Emergency Kit

In order to be prepared for any emergency that may occur, it’s an idea to have an emergency kit prepared. A kit will vary from person to person, but it is recommended that it should be kept in waterproof bags and include;

• Water – Four litres (seven pints) of water per person for at least three days to be used for drinking and sanitation.
• Food – At least three days’ supply of non-perishable food and tin opener.
• Battery powered radio and extra batteries – or a wind-up radio.
• Torch and extra batteries – or a wind-up torch.
• First aid kit.
• Wet wipes, bin bags and plastic ties for personal hygiene.
• Essential medication.
• Toiletries.
• Copies of important documents like insurance policies and photo ID in case you need to locate these quickly or prove your identity.
• Contact numbers such as schools, work, insurance and doctors (your ICE).

Additional personal items for you to consider are:

• Pet supplies.
• Formula / baby food.
• Spare keys.
• Spare glasses / contact lenses.
• Pencil and paper.
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person; consider additional bedding during winter.

If it is not possible for you to keep a bag, ensure you have a list of everything you would need and a record of its location in your house so that you can grab everything in the event of an emergency.

In the unlikely event that you have to leave the house and it is safe to do so you should think about gathering a few extra items for your kit. These items should include items such as:

• Mobile phone and charger.
• Cash and credit cards.
• Spare clothes and blankets.
• Children’s games / books.
• Pet carrier/collar and lead (take pets with you if possible, as the emergency could be prolonged).