Are You Prepared?

As most of you know, I am a nursing student with many passions; one being volunteer and disaster preparedness- I know, I keep amazing you with my awesomeness! lol!!! Anyway, I had to do a speech in one of my pre-req's for nursing school and I decided to do it on CPR and being prepared for a disaster.

Are you prepared? Do you, or would you know where to start to become prepared? It is actually pretty easy. I am disaster ready ... as we live in earthquake country. So, I am sharing with you what I have learned.

Here is the list of what you will need for your disaster kit:

• Emergency Blanket’s (1 for each family member)


• Light sticks


• Moist toilettes (package of non-scented baby wipes will work also)


• N95 breathing mask


• Rain Poncho


• Flashlights


• Radio, preferably waterproof


• Batteries for flashlight and radio (double set for each)


• Emergency preparedness booklet


• Work gloves


• Plastic sheeting


• Duct tape


• Whistle


• Any medication family is currently taking


• Multi-purpose tool


• Clothing for each family member


• Personal items


• Sanitary napkins


• Money


• Pet supplies


• Map


• Cell phone


• List of emergency phone numbers for your family, childcare and county phone numbers


• Trash bags


• Sheets of plastic


• Disposable gloves


• Water – 1 gallon per person per day


• Food – 1600 calories per person per day


• Manuel can opener


• Eating utensils


• First Aid Kit (1 per person)

Then I put together my own first aid kit:

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)


• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)


• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)


• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)


• 5 antiseptic wipe packets


• 1 blanket (space blanket)


• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)


• 1 instant cold compress


• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)


• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)


• Scissors


• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)


• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)


• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)


• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)


• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)


• 2 triangular bandages


• Tweezers


• First aid instruction booklet

Costco has a variety of first aid kits and emergency food prep kits online HERE, even vegetarian food kits.

And a few tips to be disaster ready:

1. Run a drill with your family often. You will be amazed how even young children can participate and how much they will retain. Plus doing it every month or so will help reinforce it with them.


2. Know the places to meet in case of a disaster; have a back up plan (keep a copy in your disaster kit)


3. Have the numbers handy for disaster help (Keep a list in the disaster kit)


4. Always try to keep in touch with where your spouse and children are. If something does happen, you have an idea of where they are and do not worry about them being on a bridge or in a building that may have collapsed.


5. The most important thing - Always make sure your family knows how much you love them. Don't go to bed mad. Every moment you have to share with them is special and important. Don't take them or the time with them for granted.

The Red Cross also has many valuable resources online! Go to www.redcross.org. There you can:

• learn how to make a family disaster plan


• purchase pre-made disaster kits and first aid kits


• GET certified for CPR & first aid training


• volunteer


• sign up to give blood at www.givelife.org