Inside First Aid and Emergency Survival Kit

There has been news about West Valley point and an Earthquake which can be of 7.2 magnitude. 

Gossshhh! Sobrang scary!

I have read here about it and I was a little worried that I don't have any knowledge of this for the past months. (resulta ng walang cable sa bahay!). I remember watching TV during Yolanda typhoon where I saw a child got sick during their stay in evacuation center. Since there has been seldom to no help that was extended during the first 24 hours after the super typhoon, the child died. The parents/family doesn't have a medicine or even first aid kit to save their child's life. Nakakalungkot talaga. =(

Before I read about the Earthquake, I wanted to have a first aid kit sa bahay because most of the time, nadadapa si Jami sa labas ng bahay. He goes home with either bruise or wounds. Grabe! When you see his knee, may mga peklat na kasi laging nadadapa. Hayy.. 

There was a time na nadapa sya going home, when we checked his knee, dumudugo.

I searched everywhere to find something that would stop the bleeding and basically put a first aid medicines on it. That's when I found out na wala akong kahit ano sa bahay!!

As in WALEY!!

Pambihirang yan!

Anyway, I found out about Jenni Epperson's post about Earthquake Survival Kit. I want to re-post it here in my blog because (1) I personally want to have one at home and (2) It's better to be prepared than not.

That's my next goal - complete the first aid and emergency survival kit given that there's an anticipated earthquake that might happen anytime. What's scarier is that there's no way we could foresee if an earthquake is coming unlike typhoons, so we better get ready anytime. 

Here's what you need:

ESSENTIALS

* Water – one gallon per person, per day
* First aid kit
* Extra medication
* Extra pair of glasses or contacts
* Battery operated radio plus extra batteries
* Flashlight plus extra batteries
* Blankets

FOOD

* Canned or other non-perishable foods (they may not be on your usual menu, but they’ll keep bodies fueled)
* Pet food (if applicable)
* Can opener/Swiss army knife
* Camping stove or grill (optional)

Stock instant coffee or tea drinks (1 year), canned puddings (1 year), whipped topping mixes, hard candies in cans and such snacks as dried fruit, nuts, pretzels, chips and ready-to-eat popcorn (check pull dates). They deliver some nutrition and will help morale.

HYGIENE

* Toilet paper
* Zipper seal bags for waste disposal
* Soap
* Shampoo
* Alcohol
* Toothbrush and toothpaste
* Feminine hygiene supplies
* Baby wipes
* Underwear

FIRST AID KIT

The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:

* 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
* 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
* 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
* 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
* 5 antiseptic wipe packets
* 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
* 1 blanket (space blanket)
* 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
* 1 instant cold compress
* 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
* 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
* Scissors
* 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
* 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
* 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
* 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
* Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
* 2 triangular bandages
* Tweezers
* First aid instruction booklet

Store your survival kits in your hallway or backyard. If you live in a building, your car trunk is a handy place for these bulky items. If you think there is a possibility that your carpark might be affected by the earthquake, store it at a friend’s backyard.

Experts recommend that you make three identical emergency kits. Store one kit at home, one at your workplace and one in your car. That way, your chances are good of having a kit handy after a quake.

These supplies are no help if you can’t get to them. Make sure every household member knows where they are.

FOR BABIES/KIDS

Baby Food: Buy some packets of instant formula food that needs not mix with water. Keep a track of their expiry date and replace them with new ones periodically.

Diapers: The number of diapers needed depends upon the age and habit of your kid. However, as a rule of thumb you should at least keep 20 disposable diapers and 4 cloth ones. Cloth diapers can be washed and reused in case you run short of disposable ones.

Clothes: Store at least 10 pair of clothes for your baby in the 72 hour kit. This is tricky as babies grow rapidly. It can be managed by circulating the clothes with new ones of larger size from time to time.

Comfort Toys: Every child has a toy or blanket that he/she loves. Try grabbing them in emergency as this will help to keep your child calm during emergencies. If this is not possible, keep a toy that will comfort the child in absence of his/her favorite item.

Medicines: Medicines for infants are different from those of an adult and is a must-include item in a 72 hour kit. Babies can fall sick anytime and medicines present in the kit are the only savior then.

An important thing to remember is that toddlers grow rapidly. Therefore, you will always need to periodically check your 72 hour emergency kit and keep things that are appropriate for your child’s age and development stage

Ang dami pala. Hahaha!  If there's one thing that I want to add there is a whistle. It can call attention after the calamity like what Rose Dawson did after Titanic sank diba?

So here's my plan - complete the first aid kit first then I can go on to the survival kits and other necessities.

Why? Because I have a budget to follow. I know it is something that is urgent that I need to have as soon as possible pero I don't think my budget would allow me to complete all these at the same time kaya mejo hinay - hinay ng slight. =)

I hope all praning mothers and fathers or basically anyone will be prepared too.. It's a simple reminder. =)

As soon as ma complete ko ito, I'll show you guys :)