The earthquake kit is an essential earthquake preparedness tool that ideally every household should have. It can help us in the aftermath of an earthquake and increases chances of survival manifold in adverse conditions, till the help arrives. I myself am going to pack the one for my family and plan an additional one to put in my car. Today I’ll explain in detail on earthquake kit. I’ll also explain the ‘First aid kit’ as a part of our earthquake kit.
Earthquake Kit
Earthquake Kit Items
- First aid box
- Food items
- Water
- Miscellaneous items
1. First Aid Box
While preparing the First Aid Kit, make sure it has all the items you may need including but not limited to – medications that you or your family members are taking (sufficient for at least a week or two), and emergency phone numbers.
Make sure that all items you are putting, in are in good working condition. keep checking them every 6 months. I suggest adding a tag on the box, citing the expiry date of every item.
First aid kit is required to be kept and maintained at schools and some other establishments.
First Aid Box items
For a family of 4 persons, The American Red Cross recommends the following.
- 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)- we can make it with gauze than and cotton roll.)
- 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
- 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)- microporous tape
- 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 10 grams) of povidone-iodine ointments.
- 5 antiseptic wipe packets- (just put some cotton and a 100 ml spirit bottle and can create it instantly.)
- 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each) (In India / HP – 75mg)
- 1 blanket (space blanket)
- 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve) (can give mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths in CPR if not available)
- 1 instant cold compress (can have if u like, since the value for money and situations may not permit, instead can have re-useable ice bag )
- 2 pair of non-latex gloves (size: large)
- 2 hydrocortisone ointments (approximately 1 gram each)
- Scissor 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
- 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
- sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches) (can be made by folding bandage.)
- 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches) (can be made by folding bandage.)
- Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)
- 2 triangular bandages (I personally may skip it or can make from the bandage if required.)
- Tweezers (Forceps)
- First aid instruction booklet (if available or we can demonstrate how to use the kit to all family members)
I have added some comments in ‘italics‘ to make it more comprehensible and alternatives available locally. I shall also try to make a separate post on the first aid kit. so that it becomes even more easy to create your own.
We can also add some over-the-counter drugs like
- Tablet paracetamol 500mg
- Tab cetirizine 10mg
- ORS packets (oral rehydration solution)
2. Food items
It is recommended that we should have food that can last at least 3 days. you can add according to you, but keep in mind that the food we are putting in should have a long shelf life. I am sharing some items below.
- Chocolates
- Candies
- Biscuits
- Canned food items
- Un-cocked rice
- soya chunks
- Salt 250gm, sugar 500gm, Cooking oil .5 to 1 lt.
- Dried milk powder
- Soup packets
- Packed dried noodles (like Maggi)
- Nuts / dry fruits etc.
3. Water
It is also recommended to have the stock for at least 3 days. Keep some chlorine tabs in your kit so that water from wells, and ponds can be purified to use, if required or we can boil the water to use.
4. Miscellaneous items
these items are also very important and can not be ignored at any cost. I am sharing some very useful item lists but you can customize them according to your choice.
- Waterproof Matches / Lighter – simply warp normal matches in a waterproof bag and put them in your kit. It’s a very important item and cannot be skipped.
- 1 small to medium-sized multipurpose cooking pan.
- Soap
- Cash – it is a most liquid form of money.
- Candles
- Whistle – avoid shouting for help and be heard from a long distance.
- N95 Dust Mask
- Good quality knife
- Nylon Rope
- Sturdy shoes/ extra pair of slippers.
- Power bank to charge your mobile
- Torch with extra batteries/ flashlights
- Small umbrella
- Sleeping bag etc.
Try to keep your earthquake/ emergency kit near the exit of your house at a suitable place. you can customize your earthquake kit/ first aid kit. children are really going to love this exercise and it shall also sensitize and aware them of disasters like earthquakes. I shall try to share information on other disasters also.
