Travel Blog

 

What We Should Know About Emergency Survival Kits

By Harriett Crosby


Emergency survival kits are just that; a tool for surviving. They need to be with us at all times of the day because you never know when you will need them. At times, they may make the difference between life and death. When assembling your kit, there are a number of important considerations that you need to have in mind so that the main objective for which such a tool is created is well fulfilled. You need to decide, from the very beginning whether you need to use your kit just once or on several occasions.

Start by creating a list of the items that you consider very important in your life. List all the possible things that you can imagine. Narrow this list down to include only the most essential. This is to prevent the kit from become burdensome. One of the most important things that you can start with on your list is some form of shelter. This will help protect you from unfavourable weather in an emergency situation.

For shelter, there are numerous options to consider. Commonly used forms of shelter include trash bags, tents and tarps. Nylon ponchos may be ripped and folded into shape to help serve as tents. The idea is to have a material that is light enough to be carried around with ease. Ensure that you have ropes and stakes with you.

Try to include warm bedding in your pack. Wool and fleece are the top two choices. The major advantage that these two have over other choices is that they are always warm even when wet and thus would be appropriate for use in virtually any weather condition. Wool is in addition, a flame retardant and fleece is lightweight. Another option that you can consider, if possible, is a foil blanket. These blankets are easy to package and are very warm

Water is a must. Ensure that there is enough room for this essential commodity. It is recommended that each person drinks between 130 and 160 oz of water per day. There are many ways in which the water can be packaged. Commonly used options include sterilised bottles, water bags and reusable containers. The shelf life of mineralised water is about 5 years. It should therefore be replaced regularly.

Food needs to be chosen carefully. While what you package depends on what you like to some extent, this should not be the main determinant. It is important to maintain a balance among all major groups of food and minerals. A minimum of 2000 calories is required per person on a daily basis. The most convenient foods are those that require little or no preparation at all.

There are many other smaller items that are not always a must but make life comfortable. Such items include toiletries and other personal items whose inclusion will depend on availability of space. A first aid kit should also be included if space permits. In this kit ensure that the following are included, painkillers, gauze rolls and antibiotics.

The importance of emergency survival kits cannot be overemphasized. One needs to plan in advance to avoid the confusion that arises whenever difficulties arise. You need to keep inspecting your kit regularly to ensure that it is always intact. In addition, make sure that all the persons in your household have a kit of their own.




About the Author:



Comments :

0 comments to “What We Should Know About Emergency Survival Kits”

Post a Comment

Blog Archive