EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Emergency Preparedness Kit
Assemble Emergency Preparedness Kit with Your Children.

Following a disaster, basic services - Electricity, water, gas, telephones - may be cut off for days. Or you may have to evacuate at a moment's notice. You probably won't have time to shop or search for the supplies you'll need. Gather the supplies you'll need to deal with the situation now, before disaster strikes.

Action Steps for Adults

Plan activity with children to put together Emergency Preparedness kits.

At home, your Emergency Preparedness kits should contain:

One gallon of water per person per day
Non-perishable food: ready-to-eat; canned meats, fruits and vegetables; canned juices, milk and soup; sugar, salt and pepper; high energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, nuts, health food bars, trail mix; comfort foods such as cookies, hard candy and sweetened cereal. Don't forget a non-electric can opener!
A first aid kit that includes your family's prescriptions medications (ask your doctor about proper ways to store medicine)
Emergency supplies and tools including a battery-operated radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries
One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person
Sanitation supplies: toilet paper, soap, personal hygiene items
Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
An extra set of car keys and cash, traveler's checks and a credit card
Store enough supplies to last at least three days. Keep them in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffel bags or covered trash containers. Store your kits in a safe, convenient place known to all family members- preferably in a cool, dry, dark place. Keep a smaller version of this kit in the trunk of your car. You should also keep important family documents in a waterproof container.

In the classroom, your Emergency Preparedness kit should contain:

class roster
first aid kit
battery-operated radio
work gloves
flashlights
extra batteries
non-perishable food items; crackers, cookies, trial mix
plastic trash bags
other items as your school requires
Ask children to help you remember to keep your kits in working order: change the water and food every six months; replace batteries at least twice a year. You might have them make calendars or posters with these dates marked on them. And ask children to think of items that they would like to include in their own Emergency Preparedness kit, such as books or games or appropriate non-perishable food items.

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