- 3-day water supply (at least a gallon per person per day)
- 3-day supply of non-perishable food (dried fruit, canned tuna fish, peanut butter, etc.)
- Manual can opener
- Mess kits, paper plates, plastic cups, utensils
- Paper towels
- First aid kit
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio with extra batteries
- Whistle to signal for help
- Local maps
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for everyone in your family
- Cell phone with charger, extra battery, and solar charger
- Extra set of car keys and house keys
- Change of clothes appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes – for each person in the house
- Matches in a waterproof container or re-sealable plastic bag
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and hand sanitizer
- Cash or traveler’s checks
- Copies of important family documents (medical records, insurance policies, ID card, bank records) in waterproof, portable container
- Family and emergency contact information
- At least a two-week supply of prescription medicines for each family member, including medicine name, dose, pharmacy name and number, and doctor’s name and number
- Books, games, puzzles, or other fun things to do
- A favorite stuffed animal or blanket
- Paper and pencil/markers/crayons
- Identification to be carried by each child in case your family members become separated
- well-stocked diaper bag (at least one pack of diapers, at least two packs of baby wipes, baby powder, diaper rash cream, baby wash and lotion, and re-sealable plastic bags (gallon size) for stashing dirty diapers and clothes)
- Ready-to-feed infant formula in single serving cans or bottles (for formula-fed infants only)
- Disposable cups
- 1-2 boxes of nursing pads (if disposable, reusable will require laundry and bleach daily)
- Burp rags or smaller blanket
- Pacifiers (at least two)
- Teething tablets or gel
- Infant pain reliever with Acetaminophen
- Bulb syringe
- Toddler snacks
- Extra clothes
- Extra emergency blankets (at least two)
- Receiving blankets (at least two)
- Thermos (to keep formula cool or warm longer)
- Small camp stove for boiling water for sanitizing
- Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
- Adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
- Sterile gauze (both rolls and pads)
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic wipes/spray
- Instant cold compresses (I also like to have some reusable cold compresses in the freezer at all times)
- First aid instruction booklet
- Emergency contact numbers
- Hydrocortisone ointment
- Calamine lotion
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Hand sanitizing gel
- Burn ointment
- Eyewash solution (with eye cup)
- Petroleum jelly
- Saline solution (for help in suctioning out baby’s nose)
- Sunscreen, at least SPF 15
- Sunburn ointment
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Disposable gloves
- Ace bandages
- Plastic bags
- Bulb syringe (for suctioning out baby’s nose)
- Medicine syringes and teaspoons for measuring out doses of medicine
- Tweezers
- Fine needle (use this, along with tweezers for splinter removal)
- Blanket
- Flashlight and batteries
- Fever and pain reducers, for both adults and children*
* You need to have, at least for children, both infant and older children’s varieties of fever reducers, depending on the age of your children, and you should have both acetaminophen and ibuprofen for those especially bad fevers where you are instructed by your doctor to alternate medications, and you may also want to have these also in suppositories if your child vomits medications a lot when ill.
- Antacids
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte)
- Mild laxatives
- Antihistamines
- Cold and/or flu medicines
- Cough medicine
- Prescription medications prescribed to family members
Tips
- Keep canned or packaged food in a cool, dry place (check the expiration dates at least twice per year)
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers
- Replace water supply every six months
- Review your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change (update medical and personal records at least once per year)
- Prepare separate kits for your home, work, and your vehicle since you never know where you’ll be when an emergency happens
- If you can’t contact your doctor or pharmacy in a disaster, ask for help from emergency responders or staff at emergency shelters or service centers
- It is no longer recommended to keep syrup of ipecac in your home to induce vomiting, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
- In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend keeping activated-charcoal solution in your first aid kit.
- Instead, call the Poison Control Center immediately! The Poison Help hotline number is 1-800-222-1222
Source: Internet, CDC & Others
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.