Do I need an Emergency Survival Kit?
Keep Safe
Not surprisingly, a good first aid kit is absolutely indispensable in case of an emergency, be it for small lacerations, or placing the patient under a level of comfort. The First Aid kit must contain items for resuscitation, bandaging, cleaning and protecting.
Whether you need to open up a can of food, cut some twigs for a fire, cut some rope, or fix something a comprehensive multi tool with multiple blades is essential.
One of the most probable emergencies facing our nation is the threat of a volcanic eruption. If an eruption does occur, our atmosphere will be filled with volcanic ash, making a dust mask and eye protection goggles essential for keeping your lungs and eyes safe.
Gloves and a rubbish bag are two items that will allow you to provide help to your neighbours and friends, and keep items that should not be touched directly away from your skin.
Keep Dry and Warm
Regardless of whether you are in good health or not, being warm and dry can make the difference between comfort and misery. A lightweight blanket to retain your body heat and some sort of rain poncho to keep you dry is essential in any emergency.
Whether to warm up some water for a cup of tea, cook dinner, keep warm, or steralise a knife, a fire is essential during an emergency. Matches are part of the answer and have proven to be reliable even in the most inclement weather.
Be Seen and Heard
We all need light, there is no doubt about it. The more isolated we are, the more we need a light to provide us the comfort and security of our surroundings. A torch is an essential tool, especially one that works when you need it and for as long as you need it to.
Lightsticks or glowsticks are also a good way of lighting up the environment.
We will have a need to be heard and a whistle or a siren of some sort is a good and convenient way of making ourselves heard from afar. This could literally make the difference to our survival. Some recent road side incidents in New Zealand have highlighted the importance of having something handy to making ourselves heard.
Whether to warm up some water for a cup of tea, cook dinner, keep warm, or steralise a knife, a fire is essential during an emergency. Waterproof matches are part of the answer and have proven to be reliable even in the most enclement weather.
Hydrate
There may not be clean potable water available or perhaps not in the the quantity necessary to support your loved ones. Water purification, together with a water container allow all the flexibility needed to use water from almost every source and make it drinkable. Water sources could include streams and even your very own toilet cistern.
Keep Calm and Informed
We need to keep in touch with what is happening around us locally, around the nation and internationally. A radio is the method through which Civil Defence will convey instructions and provide updates on any emergency befalling our land.
Keeping tabs of what is going on around you is certainly useful and this can easily be achieved through the use of a notepad and a pencil. This also becomes essential if you need to leave messages for your rescuers, or friends to explain any situation or provide information as to your whereabouts.
You may also need something to keep your mind of immediate things and a deck of playing cards may provide just the right level of diversion.
