Comments on: More emergency preparations

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:53:19 +0000

I’m a little late, but as someone who is currently revamping their emergency kit, I appreciate this post. Thank you.

By: Chief Family Officer

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:29:46 +0000

Thanks for sharing this!

By: mapgirl

mapgirl — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:25:23 +0000

Always build your own first aid kit. You can use your Medical FSA funds to buy one and then round it out with what you need. I think your first aid items are woefully low. Never underestimate how much dressing and tape you will need if someone sustains a gash. Things like butterfly closures and some triple antibacterial ointment are great to have, but often aren’t in kits.

Also, I’d advise that everyone try their stuff out on a nice weekend. Camp stoves can be kind of mysterious, even more so when you realize you aren’t a smoker and don’t have a lighter on you. (Yes, it’s happened to me on a camping trip, but luckily there were smokers in our party.)

Miserly Bastard and I have a series of posts of our emergency kits and reasoning behind items. A headlamp is key so you can do hands-free work or walking. If you need to hike at night during an emergency, carrying a crank radio/flashlight is going to suck. Trust me. You’re going to get sick of it and want to shove it into your backpack.

By: bluntmoney

bluntmoney — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:30:14 +0000

We do actually have some cards in it (regular playing cards, plus Uno) but I forgot to mention them above since they aren’t on the inventory list that I keep. Guess I need to add them to the list :)

I’ve looked at first aid kits and they don’t seem very complete to me, so I decided to build my own. It would probably be a good idea to put them all in a little container within the emergency kit though.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:27:28 +0000

I have to agree with your first commenter about having some cards. I know that you have a list of first aid style items but what about a proper first aid kit?

Another thing I might put in my emergency kit would be a survival book, under most circumstances you’ll probably be at home but you never know what can happen. Just a thought.

We’ve got most of the items you listed above but they’re all over the place, maybe its time to put them together in a single easy to access spot.

By: M

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:06:30 +0000

I also like to point people to Jim McDonald’s medical and emergency preparedness posts at Making Light: http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/009176.html

The Go Bag thread should be especially relevant.

By: Bellen

Bellen — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:44:36 +0000

Good list, good start. I’d add some kind of game/cards/puzzlebook and pens/pencils and notebook. You will need some amusement. Also, with your canned goods, make sure you have something for breakfast,lunch, dinner and snacks. Lots of canned veggies and fruit won’t give you the protein you need. And comfort food snacks are necessary (Oreos got me thru some bad post Hurricane Charley nights)
We’ve invested in freeze-dried foods from Emergency Essentials (www.beprepared.com) and use them daily and keep lots in storage – for us, the cost is reasonable and we know we will not go hungry. They also have a water management system using plastic containers within cardboard boxes. Stores flat until needed. Means you’ll have fresher water instead of bottled.