With an insurgency of hurricanes
and other national catastrophes, it is becoming of dire importance
to prepare for disaster. Since Hurricane Katrina, our country
has learned several lessons. Aside from evacuating an endangered
area, we have learned the importance of emergency contingency
planning.
Maintaining a kit of medical supplies and important documents
will prepare your family for any impending doom. Based on the
recommendations of The Centers for Disease Control., the following
items should be placed in a storage container large enough to
manage and easy to access. It’s best to have these kits available
in the car, home and at work.
Gather the following items to create a general first aid medical
kit:
? Ace bandage
? Adhesive medical tape
? Antibiotic ointment
? Alcohol swabs
? Aspirin and non-aspirin tablets
? Anti-diarrhea medicine
? Asthma inhaler
? Bandages
? Bar soap
? Cotton swabs
? Eye drops
? Hearing aid batteries
? Hydrogen peroxide
? Instant cold packs
? Long-term prescription medications
? Pocket knife
? Rolled gauze
? Safety pins
? Sanitary napkins
? Scissors
? Splinting supplies
? Thermometer
? Tissues or toilet paper
? Tweezers
Ideally, a waterproof and fireproof storage case is recommended
for storing the above items. Nevertheless, a plastic bag in
the refrigerator may work as an alternative. Moreover, it’s
a good idea to check the expiration dates of any prescriptions
to ensure that they are current and updated.
Obviously a few staples are necessary for putting together
an emergency disaster kit.
Add the following items to your kit:
? Batteries
? Blankets
? Extra Money
? Food (pre-packaged and canned items)
? Cooking utensils
? Matches
? Gasoline
? Flashlights
? Tarp
? Rain gear
? Water (1 gallon of water/per person for each day)
For parents with infants, your emergency kit will need to include
additional supplies: powdered milk, bottles, diapers, formula,
pacifiers, and other important items.
