WEEKEND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

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Last time I spoke about getting prepared for an emergency, I talked about making sure you have a good supply of food and water. 

Today, I wanted to talk about first aid.  You never know what what could happen during an emergency and so it's very important you have first aid supplies.

This week on the news, we heard about more tornadoes touching down, storms coming and Japan recently had another earthquake. 

In each of those cases, people were injured.  They needed first aid. 

Hopefully, you and I will never find us in a disaster like those.  However, it's always better to be prepared and not need it then to find yourself needing something and not having it.

The more you have in your first aid kit, the better prepared you are.  You can purchase a kit already made.

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When you get ready made kits, you most likely will have most of what you need.  Just not a lot of any one thing. 

That is why I would rather make my own kits. 

I'm slowly building up a supply of items that may be needed.  But, until then, I do have a few ready made kits on hand.

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Even smaller kits are better then nothing.  Plus, when you put your own kit together you can then use the ready made kits for your cars.  Everyone should have one in their cars in case of an accident.

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Here are items recommended by the Red Cross. 

I think these are great items to start buying.  Once you get these items, you can get other things.  Think about what you would need if someone you know received a deep cut, a burn or a broken bone. 

You may not be able to call 911 to get help.  You may not be able to drive to the hospital because the roads are damaged.  It may be up to you to save someone in your family or a neighbor.

Everyone should take a CPR class.  You can always go to your local Red Cross for classes.  Learn what to do in an emergency.  Your knowledge could be the only thing standing between life and death of those you love.

Also, make sure you have a supply of your prescriptions in your kit.  Ask your doctor to write you a prescription for a month or longer.  Be sure you rotate them and check the date on all your items in your kit for expiration dates. 

But, if you should find yourself in an emergency and your supplies are expired.  Go ahead and use them if it's all you can do.  Most likely they will be fine and even if they lose some of the potency it's better then nothing.

This of course is only if you can't get medical treatment else where and it could be days or longer. 

Don't forget supplies for your pets too.  You never know if they may get injured.  Pets panic and get scared.  It's best to put them a crate if you can.  Even if your pets are like mine and hate being a crate.  It's better then having them run off or under something that could end up being dangerous.

No one likes to think about being in a disaster. Yet, it's always a possibility that it could happen to any of us. 

The more you plan and prepare now, the better you will be should anything happen.  Be safe, not sorry.

I'm going to post on emergency preparedness every weekend and share what I learn as I go from being 100% unprepared to as prepared as I can be. 

I say as prepared as can be because no one can ever be 100% prepared.   No matter how much you think you are prepared, you never know what Mother Nature has in store for us. 

Chances are, if you are prepared as much as you can be, you will most likely be OK should a disaster strike.