Posts Tagged ‘emergencies kit’

Survival Kits: Your Most Basic Defense Against All Kinds of Emergencies

Experts will probably tell you that an emergency is only an emergency if you’re not prepared for it.  To increase your chances of living through a crisis or threat, it’s important that you have enough resources to tide yourself over, fix whatever it is that needs to be fixed and ensure that your physical and mental health are at its optimum.  That is why in emergencies, nothing beats a well-stocked emergency kit both as a means for prevention and solution.

What is a survival kit?
A survival kit consists of a bag or package containing the most basic supplies, equipment and tools that are commonly needed for emergencies.  Survival kits come in different sizes, ranging from one-person kits to multiple-person bags.

Who needs a survival kit?
Every home should have one, regardless of their location or activities. One can never be sure when an emergency will strike or when emergency supplies are required.  Survival kits are also important for people who go on trips outdoors, be it a picnic, a hike or a camping trip.

Survival kits are also very useful for work environments such as offices, factories and plants.  It is an essential tool for people who work in extreme weather conditions and remote locations.  A survival kit is also something that rescue workers, medical professionals and law enforcement should not do without.

What are the essential tools and supplies of a survival kit?
There are basic tools and equipment necessary to make a complete survival kit.  However, the number and type of supplies included will depend on the specific situation and requirements of the individual, family or group. Some of the most important types of supplies for a survival kit include:

First Aid
- Sanitizers and antiseptics
- Bandages, gauze and sterile pads
- Medical tape
- Surgical razor, scissors and tweezers
- Antibiotics (tablets, ointments or creams)
- Medications to treat pain, diarrhea, nausea and allergic reactions
- Prescription medications
- Extra set of prescription contact lenses and eyeglasses

Supply of food and water
A basic survival kit should also include enough supply of food and water to last each person in a group a minimum of 72 hours. This should include 2 qts. of water to be used for drinking and 2 qts. for preparing food, bathing and sanitation.  The kit should also include canned, preserved and packaged foods, preferably those that do not require cooking.

Navigation and signaling
- Handheld flashlights, torches, glow sticks and candles
- Flares or smoke
- Map
- Compass
- GPS navigation tools
- PLB or Personal Locator Beacons
- Radio

Shelter
- Tent or tarp with polyester or nylon tie-tapes
- Sleeping bag
- Raincoats, thermal jackets or clothing that offers protection against the elements
- Hats and head protection gear
- Waterproof matches, flint or lighters
- Cotton pads or balls dipped in flammable material (kept in a closed container)
- Knives (preferably a multi-purpose tool knife such as a Swiss knife and a long-bladed knife that can be used for cutting)

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