The Complete Emergency Preparedness Kit

In Case of EmergencyThe worst thing about emergencies is that you just can’t predict them. The only good news is that you can plan for them.

Since people are always under duress when an emergency actually occurs it is prudent to assemble a kit that you can pull out when needed that covers most bases. So, here is a fairly complete list of the items you’ll find in my personal stash, plus a couple of extras that might be helpful for some folks with special needs.

Now seriously, why don’t you take a couple of hours and really honestly think thorough this emergency thing. You never know, perhaps the reason you’re reading this article today is a sign. You don’t want to be the person that didn’t pay attention and were left unprepared when disaster struck!

General Supplies

Illness

  • Ciprofloxacin (or Cipro), is a broad-spectrum antibiotic useful against a whole lot of bugs, plus famous for fighting Anthrax.
  • Vicks One-Second Ear Thermometer – because no one wants to sit there with a thermometer under their tongue when they are sick!
  • Potassium Iodide PillsPotassium Iodide (Radiation Blocking Pills) $12-22 per family member
    Stockpiling of Potassium Iodide (chemical abbreviation KI) is recommended by health officials worldwide to prevent thyroid cancer of those exposed to radioactive iodine in the event of a nuclear reactor accident or detonation of a nuclear bomb.

The biggest health risk after an accident at a nuclear plant or a nuclear attack results from exposure to radioactive iodine. Other radioisotopes are dispersed and quickly excreted, but radioiodine is concentrated and retained in the thyroid, increasing your risk of thyroid cancer. Even tiny doses, which can be carried downwind for hundreds of miles, can be harmful. Children are at greatest risk.

Taking potassium iodide (KI) before or immediately after exposure saturates your thyroid gland with safe stable iodine so that the uptake of radioactive iodine is blocked. There won’t be time to get it when an incident occurs. The FDA recommends keeping a 14-day supply on hand; radioactive iodine has a half-life of eight days.

Injury

  • SAM SplintTriple antibiotic ointment – A cocktail of three popular antibiotics invented in the 1950s that is synergistically more powerful than any of the three alone or in sequence. Trials have shown that triple antibiotic combo reduces scarring better than double or a single antibiotic. It’s an over-the-counter ointment at any drug store.
  • Burn Jel or Spenco 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads – For dealing with burns.
  • Precision Tweezers – $12 – When you get a splinter those cheap eyebrow tweezers will only push it in deeper. That’s when you need a good set of Tweezerman Splinter tweezers. They’ll allow you dig just about anything out from under the skin. Alternatively, if you want some seriously sharp tweezers because you have to deal with metal shaving splinters or some other very tiny, yet highly painful, stuff, try som SPI tweezers. – $30
  • Self Adhering Athletic Tape/Bandage – CoFlex or Vet Wrap is much cheaper than the human stuff, although you are just going to wrap yourself up with it.
  • Compression Bandage“H” Compression Bandage – $8
    One of the emergency items I least hope to ever have to use is the compression bandage. You only whip this puppy out in case of massive unstoppable bleeding. But when it’s needed nothing else will suffice, so no emergency kit is complete without a couple of these.
    Make sure you get more than one because certain injuries might require two, or you may need to change it out while working your way to medical care.
  • SAM Emergency Splint – $5-40 – Tremendously popular, and for good reason, a SAM Splint is crucial to any medical kit. This foam-padded aluminum splint is adaptable for use in almost any situation on almost any part of the body.
    Waterproof, reusable and invisible to X-rays, SAM Splints may be folded to fit into almost any container and even work well as a cervical collar in emergency situations and are available in a number of shapes and sizes. Here is a very inexpensive generic one.
  • Vetbond

  • Medical Grade Super Glue -Even if you’re a surgeon you’re not likely to have a needle and thread available during an emergency, so in case there is a small to medium sized wound that needs to be closed the best thing you can have on hand is Super Glue, or the medical equivalent.
    • If money is no object, you want some Dermabond (Octyl-cyanoacrylate). This stuff is the Rolls Royce of superglue specifically made for human sutures. There are also other options.
    • Vetbond (Butyl-cyanoacrylate) is a medical grade super glue that is approved for use on animals, but not people because it isn’t packaged in a “sterile” human grade manner. But if it’s good enough for my dog it’s fine for me in a pinch. $15
    • Super Glue (Ethyl-cyanoacrylate). This stuff was used widely in the Vietnam War to patch up soldiers in the field. $3 Oh yeah, you can also use Superglue to actually fix broken stuff.

Water Purifier
Water Purification System – $50-150 – You can go without food, sleep and shelter for a while – but you can’t survive without water.

  • If money and size are not an issue you can’t beat the First Need Base Camp Portable Water Purifier. It will filter microbiological, chemical and aesthetic contaminants from enough water for a whole group of people. $650
  • The MSR Miox Water Purifier will work if you want to purify, but not filter, drinking water. This means it will kill harmful organisms in the water, but not filter out chemicals or contaminants. However, it is small enough to fit in a pocket and only requires salt and lithium batteries. $139
  • First Need Deluxe Water Purifier is a non-chemical water purifier certified to EPA Guide Standard for microbiological purifiers against bacteria, cysts and viruses. $97.50

Optional, but Recommended

DefibrillatorPhilips HeartStart Home Defibrillator (AED) $1,250

If you’ve got someone in the family that is at increased risk for heart attack it makes sense to have a home defibrillator around. If it’s needed it can dramatically increase the rate of survival and decrease the severity of complications. Here is a video that demonstrates the unit in action:

Now, with the exception of the water and perhaps a camp stove you can fit everything else on this list into one relatively small container. I personally own 3 Rubbermaid ActionPacker 24-Gallon Storage Containers. They’re basically indestructible and you can get them at your local Target if you want.

Comments

  1. TheDane says:

    Duck tape and WD-40 – the only two tools needed to fix anything… ANYTHING…

    Kim:)

  2. OldSailor says:

    Nice tips. When you have such emergency kits, periodically it must be checked for shelf life and replenished as and when some thing is used.

  3. Yojimbo says:

    You forgot: Fifth of Jack Daniel’s

    ;-)

  4. everlast says:

    what you really forgot was either a nice, reliable carbine or shotgun.
    Both can be used for self defense and hunting.

  5. Kevin says:

    I have this that I believe I got from FEMA several years ago.

    While these kits were designed for an earthquake scenario, they are just about equally applicable to any widespread natural or man made disaster.

    For earthquake preparedness, this equipment and these supplies should be stored in waterproof, or at the least, water resistant containers in a SECURE location on the property AWAY FROM THE HOUSE or any likely damage or loss from falling structures, if possible. Use combination locks (all with the same combination) to secure supplies, keys can be lost. Make sure all household members have the combination memorized.

    For other natural disaster preparedness, the best location for storage may be in the basement, if you have one. Where flooding is common, an attic storage area may be a better bet (making sure you have rooftop access as well).

    Keep the existence of these supplies a secret from all others. Loose lips can result in stolen or pilfered supplies. When you need them, they may not be there.

    There’s More To Consider
    While the focus here is primarily on the gear and supplies that might save your life in such a disaster, in an emergency situation where evacuation is a likely possibility there are also other considerations. There’s your physical life that this gear and these supplies wile help preserve, and then there’s the rest, your emotional and fiscal life that is a loss critical. Things like family photo albums, family heirlooms and mementoes, bills and other current fiscal records, etc.

    While it would be a good exercise for all of us to develop a check list (with storage location) of stuff to grab in a short-notice evacuation, it is especially important for those who live in areas where it is more likely to occur (hurricanes, floods, high fire danger, etc.). When the danger is very high, it may pay to have it packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

    Primary Earthquake and Disaster Preparedness Kit

  6. Derek Wong says:

    This is a pretty extensive emergency kit. Do you really care all of this stuff around with you? I can’t really see myself having all of it. If you do, how much space do you use for it?

  7. Rhoody says:

    sorry, that is completely waste of money. you can buy all that sh… for huge amount of money and you come home and somebody lays on the flor shaking and foam on around the mouth… what do you do. start googleing ???
    Spend that money in a good MFA (EFR) course and a refresher each 6 month or at least each year… than you safe lifes.
    The willingness to help in a emergency is important not if you have all that stuff at home.

    No insult, but I am teaching MFA and EFR (emergengy first respone) courses, and it is shocking to hear from many of my students from the states…
    Stud: Yes we have a AED…
    Rhoody :is it charged?
    Stud: errrmm, we dont know, but it should…
    Rhoody: when did you checked it last time?
    Stud: when we bought it…

    It’s a problem in our world… many people own a lot but have no clue how to deal with it.

    Question, what is the heart-compression/ rescue-breath rate for
    a) adults
    b) Kids
    c) infants

    without google…. If you don’ tknow that right away, you may kill the people and on top I dont think you can deal with all that stuff mentioned in the post then… sorry get your feets down to the essential

    honest but still cheers

    Rhoody

    • C says:

      Rhoody,
      Your chances for successful resuscitation are small under the best of circumstances. (it’s part of my job, lots of experience.) Lots less during a period where professional medical help is unavailable. Your problem is mostly under perfusion than over perfusion. Work on your basic first aid. Keep water and food. Don’t worry about needing to be perfect at resuscitation. Most of your injuries will be cuts, breaks, sprains, shock, cold or heat related problems depending upon time of year and where you live. Good that you are thinking about emergency situations though.

  8. Steve Elliott says:

    I’d have to admit Rhoody, I am one of the many that wouldn’t know the rescue heart rates. Nor would I be able to find my candles in the dark (:

    I don’t agree that Duck Tape and WD40 are the essentials for Mr Fix It – what about No More Nails. Fantastic stuff.

  9. Rhoody says:

    Steve,
    the emergency list is nothing bad and includes great stuff, no doubt about that, but its more if you got trapped in a cave in Iraq and than I dont think you have your van with all that things with you…

  10. John P. says:

    I don’t carry it around with me, but I’ve got 95% of it at my house in case of emergencies. I live in Dallas, so if a tornado comes through here and rips things to shreds, or some other emergency occurs, I want to make sure I’ve got the essentials to care for my family while things are getting back to normal.

    John

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