When the Japan tsunami disaster struck, it hit me (again) that my family is totally unprepared for any type of emergency. It is foolish and irresponsible of me not to have done something about this matter a long time ago. So when my kids’ school recently offered a free emergency preparedness class, I was so grateful to hear from an expert and to learn a bit about what I can do for my family.
One of the key steps to emergency preparedness is to create a grab’n-go kit for each member of your family who is able to care for him/herself. When it comes to infants and toddlers, the elderly, sick, or disabled members of your family, you have to incorporate their needs into the packing of your grab’n-go kits, as they will most likely be relying on you for assistance. Such a kit can be, yes, grabbed easily in case of an emergency that either affects just your home, such as a fire, or in case of an evacuation due to a more catastrophic event, such as an earthquake, which I understand is currently 10 years overdue in the city where we live based on the opinions of some experts. Yikes! My anxiety spiked through the roof when I heard that. One thing I know is that when I am anxious, it is best to plan and do. So, I have made the first grab’n-go kit…here is how.
1. Get a sturdy backpack. Nothing fancy. Now that school is over for your kids, if their backpacks are still in good condition, but they do not want them for next school year, then use them for this purpose. My friend, a great bargain hunter found a bunch of backpacks for me on sale at TJ Maxx, for $5 each.
2. Prepare the necessary supplies. You will have some of these items around the house and others you will be able to find at a dollar or discount store.
- Laminated index card with key telephone numbers, especially for a couple of out-of-town family members or friends.
- Battery-operated or crank radio.
- First aid kit. Costco has great deals.
- Flashlight and extra batteries.
- Copies of identification and insurance.
- Cash in small denominations.
- Extra house keys (I attached mine to a whistle, in case one needs to get some attention).
- Bottled water.
- Food requiring no preparation. Keep it simple. The goal is not to pack enough food for days. The idea is to have some nutritious items on-hand to sustain you until you are in a shelter.
- Hygiene supplies.
- Medications, extra glasses or contact lenses, etc.
- Garden gloves for situations in which you might need to lift or move rubble or glass. I found mine at the Dollar Store.
- Emergency blanket and/or rain poncho. Found mine at the Dollar Store.
- Extra clothes and a pair of running shoes. Again, keep it simple and light.
- Emotional support items: colouring book and crayons for a kid, a small toy, playing cards, a Bible, word puzzles, etc.
- Special needs items: if you have little ones or the disabled in your family, pack the necessities for them.
3. Pack the backpack and test it. One should be able to carry it on their back with relative ease.
4. Label the backpacks, if you have have multiple family members. It should be simple to identify which one belongs to whom.
5. Keep the kit in an easily accessible spot.
I have to create a few more kits and then move on to the next step in better preparing my family for dealing with potential emergency situations. Do you have a grab’n-go kit for each member of your family?
