How To Prepare For An Emergency

This is a contributed post by Ellie Jo on How to Prepare For an Emergency

There are many reasons why an emergency might happen. They come in all shapes and sizes, from inclement weather to natural disasters or man-made issues such as house fires or even political unrest. No matter the cause of an emergency situation, knowing how to how to prepare for an emergency will help you survive it.

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Tips To Prepare For An Emergency

Safety

When you are preparing yourself for an emergency, the first thing to consider is your safety. If there is a dangerous element affecting your environment, getting out of the area may be necessary. However, if it’s something less immediate but just as life-threatening, then it would be wise to have supplies that will help you survive until an emergency team arrives.

Emergency Bag

One way to survive an emergency is by packing a Bug-Out Bag, which is a bag that contains essentials needed for survival, such as food and medicine. The items should be chosen carefully as not all will be able to fit into one bag. You can consider needs such as those for warmth and shelter, first aid, hygiene, etc. Remember that in an emergency situation, food may also become scarce, so it’s important to pack calorie-dense foods.

Preparation

Be sure to check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly if there is a chance of rain or snow; for instance, pack items such as plastic tarps or tents for shelter. Make sure to have a way of starting fires as it can also get cold. If there is a chance of being exposed to the elements overnight, pack items that will help you stay warm such as sleeping bags or blankets.

Supplies And Emergency Kit

Being prepared for an emergency may mean having the right supplies at home. Keep your house well-stocked with essentials such as food, water, and medicine. If there is a possibility of your power being out for more than one hour, you should also have flashlights or lanterns inside so you can still see.

You should have an emergency bag packed ready for quick evacuation and exit. This is usually common for people with high-risk careers and always ready to leave a place with bare essentials packed. It includes packed food, water, first aid kit, passport, warm clothing, and lighting.

Your emergency kit should also have self-defense equipment. Lastly, navigation is part of an essential survival instinct. You need to pack a compass and a map so that you can tell your direction and schedule timely activities to manipulate your surroundings into your advantage.

You should also pack items that will help in communicating with others like radios or cell phones.

Packing

When it comes to packing your Bug-Out Bag, it is important to pack light. You may not be able to bring everything you want because of the weight limit but make sure to consider essential items like food, water, and medicine. If possible, choose lightweight alternatives like canned food over dried ones.

Water

Water is essential to the survival of human beings. It is possible for a person to go days without food but not without water. We need water for almost everything in our life including drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.

You need to be prepared with at least 5 days of water reserve in case of emergency situations. Going hours without water can cause an unpleasant feeling especially if you know you do not have any water available.

Food

You should be able to keep food that can last you 14 days giving you enough time to get through a crisis or find an alternative way of survival. Food is important to keep us healthy. In case of a suspected long-term crisis, you can introduce rationing to save on portions and increase your survival chances.

When stocking up your emergency food supplies you should check for expiry dates and only store foods with a longer shelf life.

Storage

When it comes to storing your supplies for future use, it is ideal for storing them in airtight containers. Also, make sure you know how to use your items, especially items like first aid kits, which may only be useful if you are familiar with how they work.

Include Time Killing Items and Devices

Not all emergencies are scheduled to last. Some emergencies are recurring and can be planned for. An example is an emergency that is not perceived as dangerous and only affects you for less than 24-72 hours may require some luxury emergency devices. Finding the right activities to kill time during an emergency can be difficult.

For example, if you find yourself trapped in an elevator you might feel at ease knowing that you have a power bank in your bag. This will help you be able to communicate with your friends and family as you wait to be assisted. Mobile devices, books, and card games can help you transform an otherwise tragic experience into one with some fun.

Be Physically And Mentally Prepared For A Emergency

We do not choose our emergencies and we can never be able to determine which crisis we will face. It can range from civil war or natural disasters. This is why we need to have a diverse plan.

The depth of preparedness should include self-defense in personal combat and weapons discharge. You should keep fit and train regularly to make your body adapt easily to stressful conditions for longer periods.

Housekeeping

Cleaning up after a natural disaster or an unfortunate event might be costly. Damage to your property needs to be fixed and you may not always have access to funds to do that. Insurance helps but sometimes you need to come up with the shortfall. Remember that installment loans could come in handy to fast-track your progress after any emergency.

Conclusion For How To Prepare For An Emergency

Regardless of what kind of emergency situation has happened or will happen in the future, being prepared will always give you an edge over those who are not. Keep yourself safe and make sure to know what to do in an emergency situation by following these tips on how to prepare yourself for unexpected emergencies.