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Family Emergency Kit
Plan Ahead
A family emergency kit should include a number of items such as:
- Cash - in small denominations and coins
- Clothing, bedding and sanitation supplies
- Emergency supplies and tools
- First Aid kit
- Food and water
- Important family documents in a waterproof, portable container
- Special needs items
The kit should be in an easy-to-carry container and stored in a convenient place known to all family members. You may wish to keep a smaller supply kit in the trunk of your car as well.
| Emergency Supplies and Tools | First Aid Kit | Food & Water | Personal Items | Special Needs | What Supplies Should You Gather?
Consider having the following items on hand:
- Battery powered radio or television
- Compass
- Emergency preparedness manual
- Filter masks
- Fire extinguishers, ABC type
- Flashlight - for each family member
- Heavyweight garbage bags or plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Plenty of extra batteries
- Pliers
- Shut-off wrench - to turn off household gas and water
- Signal flare
- Tape
- Tube tent
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What If You Are Injured?
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.
A first aid kit should include:
- Antiseptic
- Cleansing agent/soap
- Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
- Latex gloves
- Moistened towelettes
- Needle
- Roll bandages, 2 inch (3)
- Roll bandages, 3 inch (3)
- Safety pins, various sizes
- Scissors
- Sterile adhesive bandages, various sizes
- Sterile gauze pads, 2 inch (4 to 6)
- Sterile gauze pads, 4 inch (4 to 6)
- Sunscreen
- Thermometer
- Tongue blades (2)
- Triangular bandages (3)
- Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
- Tweezer
Non-prescription drugs
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What Will You Eat or Drink?
Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight.
Pack a manual can opener, basic eating utensils and basic kitchen accessories needed for cooking, eating and storage.
Rotate your stored food every six months for freshness.
Choose foods your family will eat:
- Cannded juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)
- Comfort/stress foods such as cookies, hard candy, sweetened cerals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags, hot cocoa.
- Dry cereal or granola
- food for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets.
- High energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit, nuts.
- Non-perishable pasteurized milk
- Protein or fruit bars
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables.
- Vitamins
Additional Items:
- Aluminum foil
- Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- Non-electric can opener, utility knife
- Plastic storage containers
Water:
Keep at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household.
- Store three gallons of water per person per day, for drinking, food preparation and sanitation.
- Store water tightly in clean plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
- Be sure to change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh.
Remember:
- Children, nursing mothers, and sick people may need more water. If you live in a warm weather climate more water may be necessary.
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What Personal Care Items Do You Need?
Clothing and Bedding:
Be sure to include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Hat and gloves
- Rain gear
- Sunglasses
- Thermal underwear
- Work boots or sturdy sho
Sanitation:
- Disinfectant
- Feminine supplies
- Household chlorine bleach
- Personal hygiene items
- Plastic garbage bags and ties (for personal sanitation uses)
- Plastic bucket with tight lid
- Soap, liquid detergent
- Toilet paper, towelettes
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What Else Do You Need?
Remember to plan for the special needs of Infants, the elderly and persons with disabilities when preparing your kit.
For Baby:
- Bottles
- Diapers
- Diaper rash ointment
- Formula
- Medications
- Moist towelettes
- Powdered milk
For Adults, Seniors and/or People with Disabilities:
- Plan how you will evacuate or signal for help.
- Contact your city or county government's emergency information management office. Many local offices keep lists of people with disabilities so they can be located quickly in a sudden emergency.
- Create a support network to help in an emergency and give one member of your support network a key to your house or apartment.
- Plan emergency procedures with home health care agencies or workers.
- If you are dependent on dialysis or other life sustaining treatment, know the location and availability of more than one facility.
Gather the following items:
- Copies of Medical insurance and Medicare cards
- Denture needs
- Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses and supplies
- Extra wheelchair batteries or other special equipment
- Hearing aid batteries
- List of your doctors and emergency contacts, relatives, or friends who should be notified if you are hurt.
- The style and serial numbers of medical devices such as pacemakers.
- Label equipment like wheelchairs, canes or walkers.
- Know the size and weight of your wheelchair, in addition to whether or not it is collapsible, in case it has to be transported.
- Prescription Medication - List all prescription medications, including dosage, in your supply kit. Include any allergies.
- Ask your doctor about storing prescription medications such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin and other prescription drugs.
- Teach others how to operate necessary equipment and tell others where you keep your emergency supplies.
- Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to help identify your disability.
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