When a disaster occurs, anyone can be vulnerable. Therefore, one ought to be prepared to mitigate its impact. You too can reduce the shocks of an unforeseen event by coming up with a disaster mitigation plan and implement it. Part of the plan is having a supply of essential items that are crucial for survival stored in your home. These are the four important things you need to have in stock at all times:
1) Have a First Aid Kit
It is important to have a first aid kit in your home or car in case one needs quick medical treatment. When packing your first-aid kit, make sure to include antiseptics and sterile cotton that clean germs in cuts and wounds.
Also, include bandages and dressings to cover the infected skin to prevent further contact with germs. Save Rite Medical has the best innovative and affordable Tegaderm dressings for your first aid kit. They come in several sizes. They are also sold as bulk units.
Do not forget that medicine and ointments do expire. Using expired medicine is not safe. Check the “discard after…” date and replace any expired medicine in your first aid kit. Please keep it in an easily accessible area in your home and car. The place ought to be cool, humidity-free, and away from light.
2) Keep A Stock of Non-Perishable Foods
Some factors can instantly affect access to food such as political instability and extreme weather (floods & hurricanes). Having a stock of food in your home will prevent you and your family from starving. Nonperishable foods come in sealed cans therefore edible for up to 4 years from the date it was manufactured. Also, canned foods are ready to eat, so if there is a power and gas outage, you are sorted. It is ideal to store enough food that is 2000 calories serving per day per person to last your household for at least three days. Do not forget to include a can opener and your pet’s food.
3) Have Some Water Stored
Water is a necessity for drinking, cooking, personal hygiene, and house cleaning. In case the tap runs dry, you will need to have some water stored for use. Store a gallon of water for one person for a day. You can store water in containers or build your water reservoir. When storing water first clean the containers then pour in clean and treated water and make sure you tightly seal the containers. Keep your stored water in a cool and dark place and replace this water every six months. When using stored water, you can retreat or boil before drinking. It is also ideal to open one container at a time to prevent contamination.
4) Have a Supply of Personal Hygiene Items
Some events do affect transportation. Stores may be closed, meaning that you cannot access personal hygiene items. You need to buy these hygiene products in bulk and store them since they will save you in case of a disaster. This includes soap, hand sanitizers, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, handkerchiefs, shaving cream, diapers (extremely important to avoid diaper rash), sanitary towels and tampons, and wet wipes.
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