This is an excerpt from a great article from News Leader in Springfield, Missouri on something to consider adding to your back-to-school list as you are getting your last-minute supplies – an Emergency Preparedness Kit.
The American Red Cross suggests that when parents buy back-to-school supplies, they also consider adding to an emergency preparedness kit to the shopping list.
Calling the effort the “Golden Rule for Back to School,” the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the Red Cross points out, “Whether it’s the last-minute run to the store for the glue that will hold a child’s project together or the dozens of bake-sale cupcakes whipped up late at night, parents frequently deal with the unexpected. Being prepared for emergencies — and not just the glue and cupcake variety — is the new golden rule for having a great school year.”
Items for an emergency preparedness kit include:
• Water — one gallon per person, per day (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
• Food — non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (seven-day supply) and medical items
• Multipurpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
Other tips to keep in mind:
- Supplies need to stay in an easy-to-carry, easy-to-transport container that can be used at home or on-the-go.
- Your family should create and practice an evacuation and communications plan, and each family member should know how to execute it.
- Designate an out-of-area friend or relative to be an emergency contact, and make sure all family members know how to contact them.
- An evacuation plan involves having two meeting places: one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency (like a fire), and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate.
- Designate an evacuation route.
- Be trained in CPR and first aid so you can respond before help arrives. Those minutes can mean life or death! Think Safe has great certified online training solutions.
For information on Think Safe’s innovative emergency preparedness training and tools, and how they can save you time and money, check out the First Voice product line here.