Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Emergency Survival Kits And You

By Alyce Powell


When things are going smoothly in life with few or no bumps, it is easy to be caught by surprise should an emergency strike. Before a situation like this arises, it is a good idea to prepare ahead of time by buying one or more emergency survival kits. The size and content of these helpful and possibly life-saving packs will vary, so planning ahead will allow you the time to choose the right one.

A premade kit is a great idea, but you may want to add on a few other things like extra food. Most of these premade packs have only a certain amount of food, which should be split up and rationed over a number of days. If you think you need more or might need to help out a neighbor, then stock up on nonperishable, shelf-stable foods.

Water is another item that you can never have too much of. Sure, there might be some in your kit, but it is usually only a bare minimum amount to survive. You will want more not only to drink, but also to use for sanitary reasons and to keep on hand in case a neighbor might need some.

If there is a certain type of emergency that is more prevalent in your area, such as earthquakes, then you should buy a specific kit that is tailored to that type of situation. It will have the usual food and water rations, plus other things supplies that you might need should an earthquake knock out your power or destroy your home. These packages come in all sizes from one meant for a single person to a small or medium family.

Speaking of weather, another such pack that is widely available is a hurricane kit. These can be used for other weather disasters such as tropical storms, flash floods, or even a tornado. They have all the essentials you would need for such a storm, and like earthquake packs they are metered out for a certain amount of people, so read carefully and purchase more than one if needed.

There are also special search and rescue kits that will allow you to possibly help others who might need it. For example, some of these kits have bright fluorescent vests in them that allow you to be seen in the dark in case there is no power. Others may have a small, portable stretcher that folds out to carry an injured person to safety in case a health problem arises.

Sometimes emergencies have nothing to do with Mother Nature, as in the case of your car breaking down. This could happen anywhere, including rural areas you may live near or be traveling through. Keep a roadside kit on hand in your trunk so you will have things like flares and first aid supplies available to you.

Emergency survival kits are easy to find online or in stores, and come in many different shapes and sizes. You should always look ahead and be prepared in case of an emergency with one of these packages. It is always better to have one on hand and be safe rather than sorry.




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