If there’s one universal lesson we’ve learned from 2020 so far, it’s that we should all be better prepared for emergencies, no matter who we are.
From airborne disease to civil unrest and environmental catastrophes, things can escalate quickly, and you need every tool at your disposal to navigate challenging scenarios.
An emergency survival kit can be a literal lifesaver in a world where anything can happen, and every family, couple, and individual needs to have one within close reach.
Here are the 10 biggest reasons why you should invest in an emergency survival kit, with a few tips thrown in for good measure.
1. Water is life
You’ve probably heard the medical community push the importance of water, and it’s no joke: the human body needs a lot of H20 to operate properly and starts shutting down after two or three days without a steady source, according to Medical News Today.
Even a day of dehydration can cloud your judgment, make you sluggish and vulnerable to toxins and infection. Water keeps you mentally sharp, physically capable, and focused on the action when it matters most.
Since you can’t rely on the tap or bottled water to stay hydrated during an emergency scenario, you and your loved ones need to have plenty of extra clean water on hand. It’s number one on the list for a reason!
Be sure to have some fresh water available in your emergency supply kit (in pouches or small bottles) and plenty of purification tablets that let you yield potable water from any source.
2. Food is fuel
When things go south, grocery store shelves begin to run bare, leading to tension and fear in the community. Food insecurity is a scary idea that you should never have to confront.
Everyone should have plenty of non-perishable food in the pantry already, but there may not be an opportunity to gather up all your canned goods when disaster strikes.
An emergency survival kit should contain at least a few thousand calories worth of food in a small, portable form, like protein-packed energy bars that can be consumed on the go.
The human body is well-adapted to function without food for at least a couple of weeks, but during an emergency, you’ll need some additional fuel to stay strong and alert. Prepare ahead of time and load up on reliable nutrient sources while you can.
3. Remain warm and dry
Nobody can count on friendly weather during an emergency. As they say, “when it rains, it pours”, so be prepared for the worst, including thunderstorms, snow, and frigid cold.
Even if you’re able to shelter in place at home, things can get cold at night, no matter where you live, and you’ll want to bundle up to maintain valuable body heat and energy.
Be sure that your emergency kit includes at least a couple of blankets, ponchos, and hand warmers to keep your body temperature regulated and your clothes dry at all times.
RedCross reminds us to plan with clothes to stay protected in your specific environment. This will keep you focused on forward progress rather than recovering from setbacks.
4. Hygiene is Key
The importance of staying healthy, happy, and hygienic during a crisis can’t be understated. You may not have all the comforts of home, but you should do your best to maintain a normal routine when uncertainty peaks.
That means brushing your teeth, washing your face and body, shampooing your hair, and shaving your face. Conditions may not be optimal, but these practices are important to your health and can even stave off disease and infection.
An article from The Manual also reminds us to pack any other key sanitation items like feminine care supplies, medication, and diapers, depending on your family’s specific needs.
Make sure your survival kit contains these hygiene necessities so you can stay clean and serene at a time when your daily routine gets disrupted.
5. Light the Way
Many survival experts stress the importance of flashlights and lanterns when enduring an emergency scenario since power grids have been shown to be vulnerable to environmental influences and even attacks from overseas.
Please don’t trust your cellphone flashlight to maintain battery life for very long, especially when you need it for communication purposes. It’s always smart to have a dedicated light source ready to go in your survival kit when things go dark.
The best kits on the market not only contain powerful flashlights and chargers but also have emergency light sticks that illuminate your path without batteries or outlets. Whether you’re navigating your own home or venturing out into the wild, you need plenty of light on your side.
6. Be Ready to Work
Whether you’re rummaging through the basement for supplies or clearing out a spot to stay the night in the wilderness, you’re going to need some elbow grease to make your way through an emergency event.
Since cuts, scrapes, and injuries are the last things you want to deal with in these circumstances, equipment like muti-tools, gloves, and goggles will be key allies in your effort.
Every survival kit should have the makings of a mobile workbench ready to deploy, even if it doesn’t compare to a full-on hardware store haul.
For example, a multi-tool will feature a knife, screwdriver, ruler, can opener, and multiple wrenches all in a single, sleek unit. The best kits also include ferrocerium rods to help you start fires on the fly with little effort.
Good emergency response is all about maximizing comfort and control over the situation, and these tools will help you stay in the driver’s seat at all times.
7. Call for Assistance
Cellphone service is never a given in daily life, so there’s no sense in expecting our calls to go through when everyone enters panic mode. You need a way to contact friends, family, and emergency services with a reliable connection, no matter where you are.
To give and receive updates from local stations and community members, don’t drain precious cellphone batteries. A hand-crank radio can be a real lifesaver to keep streams of communication open without sacrificing key resources.
Only purchase survival kits that contain a reliable radio, as well as a signaling whistle and compass to navigate and broadcast your position at crucial moments.
Seems outdated? Just wait until that cell signal goes down, and you’ll be grateful you have some old-school technology on your side.
8. Keep devices charged
If you do manage to secure a wifi or cellphone signal during an emergency, you want to keep those devices at a 100% charge. Calls, texts, and social media updates could mean the difference between life and death.
You may not feel the need to bring your laptop or tablet along with you for the journey, but your phone should be in your pocket with a full charge at all times.
Since power outlets will be hard to come by (or rendered useless), be sure to have charging equipment that harnesses the power of the sun or your own strength via hand crank.
A portable charging station with various power sources is an absolute necessity during a scary situation, whether you’re hunkered down at home or out on the road. Pick up an emergency survival kit with at least one form of USB power output for all your devices.
9. Respond to medical emergencies
Remember basic first-aid from school or your first summer job? When an emergency situation goes down, you may need to recall some of that dormant knowledge, and having the right equipment on hand will be key to minimizing damage.
No kit is complete without a full set of bandages, gauze, bacteria-killing ointments, and some basic pain meds to fight off inflammation and headaches. The best kits also contain more serious items like tourniquets and burn creams for severe situations.
Remember that even small injuries can quickly progress into bigger problems if you don’t address them quickly and completely. Don’t fall short of any first-aid needs when assembling your emergency survival kit.
10. Stay mobile and adaptable
There’s no such thing as certainty in an emergency situation, and fast-changing conditions can force you to pick up and move camp in the blink of an eye. You need to be ready to pack up all of your gear on the fly and get to the next location with no time to waste.
A small backpack or side pouch may have enough space to hold some devices or clothes, but nothing more. Smart survivalists are sure to have a waterproof dry bag that protects all of their emergency gear from the elements and is easy to quickly load up and carry.
Conclusion
Many of us have had to learn the importance of preparedness the hard way this year, so there are no more excuses to stay oblivious.
If you aren’t prepared to survive a disaster for at least 72 hours, according to SafeWise, you’re running an unnecessary risk for yourself and any dependents.
Give yourself some much-needed peace of mind by thinking ahead and procuring an emergency kit containing everything mentioned here. When the time comes, it will be worth it.