Monday, November 4, 2013

Stay Alive By Preparing An Emergency Preparedness Kit

By Marsha Klein


Hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis have caused an unbelievably loss of life. Lessons learned from these events demonstrate the need for developing a response package to help stay alive during the initial hours. But the items to include in an emergency preparedness kit need careful consideration, and should be in convenient packaging.

In a crisis, the most important thing a person will require is water, and normal supplies may be disrupted or contaminated. Having approximately three liters per person per day is solid planning. In advance, it is important to note that fit individuals do better in such situations and can get by on less water, though a hot dry climate makes it more difficult for anyone.

Many people consider food nearly as important as water, though one can survive for up to 45 days without eating. But survival without any sustenance results in a slow painful degradation of strength and spirit. The basic ability to recognize that individuals are nearby and to be able to signal for help is diminished the longer one goes without food, decreasing the chance of being rescued.

Injuries can make the experience much worse, and carefully selected first aid material can be very important. In the case of severe cuts, amputations or puncture wounds which can be fatal simple devices can make all the difference. Including items to be used as tourniquets or plastic sheets to cover puncture wounds make even horrible injuries survivable.

When there is a lot of physical damage to structures and infrastructure it will be very difficult to make contact with anyone. A cellular phone is still a smart idea, as service may be restored reasonable quickly. If there is any capability to connect to the world wide we, that is the best choice as it is the least susceptible to interruption.

Signaling people who may be looking for survivors is one of the most important ideas beyond physical survival and the devices needed are not complex or expensive. A whistle can be heard from much farther away than the human voice can be heard. A reflective material like a mirror allows one to use the sun to signal people very far away, even passing aircraft.

Filling out the backpack with other items can make the situation more convenient, but are not as critical for preservation of life and limb. Signal flares are a good idea, but add a measure of danger to storing the backpack when not in use. Anything one might use in such situations can be helpful, masks for dusty environments, and tools, either a small multi-use pack or a multiple tool knife like a Leatherman is a good choice.

Most contingencies that would require one to be able to live without infrastructure are of such a large scale that a government response would be initiated. Even with this help on the way, a good rule of thumb is to be prepared for at least three days without contact. A great emergency preparedness kit can make the difference between living through a catastrophe and becoming a bad statistic.




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