By Brad Greer
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), those over the age of 60 are less likely to take preparedness actions, yet they often tend to be the most at risk.
Here are a few basic things seniors can gather for a beginner emergency preparedness kit so they can be ready for anything:
- Non-perishable foods & water
The idea with non-perishable foods, is that they have a very long shelf life, so you don’t have to continue to swap them out every year. A few examples of good choices would be dried or canned fruits and vegetables, shelf-stable cans of meat, jars of peanut butter, small packages of cereal, granola bars, crackers, dry milk, or even specific emergency meal kits where you just need to add water and heat. If you stock up with canned items, make sure you also have a manual can-opener.
For water, you’ll want at least a gallon per person, per day, for at least three days. Water, just like food, is essential, but the body can survive much longer without food than it can water. Be sure water is high on your priority list.
- Medications
If you’re someone who needs to take medications daily, this is an important reminder to have extra on hand in an emergency preparedness kit. Have enough prescription medications for at least one week. Remember, however, that these medications do expire, so you’ll likely need to swap these out every so often.
- First aid kit
This is a 100% essential part of any emergency preparedness kit. A first aid kit should include antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, gloves, tweezers, assorted bandage sizes and specifically ones that can help indicate infection, like DrySee which will change color depending on whether or not liquid has broken the barrier. You’ll also want hydrocortisone cream, a thermometer, scissors, and any pain relief medication. You will also need to update items in this every year or so.
- Source of power
This includes flashlights or headlamps (which will require batteries meaning you’ll also need to pack extra batteries). In addition, you’ll want to pack crank radios and lights, so you don’t rely solely on batteries for power. Portable chargers can help keep your devices charged in an emergency, but the battery will eventually run out and you’ll need to be able to charge these devices with an outlet or other power source. If you have the budget, buying a generator is also a good idea.
When it’s time to finally put your entire emergency preparedness kit together, make sure to store everything in airtight bags, and put everything in one or two easy-to-carry containers that you can access if you’re stuck inside your home, or that can be put into your vehicle quickly if you need to leave.
Brad Greer is chief executive officer of DrySee, a Houston, Texas-based medical technology company that manufactures waterproof bandages that detect if liquid has gotten under them on a wound.