Let me explain. I have a car with over 170K miles on it. It has never broken down on me while driving, while far away from home, at night, etc. But chances are, it will eventually. Most of the time that I'm in my car, I have my 3 kids with me. I DO NOT want to be in a situation at night when I'm alone with my kids, on the freeway (or worse, a dark road) when my car breaks down...but, if it does, I want to be prepared to take care of myself and my kids. The only thing that could make that situation worse would be if I didn't have things like a flashlight that works, food and water, extra clothing and diapers and shoes. That is why I carry an emergency kit in my car.
I also have a kit for my home, for each member of my family. Chances are that I won't ever be in a "disaster" situation, either in my car or at home, but if there ever is, I want that peace of mind that I have prepared. I may even need to use my supplies for things other than a disaster. I broke out mine and my kids rain coats from my emergency car kit the other day when it started raining on my way to Costco. There wasn't a close parking spot, as usual, and I didn't want my kids to get all wet trying to get them into the store. It was awesome! Problem solved!
It may feel overwhelming to think about how to go about getting kits for your family. Here are a few simple and economical ways that you too can start or build on your and your family's at home and car kits.
First: GET A BAG!!! Now this can be any bag to begin with. You don't have to spend a lot. Grab an old back pack, duffel bag, suitcase, or even diaper bag. Remember, anything is better than nothing. If you don't have enough bags for each member of your family, combine kits.
-Take
this opportunity while it's empty to repair any holes or broken
straps. It doesn't have to be pretty as long as it's strong enough to
hold your supplies. --If you want to take an extra step you can spray
your bag with water repellent (found in the shoe section in many stores)
or get a heavy duty trash bag to line your bag.
-If you're away from home a lot, get a bag for your car. It can even be a plastic storage container.
-For those with large families, get a rolling trash can to keep your bags inside.
Second: FOOD AND WATER! A person can only survive about a week without water. I promise you that if you are in a stressful situation having to use a lot of physical exertion, it won't take that long. It is recommended that we drink 2 quarts (or 4 - 16 oz bottles) a day. Over 3 days that would be 12 bottles per person. This can be done with bottled water or something like cleaned soda bottles filled with tap water and 1 tsp. regular bleach per quart. Just make sure you rotate every 6 months.
A person can survive longer without food (about 4 weeks or so). Again, in a stressful situation with some exertion required, you do not want to have to be without food...especially if you have children. Stock up on foods that will give you energy and nutrition. If possible, pack foods that your body is used to. I personally like trail mix and granola bars. This is something that will vary based on you and your family's needs and likes. Start out small adding a few items to begin with and build up from there until you have enough for 3 days. Something is better than nothing. Just try and keep it simple. The less utensils needed and cooking required, the better.
Third: CLOTHING/SHOES! Dress for the occasion. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Worst case scenario, you have no shelter. If all you had to survive the night was the clothes on your back, you'd want them to be able to keep you warm. Place a jacket, sweater, pants, hat and extra socks for each person in your kits. Don't forget the shoes either. Go to garage sales or thrift stores to find these items. I love hand-me-downs for this reason. There is no reason to spend a lot of money on clothes you may never wear. Fashion won't matter at this point. Start with one extra change of clothes and build up to last for 3 days.
Fourth: EVERYTHING ELSE!!! This includes your tools, shelter, hygiene supplies, etc. There could be a lot of things in an emergency kit that might be great to have. Once you have the basics, you can build upon with these. Start with the most important like medicines and first aid supplies. Look at your own family's specific needs. Again, there is no need to go into debt for this. Just add things one at a time and rotate as needed. I recommend every 6 months around General Conference, April and October.
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