Are your community members prepared for an emergency? Do they know about disaster supplies? Do they own survival gear? Help them be ready for any emergency or disaster with the following checklist.
Emergency Kit Essentials
- Three-day supply of water and nonperishable food
- Canned foods such as meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and soups
- Other nonperishables including crackers, cereal, peanut butter, energy bars, and juice boxes
- Plenty of bottled water (at least 1 gallon per person per day)
- Manual can opener for food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Sanitation and hygiene items (e.g., moist towelettes, garbage bags, toilet paper, disinfecting wipes)
- Whistle
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
- Face masks (for everyone ages 2 and older)
- Cash and change
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Copies of important documents: Passports, drivers’ licenses, insurance policies, credit cards, bank account records, family emergency plan with key contacts list, medication list, medical records
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and backup battery
- Items for children: Favorite stuffed animal or blanket, pictures of family members and pets, books, games, puzzles, crayons, pencils, markers, paper
- Supplies for infants: Infant formula and bottled distilled water, baby food and baby spoon/dish/bibs, clean bottles and nipples, disposable diapers, disposable wipes, diaper rash ointment, resealable plastic bags, extra clothes, two to three receiving blankets, copies of medical and immunization records, toys, two pacifiers, baby lotion, baby wash, baby sunscreen, rectal thermometer, lubricant
- Pet supplies: Food and water for three days, your pet’s leash, muzzle, pet carrier, medication, and toys, as well as copies of immunization records
A first aid kit also needs to be included in your emergency kit. It should contain, at a minimum:
- A first aid manual.
- Various shapes and sizes of adhesive bandages, dressings, and gauze pads.
- Rolls of 3” cohesive bandage and 2” adhesive tape.
- Antibiotic wipes.
- Antibiotic and burn ointments.
- Scissors.
- Needles.
- Tweezers.
- Safety pins.
- Cotton balls.
- A thermometer.
- Aspirin and nonaspirin pain relievers.
- Anti-diarrheal medication.
- Antacids.
- Laxatives.
- A CPR breathing barrier.
- Soap.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Sterile gloves.
- A cold pack.
- Sunscreen.
Note: Set yourself a reminder to maintain your supplies so they are safe to use if needed.
For more information about educating your community on emergency preparedness, explore our extensive library of Emergency Preparedness & Management products.