Guest post: 7 Essential Items in your Emergency Survival Kit

Hello, my friend and welcome back! Today I have a guest post from Mina Arnao is the Founder/CEO of More Prepared.  She has written a wonderful post on the 7 Essential Items in your Emergency Survival Kit.  She has also created an infographic on the subject as well and I am pleased to share it with you today.  If you get the chance please visit her site and check it out.  Until next time my friend, stay safe, stay strong and stay prepared.  God Bless America!

-Sarge-

7 Essential Items in your Emergency Survival Kit

You surely don’t want to be in an emergency situation, no one does, but the truth is, problems don’t ring bells before they come. In any such unforeseen circumstances, it is essential to be prepared rather than panic. Here are some quick tips on emergency survival kit, which one should possess at all times, be it home, office, school, vacation or while traveling.

1. Food- Food, an important element of your kit, should be carried with a minimum of 3-day non-perishable supply per person. Also, it needs to be checked for expiration periodically. Some real good options could be freeze dried bars and dried food, specially formulated for such situations. They also come with a life range of 5 to 25 years. If a baby is on board, make special arrangements by adding baby food and formula. Keep pet food, if required.
2. Water– Needless to say, life is not possible without water and perhaps is the most important substance on our earth. All living beings need water. Apart from drinking it to survive, you use it for numerous other reasons as well, like cooking and sanitation. The rule of thumb is to keep a 3-day supply, with one gallon for one person per day. In case using bottled water, keep an eye on its expiration. Other available options for better shelf life is to use water specifically packaged for such situations, which varies from 5 to 50 years.
3. Lighting and Communication– Things can really go worse in situations when you need power the most and you run out of it. But if you are well prepared to handle such situations, you can take a sigh of relief until you really need to use your backup options, which could include a radio, either battery operated, solar powered or hand-cranked; a flashlight or a lantern with some extra batteries; candles and matchsticks (better keep waterproof ones); whistle to raise an alarm and light sticks.
4. First-Aid- Always keep a first aid kit which should be easily accessible in times of need. Your kit should contain supplies of hydrogen peroxide to wash and disinfect wounds, antibiotic ointment, sting relief pads, bandage strips, medicated cotton, adhesive tape, scissors, thermometer, prescription drugs, aspirin, Glucose for diabetes patients, burn gel and eye drops. You could add more to the above list based on your specific requirements if any.
5. Shelter and Warmth– Now that you are sorted in terms of keeping an adequate supply of food, water, and medicines, you definitely need to ensure your safety in terms of your stay in emergencies, specifically keeping in mind the weather conditions that could play havoc. Don’t panic; make sure to include a tent, sleeping bag, some warmers, vinyl tarps for covering the ground, clothes to shield you from rain and blankets for that additional warmth.
6. Sanitation and Hygiene- You cannot carry your bathroom, but some basic supplies should suffice your needs when dealing with emergencies. You may want to carry a pail to be used as a toilet and a toilet seat for the same; add essentials like toilet paper rolls, some extra supply of tissues, paper and bar soaps, sunscreen, sanitary napkins, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, and paste.
7. Survival Gear– Some tools and equipment like strong gloves, dust masks, fuel, multi-function knife, a portable stove, manual can opener, sturdy rope for towing, duct tape, plastic sheeting, shovel, and ax will act as an armor in the kit in case of an emergency.

Other Items– Other good to keep items include sturdy shoes, eye glasses, fire extinguisher, a hose for siphoning and firefighting, some extra clothes, cash and baby diapers.

Still have questions on the emergency kit? Check out this infographic by More Prepared, emergency survival experts.