Homework help

[azziria]

A query for those of you who live/have lived out there in earthquake land - DS needs to make a list for his homework of stuff you'd have in an earthquake survival pack. What should he include?

Comments

[hippediva.livejournal.com]

First of all, WATER. At least 2 gal., as much as possible. Those tablets that clear up dirty water---enough for at least 2 wks. First aid kit. Freeze-dried food/granola/camping rations. Any meds necessary. Any pet food necessary w/carrier. Flashlight (at least one). Extra batteries. (LED's are now preferred). Battery-operated radio. Nasa-type space blanket. Windbreaker. Rope. More extra batteries. All phone numbers/ID papers/insurance crap copies. Work gloves. Swiss Army knife with every attachment possible. Baton or axe is useful, if space allows. A solar charger for one's cell phone isn't a bad idea, either.

I think that covers most of it. All supplies should be for the entire family unit, so the kit should be sized accordingly. The most important thing is those water tabs and/or fresh water. *G*

[linaelyn.livejournal.com]

I totally forgot about the lighting issue! Yes, flashlights are CRUCIAL, and a camping lantern if you can manage it. They make crank-powered emergency radios and flashlights, specifically for this purpose.

And one more: Cash. Large stack of small bills, amounting to about $250/£150, enough to purchase a few basics before the electronic monetary system is back up and running again.

[azziria.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

I love the fact that the Internet means that there are people I can ask and get the real know-how... we don't exactly get many earthquakes around here.

[linaelyn.livejournal.com]

#1 item: WATER WATER WATER. Anything else, you can survive without, until help arrives. Clean water is the thing that will kill you.

#2: Sanitation. A 5 gallon bucket with 100 plastic liners for use as a toilet. Packs of hand-wipes/diaper wipes. Diapers, if one has household members (or perhaps neighbors?) with children of such an age. Eldercare diapers, if needed. Alcohol hand sanitizer. Skip soap - it needs precious water to be useful, and clean water should be saved for drinking.

#3: Basic first aid kit. Alcohol for antiseptic, bandages & gauze, emergency medical triage booklet, pain relief/anti-inflammatory, allergy medication, back ups for life-sustaining prescriptions.

#4: Food. Canned, dehydrated, whatever it takes for long shelf life. CAN OPENER. Foods should require only minimal preparation, if any - cooking facilities may be non-existent. (We keep a camping stove and 2 weeks supply of propane handy, but then, we enjoy camping.) Two weeks worth of food is considered sufficient.

#5: Structural clean-up items. Sturdy work gloves. Garbage bags. Warm work-clothing. Heavy plastic tarping/sheeting, to cover broken windows. Duct tape. Filtering face masks for the incredible levels of dust. And the VITAL GAS SHUT-OFF WRENCH, which really should be right up there at #0. My kids are trained to race outside and shut off the gas to the house, first thing, should an earthquake ever be strong enough to break a window, here.

I'm sure there's more, but that's the "just off the top of my head" list.

[linaelyn.livejournal.com]

er, LACK OF clean water is the thing that will kill you. Not the clean water itself, of course!

[azziria.livejournal.com]

Thank you - this is going to make far more impact on DS coming from someone who lives with this threat day in, day out.