Buy emergency survival kit

Being prepared for emergencies is a crucial aspect of ensuring the safety and well-being of yourself and your loved ones. An emergency survival kit is a collection of basic items that members of a household may need in the event of a disaster. Here’s an essential guide to buying and preparing your emergency survival kit.

Understanding the Essentials

Before you start buying, it’s important to know what items are considered essentials for any emergency survival kit. The basic items include but are not limited to:

• Water: one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air, and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Customizing Your Kit

While the above items form the core of a survival kit, your kit should be customized to meet the specific needs of your household. Consider the following additions:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers if you have a baby
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler’s checks
• Important family documents in a waterproof container
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Complete change of clothing including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water
• Fire Extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Personal hygiene items
• Disinfectant

Purchasing Your Kit

When you’re ready to buy an emergency survival kit, you have two main options: assemble your own or purchase a pre-made kit.

Assembling Your Own Kit: This approach allows for greater customization and often can be more cost-effective. Shop for items separately, starting with the basics and adding on as needed. Look for items that are compact, have a long shelf life, and that you know how to use. For specialized items, such as water filters or solar chargers, research and choose products with good reviews and reliability.

Buying a Pre-Made Kit: If you prefer a one-stop solution, there are many pre-assembled emergency kits available. These can be purchased at outdoor retailers, big box stores, or online. They usually contain the essentials, but may not be tailored to your specific needs. When buying a pre-made kit, check the contents carefully and consider which additional items you’ll need to add.

Storing Your Kit

Once you have your emergency survival kit, store it in a place that is easily accessible in case of an emergency. If you live in a multi-story house, you may want to have a kit on each level. In addition to having one at home, consider keeping a smaller kit in your car and at your workplace.

Remember to maintain your kit by replacing expired items as necessary and reevaluating the contents yearly to ensure they align with your current needs.

Conclusion

In an unpredictable world, having an emergency survival kit is a proactive step towards safeguarding your and your family’s safety. Whether you opt to build your own kit or purchase a pre-made one, the most important thing is to have it ready and accessible when it counts. Keep informed about potential risks in your area, and update your emergency survival kit as your household needs change. Stay prepared, stay safe.