Preparing a First Aid Kit

One of the greatest things we can have in our home, car and survival kit is a good first aid box. Filled with a few simple supplies you can treat minor injuries, or secure major injuries until help arrives. Having a well stocked first aid kit will save you time and money as you can spilt up large packages of band aids, medicines and other necessities into the three kits.
I love having my first aid kits at the park when the kids get a little scrape, or the fact that I can offer help right away to another mother whose child is hurt. Being organized is being prepared.

Here is our list of necessary first aid kit items. Of course if you have family that deal with sever allergies it doesn't hurt to have an epipen handy in each kit as well as your purse. They do expire as do many other first aid items. Once a year it's wise to clean out and replenish your kits to keep them full and safe.

Gauze
Band-aids
Large Triangular Bandage
Elastic bandage - for sprains or securing thick gauze
Sport tape
Cotton Balls/swabs
Safety pins ( 3 or 4 is fine)
Scissors (small fold up kind)
Thermometer
Sanitary napkins - good for many uses including pressure dressings
Disposable diaper - good for large wounds and splints
Matches
Needles
Tweezers
Popsicle sticks - use for small stints
Heavy string
Diarrhea Medicine
Benadryl
Tylenol/ Ibuprofen
Hand sanitizer/ wipes
Small bar of soap - like hotels have
Tea Bags - when wet they are good to stop bleeding in the mouth
Syrup of Ipecac - only give when instructed to by poison control
Any medication needed on a daily basis - at least 1 to 2 weeks worth
Baking soda - can help burns, or mixed with salt and water can help shock
Neosporin - other triple antibiotic
Tea tree oil - antiseptic
Burn pads - these are the gel filled pads that can sooth burns quickly

Preparing for Disaster - Part 3

This week we will take it easy on our budget since last week could have cost you a bit. Sometimes its the little things that you can't do at a moments notice that hurts you in the long run. These things could take some time to track down in an emergency or leave your mind altogether. Here is a simple list of things to do this week and store in your emergency box. My suggestion is to make two copies of everything, store one in your emergency box, one in a large manila envelope in your filing cabinet, and the originals in a fire safe portable safe. In an emergency your bound to take at least one copy if not the originals.

Make Copies of all Legal Papers

• Marriage License
• House Mortgage/Insurance
• Automotive Ownership/ Insurance
• Wills
• Jewelry Appraisals
• Drivers Licenses
• Kids social security cards
• All immunization records
• Insurance policies/ life/medical
• Bank Account numbers and phone contact numbers
• List of out of town family phone numbers
• Picture Identification for each family member
• Pet medical/immunization records
• Any other legal document showing ownership

While you may not want to write down actual account numbers for your banks or credit cards, you should keep a list of phone numbers for those banks. Your bank should be able to look up your account without anything more then picture identification and positive answers to your address and phone numbers. If you have serious medical conditions you should keep extra copies of that paperwork, as well as pharmacy phone numbers, prescription numbers and any other medical information you may need.

Preparing for Disaster - Part 2

This week we will work on filling our container with essential needs.

Now that you have your large empty container, you need to find a clutter free place to store it. Remember you will want to be able to get to this container easily at a moments notice.

Here is our list of necessities.

Battery Powered Radio (crank style is perfect if you can find it)
Basic First Aid kit and Manual
Wool Blanket or two
Manual Can opener
Waterproof Matches
Non-Perishable Foods (canned meats, canned potatoes, peanut butter, crackers and chili) If you have an infant, keep a bottle and formula just in case. Powered milk is also considered a good idea.
Flashlight (batteries or crank)
Water Storage (at least 1 gallon per person per day) I would try to get 1 gallon per person in storage to start
Water purification tablets (this will help you restore your water supply)
Utility Knife
Emergency candles
Extra eye glasses if you need them
Extra supply of medications you need
Extra clothing ( My suggestion is you make sure you have a pack of wool socks that can fit anyone in your family, extra fleece sweatshirts, cotton shirts, and sweat pants)


Now this is a lot to be looking for this week. Check at your local second hand store for extra clothing, but one or two sizes bigger for kids. It does not have to make a fashion statement. This will be survival. We are also not trying to buy enough for everyone to have a clean outfit each day for a week. You can always rinse and dry one while wearing the other.

Be Prepared

We are never as organized as we would like. However, when a major disaster hits, we begin to see how far away from being organized we would really like to be. I have great dreams of storing and rotating food and water so that we will be well prepared should the need arise. Yet, it takes time, energy and a little bit of money.

Over the next few weeks we are going to build a 72 hour Family Emergency Kit. Most of us are not able to run to the store and purchase everything we need in one swell swoop. By breaking it down into manageable pieces, we can begin to see our goal take light.

This week: Lets keep it simple and cheap. It won't cost you much and yet you will begin to set out on a journey to be organized and prepared.

Storage :

One 32 gallon new trash can with lid, or a large plastic tote. This needs to be accessible and portable if an evacuation is ordered. Find a corner in your garage, or shed to store it. Keep it in plain sight, and make it your goal to keep clutter away from it.
While your at the store picking out your storage container, purchase a notepad, pencils and a sharpener. If your budget will allow, grab one or two pairs of work gloves to throw in as well. While you may wonder why these are necessary, and certainly they are not as important as food, water and shelter, having paper and pencils will allow you to leave notes for neighbors, family or to pass along your number and name to emergency workers.

Total Cost This week $10-20 (depending on your storage container.)