September is National Preparedness Month — a time to be proactive about the safety of you and your loved ones in a time of crisis.
Although it’s not something that we think about every day, emergency situations do happen, and it is important to be ready with an action plan to keep your family safe.
One important step that we encourage you to take this month is to prepare an emergency supply kit. Here’s what you should stock inside:
- One gallon of water/person/day (at least three days)
- Three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Can opener
- Seven-day supply of any medication you take
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Multi-purpose tool like Swiss army knife
- Blankets
- Personal hygiene items (moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, trash bags, toilet paper)
- Cell phone with charger
- Emergency contact list
- Extra set of house and car keys
While no one likes to think about the unpleasant possibility of “what-if,” it is better to be prepared and be safe, than to not prepare and be sorry. By taking a few simple steps, and the time to collect a few everyday items, you and your family can be better prepared to deal with any emergency situation that may arise.