The Emergency Toolkit Every Family Should Keep at Home

Emergencies fall into the category of the unexpected. No one wants to experience a crisis, but emergencies are one of life’s unknown factors you can prepare for. Car breakdowns, inclement weather, and utility disruptions can all lead to emergencies. One of the ways to stay prepared is to build an emergency toolkit you keep at home.

You can go even further and build separate toolkits for your vehicle and house. This way, you’ll increase your chances of survival whether you decide to hunker down or evacuate. Knowing what to put in your kit ensures you have the supplies you need on hand. Here are the most crucial items to consider.

Lighting Gear

How will you get around in the dark? Having access to a light source that isn’t powered by the grid is imperative. When the power’s out or you’re in a place without electricity access, lighting gear ensures your safety. You may need to change a tire at night and navigate your house in pitch black conditions. You might also need to walk to the nearest shelter.

Do yourself a favor and put an LED flashlight in your emergency kit. Your flashlight doesn’t need to be bulky. It can be portable. Some smaller versions latch on to a keychain and lanyard for ultimate convenience.

The one thing that matters most is it’s bright enough to light the way. As long as you have enough battery life, you won’t need to rely on conventional lighting. Throwing in some extra batteries isn’t a bad idea, either. Just be sure you’re testing and replacing them periodically. You can also try rechargeable batteries and ensure they’re at full capacity each month.

Whistles

Nationwide estimates reveal that around 50,000 search and rescue missions occur each year. These missions usually rescue lost hikers and boaters who initially had no intention of getting lost. They went on a day trip to enjoy the great outdoors, not believing the unthinkable would happen.

While search and rescue personnel have many tools at their disposal, it doesn’t mean they can instantly locate everyone. Should you find yourself lost in the woods, having a whistle to alert others to your location makes a difference. Remember, you might be difficult to see or off the beaten path. Blowing a whistle helps steer crews to you instead of going through the elimination process.

With these missions, time is usually of the essence. The longer you’re out in the elements, the less chance you have of survival. Whistles can also help search and rescue crews if you’re buried underneath debris after a strong storm. Hurricanes and tornadoes are notorious for damaging structures, which can cave in on people sheltering inside. Blowing your whistle directs personnel to where they need to move the debris to get you out.

Food and Water

During emergencies, your access to conventional food and water sources may be cut off. Communication infrastructures might be down, preventing stores from selling products. If the power’s out, the items in your fridge will go bad within four hours. It’s possible that tap water won’t be available either, even if you shelter in place.

Non-perishable, calorie-dense food sources can sustain you in these situations. Drinkable water packets or emergency water stored in reusable containers will keep you hydrated. If you have pets, you’ll want to keep food and water on hand for them also. Emergency pet food and water packets with long shelf lives are available for disaster kits.

You could also assemble supplies for your pets on your own. This route may be more practical if your pets have special dietary needs due to conditions like chronic kidney disease. Look at the shelf life of the prescription food you usually buy and refresh your emergency supply as needed.  

First Aid Supplies

The unimaginable, including injuries, often happens during disasters. How would you treat a wound if first responders weren’t able to get to you for a few days? Having first aid supplies to address injuries can prevent adverse outcomes, such as infections.

First aid kits, of course, can include supplies to prevent hypothermia and temporarily keep broken bones in place. By having first aid gear in your emergency kit, you could end up saving a life. You may want to study basic techniques, such as applying a makeshift tourniquet. Learning how to use the supplies is as critical as having them.

If you don’t purchase pre-made kits, you’ll need to make a list of what items to include. Consider the ages of your family members, as younger children may have different needs. However, you usually can’t go wrong with band aids, gauze, scissors, and antiseptic wipes. You’ll also want bandage tape, cold packs, a blanket, and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Wrenches and Pliers

Say a storm compromises your home’s gas line. If you don’t have the right tools, you can’t shut the utilities off at the source. Wrenches and pliers can prevent further damage to your property in the event of a potential leak.

Downed power lines and gas leaks are some of the more urgent aftermaths requiring immediate attention. While utility companies often send out crews to assist in these situations, they may not get to your neighborhood immediately. They may have to wait until conditions are safe enough to deploy.

The timeline could be hours, days, or weeks. It’s a good idea to have simple tools like pliers and wrenches around anyway. You could need them to shut off the main waterline to your home if there’s a leak under the sink. Tools help out when you smell a gas leak that’s isolated to your property. Acting quickly can not only prevent property damage but can also prevent the loss of life.

The Toolkit for Every Home

Emergencies can happen at any time, so it’s best to be ready when they do. Toolkits stocked with supplies like flashlights and pliers ensure you’ll get through the unexpected. Whether you’re at home or away, your survival won’t be in question.