Emergency Preparedness – What’s in Your Emergency Kit?

Paula — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:32:36 +0000

This post is sponsored which means I received product or compensation. Emergency preparedness is something every family should give some thought to periodically. From severe thunderstorms in the spring to heavy snowstorms in the winter, we’re all at risk for emergency situations. To be honest I didn’t really ever worry much about being prepared for natural disasters or weather incidents until recently. The tornado we had in Ottawa this year really hit home for me. As I watched and worried about several good friends in the Ottawa region, I realized my family isn’t prepared enough for emergencies in general. That got me thinking about preparing an emergency kit and supplies just in case something should happen. I’ve done a bit of research into this lately and I have prepared most of the items on this list to keep my family comfortable during emergency situations that would otherwise be miserable and potentially unsafe. Emergency Preparedness Supplies It’s important to have all the essentials on hand and ready to go in your home in case of an emergency. These essential supplies keep your family safe and healthy, allowing you to better ride out the emergency situation until things like power and water can be restored – or in an extreme emergency, until rescue arrives. While all emergency preparedness kits will be a little different based on where you live, I’ve put together the core supplies that everyone should have in their homes for emergency situations. Bottled Water In case of flooding or lack of running water, having bottled water on hand is key. Bottled water keeps you hydrated in the face of lack of water or contaminated water. Keep a few cases in the home to give you enough clean drinking water to last about a week. Non-Perishable Food It’s important to keep a supply of non-perishable foods in the home, as well. Canned, boxed, and bagged ready to eat food items are an essential part of any emergency preparedness plan. Batteries Keep a healthy supply of batteries in your emergency area, as well. These will be used to power radios and flashlights. Portable Phone Chargers In addition to batteries, keep a few fully-charged portable phone charger banks in your kit, as well. In case of a power outage, you’ll need those to help you stay in touch with family, friends, and possibly rescue officials. A Home Generator One of the best emergency preparedness items to have for your home is a generator. In addition to stocking up on emergency supplies, we now have a Champion power generator, and I already feel so much safer. Depending on the size of the generator you have, you may not have to worry about many of the problems families face in emergency situations. For example, with our generator, I know that I won’t have to worry about food going bad or any of the other problems that come with a full-on power outage. Champion Power Generator We have a Champion power generator. Champion has a great reputation, and they made it easy to find the right size for us. Generators come in a variety of sizes, from small to power specific items to large enough to power an entire home. For example, according to their website, the smallest recommended size for home use is 3000 to 4000 watts, and that’s only for powering smaller appliances. For larger appliances or whole-house use, the sizes go up. 5000 to 9000 watts is recommended for powering air conditioning or several appliances at once, for example. We used the Champion generator size calculator to determine the size right for us, and it was super easy. Emergency Preparedness is Easier with a Generator We have a fully stocked emergency preparedness kit in our home now. It’s complete with batteries, non-perishable food, water, and more. What really gives me peace of mind, though, is our Champion power generator. With the generator in place, I know we’ll be able to power everything we need in case of a power outage, which means I don’t have to worry about food going bad, not having light, or any of the other difficulties that go with being without power. Surprise Giveaway! Guess what? In addition to these great tips on emergency preparedness, I’m also bringing you a giveaway! One lucky reader will win a $50 Canadian Tire gift card. Surprise! Entry-Form

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Disaster Preparedness – 5 Urgent Things Teens Need to Know Now

Paula — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 10:52:18 +0000

Because natural disasters and emergencies can happen at any time without warning, the best we can do is be prepared. Disasters don’t just affect the adults but children as well. Unlike toddlers, teenagers can actually be a great resource during an emergency. Whenever possible, they should be involved in disaster preparedness to better equip them on how to behave and respond to such unfortunate events. Here’s what every teen should know about emergency preparedness. How to Handle Different Weather-Related Emergencies Every teenager should be aware of the various weather disasters and how they should act during each: Tornado – Run to the lowest level of the building and stay away from outside walls, windows and doors. In case you are outside and away from buildings, lie down in a ditch while protecting your head. Thunderstorm – Stay indoors and avoid using items that plug into electrical outlets. Don’t use running water since faucets can conduct electricity. Earthquake – Practice the ‘Drop, Cover and Hold On’ method and learn to identify the safe places in every room. Hurricane – Avoid glass windows and doors. Flooding – Avoid flooded areas. Six inch of moving water is enough to knock you over. The flood water may also be contaminated or contain sharp objects. Staying Connected with Your Family Mobile phones may not work during a disaster. How will a teenager contact friends and family to let them know that they are alright? They should figure this out ahead of time to be better prepared when the worst happens. It might be easier to make long distant calls. Red Cross recommends having a common out of area emergency contact for all family members. Having a list of emergency contacts and local emergency numbers may also come in handy during a disaster. Learn Basic Emergency Skills An adult may not be around every time there is an emergency. Teens should know basic emergency skills since they might need to help out or save a situation. Even the little things can make a huge difference like learning how to use a fire extinguisher or performing basic first aid. You never know, they might help save a person’s life when it is least expected. Away From Home Teens are often social. They might not be at home when disaster strikes. They should be well prepared for such situations. For example, they should know how to contact parents of friends for help. The basics (evacuation routes, what to avoid, etc.) should also apply. Disaster Kit Having an emergency kit is essential. The emergency supply list should include all the necessities they may need to survive during an emergency. The kit should contain food, water, first aid equipment. Other emergency supplies that they might need include flashlights, duct tape, liquid bleach, crowbar, etc. Keep a kit packed. You can’t claim to have a kit when all the items are scattered all around the house. Have everything packed nicely and ready to go. Make sure teens know where the kit is, what the items are for, and how to use them. Disasters unfortunately happen sometimes. Don’t sit back and hope for the best. Survival during an emergency sometimes depends on our level of disaster preparedness. Teenagers are likely to face a lot of challenges during emergencies. But if they are physically and mentally prepared, they can cope with the situation better and even be counted on to help. This post contains affiliate links. I appreciate it if you buy from this site via Amazon and I receive a small commission.

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Emergency Preparedness – What’s in Your Emergency Kit?

Disaster Preparedness – 5 Urgent Things Teens Need to Know Now