Supplies & Tools

What should I have in my Disaster Supply Kit?

IMPORTANT:   Do not allow yourself to think that 3 to 5 days of food and water is too much. Water is for multiple uses other than just drinking, such as food preperation, dish washing, personal hygiene, wound cleansing, et cetera and this is assuming your neighbors will not require your assistance. You cannot have too much food or water, above all else this is what will keep you alive!

Food Items

• Water, at least one gallon per person per day for at least 3 to 5 days.
• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables for at least 3 to 5 days, also Army-Navy Surplus stores or large camping supply stores usually carry MREs (Meals Ready-to Eat), if you buy MREs make sure they are self-heating or come with heaters, do not stockpile perishable foods
• High energy/protein food bars, remember to pick ones with high calories
• Canned juices and soups that do not require water to prepare
• Salt, pepper and sugar
• Peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars and nuts
• Vitamins
• Special foods for infants and the elderly
• Cookies and other snack foods
• Instant coffee, and creamer (morale goes a long way)

First Aid Kit
To start out with, buy a pre-packaged first aid kit, such as those available through the American Red Cross or large sporting goods stores. Add to this kit so that you build up the following:

• Antiseptic cleansing wipes
• Alcohol cleansing pads
• Insect sting relief pads
• Aspirin tablets and non-aspirin tablets
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets
• Triple antibiotic ointment packs
• 1"x3" Adhesive plastic bandages
• Triangular sling/bandage
• 2"x4" Elbow & knee plastic bandages
• 1-3/4"x3"Large fingertip fabric bandages
• 1-1/2"x3" Knuckle fabric bandages
• Sterile eye pads
• 2"x4.1 yd. Conforming gauze roll bandages
• Medium Gauze dressing pads
• Large Gauze dressing pads
• Trauma pad
• Instant cold compress
• Latex free elastic bandage
• First aid tape roll
• Eye wash
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Scalpel
• First aid/burn cream
• Exam quality gloves
• Anti-diarrhetic
• Syrup of ipecac (in case of need induce vomiting, be certain this is appropriate before atempting)
• Activated charcoal (activate carbon) used to prevent absorbtion of poisons or medicinal overdoses by the gastrointestinal tract except when the substance is an acid, an alkali, or a petroleum product
• Laxative
• First Aid Guide

Clothing and Bedding

• Sturdy work shoes or boots
• At least one complete change of clothes per person
• Fully waterproof raincoat, and hat
• Work gloves
• Sunglasses and/or other eye protection
• Blankets and sleeping bags

Tools and Supplies

• NOAA Weather Radio with dynamo crank power
• Shortwave Radio, international multi-band for extreme disasters
• Firearm (e.g. shotgun) with extra ammunition, for self protection
• Survival Knife with a serrated cutting edge
• Axe
• Machete
• Batteries enough for all your devices (flashlights, radios, et cetera)
• Flashlights (at least one per person)
• Manual Can-Opener
• Screwdrivers, pliers, hammer
• Screws and nails
• Plastic sheeting
• Shut-off tool for gas lines and water
• Shovel
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Whistle
• Map of your area and compass
• Soap, toilet paper and personal hygiene items
• Disinfectant
• Bleach
• Plastic garbage bags
• Cell phone, cell phone batteries and extra chargers
• Duct tape
• Wet wipes
• Insect repellant
• Staple gun (see also plastic sheeting for windows)
• Needles and thread

Miscellaneous

• Baby items, such as formula, bottles, diapers, medications and toys
• Prescription medicines for all family members -- at least a two-week supply
• Books, games and other items for entertainment
• Important papers, such as insurance policies, wills, identification (driver's license, credit card, social security cards) and household inventory
• Fire extinguisher
• Cash and travelers checks
• Important documents and identification
• If you have pets: Pet food, extra water, medicines, leash and/or carry case, et cetera
• If you have babies: Instant forumla, diapers, medicides, et cetera
• Extra pair of prescriptions glasses, or additional contact lenses
• Permanent marker, paper, pen/pencil
• Plastic sheeting for windows (see also staple gun)
• Green/yellow/white light sticks (chem sticks) for emergency lighting and signaling, and red for warning markers

Additional Supplies to Consider

• Potassium Iodide tablets (KI) for adults and Potassium Iodate tablets (KI03) for children in case of radioactive nuclear fallout, Potassium iodide can be used to saturate the human thyroid gland with stable iodine and thus prevent the uptake of inhaled or ingested radioactive iodine, Potassium iodide does not protect other parts of the body against radiation exposure and does not protect the thyroid from external radiation, the greatest percentage of thyroid protection occurs when potassium iodide is administered at or about the time of exposure
• NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) gas masks
• Radiation dosimeter badge(s) with instructions, during an incident where the thyroid committed dose equivalent due to radioiodine is estimated to be 10 rem or greater actions to administer potassium iodide should be taken.
• Dust mask
• Binoculars or a spotting scope
• Gasoline
• Tent and camping gear
• Umbrella(s)
• Mosquito netting
• Fluorescent spray paint (for signaling)
• Rope and cord
• Night vision glasses
• GPS (Global Positioning System)
• Trash bags (for waste, especially biological)
• Hiking/walking stick
• Hard hat
• Styptic pencil/powder for stanching minor blood flow, Caustic pencil (95% Silver Nitrate) for cauterization of heavier bleeding
• Back packs, carry bags
• Books, games, activities for children
• Strip of hose for syphoning
• Bicycle(s) in case travel on roads by vehicle is not possible
• Survival Manual, especially one covering edible flora in the Southeastern portion of the country
• Medical Alert bracelet, covering any allergies or special conditions you have
• A compact pocket-sized survival tin that is ON YOU AT ALL TIMES, even if you get seperated from your survival supplies, including a water resistant tin containing vVinyl tape, button compassb small knife, matches, pencil, water purification tablets, snare wire, candle, flint & striker, hacksaw blade, fishing kit, whistle, sewing kit, safety pins, wire saw (finger loops), accident evaluation form and survival instructions
• Hand/foot warmers, chemically activated
• Honey bucket (excetory hygiene) with appropriate chemicals e.g. chloride of lime (calcium hydroxide, calcium chloride and calcium hypochlorite) as a disinfectant

Hand Sanitation

Use an Alcohol based hand disinfectant;

BEFORE
• making food
• eating
• touching a sick person
• touching a cut, sore, or wound.

AFTER
• using the bathroom
• blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• touching things that may carry germs, like
– diapers or a child who has used the toilet
– food that is not cooked (raw food)
– animals or animal waste
– trash
– things touched by flood water
– a sick person
– cuts, sores, and wounds.

 

Urination and Defecation Considerations

Simple summary: do not let people go to the bathroom wherever they want! Urine is relatively harmless but feces are not! Feces spread disease and must be properly disposed of. FAILURE TO WASH HANDS AFTER DEFECATION IS A MAJOR DISEASE OUTBREAK VECTOR.

Small groups can improvise a toilet with a five gallon bucket, a plastic bag and a bit of bleach. (See Honey Bucket under "Attitional Supplies to Consider" above.) Avoid urination in this bucket to extend its usefulness.

Larger groups MUST designate a latrine area, trenches, whatever field expedients you can find PLUS handwashing facilities! The latter can be as simple as non-potable water in a hanging bucket with whatever soap can be found. Injured, ill and sick people may have to be helped to defecate in bedpans, and the bedpans taken to the latrine area.

 

Heat syncope: heat exhaustion or sunstroke

Both maladies tend to occur during heavy exercise in high humidity, or with inadequate water. Some chronically ill persons enter this state normally. The basic symptom of heat syncope is a body temperature above 40°C (104°F) with fainting, or weakness but without mental confusion. If unconsciousness, confusion or convulsions are present, it is sunstroke which is rarer, but far more severe condition, a true medical emergency.

Heat syncope is caused by mild overheating with inadequate water or salt. In young people, it is far more common than true sunstroke. Blood pressure is lowered when the body dilates (widens) capillaries (small blood vessels) in the skin to radiate heat. Also, water is evaporated from the blood, reducing the blood's volume and therefore lowering blood pressure further. The result is less blood to the brain, causing light-headedness and fainting.

TREATMENT:

The basic treatment for heat syncope is to treat it like fainting: Have the victim sit, if sitting lay down, if laying down, raise legs. Then, administer water, and oral rehydration salt, slowly, and move the victim to a cooler area.

With sunstroke, cool the victim. Remove their clothing, shade them, fan them and sponge with cool water. Massage limbs vigorously to move cooled blood into the body cavity. Ice or alcohol can cause damage. Get help immediately. Sunstroke, especially when the victim has been unconscious, often causes major damage to body systems such as brain, kidney, liver, gastric tract. Unconsciousness for more than two hours usually leads to permanent disability.

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