The Basics: Emergency Supplies
Every house should have something in it to make it a home. Whether that is a few boxes of family heirlooms, pictures on the mantle, or a family to come home to everyday is dependent on the person. Despite this difference, there is something every home should have: an emergency bag. Accidents to happen, and it’s better that you are prepared for when they come, than wondering if they will come. Join us today as we go over some things that you should keep in the household emergency kit.
Aside from the usual emergency supplies, such as a fire extinguisher, you should also keep a duffle bag somewhere that has some basic emergency supplies in the event of an emergency. We know that you may have heard this before or glanced over some sort of packet that your township sent you, but it is important to be ready just in case.
A few items that you should have in your “ditch bag” are:
- First aid kit (basic)
- A radio. Not an app on your phone, but a physical radio (yes, they still make them).
- A flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Wrench (to turn off utilities)
- Can opener
- Local maps
- Cellphone chargers (or even better, a solar charger)
- Duct tape (a million uses)
This all isn’t much, but it can sure help you out in a time of need. Be sure to put this bag somewhere that is easily accessible, and preferably on the ground floor.
While you’re putting together this kit, it also pays to double check the batteries in your smoke alarms. This task takes no more than a few minutes, but ensures that you have a peace of mind when it comes to smoke—or even worse—carbon monoxide.
Safety and being prepared are just two of the many tenants of owning a home, and should be carried out with the utmost sincerity. It only takes a few minutes of your time now to make sure that you’re safe in the future. As they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
For more homeowner tips, be sure to check back every Tuesday for our latest article.
