Equipment to be used during emergencies

There are certain equipment used for emergency care, it is very important that all emergency personnel have them always at hand.

Basic supplies kit for emergency care

The basic emergency supplies kit could include the following recommended items:

• Water: one gallon (3.8 liters) of water per person per day for at least three days for consumption and hygiene.

• Food: a non-perishable food supply for at least three days.

• A battery-powered or cordless radio, and a weather radio from the National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and spare batteries for both.

• Flashlight and spare batteries.

• First aid kit.

• Whistle to ask for help.

• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic tarpaulin and tape to build a shelter in place.

• Wet wipes, waste bags and plastic seals for personal hygiene.

• Wrench or tongs to cut public services.

• Manual can opener for food.

• Maps of the place.

• Cell phone and charger, inverters or solar chargers.

Additional Emergency Supplies

Once you have gathered the supplies from the basic emergency kit, we recommend that you consider adding the following items:

• Glasses and prescription medications.

• Formula for infants and diapers.

• Pet food and extra water for your pet.

• Cash or traveler’s checks, and change.

• Important family documents, such as copies of insurance policies, identifications and bank account records, which must be kept in a waterproof portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) (PDF, 977Kb) developed by Operation Hope, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.

• Reference material for emergency situations, such as a first aid book or free information on this website. (See Publications)

• A warm sleeping bag or blanket for each person. Consider including additional bedding if you live in a place of cold weather.

• Complete clothing change, including a shirt or shirt with long sleeves, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider including additional clothing if you live in a place with cold weather.

• Domestic chlorine bleach and a medicinal dropper. When nine parts of water and one part of bleach are diluted, the bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or, in an emergency you can use this dilution to treat the water using 16 drops of ordinary household liquid bleach per gallon (3.8 liters) of water. Do not use perfumed bleaches for colored garments or bleaches with added cleaning products.

• Fire extinguisher.

• Matches inside a waterproof container.

• Women’s articles and personal hygiene.

• Kitchen kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils.

•          Paper and pencil.

• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children.

First aid kit

In an emergency, you or a family member may suffer an injury. If you have these basic first aid supplies, you will be better prepared to help your loved ones if they suffer an injury. In an emergency, knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference. You may consider taking a first aid class, but simply having the following items can help you stop bleeding, prevent infection and help decontaminate.

• Two pairs of latex gloves or other sterile gloves if you are allergic to latex.

• Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.

• Cleaning agent / soap and antibiotic wipes.

• Antibiotic ointment.

• Ointment for burns.

• Adhesive bandages of different sizes.

• Eye drops to rinse the eyes or as a general decontaminating agent.

• Thermometer.

• Prescription medications that you take every day, such as insulin, heart medications, or asthma inhalers. You must renew medications on a regular basis due to expiration dates.

• Prescription medical products, such as supplies and equipment for the control of glucose and blood pressure.