Disasters are difficult to predict and can come at any time. This makes you need to have a disaster preparedness bag so that you ready and ready to face an emergency.
When a disaster strikes, the most important thing is to save lives. However, you also need to bring essential items so that during an emergency or during an evacuation, you and your family have supplies to survive.
You have to put important items that you need to bring in your disaster preparedness bag long ago. The goal is that you can carry the bag immediately when a disaster arrives or when it is needed.
Fill the Disaster Preparedness Bag
Put everything you need to carry in a waterproof bag, which is stored in a place that is easy to reach and known to the whole family. Preferably, the items that you put in the disaster preparedness bag are wrapped in a closed plastic bag.
You need to provide disaster preparedness bags not only at home, but also at work and private vehicles because no one knows when a disaster will occur.
In general, there is a list of items that should be included in the disaster bag. However, the type of items you need to prepare depends on your personal needs and is adjusted to the type of disaster and risk that may be faced.
Here are some of the essential items to pack in a disaster preparedness bag:
1. Food for survival
Put in ready-to-eat food for at least 3 days, so you can survive until help arrives. Avoid spicy or salty foods because these foods can make you thirsty, even though water reserves are usually limited during a disaster.
In addition to food, also include drinking water for at least three days, as much as 3 liters per person every day.
Since food and beverages have an expiration date, check the date regularly or replace it with a new one at least every 3 months.
To make it easier to open food and drinks, you should also include a bottle and can opener, scissors, and cutter or a folding knife.
2. Drugs
Don't forget to bring a first aid kit containing: medicines, wound cleaning fluid, antibiotic ointment, and plasters. If you or your family suffer from certain diseases, don't forget to put the medicine in the disaster preparedness bag.
As with food and drinks, you also have to check the expiration date of these medicines and replace them immediately if they are almost out of use.
3. Change of clothes
Don't forget to include at least one change of clothes. In addition to clothes, also include blankets or sleeping bags, gloves, disposable masks or N95 masks, hats, towels, raincoats, and sanitary napkins.
For those who have babies, don't forget to put essential supplies, such as bottles, milk, baby food, and diapers into the disaster preparedness bag. If you live with parents or the elderly, also prepare diapers for adults.
4. Communication tools
Make sure you also bring communication tools, such as cell phones, to use during a disaster. Don't forget to save family phone numbers, emergency phone numbers, and other important numbers.
Make sure you also include a map, cell phone charger, whistle, compass, strap, and a waterproof flashlight along with a spare battery, as these items may also be needed.
5. Valuable papers or important objects
Make sure important documents or cards, such as land certificates, diplomas, insurance cards, as well as photocopies of ID cards, driver's licenses, and family cards are in the disaster preparedness bag. Don't forget to include a duplicate of your vehicle key, house key, and sufficient cash in this bag.
6. Support needs
In addition to the items already mentioned, it is also advisable to include this equipment in the disaster preparedness bag:
- Toiletries
- Children's activity supplies, such as coloring books or board games
- Dry and wet wipes
- Needle and thread
- Disinfectant
Come on, prepare a disaster preparedness bag from now on. If there is still a chance, before evacuating you need to disconnect all electricity and turn off the gas. If possible, bring an identified pet with you.
