Home security requires emergency preparation, too. Being prepared for any situation, no matter how unlikely, can help you sleep better at night. A vital item for every home is a home safety kit, or “go bag”. This is a compilation of survival items that are useful in different emergency scenarios. As there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the best course of action is to prepare several kits for multiple types of emergency situations that may arise.
For Natural Disasters
Each person in your household should have the following items ready in a backpack, within easy reach. It’s entirely probable that some members of your family might not be able to get their emergency pack, but having just one person with a safety backpack can mean everyone’s survival and safety for a few more days until rescue.
Here’s what the Department of Homeland Security suggests every emergency backpack should have:
- Water (one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air, and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
- Copies of your identification
- Extra keys
Your first aid kit must include medicines for handling common ailments like fever, diarrhea, general infections, rashes, burns, wounds and broken bones. Pain killers and vitamins should be included as well. For more reading, check out how to be Red Cross ready.
If you have a baby in your family, you need these too:
- Formula
- Diapers
- Bottles
- Medications
- Moist towelettes
- Diaper rash ointment
Preparing your family for the worst should always be your first priority. Once you have all of that done, you can move on to less-pressing but still-important must-haves for home safety.
“Go Bags” and Home Safety Kits will typically include camping equipment, and anything else you would need to survive outdoors.
For Home Intruders
When someone is trying to get in your house, you need to secure your family and property. Make sure you have everything in this list to avoid being one of the approximately 2,000,000 victims of home invasion reported every year:
- Home security system
- Air horn
- Emergency ladder
- Timer system for your home appliances and lights
Your home security system should be something burglars cannot see. Conventional, store-bought systems are easy to disable and trick. Noise from your dog or your air horn can make invaders run away. Setting a time that turns on your lights and television when you’re out of the house can make it look like you’re at home, and discourage burglars.
For Power Outtages and Other Home Emergencies
You may not have to evacuate your home, but some emergencies may need you to stay inside for long periods of time without power or running water. Here are some things to have around the house:
- Complete kit of home repair tools
- Complete list of emergency numbers
- Duct tape
- Portable heater
- Fireproof, heavy-duty safe
- Fire extinguisher
- Thermal blankets
- Food stores
- Spare batteries
- Candles
- Matches, or lighters and fuel
Make sure you have tools and replacements for your electrical and plumbing systems. Include sealant, bulbs, pipes and other replacement parts in your kit. Keep your documents in a safe, or in a safety deposit box at your bank, so that you have one less thing to worry about. Always remember to replace any fire extinguisher that’s expired.
It’s Worth the Trouble
This may seem like a large order to fill, since you need to create emergency packs for every member of the family. But the rewards far outweigh the inconvenience if the need arises.
How prepared is your home? Have something to add to the list? Share how you keep your family safe in the comments.
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