As it is often the unfortunate case,
it takes a huge wake up call to get our act in gear.
Things you know you should do, you don't as you
think it is never going to happen. A case in point
is emergency preparations for natural disasters. It
is only after one strikes expectantly that we find
fault in our municipal emergency preparations.
Politicians and head directors make excuses and pass
the blame to others and promise to overhaul
contingency plans but by that time it's too late.
During times of catastrophe, you must rely on
yourself first and hold out until aid comes.
Ultimately, it's your responsibility to be the first
line of defense.
When one prepares an emergency disaster kit, you
need to cover for injuries, shelter, water, lighting
and communication. You also need to account for how
many individuals you are packing for and calculate
the amount of supplies you need.
Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) are an ideal food source.
They come in lightweight packages and can sustain
individuals for days. As for a water source, have
immediate stored drinking water available. You will
also need water filtration kits. When water is
restored to the disaster area, it might be
contaminated and that's when you need water
purification tablets or water filter pumps.
Adding to the survival gear, a first aid kit is a
must for immediate medical attention. Gas masks and
filters should also be in the emergency disaster
kit. Sleeping bags and thermal blankets will offer
some comfort from the external elements. Pack extra
batteries for flashlights and the radio. Light
sticks are also good for providing lighting along
with alerting others of your location. Packing a
whistle for this purpose is also recommended.
When you have your emergency disaster kit prepared,
have a talk with your family members. Inform them of
where it is located and of its contents and how and
when to use the supplies. Having this talk is a good
preparation step but there's nothing like hands on
training. Take your family on a camping trip and use
the supplies first hand to teach them about survival
training. In fact, it's always a good idea to review
the expiry dates on the MREs and water supplies. By
taking the family out yearly on this emergency
preparation exercise, it will ensure that the food
and water sources don't go to waste along with
reinforcing the survival training. Just don't forget
to restock!
Having an emergency disaster kit at home and knowing
how to use it is a great feeling. You have just done
your best to ensure the greatest chance of survival
for yourself and your family.
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