Emergency Preparedness
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Your Emergency Kit
In most emergencies you should be able to stay at home or at your workplace. In this situation, you may have to rely on your Emergency Survival Kit. This kit should include:
Emergency items
- Torch with spare batteries
- Radio with spare batteries (check all batteries every 3 months)
- A change of clothes for all family members (wind and waterproof clothing, sun hats, and strong outdoor shoes)
- First aid kit and essential medicines
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Pet supplies
- Toilet paper and large rubbish bags for your emergency toilet
- Face and dust masks
Food and water for at least three days
- Non-perishable food (canned or dried food)
- Bottles water (at last three litres per person, per day for drinking)
- Plan how to get water for washing/cooking
- A primus or gas barbeque to cook on
- A can opener
- Check/replace food/water every 12 months
Find out more about preparing drinking water before and after an emergency.
Find out more about food safety during an emergency.
Supplies for babies and small children
- Food, formula and drink
- Change of clothing and nappies
- Toys or favourite activity
Place your Emergency Kit somewhere that is easy to get to and make sure everyone in your house knows where it is kept. If you keep some of your Emergency Kit items in the house for everyday use, make sure you konw where to find them quickly when an emergency occurs.
Caring for the sick, vulnerable and pets
If you, or someone in your family has a disability, make arrangements now for help in an emergency. Remember to include your pets in your disaster planning.
Storing water
Having a supply of water is essential and you need to store water for an emergency. You need three litres of drinking water for each person per day. You also need about one litre of water for each of the following:
- washing food and cooking for each meal
- washing dishes after a meal
- washing yourself (one litre per day for each person)
Hot water cylinders and toilet cisterns are sources of water. Check that your hot water cylinder and header tank are secured and avoid putting chemical cleaners in the cistern. Keep a supply of household bleach, for disinfecting.
Drinking water
To store enough drinking water for three days, prepare six large plastic soft drink bottles of water for each person, including children. Add some extra for pets.
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