Thursday, January 2, 2014

The Main Components Of Emergency Survival Kits

By Harriett Crosby


Emergency survival kits are just that; a tool for surviving. They need to be with us at all times of the day because you never know when you will need them. At times, they may make the difference between life and death. When assembling your kit, there are a number of important considerations that you need to have in mind so that the main objective for which such a tool is created is well fulfilled. You need to decide, from the very beginning whether you need to use your kit just once or on several occasions.

Start by creating a list of the items that you consider very important in your life. List all the possible things that you can imagine. Narrow this list down to include only the most essential. This is to prevent the kit from become burdensome. One of the most important things that you can start with on your list is some form of shelter. This will help protect you from unfavourable weather in an emergency situation.

For shelter, there are numerous options to consider. Commonly used forms of shelter include trash bags, tents and tarps. Nylon ponchos may be ripped and folded into shape to help serve as tents. The idea is to have a material that is light enough to be carried around with ease. Ensure that you have ropes and stakes with you.

Related to the shelter is the need for warm bedding. The top two choices for bedding are wool and fleece. These have their advantages and disadvantages. Both are always warm even when wet. Wool has the additional benefit of being a flame retardant while fleece is also very lightweight. Foil type blankets are very easy to pack and very warm as well. Cotton bedding should be avoided whenever possible as they lead to loss of body heat.

Regardless of the size of your kit, you definitely need water. According to research, between 130 and 160 oz of water is required for one person per day. This is the amount of water that is to be used for drinking only and has to be used very sparingly. Water can be packed in many different ways including sterilized bottles, water bags and reusable containers. Sterilised water should be replaced on an annual basis whenever possible.

There are different options of foods to choose from. It is important to choose foods that are not only easy to prepare but those that can last for a while. Try to maintain a balance in the selection even if they are intended for emergencies. Generally, it is recommended that one person uses at least 2000 calories of energy on any given day. You can determine the quantity packaged based on this fact. Food bars and granola are usually an excellent choice.

The need for additional items in the kit will vary on a case to case basis. If you intend to include toiletries such as towels and soap, do so if space is available. A first aid kit may be needed at one time or the other. Components of such a kit may include painkillers, one or two gauze rolls, wound cream and antibiotics.

The importance of emergency survival kits cannot be overemphasized. One needs to plan in advance to avoid the confusion that arises whenever difficulties arise. You need to keep inspecting your kit regularly to ensure that it is always intact. In addition, make sure that all the persons in your household have a kit of their own.




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