Hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis have caused an unbelievably loss of life. Lessons learned from these events demonstrate the need for developing a response package to help stay alive during the initial hours. But the items to include in an emergency preparedness kit need careful consideration, and should be in convenient packaging.
The need which will take the most space in the pack is water, but it is more than worth it, as one can not live for more than a few days without it. A minimum of two liters per day is needed to keep a person conscious and alert. One should drink when thirsty and avoid unnecessary strenuous activity, as sweat dehydrates an individual quickly.
Eating is also important, but one should not eliminate water to store food, as one can live for weeks without eating. But it is important if there is room, as nutrients are also necessary to keep ones wits about them. Also, if one is trapped or far from civilization, energy to move or escape is critical, at least to get out in the open to signal for help.
Injuries can make the experience much worse, and carefully selected first aid material can be very important. In the case of severe cuts, amputations or puncture wounds which can be fatal simple devices can make all the difference. Including items to be used as tourniquets or plastic sheets to cover puncture wounds make even horrible injuries survivable.
When there is a lot of physical damage to structures and infrastructure it will be very difficult to make contact with anyone. A cellular phone is still a smart idea, as service may be restored reasonable quickly. If there is any capability to connect to the world wide we, that is the best choice as it is the least susceptible to interruption.
Signaling people who may be looking for survivors is one of the most important ideas beyond physical survival and the devices needed are not complex or expensive. A whistle can be heard from much farther away than the human voice can be heard. A reflective material like a mirror allows one to use the sun to signal people very far away, even passing aircraft.
Filling out the backpack with other items can make the situation more convenient, but are not as critical for preservation of life and limb. Signal flares are a good idea, but add a measure of danger to storing the backpack when not in use. Anything one might use in such situations can be helpful, masks for dusty environments, and tools, either a small multi-use pack or a multiple tool knife like a Leatherman is a good choice.
Most of the time a situation that would require one to use an emergency preparedness kit will be significant enough for local authorities to convene a response team. This is not done instantaneously, however, which is why one should shoot for at least three days of independent survival. Being ready to take care of oneself is the best way to make it through in a crisis.
The need which will take the most space in the pack is water, but it is more than worth it, as one can not live for more than a few days without it. A minimum of two liters per day is needed to keep a person conscious and alert. One should drink when thirsty and avoid unnecessary strenuous activity, as sweat dehydrates an individual quickly.
Eating is also important, but one should not eliminate water to store food, as one can live for weeks without eating. But it is important if there is room, as nutrients are also necessary to keep ones wits about them. Also, if one is trapped or far from civilization, energy to move or escape is critical, at least to get out in the open to signal for help.
Injuries can make the experience much worse, and carefully selected first aid material can be very important. In the case of severe cuts, amputations or puncture wounds which can be fatal simple devices can make all the difference. Including items to be used as tourniquets or plastic sheets to cover puncture wounds make even horrible injuries survivable.
When there is a lot of physical damage to structures and infrastructure it will be very difficult to make contact with anyone. A cellular phone is still a smart idea, as service may be restored reasonable quickly. If there is any capability to connect to the world wide we, that is the best choice as it is the least susceptible to interruption.
Signaling people who may be looking for survivors is one of the most important ideas beyond physical survival and the devices needed are not complex or expensive. A whistle can be heard from much farther away than the human voice can be heard. A reflective material like a mirror allows one to use the sun to signal people very far away, even passing aircraft.
Filling out the backpack with other items can make the situation more convenient, but are not as critical for preservation of life and limb. Signal flares are a good idea, but add a measure of danger to storing the backpack when not in use. Anything one might use in such situations can be helpful, masks for dusty environments, and tools, either a small multi-use pack or a multiple tool knife like a Leatherman is a good choice.
Most of the time a situation that would require one to use an emergency preparedness kit will be significant enough for local authorities to convene a response team. This is not done instantaneously, however, which is why one should shoot for at least three days of independent survival. Being ready to take care of oneself is the best way to make it through in a crisis.
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