13 February 2012

A Kit That Saves Lives



The first weeks of 2012 brought totally unexpected disasters to thousands of Filipinos. Flooding in Northern Mindanao, earthquake and huge waves in Central Visayas caused destruction and instant death, inevitable during such natural disasters.
In the days following every calamity, more deaths and illnesses could be avoided or reduced if the population is prepared.
Disaster-preparedness articles written by experts agree on one advice: households must have a Preparedness Kit, which is also referred to as an Emergency Kit. Here are instructions from the websitehttp://72hours.org/build_kit.html

Build a Kit
After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration and telephones, may be unavailable. Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location.  Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.
Your basic emergency kit should include:
• Water—one gallon per person per day
• Food—ready to eat or requiring minimal water
• Manual can opener and other cooking equipment
• Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
• First Aid kit and instructions
• A copy of important documents and phone numbers
•  Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member
• Heavy work gloves
• Disposable camera
• Unscented liquid bleach (chlorox) and an eyedropper for water purification
•  Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
• Tools such as a crowbar, hammer and nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and strong cords
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
• Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets
A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly.  Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.
• Flashlight
• Radio – battery operated
• Extra batteries
• Whistle
• Dust mask
• Pocket knife
• Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters (small change) for phone calls
•  Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes and a warm hat
• Local map
• Some water and food
• Permanent marker, paper and tape
• Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
•  List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers
• List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
• Copy of health insurance and identification cards
• Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
• Prescription medications and first aid supplies
•  Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Extra keys to your house and vehicle
• Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.
Columnist’s notes: An inexpensive battery-operated cell phone charger (P100 or less at gadget shops) could save your life during long power interruptions.
The Grab Bag and Emergency Kit are also excellent guides for stuff that the family needs, but forgets to pack, when travelling.
Food items in the kit should be taken out and replaced immediately every few months. Water containers should be emptied, washed and refilled every month to keep supplies safe.
Store flashlights and radios in the kit with batteries reversed, to keep them fresh longer. Otherwise, those batteries will leak while in storage.
Store a simple charcoal or wood-fired stove and a bag of charcoal for use during power outages and gas shortages. In real emergencies, crumpled or rolled newspapers could be used as fuel. Sooty, but it works even in a fireplace. Remember to use the stove only outdoors, near a door or window, or in a room with good ventilation.
By SOL JOSE VANZI
mb.com.ph

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