes: Store at least 10 pair of clothes for your baby in the 72 hour kit. This is tricky as babies grow rapidly. It can be managed by circulating the clothes with new ones of larger size from time to time.

Comfort Toys: Every child has a toy or blanket that he/she loves. Try grabbing them in emergency as this will help to keep your child calm during emergencies. If this is not possible, keep a toy that will comfort the child in absence of his/her favorite item.

Medicines: Medicines for infants are different from those of an adult and is a must-include item in a 72 hour kit. Babies can fall sick anytime and medicines present in the kit are the only savior then.

An important thing to remember is that toddlers grow rapidly. Therefore, you will always need to periodically check your 72 hour emergency kit and keep things that are appropriate for your child's age and development stage.

I have so much storage containers and bags at home that I'm going to finally put them to good use! As experts suggested, I'll be keeping a kit at our home, cars, and offices. 

My mantra: Prepare for the worst then live your life

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