Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Living Through Disasters Is Easier With An Emergency Preparedness Kit

By Marsha Klein


The past decade has seen numerous natural disasters and man-made crises, and still people are largely unprepared. The chance of surviving after a cataclysmic event are dramatically greater with just a little foresight. The goal is surviving for at least three days without any of the conveniences we take for granted, and having an appropriately filled emergency preparedness kit is the key.

The first thing to consider is what a human being needs most; water. In a survival situation, between two to three liters per day per person is considered essential. Hot, dry climates are the most inhospitable and the adage not to ration your water but ration your sweat is good advice.

Having something nonperishable to eat included in the container is not as critical, but it is important. Individuals who are famished have less energy and are less alert, complicating a difficult situation. While one can survive without food for weeks, the ability to help oneself get rescued is significantly diminished.

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.

Communication is one f the first things to be disrupted in an emergency, either through physical damage or overuse. The internet, if available, is much more difficult to break down and one has a good chance of getting a message out. Barring that, a cellular phone may become available within hours and a radio is an important way to get emergency information.

Items which can be used for signaling during the day are also essential and there are some inexpensive tools for that purpose. A whistle is always a good idea and can be heard much farther than the human voice and require less energy . Any mirror can be used to flash sunlight towards distant rescuers, a true signal mirror will have a hole in the center for aiming.

Other simple devices can make the experience much more convenient, and safe. A multi-tool knife and a pair of pliers can allow one to shut off gas and power, open broken water faucets and open cans of food. If there is additional room in the backpack or container, dust masks, extra batteries and local area maps are all valuable items.

In most cases, a contingency that places one in a situation requiring personal survival skills will be significant enough that officials will respond. Due to response preparation lead time, one must be able to take care of oneself for a minimum of 72 hours to allow authorities time to begin a search and rescue operation. Getting an emergency preparedness kit ready in advance could be the difference between living or dying in a crisis.




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