With coronavirus spreading to many parts of the globe, there is a lot of panic happening, and a lot of people interested in preparing for disaster. Here's how you can make your own cost efficient preparedness kit. Hopefully you won't need it!
Disasters can come in different forms, and knowing what to prepare for is very important. Nevertheless, there are items that should be in every preparedness kit. Various websites provide checklists of things you might need during an emergency. These websites are excellent resources to help you get going and provide ideas for kit material and other things you may not have thought of before.
Here are some helpful tips to ensure that you can prepare an emergency kit, regardless of your budget. The idea is to protect your family and your finances.
Keep the preparedness kit as simple as possible
You want to have sufficient money to last for an entire week when the disaster strikes. That being said, there's no need to waste hundreds of dollars on hoarding and stockpiling things you might not need or that disappear before you have an opportunity to use them.
A cost-efficient emergency kit must include the following:
Be patient
Make a list of things you know you might need and go shopping when there is a sale in the grocery store or mall. In terms of frugality, grab canned goods or non-perishable items. Avoid buying expired varieties because presumably they’ll be sitting for awhile. This includes soups, non-perishable foods that are out-of-season, and other goods that are under clearance. Cans that are leaking or bulging may be linked to botulism; therefore, these should be avoided.
Prepare do-it-yourself (DIY) meals
If you are worried about additives or other unpleasant ingredients that may be hiding in processed foods or if you have certain dietary restrictions, DIY food options may be better for your big family. Such DIY alternatives require considerable preparation, but like store-bought food options, products kept at home can be saved for several months. It also allows those with nutritional restrictions the security of knowing exactly what is in their food.
Make sure there is sufficient supply of water
Though buying commercially bottled water is highly recommended, it is not always practical. Most people have two-liter soft drink bottles or juice bottles around the house. Instead of throwing them into the recycle bin, include them as an essential element of your preparedness kit.
Wash the bottles properly with dishwashing detergent and water. Rinse thoroughly so that no excess soap exists. Disinfect the bottles with one tablespoon of non-scented liquid domestic chlorine bleach solution applied to one quart of water. Rinse the sanitizing solvent well with clean water after the container has been disinfected.
Do not use containers that were used for milk or water. It is critical to have an extra supply of water on hand for hygiene purposes during calamities such as hurricanes or earthquakes.
Check your local retail stores
For pickup of basic first aid supplies, check out your local retail store or other discount shops. With significant discounts, kit items like flashlights, batteries, chlorine, peroxide, water, socks, face masks, gauze, and bandages can all be purchased. Additionally, these shops are a good place to find other items like games, books, toys, puzzles, crayons, and coloring books to keep children busy during a long-term emergency. Consider buying generic brands for things like aspirin or ointment to save money. Check online shops too for more affordable items.
Emergency preparedness should be a family thing; always include everyone in the decisions and purchases for preparedness. Aside from preparing a cost-efficient kit for emergencies, it is also best to have adequate knowledge on how to respond to emergency situations through life saving measures like cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). You can get yourself trained in emergency preparedness through institutions like Newcastletraining.com. To families and individuals, disasters are already stressful situations. A little investment in preparedness will go a long way if and when a calamity strikes.
Do you have an emergency preparedness kit? What is in yours?
Here are some helpful tips to ensure that you can prepare an emergency kit, regardless of your budget. The idea is to protect your family and your finances.
Keep the preparedness kit as simple as possible
You want to have sufficient money to last for an entire week when the disaster strikes. That being said, there's no need to waste hundreds of dollars on hoarding and stockpiling things you might not need or that disappear before you have an opportunity to use them.
A cost-efficient emergency kit must include the following:
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Non-perishable and easy-to-prepare food items
- One gallon of water per person daily
- Battery-powered radio
- Medications and medical items
- Personal hygiene and sanitation items
- Area maps
- Emergency blankets
- Additional cash
- Emergency and family contact details
- Mobile phones with chargers
- Important documents and copies like insurance policies, birth certificates, passports, deed of sales or home lease, proof of address, and medical information.
Be patient
Make a list of things you know you might need and go shopping when there is a sale in the grocery store or mall. In terms of frugality, grab canned goods or non-perishable items. Avoid buying expired varieties because presumably they’ll be sitting for awhile. This includes soups, non-perishable foods that are out-of-season, and other goods that are under clearance. Cans that are leaking or bulging may be linked to botulism; therefore, these should be avoided.
Prepare do-it-yourself (DIY) meals
If you are worried about additives or other unpleasant ingredients that may be hiding in processed foods or if you have certain dietary restrictions, DIY food options may be better for your big family. Such DIY alternatives require considerable preparation, but like store-bought food options, products kept at home can be saved for several months. It also allows those with nutritional restrictions the security of knowing exactly what is in their food.
Make sure there is sufficient supply of water
Though buying commercially bottled water is highly recommended, it is not always practical. Most people have two-liter soft drink bottles or juice bottles around the house. Instead of throwing them into the recycle bin, include them as an essential element of your preparedness kit.
Wash the bottles properly with dishwashing detergent and water. Rinse thoroughly so that no excess soap exists. Disinfect the bottles with one tablespoon of non-scented liquid domestic chlorine bleach solution applied to one quart of water. Rinse the sanitizing solvent well with clean water after the container has been disinfected.
Do not use containers that were used for milk or water. It is critical to have an extra supply of water on hand for hygiene purposes during calamities such as hurricanes or earthquakes.
Check your local retail stores
For pickup of basic first aid supplies, check out your local retail store or other discount shops. With significant discounts, kit items like flashlights, batteries, chlorine, peroxide, water, socks, face masks, gauze, and bandages can all be purchased. Additionally, these shops are a good place to find other items like games, books, toys, puzzles, crayons, and coloring books to keep children busy during a long-term emergency. Consider buying generic brands for things like aspirin or ointment to save money. Check online shops too for more affordable items.
Do you have an emergency preparedness kit? What is in yours?
Very timely article with good info.
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